The Express.
London, England, 1849-02-21 00:00:00

it belonged to the abominable system of c
No doubt It differed from that Brants m
Thos great mistake of this tax was ita
Lord Torrington declared to be iss princi
the Buddhist priest, who was vowed t
like other natives. It was said, indeed,
priests frequently broke their vows, and LI
much resembled the old " nolo epise ion
being never observed.—(laughter) ; but
difference between the breaking of a
openly requiring it to be broken. (He
a most unwise, impolitic, and unstateatt
to offer such en Jesuit to any people as
their priests to violate their now (II
this tax had been repealed by Lord Tun.
the consequence of that ? The priests of
complained. The Bishop of Colombo ha
which he claimed a sin.ilar exemption
minister. Lord Torrington refused to ad
ground that if he did so, he must great
to the ministers of all other religiec
bishop asserted that the exemption of t
alone would produce among the natives
the religion of those priests was auto
(Hear, hear.) Now, he thought it mu
one that he had fully established
the imposition of these taxes was
They were either right or wrong in
year. If they were right, surely it was
repral them before the termination of t
alternative, the hon. gentleman could
conclusion that the conduct of the goven
been most injudicious. With regard
taxes also, ht contended that they prods
content among the Kandians cf the inte
dicioue taxes the sole causes of the diet
t yr. (Hear, hear.) It shou'
i that thes eaKandians of the interior had
the rule of this country since the year
were an old fixed race totally distinct in
the maritime provinces, who bad been
to the European sway. Yet it appear.
ton irritated and wounded their stronge
feelings. His lordship stated, in a des
that within the last few years measure
he supposed by order of the Colonial
Buddhist religion. Whet right had
fere with the religion of her subjects ?
over millions of the followers of Buddl
leer. she had no right to interfere with
of the moat leered relics of the Budi
lingam ; and there was en ancient su
to the possession of that relic the lovers
be for ever attached. In 1815 that reli
In 1818 it was carried about as the I
which only terminated when we rear
For years afterwards the government is
&ion of it, treating it with honour, and
Last year. by order of the Colonial o
handed it over, as worthless, to the p
this manner he had wotnded the psi
of the Kandians. Thus boo we sown th
which injudicious taxes had ripened in
what wee the character of those die
constitute rebellion properly so called,
more than local riots ? Lord Torrinf
the 9th of July, stated that he had a
lies. that the maw of the Kandiani
Either, then, the government of
ignorant of the feelings and opinions o
disturbances did not amount to a rel

vemment were ignorant on the subject
Lord Grey's despatch of the 24th of I
turbances were little more than local r

statements of eye-witnesses. No injury
of Europeans, and the only violence c
the agents toaverandah. What follows
on ? Those who were captured in th
ances having been taken before the ist
lion, could not be tried by courts-mai
were captured after the termination of
subjected to martial law. From the
14th of September, 19 prisoners wen
and one of the kings of Kandy was
on • tree as • scarecrow. A. Bo
in his priestly robes. (Hear, het
perceive that the voice of the hon. gi
faltered when he attempted to defer
hear.) What would have been sai
hellion, a Roman catholic priest had I
robes? (Hear, hear.) Whether or
was responsible for these proceedings
to say ; bat it was certain that he mi
have stopped the executions by shells
he would appeal to the hon. gentl
bench whether the chief justice
ing that sufficient blood had b
Torrington in holding the contrary or
bar concluded by saying, that of ever;
due last year Lord Orey had uneqt
=rn ; therefore it was evident
evile was to be found i
Physically and morally Ceylon was par
sztunied Indian empire ; its races an
wholly the same. The troips apr
equally applicable and equally applies
to Ceylon to India. One reason wh
governed well by the Colonial-office
was too limited for the ambition of 2
triton. He was convinced that the t
ment of Ceylon to the Indian admit'
an annual saving of fully 130,0001.
Mr. ADDERLEY did not think th
reality an attack on individuals. At
from proposing a vote of censure upon
give him a vote of thanks, as to a ma
been raised up by providence for tl
damning the system with which he IR
Mr. F. Score supported the motion
Sir R. PEEL said—Sir, as I bell
monely agreed upon the course id
namely, that there is to be an inquir3
of the government in two out of ti
have been named—and as the hon.
Secretary for the Colonies challenge
quiry into the specific facts which I
hon. member for Inverness, I confer
by common consent so to modify the
to that committee that there thou
division with respect to them. (Ho
from the particular facts which wee
ability by the hon. member for Inv
be • public advantage in an inquiry
connected with the administration o
these colonies—en inquiry not fret
any particular secretary of state w
the function* of that department, but
entered into with regard to the sys
sued, with the view of ascertaininj
any modification or improvement
which should be calculated to give
ment to the colonies. Looking at
of Ceylon, I should think that then
and dissatisfaction existing, whethe
and I say, therefore, without refers
dividual consideration, that it migl
stitute an inquiry of that nature—
been often instituted in this house.
that we had one which extended o
was moved for by Lord Althorp,
government, and where no refiec
thrown out against any individual.
respect to the general condition
there might be a public advents
With respect to the challenge
the Under Secretary for tl
inquiry shall take place afte
honourable gentleman near
another ground for an inquiry, art
claration of the hon. gentleman th
foremost to urge the necessity for
fore that I shall enter into this
any particular Secretary of State
tion—the inquiry will extend to
the functions of the office without
ing. I say again, therefore, that
toavoid the possibility of any lot
an inquiry as directed against and
onee, it this is to be an inquiry
mercial condition of these colon
ing protection, and thereby encore
the minds of the colonists, I, for o
think it would be • great public e,
the colonists with the ezpectati
consent to the revival of tho
policy which it has so recent).
Boned. (Cheers.) But, sir, I i
parable to effect the object which
hues to have in Tien, so IS at
misconception upon the subject,
thought fanciful, but I neither
amendment. Let us not state wt
us by ear acts evince our determi
possible, without some reference t
all into this subject; and I am bar
there is, in this book which 'elan
to justify an inquiry. (Hear.)
tory; but there are official docui
responsible ministers of the crow
cuss questions of this kind and r
respect to the evidence preseate
ccal the fact that the reading of
very unutisfactory impression u
regret the general tine and spirit
are written. (Renewed cheers.)
rience in public life can be mo
allowance for the difficul post
upon to administer a most import
difficulty, than I am ; and I am
allowances on account of the dist
count of our inability to judge s
the I peculiar circumstances whir
rigorous exercise of the powers
hear.) I find that there was a
rebellion was suppressed ; I ben
had been uncertainty and delay
then we should have been distil
mein; and to have said that at
Amnon of vigour would have •
make full allowance, then, fir
actieg in difficult times. I d
Torrington for having proclai
not quarrel with • him it
shown a determination b 3
vigour and resolution to
or to suppress it after it
think It would have been perfi
ministration of the grutest riga
spoken in a very different tone
the executions which have taker
necessity imposed upon him. (1
as it has been stated by the hon.
admit, for the sake of argument,