reafter obtain from British settlements in the island, and from a
peaceful trade carried on around it, to Mr Brooke, and to that gentleman
alone, will belong the glory and the honour of such acquisitions.
Inspired by his vigorous nature, but more by the dictates of true
benevolence, unaided and unprotected, save by his own active spirit and
the blessing of Providence, he undertook a mission on behalf of mankind,
with perils before him which the stoutest could not but feel, and
achieved a success which the most sanguine could hardly have
anticipated.

Mr Brooke was born on the 29th of April 1803, and is therefore now in
his 43d year. He is the second son of the late Thomas Brooke, Esq., who
held an appointment in the civil service of the East India Company. At
an early age he went out to India as a cadet, served with distinction in
the Burmese war, was wounded, and returned to England for the recovery
of his health. In the year 1830, Mr Brooke relinquished the service
altogether, and quitted Calcutta for China, again in search of health.
During his voyage, he saw, for the first time, the islands of the
Asiatic Archipelago; almost unknown, even at that recent period, to
Europeans generally. Such information as was before the world he
obtained, and carefully considered; and the result of his reflections
was a determination to carry to Borneo, an island of some magnitude, and
terribly afflicted in more respects than one, such knowledge and
instruction as might help to elevate its people from the depravity in
which they lived, and the horrors to which they were hourly subjected.
This was in 1830. In the year 1838, he quitted England to fulfil his
purpose. For eight years he had patiently and steadily worked towards
his object, and gathered about him all that was necessary for its
accomplishment. Nothing had been omitted to insure success. A man of
fortune, he had been prodigal of his wealth; free from professional and
other ties, he had given up his time wholly to the cause. One year was
passed in the Mediterranean, that his vessel, _The Royalist_, might be
put to the severest tests. Three years were spent in educating a crew
worthy of an undertaking that promised so little sudden prosperity, that
exacted so much immediate self-denial, threatened so many hardships. The
men were happy and contented, cheerful and willing. The vessel belonged
to the royal yacht squadron, was a fast sailer, armed with six
six-pounders, a number