VISCOUNT STRATFORD DE RED-CLIFFEasked the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, in sanctioning the appointment of Mr. Richardson as Consul at Sarawak, under the exequatur of Sir James Brooke, Her Majesty's Government intended to recognize Sir James Brooke as an independent Sovereign in Borneo?
§ EARL RUSSELLsaid, that application having been made for the appointment of 691 a Consul by the Rajah of Sarawak, he felt it his duty to ascertain first whether Sir James Brooke had been placed in an independent position by the Sultan of Borneo; and, secondly, whether, if he had, there was any objection to the appointment of a Consul in his dominions. It appeared to be clear from the papers which were submitted to him that an independent position had been granted by the Sultan of Borneo to Sir James Brooke; and the Law Officers of the Crown, upon being consulted, gave their opinion that there was no objection to the appointment of a Consul at Sarawak. He therefore advised Her Majesty to appoint Mr. Richardson to be Consul at that place.