For Friends' Review.

acquisition of knowledge as his, could hardly fail to give an interest to his communications, BORNEO AND THE EASTERN ARCHIPELAGO. which would be highly satisfactory to his audi

tors.

Still he was improving his knowledge of botany, besides reading almost daily some portion in the French language, and had made considerable progress in German. The study of medicine and the Latin language had engaged his attention during the preceding year.

As if he had not already employments enough to occupy his time and attention, he engaged, early in 1802, at the invitation of Dr. Babington, to deliver lectures jointly with him at Guy's Hospital. His performances, in this capacity, often elicited the repeated plaudits of the audience, a species of incense, which, to an ordinary mind, was not likely to increase the humility which is essential to a Christian life.

(Concluded from page 39.)

*

James Brooke is the son of a gentleman in the civil employ of the East India Company, who early entered into its military service. Retiring from a profession little congenial with the sensibility to human suffering which distinguishes him, he visited China in 1830, in search of health and amusement. On this voyage, he saw for the first time, some of the Islands of the Asiatic Archipelago, and his active imagination was deeply impressed with their beauty and importance. He at once conceived the plan of entering upon so rich and so neglected a field of enterprise and research. To carry to the Malay races, so long the terror of the European merchant vessel, the blessings of civilization, to suppress piracy and extirpate the It must be manifest that the varied occupa- slave-trade, became his humane and generous tions of William Allen, the sphere in which he objects; and from that time, the energies of his was moving, and the society with which he was powerful mind were directed to this one pursuit." associated, were more than sufficient to divert a For eight years he struggled against the man of ordinary intellect from the path of hu- difficulties which opposed his novel and hazardmility and self-denial, in which alone the Chris-ous enterprise. He at length purchased a vestian traveller is safe; and it is no subject of surprise that his friends often manifested their anxiety on his account. Of this we find repeated intimations: and to his credit it may be noted, that the admonitions of some female friends were kindly and respectfully received.

sel of 142 tons, and spent three years, cruising in the Mediterranean, and other seas, and having thus trained his crew of twenty men, and himself, into the habit of reliance upon each other, he sailed in 1839 for Borneo. "I go," said he, "to awake the slumbering spirit of philanIt is probable, not to say certain, that few thropy, with regard to these Islands. Fortune men could bestow the attention on scientific and life I freely give, and if I fail in the atpursuits, that William Allen did, without being tempt I shall not have lived wholly in vain." He totally absorbed by them, and finding very little seems, indeed, to have been eminently qualified time or inclination for religious retirement: yet for the career which he proposed to himself. with him the effect was not such as might have" Of the most enlarged views, truthful and gebeen expected. He appears to have been a diligent attender of meetings for worship and discipline, giving up to this duty the requisite time toward the middle of the week; and it is very questionable whether the spirit of devotion was less active and habitual in him, than in most persons of genuine piety who are moving in a sphere where very little appears to disturb their meditations. To a mind imbued, as his evidently was, with a deep and abiding sense of religious obligation, it is easily conceived that the exposition of nature, and of the operation of natural causes, which his engagements as a public lecturer frequently required him to give, would furnish frequent occasion for pious reflections. What an irreligious philosopher might explain, as a subject of rational investigation, by exhibiting the order and operation of natural causes, the pious lecturer would expound, with equal regard to the concatenation of cause and effect, as the work of an infinitely wise and beneficent Creator: and thus encourage a spirit of devotion, while he was labouring to enrich the understanding.

(To be continued.)

nerous, quick to acquire and appreciate, excelling in every manly sport and exercise, elegant and accomplished, ever accessible, and above all prompt and determined to redress injury and relieve misfortune, he was of all others the best qualified to impress the native mind with the highest opinion of the English character." The portrait doubtless betrays the personal attachment which dictated it. Yet it must be acknowledged that the subsequent career of this remarkable man is in accordance with its leading features. His little vessel, although bound on no unfriendly errand, was armed, and he could rely upon the fidelity and devotion of her well trained crew. Rajah Muda Hassin, one of the principal chiefs of Borneo, and a favourite of the reigning Sultan, held, among other governments, the town and district of Sarawak, situated on the western coast of the Island, and having a length of about sixty miles, and an average breadth of fifty. To this place Brooke directed his course, his vessel laden with presents for the

We are mainly indebted for the statements in this article, to Keppel's "Expedition to Borneo, with Extracts from the Journal of James Brooke, Esq."

Rajah, and himself without any clearly defined neighbouring chiefs into the Dyak villages. plan of procedure. He was well received by the His firm and determined stand soon checked Malay Prince, but, after a tiresome negociation, these outrages. His next was to bring all his failed to complete any arrangement for opening subjects under the control of law. "There is," a trade. Pursuing his voyage, he visited the he says, 66 an absolute necessity for mildness and neighbouring Island of Celebes, and returning to patience the gentlest course of justice brings Singapore, he again found himself in the sum-down much odium, and arouses intense dislike mer of 1840 at Sarawak. The Rajah had long among a people who have had no law but their been engaged in fruitless efforts to reduce a con- own vile intrigues to guide and control them." federacy of Dyak tribes, whom the tyranny of "There is great difficulty," it is again remarked, his subalterns had driven into rebellion. Wearied "in acting at once with temper and firmness, so with the hopeless contest, and fearing lest he as to appear the benefactor, rather than the tyshould himself become the victim of those in- rant. It is indeed an arduous and troublesome trigues which surround the unsuccessful favour- task. But I think I see a ray of light to encouite in an eastern court, Muda Hassin proposed rage me." The unhappy Dyaks had been so to Brooke to relinquish his government to him long oppressed and outraged that their own senin consideration of his aiding him in the subju-sibility to wrong-doing was greatly enfeebled. gation of the revolted Dyaks. Yielding to the They would sell the wife or children of a debtor importunities of his new friend, the latter con- for a small sum, and when pressed by debt sented to afford him the powerful assistance of would dispose in the same way of those to whom twelve trained British seamen. Happily, the they had no claim, even according to their own conflict, although tedious, was attended with little barbarous usage. The governor, when such atbloodshed; the Dyaks, terrified by so unexpect-tempts reached his ear, "would call the parties ed an apparition, submitted; and Brooke now together, and often prevent the commission of a found it a far more difficult task to save their premeditated crime," by which means he saved lives from the cruelty of those with whom he himself the odium of punishing. He promulhad allied himself. We have not space to follow gated a brief constitution, in which he provided him in his interesting narrative of his sufferings for the investigation and punishment of crime from the cunning and treachery of the inferior according to known laws, secured to all classes the chiefs, and the indolence and rapacity of the liberty to trade by sea or land, a fair remuneraRajah, who, relieved from the difficulties tion for labour performed, which was in all which had threatened him, now evaded the ful-cases to be voluntary,—an equitable assessment filment of his engagements. On one occasion, and collection of taxes,—and a just standard of having despatched his vessel to the relief of the weights, measures and money. He entered into crew of an English ship, which had been wreck- treaties with neighbouring chiefs, to abstain from ed, Brooke found himself with only three Euro- mutual injury, refusing to one of them permispeans, exposed for weeks to the intrigues and sion "to steal a few heads occasionally," or treachery of the Malay chiefs, and the open even to take just one or two, a request which hostility of swarms of pirates, whose schemes of he several times urged, "as a school-boy would pillage and murder he had thwarted. With ask for apples." His efforts were now directed consummate ability and unshaken courage he to prevent the traffic in each other's persons, triumphed over these dangers, and at length re- which prevailed to a great extent. All his pruceiving from Muda Hassin the formal assign- dence, sagacity and firmness were required for ment in perpetuity of his government, he be- the suppression of this horrible practice. We came Rajah of Sarawak and its immediate terri- cannot follow him in his recital of the cruelties tory, and the absolute ruler of its oppressed resulting from this trade, or the difficulties people. Whatever share other motives may which he encountered in maintaining the rights have had in inducing Brooke to desire this ces- of the oppressed natives. Attending personally sion, there can be no doubt that the welfare of to the distribution of equal justice to all, unthe suffering natives was a leading object. masking the treachery of the chiefs, who prey"Poor, poor Dyaks," says he, "you may well ed upon his once helpless people, and at times raise the warmest feelings of compassion; enthu- repressing with a strong hand their more open siasm awakes at witnessing your sufferings to atrocities, his life was one of toil and peril of save men from death has its merit! but to alle-which we can form but an inadequate idea. viate suffering, to ameliorate all the ills of sla-"How little," he remarks, "can those at a disvery, to protect these tribes from pillage and tance know my difficulties-alone, unaided, the yearly scarcity, is far nobler; and if, in the en- unceasing attention by day, the anxiety and deavour to do so, one poor life is sacrificed, how little is that in the vast amount of human suffering!"

The first efforts of the new Rajah were directed to the suppression of the incursions of the

sleeplessness by night, the mountain of doubt upon mountain piled, and the uncertainty of necessary support or assistance!" At length success began to crown his efforts. "The internal state of the country," he records, "is de

live.

C.

For Friends' Review.

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

found faithful to their principles during the present "I hope the Society of Friends may everywhere be crisis. Our crime-steeped nation would sadly miss the leaven of their principles. They have done much for our own country, as well as that in which their great founder, George Fox, began his Heaven-approved movement, amid the persecutions of priests and people, and even of the constituted authorities of the mother-land. They are unquestionably diminishing in numbers; and, having fulfilled the providential purpose of their misdistinct body; but their blessed principles, particularly sion, they will probably pass ultimately away, as a their testimonies against the twin curses of WAR and SLAVERY will never pass away. These have found their way into the hearts of the people of other sects; and thus, through a thousand different channels, the doctrines they have so quietly, yet so efficiently world is being blessed by the peaceful and merciful taught.

J. E. S."

cidedly improving and flourishing, and bears the I The singleness of purpose, the sagacity and aspect of gradually increasing prosperity. Jus- moral courage of the actor in this enterprisetice has been strictly administered; robberies, the crimes which he has suppressed, and the which a few months ago were of nightly occur- misery he has relieved the vast field he has rence, are now rarely heard of; and that vile opened for the progress of civilization and Chrisintriguing to make poor people slaves from debt tianity, contrasted with the smallness of his or false claims is entirely stopped." "There is means, and the obvious predominance of moral peace, there is plenty, the poor are not harras-over physical causes in the result, seem to us sed, and justice is done to all." to render the settlement on Borneo one of the The neighbouring tribes, who had long been characteristic events of the times in which we engaged in cruel wars with each other, were made friends, and a fruitful source of wretchedness was thus dried up. On the first day of the year 1843, he was enabled to declare that he could look back upon the past as a year in which he had been usefully employed in doing good to others. "The Dyaks are quiet, settled, and improving, the Chinese (immigrants) advancing towards prosperity, and the Sarawak people wonderfully contented and industrious, relieved from oppression, and fields of labour allowed them. Justice I have executed with unflinching hand, and the amount of crime is certainly small. The Dyaks, as well as the Malays and Chinese, enjoy the inestimable blessings of peace and security." Who will not sympathize with the noble spirit which had generously devoted itself to this humane enterprise, and was at length enabled thus to describe his success! "The peaceful and gentle aborigines, how can I speak too favourably of their improved condition? These people, who a few years since suffered every extreme of misery, from war, slavery and starvation, are now comfortably lodged, and comparatively rich. A stranger might now pass from village Era." to village, and he would receive their hospital- We quote it partly for the purpose of showity and see their padi stored in their houses.ing how narrowly we are watched by the world, He would hear them proclaim their happiness, and how high the position assigned to us in the and praise the white man as their friend and efforts for its moral reformation. Nor do we protector." think it more than justice to the exertions of our early Friends to attribute to them a large share in reforming the abuses of the times in which they lived, and in maintaining the high standard of civil and religious liberty, since so universally acknowledged throughout Christendom, but then very partially understood or admitted. While the world lasts, the unflinching courage and unblemished lives of those Apostles of Truth The population and prosperity of his territory may be expected to stand out in bold relief from steadily increased. The Dyaks, who had been the truckling spirit and corrupt practices which greatly reduced in number by the cruelties to characterized many professors of that day. which they had been subjected, are again be- However dark the prospect seemed around coming more numerous, liberated slaves are the them, whether dissenters were quailing before peaceful and industrious cultivators of the soil, the rigid and bigoted restrictions of the estaband, in fine, a long oppressed race are "rising lished church, or whether that church was itself under his auspices into the dignity of free men." trembling in view of the ascendancy of Papal The British government have recently found- tyranny and corruption; while other religious ed a naval station on the little island of La-sects were holding their meetings in dens and huan, on the north-west coast of Borneo, and this circumstance, together with the office of agent conferred upon Brooke, will no doubt secure the permanency of his settlement.

Since the date of these entries, the career of the new governor has not been without serious reverses, owing to the continued intrigues of the Malay chiefs, whose atrocious practices he has suppressed. Efforts, sanctioned it appears by the Sultan of Borneo, have even been made to assassinate him; yet amidst these dangers he has been providentially preserved.

The above paragraph appeared in the corres pondence of a late number of the "National

caves of the earth, or under the cover of midnight darkness, to avoid discovery and persecu tion, that peaceable and harmless but most resolute and fearless band of men regularly gathered

AMICUS.

in their own meeting houses or in the open | faithful to the doctrines we preach, and our own fields-in the broad light of heaven;-and when lives models of the principles we profess. the malice of the priests and justices, whose corrupt lives and gross impositions the Quakers exposed and denounced, had haled the fathers from the meeting house to the prison, the assemblies for worship were maintained by the children.

They regarded not their lives or their liberty in the struggle for principle and right; and to use the words of one of their own number, they "went to the prison-house as cheerfully as they would have entered a palace," when the honour of Truth was concerned. The result of such unwearied maintenance of principle was its permanent establishment;-they outlived slander, outwearied persecution, and many of the points of faith they once almost single handed supported, have come to be acknowledged by the

Christian world.

But the correspondent of the "Era" appears to have mistaken the phase of the times when he asserts that they are "diminishing in numbers," and that "their mission fulfilled, they will ultimately pass away as a distinct body." Till within a few years, when a separation occurred on important points of Christian belief, their number was far greater than at any former period-and so far from their mission being accomplished, the lamentable scourges of which the writer complains, as desolating our country, too sorrowfully testify to the contrary.

For Friends' Review.

EXTRACT FROM THOMAS STORY'S JOURNAL.

There is a vein of rich and sterling ore in the writings of our early Friends which we have sometimes been afraid was not sufficiently appreciated by our young people. There is a strength, a nerve, a straight-forwardness in their style and manner, which clearly show that they wrote from the fulness of their hearts, and which, from a child, I have delighted in.

What intelligent citizen would be ignorant of

the history of his country? And what member of a religious society would be unacquainted with its origin and subsequent history, either as recorded by its professed historians, or as ex

emplified in the lives of its consistent and deeply Raised up to be a experienced members? people about the middle of the 17th century, in her religious and political institutions, our when England was remarkably convulsed, both history, it would reasonably be supposed, must which is so captivating to the youthful mind, be characterized by that kind of stirring incident and which, being connected with the all-important interests of religion, we would suppose must be highly instructive. And we venture the opinion, that the further we examine the matter, the more obviously will this supposition be realThough it is true that some of our once pecu-ized; the further this vein is penetrated, the liar tenets have been adopted by other denomimore evident will appear its richness. nations, and that all of them are tolerated and even respected by the majority-yet there are still many points very little understood or appreciated which the Society holds dear-and which, until the whole face of Christendom shall change, must ever form an inseparable barrier between us and the world. Of these there is none more important, or which the world at large is more slow to admit, than that of the immediate operation and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the mind of man; and were there no other testimony left to hold up, than that of silent worship or a free Gospel ministry, our friend of the Era need not conclude that the mission of the Quakers is accomplished, or the points of difference between them and other Christian denominations entirely merged. Our object, however, was rather to call attention to the responsibility of the post we occupy in the eyes of the world, than to congratulate ourselves in the achievements of our forefathers in the faith, or in our own important position.

We cannot shelter our shortcomings under their faithfulness, or cover our defects with the mantle of their purity.

A mighty work yet remains to be accomplished in the world, but how can we hope to be the instruments of it till our own Society is

If we look into the simple, honest, unvarnished history of Sewell, or the more finished and polished one of Gough, we find just such narratives as our knowledge of the times would lead us to look for. If we search further among our earliest writers, we find a mass of literature, much of which is rich and racy, remarkably characterized by a conclusive mode of reasoning, adapted withal to the ebullitions of the day, and of which, certainly, no society in the world need be ashamed.

The Westminster Review speaks of George Fox's mind as "majestic and energetic:" and where shall we find the workings of such a mind, deeply instructed in the school of Christ, and determined with all boldness, and at all hazards, to promulgate the saving truths learned in that school, more admirably portrayed than on the pages of his Journal? Where shall we look with better prospect of success, for the pithy, sententious, and yet liberal outpourings of a heart deeply versed in human nature, and which felt that it really must have vent, and be unburthened of its multitudinous thoughts, than in the writings of William Penn? Has the polemical disputant yet been found to out-reason Robert Barclay? or where is the practised student of our mother tongue, whose best disci

plined pen has poured forth periods more richly | by the effusion of his own goodness, to reveal in

me the Son of his love, even his wisdom and power, by whom he designed and effected all things, then I was taught to fear him, then I was taught to love him, then, and not aright till then, was my soul instructed and informed indeed.

"But these secret operations were confined to my own breast, so that no one knew anything of them; an alteration was observed in me, but the cause of it was not seen. 1 put off my usual airs, my jovial actions and address, and laid aside my sword, which I had worn, not through design of innament. I burnt also my instruments of music, divested myself of the superfluous parts of my apparel, retaining only that which was necessary, or deemed decent. I declined the public worship, not with a design to join myself to any other sect, for I was rather apt to conclude, from what I had observed, that these manifestations were peculiar to me, and that there was not any people I might properly associate with; and also, I was induced to believe, that one day I should be obliged to oppose the world in matters of religion, but when or how that should be brought to pass, I did not foresee.

"Remaining in a still and retired state, and the Book of Life being opened in my mind, I read what the Lord himself, by the finger of his had power, there; and the Scriptures of truth, written by written, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah opened Moses and the prophets, the evangelists and apostles of Christ, were brought to my remembrance daily when I did not read them, and made clear and plain to my understanding and experience, so far as they related to my own state, and also in a general way; though I lusted not to know any mystery or thing contained therein, other than the Lord in his own free will and wisdom thought fit to manifest.

comprehensive, or even more mellow, than his occasionally are? Where is the volume more beautifully instructive-more sweetly attractive more strongly characterized by the effort to portray the life of the Christian, in even yet, if possible, a still more lovely light, than that of the gentlemanly and intelligent Pennington? Similar instances might readily be multiplied, but it was not for this I took up my pen. It was to introduce to the readers of the Review an extract from the Journal of Thomas Story. This Jour-jury, or fear of any, but as a modish and manly ornal may well be referred to as corroborative of the sentiments expressed above. Not only is it rendered highly interesting by the importance of many incidents related, but the mode of expression will sometimes be found exceedingly me.lodious and pleasant. The writer gives a remarkable account of his convincement of our principles, and shows clearly, that he learned them neither of man, nor from books, but from an attention to the immediate teachings of the "Word of Life." After this account the following passages occur. They paint in so lively a manner the consequences of his submitting to the Divine call, and yielding his soul unreservedly to his Maker, that I conclude they are well worth the room they will occupy. There is indeed much in them to encourage the visited mind to make a full surrender, and trust in the Lord, for all will doubtless find Him as did Thomas Story, a rich rewarder of those who diligently serve him. T. U. "From henceforth I desired to know nothing but the Lord, and to feed on that bread of life "As the nature and virtue of divine truth inwhich he alone can give, and did not fail to minis-creased in my mind, it wrought in me daily a ter daily, and oftener than the morning; and yet of greater conformity to itself, by its own power; rehis own free will and goodness, he was pleased to ducing my mind to a solid quietude and silence, as open my understanding, by degrees, into all the a state more fit for attending to the Divine Word, needful mysteries of his kingdom, and the truths and distinguishing it from all other powers, and its of his gospel; in the process whereof he exercised divine influences from all imaginations, and other my mind in dreams, in visions, in revelations, in motions; and being daily fed with the fruit of the prophecies, in divine openings and demonstrations. Tree of Life, I desired no other knowledge than Also by his eternal and divine light, grace, spirit, that which was thus given me." power and wisdom or word, he instructed and informed my mind; and by temptations also, and provings, which he suffered Satan to minister; that I might see my own weakness and danger, and prove to the utmost, the force and efficacy of that divine love and truth, by which the Lord, in his boundless goodness and mercy, had thus visited my soul. By all things I saw and heard in his wonderful works of creation, by my own mind and body, by the animals, reptiles, and vegetables of the earth and sea, their ranks and subserviencies one to another, and all of them to the children of men; by the sun, moon and stars, the innumerable host of heaven, and that boundless space which they move in, without interfering, or any way annoying one another, all depending one upon an- It has been said, the mind of a child is as acother, all connected without a chasm, and all go-tive as that of a statesman. This must be acverned by the steady laws which the Almighty knowledged, since it is admitted, that a child Word and Fiat who gave them being, and formed them, placed them under, and settled them in. learns more the first two years of its life than in any six subsequent ones, and only think what the little creatures have to acquire! They have

But, as the diadem of all, and the only true and certain way, when it pleased the Most High,

EMPLOYMENT IS BETTER THAN SCOlding.

Great unkindness and injustice is often done to little children, by treating them as mischievous, and scolding them for being troublesome, when the truth is, the little creatures are either weary for want of employment, or else the love of knowledge, or curiosity, has induced them to examine the inside of something they ought not to have meddled with. Find them something to occupy them-work, such as they can do, or some innocent amusement-and they will not trouble you with mischievousness.