COMMANDER-IK-CHIEF^ POSITION, 



fiBhornicn are flying to the interior for safety : I will not 

 disgniso fi'ora you that both Captain Kcppers character 

 atid my own are compromised in native opinion," &c. 



Ho states, in a snbsoqucnt despatch to Lord Palmcraton, 

 that "the necessity was so pressing at the time, and that 

 it had become so urgent a duty to save the lives of 

 innocent people, that he went out iD native boats, mitil he 

 Tvaa assiyted by the steamer Nefnesisy when ho sm-prised 

 the people ef Serehas through the Italiika rivor, with the 

 object of keeping them in check, till a larger force should 

 arrive," &c. 



TlmB the naval Commander-in-Ciuef received itifor- 

 maihn — ^not orders — from Her Majesty's Consul at 

 Labuan. He was his own judge of the necessity and 

 propriety of taking any active measures in coosociueucc of 

 such information. He was his own judge m to the 

 meaning and spirit of the instmctions /te had received 

 from the Admiralty : and, therefore, were I to stop 

 it is evident that Sir James Brooke must stand exouorated 

 fi*om any share in responsibilities which could not possibly 

 be divided, but wliich must be borne by some one 

 individual. There can no blame attach to Sir James 

 Brooke for stating fmfs to the Commander-in-Chief for 

 his information. If decided tliat the facts disclosed 

 called for armed intervention, lie was accountable for this 

 decision : and, in turn, the officer who received from him 

 orders to execute is accountable for all that was done in 

 execution of these dtders. Where then can Sir James 



