its they were successful. On the night of the
18th of February, marching in a body, the whole Chinese force of the
settlement attacked the little capital, set fire to the houses, murdered
several English and their servants, endeavoured to seize the person
of the rajah, and succeeded in making the bishop captive, burning
his valuable library, and committing every sort of depredation. They
preserved the bishop unmolested, in the hope of using him, in case of
defeat, to make better terms for themselves, or, in case of success,
to induce him to act as their negotiator with foreign barbarians! The
rajah, and most of the English settlers, escaped to the opposite side of
the river, where they concealed themselves in various places adapted
to their purpose, until a body of Dyaks (natives of the country) were
gathered for their defence. A small British steamer opportunely entered
the river, which, with the English residents and the Dyaks, attacked the
Chinese, defeated them, slew three-fourths of the men, drove the rest
into the interior, burned down their villages, and executed upon them
a terrible vengeance. Sir James Brooke, with his usual energy and
dexterity, repaired the disaster, and subjected future Chinese settlers
to regulations which rendered rebellion too desperate for attempt.

INDIA.

The year 1857 will be ever memorable in the history of India. A mutiny,
chiefly of the Bengal army, and a rebellion, chiefly in the Bengal
provinces, disturbed the whole country from Cape Comorin to the
Himalayehs, agitated deeply the British empire, and excited the
attention and astonishment of the world. The progress of commerce,
revenue, and prosperity in every form was of course interrupted.
Nevertheless, during a portion of the year, and over a large area, the
usual operations of trade were continued. While a brilliant career of
material improvement and commercial advancement was developed by our
Indian empire, the event burst forth which deluged the Bengal provinces,
and Central India, with blood, and appalled the world. It is now our
duty to give a brief record of that terrible event.

THE MUTINY.

In a previous chapter it was related, that at the close of the year 1856
symptoms of mutiny were exhibited in the Bengal army. At the beginning
of 1857 these symptoms became demonstrative and terrible. It is
difficult to say how far an acute and foreseeing government might have
prevented the evil, but the last persons