Talk:Crown Colony of Labuan

The picture of the audience hall currently used is from a different treaty

Treaty of Oct 1844 - Labuan was discussed but not formally offerred / ceded

Signing of the Treaty of Labuan 18 Dec 1846

I would suggest changing the picture currently used

to this one ------------->:

The picture you are using has been mis-captioned by MANY people which is why I didn't just switch it. I suspect it may upset people if I just changed it without talking first.

The picture many have labeled and used to illustrate the cession of Labuan is actually the signing of the Treaty between Brunei and England in Oct 1844. The anti-piracy and friendship treaty that was negotiated when Pengiran Muda Hassim returned to Brunei on the HMS Samarang and HEICS Phlegethon. The 6-pounder gun loaded with grape ammunition etc... is because Brooke was essentially deposing Pengiran Usop and replacing him with Raja Muda Hassim.

You can read for yourself here in Frank Marryat's book - https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=XM5CAAAAcAAJ&pg=GBS.PA108&hl=en

After the capture of Brunei 8 July 1846

The Sultan was intimidated by Mundy - it took 3 attempts for Mundy to see him. He tried in August, Sept and finally the last time in Dec.

You can read about the 1846 negotiations here: https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=FB1JAAAAcAAJ&pg=GBS.PA294-IA2&hl=en

Dec. 18. - At daylight I sent Lieutenant Little Dec. 18 . in charge of the boats of the Iris and Wolf , armed with twenty marines , to the capital , with orders to moor them in line of battle opposite the sultan's palace , and to await my arrival . Lieutenant Heath , was to assist as interpreter , with the Malays brought from Singapore . At noon I arrived . Pangeran Mumin received me on the steps , and the sultan at the gateway of the audience hall , and after shak ing hands , and the usual salutations , conducted me to a seat . The room was crowded with the pan gerans , rajahs , and dependants generally well dressed , and all armed with the krise . I com menced business immediately by stating that I had brought a treaty for his highness's seal and signa ture sent by the British Government which I hoped he would approve of , and which I begged might be read aloud by my interpreter . This was done , and the following are the clauses , short and to the point :

If you want to show the armed presence then maybe this is a better picture. I don't have conclusive proof but I'm pretty sure the flag on the right is the red & yellow flag of Raja Muda Hassim's family members who survived the massacre in late1845/early1846.

Marines stationed outside the Sultan's palace during the signing of the 1846 Treaty of Labuan

MatSallehSesat (talk) 16:26, 21 January 2023 (UTC)

And if you still don't believe me, the artist Frank Marryat who drew the audience hall picture was on the HMS Samarang and the HMS Samarang was sent home in 1846. It arrived at Spithead England on 1 Oct 1846. He had nothing to do with the 1846 treaty. MatSallehSesat (talk) 21:12, 23 January 2023 (UTC)

If this is the case, the Commons description will need to be changed and the file moved. It seems right though, the timelines are not very clear, but the Marryat book states they left Singapore for Portsmouth in May 1846. CMD (talk) 02:08, 24 January 2023 (UTC)

If you read Marryat's book and Belcher's book together the timeline and events becomes clearer.

It's one of those beautiful history moments where you get 2 different perspectives of the same event.

18 year old Midshipman Marryat's out on the water with Lt. Baugh and the barge's 6-pounder loaded with grape pointed inside the audience hall, and Sir Edward Belcher & Brooke are inside the hall unarmed.

It seems Marryat didn't even understand where the trouble could possibly come from. The threat was Pangeran Usop and his supporters not the Sultan.

Belcher's description of the night and the treaty that was signed in Marryat's Oct 1844 drawing is here:

https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=jotKAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA174

A state evening meeting was arranged , on which occasion the Rajah and his brothers occupied their usual places in the circle . The Rajah , addressing the Sultan , commenced by pointing out to him the danger of the councils and proceedings of Pan geran Usop , and dwelt particularly on the late act of defiance , by which he had endangered the peace of the country . Pangeran Usop replied , but as all this was carried on in the most courteous manner , I could not , from my then imperfect knowledge of the Malay language , but believe that mere matters of courtesy were passing , until Mr. Brooke observed , " how beautiful ! how beautifully he is dissecting that rascal , and how neatly he replies , every word , on both sides , is in the highest strain of courtesy , and yet they are cutting each other's throats ! "

At length the Sultan , motioning the Rajah to him , said , " my father enjoined me at his death to be guided by your counsel , and I intend to do so ; " and feeling suddenly ill , retired , desiring Mr. Brooke " to consider the Rajah as conducting affairs . ' On the retirement of the Sultan , the Rajah immediately assumed the power , and arraigning Pangeran Usop with his impolitic acts , sent the remaining Ministers to the Sultan , accompanied by Pangeran Usop , to propose the immediate razing of the batteries , in order that no further offence should , by possibility , be offered , from this source , to Great Britain . Upon the return of the Ministers , with the formal assent of the Sultan thereto , orders were forthwith issued for " their demolition before dawn . " Pangeran Usop was mildly treated , and permitted to act in an inferior station ; he was evidently much pleased that he did not fare worse , and it is highly probable that the presence of Mr. Brooke tended much to this desirable end . Affairs having been thus arranged , a document , addressed to the Queen of England , was duly completed , and the seals of the Sultan and Pangerans formally attached , requesting the friendship of Great Britain , and offering aid in the suppression of piracy ; and , as a further proof of their anxiety for the advantages of commercial relations , offering to cede the Island of Labuan , and its dependencies , upon terms to be hereafter agreed upon.

THE SULTAN OF BRUNAI TO THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND . " THIS Document is addressed by the Sultan , and the Rajah Muda Hassim , as Rulers of the territory of Borneo, to the Queen of England . The Sultan , and the Rajah Muda Hassim , desire to gain the friendship and aid of the Queen of England , for the suppression of piracy , and the encouragement and extension of trade ; and to assist in forwarding these objects , they are willing to cede , to the Queen of England , the Island of Labuan , and its islets , on such terms as may hereafter be arranged by any person appointed by Her Majesty . The Sultan , and the Rajah Muda Hassim , consider that an English Settlement on Labuan , will be of great service to the natives of the coast , and will draw a considerable trade from the northward, and from China ; and should Her Majesty the Queen of England decide upon the measure, the Sultan, and the Rajah Muda Hassim, promise to afford every assistance to the English Authorities."

Here's a better version of the picture - properly documented:

Anglo Bruneian Treaty 23 Oct 1844

There is already a link to the Marryat book on Gutenberg at Commons [1], perhaps you can add a link to the Belcher book as more information. Would be nice to have a secondary source, but this seems enough for you to writeup a move request on Commons, and of course to replace the image here. CMD (talk) 10:02, 25 January 2023 (UTC)

oh that's neat - i didn't know Gutenberg uploaded the pictures as well - thought they were only text. As for the move request... I'm quite new to wikipedia and not sure about wikicommons interface, there's a disclaimer saying they don't edit... - where do I write a move request? and send to who? MatSallehSesat (talk) 13:45, 25 January 2023 (UTC)

You may be able to move it yourself, More->Move. Otherwise you can use the code {{Rename|required newname.ext|required rationale number|reason=required text reason}}. You can edit the description directly, and perhaps you need to note it is a variation of File:Anglo Bruni Treaty 1844.jpg (and vice versa). CMD (talk) 15:12, 25 January 2023 (UTC)

References