tack Sakarran.

"The case stands thus:--Seriff Sahib, quite frightened at Sadong
since last year, enraged likewise at his loss of power and his
incapability of doing mischief, collected all the Sakarran Dyaks,
and was joined by many of the Dyaks of Sarebus and some Balows. He
likewise had a good many Malays, and bullied every one in his
vicinity. This force met at the entrance of the Sadong Delta, and
committed depredations. They were not less than 200 Dyak boats,
and some 15 or 20 armed Malay prahus, beside others. Just as
they were collected, the Harlequin appeared off the coast, and
had the Dido been with us, we might have _had them all_; but the
opportunity will never again occur. Seriff Sahib, with this force,
has started to-day for Sakarran, and I was not strong enough with
my eight native boats to attack him. It is really greatly to be
lamented, because we should most completely have crushed the head
of the snake. We must, however, make the best of it. It is his
intention, on his arrival at Sakarran, to fortify and wait for
our attack, and in the mean time to send out his Dyaks along the
coast and inland to such places as they dare venture to attack.

"Come then, my dear Keppel, for there is plenty to do for all
hands. I have ordered a gun-boat from Mr. Goldie, to make our
force stronger; and had I possessed such a one the day before
yesterday, I would have pulled away for the Sadong to-day.

"My regards to all. I still propose Pepper-Pot Hall for your
residence. I only wish I felt _quite sure_ that Fortune had it in
store that you would be here on your return from China. That dame,
however, seems to delight in playing me slippery tricks just at
present; and never was the time and tide so missed before, which
would have led to fortune, as the other day. All the queen's
ships and all the queen's men could not bring such a chance
together again.

"Ever, my dear Keppel, your sincere friend,

"J. Brooke.
"Captain the Hon. Henry Keppel."

No one could have been more disappointed or have regretted more than
my gallant friend Captain Hastings, that his orders did not admit of
any delay, or of his attacking that redoubtable pirate Seriff Sahib,
especially as he had a small score to settle with that kind of gentry,
having had his first lieutenant, H. Chads, severely wounded