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(Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. June 15, 1852.)

CONFIDENTIAL.

Disputes between Sir James Brooke and the Eastern Archipelago Company.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TITLC.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Return to Address, printed February 17, 1852, p. 2.

Correspondence printed in return

to Address of March 20, 1848, p. 6.

IN 1847 a memorial praying for the incorporation

of the Eastern Archipelago Company, by Mr. Wise and a few others, was presented. It was opposed by the Chamber of Commerce at Glasgow, who alleged, among other things, that Sir James Brooke, then lately appointed Governor of Labuan, was a partner. The Board of Trade, in answer to this opposition, said that "they had not before them any fact showing that such partnership, direct or indirect, exists."

It seems that no copy of the deed of settlement of this Company was ever, in fact, deposited with the

Return, February 17, 1852, p. 3. Board of Trade; but a certificate that it was so

deposited is indorsed on the charter, which, by the terms of the charter itself, is "conclusive evidence" of the deed having been duly prepared and depo- sited.

There is very little in the printed papers to throw light on the origin of the Company; but the follow- ing allegations are made by Sir James Brooke, in his letter of April 10 last. This part of the letter was not printed for Parliament, as relating to pend- ing legal proceedings :.

"42. Having now concluded as curtailed a re- joinder as circumstances would admit, to Mr. Lindsay's communication, I propose submitting to Secretary Sir John Pakington the result of the inquiries which I have made into the affairs of the Eastern Archipelago Company.

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"43. In my previous despatch, addressed to Lord Grey, I have stated that it was to be regretted that Messrs. Henderson and Co., and other mercantile firms of acknowledged influence in the commercial world, should have retired from an undertaking they were so capable of carrying out successfully, from a difference of opinion having arisen as to the terms or the mode of remunerating Mr. Wise for the be con- rights he was said to possess, but which it may cluded were granted to him by Her Majesty's Govern- ment for a public, and not for a private purpose.

"In consequence of the retirement of these capi- talists, it became necessary for Mr. Wise, to whom Her Majesty's Government had entrusted the form- ation of a company to be incorporated under Royal charter, to find persons better disposed to sacrifice the public good to individual interests.

"44. An instrument was therefore drawn out and signed, on the one part by Mr. McGregor, Mr. Hugh Hamilton Lindsay, Sir John Pirie, Mr. Alex- ander Nairne, and Captain Drinkwater Bethune ; and on the other part by Mr. Henry Wise. This instrument was executed previously to the forma- tion of the Company, and was subsequently incor- porated into the deed of settlement, and contained the following clauses:

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1stly. Mr. Wise to be one of the managing directors of the Company, irremovable, except by a general meeting of the shareholders, for misconduct or incapacity.

"2ndly. Mr. Wise to be paid 6000% within four

calendar months next after the complete formation

of the Company.

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3rdly. And also the annual sum of 30001.

every year, during the first ten years of the exist-

ence of the said Company.

4thly. Mr. Wise to receive 100 shares in the Company (i. e., shares of 1001. each), and every call from time to time as the same shall be made on each of these shares, to be paid up out of the capital of the Company.

5thly. Mr. Wise also to receive 21. 108. per cent. on the amount of all dividends and every bonus to be made by the Company; provided that no such per centage shall be payable in any case, or at any time when and where the amount of such dividends and bonus shall be less than 71. 108. per cent of the Company's capital.

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