Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-22 00:00:00

.ENpitrasg POLICY IN, INDIA.

Mr. A. G. Stapleton, formerly private secretary-011'51r,
Ctnning, has addressed another• oommanicatien• to the
Braiford Foreign Affairs Committee. With respect lo•ou'r
policy on the Asiatic continent, he writes as follows:
" Lords of the ascendant, revelling in our irresistible'
might, almost every hostile proceedingin. which• England
has beerfengaged, has been an outrage on law. We have
taken offence without just grounds—Vie have pretended
to be aggrieved, when we were really the- aggressors. We
have commenced our proceedings 'on the instant with
violence and bloodshed, and we have only relaxed our
overwhelming oppression when our prostrate victims
have purchased our forbearance (?) by conceding to us a •
province or a kingdom. We have insisted on pecuniary
indemnity, when we -aught onrselves to have paid it
-
Such is a true and unexaggerated statement of British •
doings in the East. In proof thereof, to whet do you
appeal ? To the one-sided evidence of interested
individuals ?—to loose accusations put forth in foreign
journals ? tNo! yeu]appeal to none of these ; yotrappeal
to' the evidence of blue books, which .albeite garbled,
coloured, and perverted, contain enough to satisfy those
who search them, of•the•truth of all your charges. Take,
for instance, the Afghan war and• the first war• with
China. With respect to those two wars, a committee of 30
members of the Colonial Society Ca body of some four- or •
five hundred gentlemen connected with the colonieslda-
beriously examined into the p apers which were laid
before Parliament. 0* the Afrg'san war they came
unanimously to this conclusion--tbat. 'for the war there
was no necessity, not even.so much as,an.apparent cause -;•
that therefore it. was rabbery and not war ; that being a.
violation of the law of nations, it was a. violation of the ..
British. COnstitution ; that it entails upon this-nation loss •
and injury, and involves it in.clanger ; that it is as:cruel
and unjust to our fellow subjects in India as the Affghan
people ; that it renders Great Britain, hitherto the de- :
fender of uetional right.,, the chief violator of those
rights.' In the case of Cainae.a judicial sentence of the
Court of Common Pleas haA• pronounced all our hostile
proceedings illegal; and the .sa.ase committee, after a
most elaborate exposition of. the: Parliamentary paper",.,
unauimouslTdeclared that the crime committed against
China was an aggregate of acts the most infamous and
despicable.' To the everlasting disgrace of this country,
these crimes have long since been laid bare to the public
without any attempt being made to punish those by
whose agency they were committed, Impunity
,has pro-
duced its natural consequences esimilar crimes have been
and are being repeated under the sam3 influence. —.ln
Burmah, and to a certain degree in Persia) international •
law has been violated ; and detestable outrages have been
perpetrated upon the innocent inhabitants. From China
each mail brings report of hostilities, carried on withoutZa
jnstifiable cense, but also carried on without those neces-
sary forms being passed through, which the laws of war
prescribe; and the neglect of which consqueutly stamps
these hostilities with a piratical and murderous character.
To those who are endued with a just sense of- right and
wrong, the conscientiousness of belonging to a nation
which tolerates those atrocities, is almost a maddening
reflection. It affords one, however, no small consolation,
that there are yet amongst us those whose bosoms burn
with virtuous honour and indignation at crimes for which,
as a part of the whole, they unhappily are responsible.
You, at any rate do not allow yourselves to be deceived
as to the true nature of these deeds, by the wretched
excuses that Eastern nations are differently constituted
from European, and that the only intelligible language
to the Orientals is the language of force.' You know the
very different testimony borne by that celebrated
historian—Macaulay—who has studied deeply Indian I
affairs in England, and Indian society in India. He re-
cords it as his deliberate opinion, that English valour
and English intelligence have done less, to preserve our
Oriental Empire than English veracity;' and that 'the
greatest advantage a government can possess is to be the
one trustworthy government, in the midst of governments,
which nobody can trust.' The nations of Asia are-not
less capable than European nations of distinguishing what
is just from what is unjust—and assuredly the eternal laws
of justice do not vary with the longtitude of the climate."•

- THE SAVE OF POISONS.--We have a'ready given an
abstract of the Sale of Poisons Bill in its amended. form
the modified measure, however, being only printed for th;
consideration of the public during the approaching recess
On Thursday was published a blue-book of 140 pages,
containing the interesting evidence adduced before the
select committee of the House of Lords by the following
witnesses, viz., Mr. J. Bell, Mr, T. N. It. Morsofl, Mr. G.
Waugh, Mr. P. Squire, Mr. Lionel Bird, Mr. H. Denne,
Mr. J. Abraham, Mr. J. Baker Edwards, Mr. William
Herapath, Mr. Hammitt, Mr. F. C. Calvert, Mr. Walter
Wilson, Dr. W. T. Brande, F R.S., Mr. S. J. Burch,
M.R.C., Dr. A. Swaine Taylor (the toxicologist), and Dr,
Moore Neligan. The evidence of Mr. Herapath and other
witnesses. points to legislative enactments as utterly
impotent to prevent suicide by poisons. "If a suicide,'
observes this witness, "cannot have recourse to one mode
of destroying his life he will to another." Even the bill
restricting-the sale of arsenic has not been altogether
successful. Mr. Herapath conceives that any "Poisons ''
Bill must have three objects in view,-1. Secret poisoning'
4. Suicide; and, 3. Chancemedleye He doesnot believe that
any one system can be introduced to check the whole of
these; and as to suicide he thinks " it will be totally impos-
sible, under any circumstances, to prevent it. As regards
intentional poisoning, he thinks registration, in a book
mieht do something to check it. Mr.. Herapath objected
to the absurdity of including in the- schedule of poisons
prohibited so large a number of Plearmecopeolal prepara-
tions, all of them being used more or less for medical pur-
poses. He thinks the list should be confined to drugs
that may be used for secret poisoning, as those which are
tasteless or not to be recognised, by the victim are-few in
number. He would prohibit for secret poisoning arsenic,
Fowler's solution (or the liquor potassa arsenide), prussic
acid, strychnia, and nux vonalea ; for hocussing, cooulus
indicus ;, and for procuring abortion, ergot of, rye and
saving. It would be impossible, or very difficult, to
legislate as regards opium. Mr. Hammill, the police
magietrate, appears to object to compel pereens wanting
to buy poisonous drugs to go before a magistrate; he
thinks " it would be a great impediment to the adminis-
tration of medicines in. proper cases, because there are
few medicines tha: are not, in large doses, poisonous."
lie does not think you could legislate for the sale of
1 laudanum, because a. peer man, although " distressed" in
appearance, might want it, for the toothache as well as a
;rich man. Any medical man, too,, will bear testimony to
the immense value of opium, botlain the solid and liquid
form, as a check to choleraic diarhoaa and other alarming
affections of the intestinal canal, Dr. Taylor, the toxic°
logist, thinks that legislation %%mild have the effect, not of
doing away with poisoning in any form, but of considerably
reducing the number of accidents from poison, and also
rendering it more easy to trace out crime where poison has
been obtained for improperpur poses. It is impossible, he
adds, to prevent the use of poison for suicidal purposes.
Dr. Taylor was asked howhe could meet the case of opium
where labouring men came to the extent of 200 or 300
a-day for that seductiwe drug. He answers that there
ought to be " some limit" to that ; but even now there is
a difficulty. A. gentleman in the city was refused the
other day a drachm, of laudanum for the toothache, he
being unknown"; and at a second shop, he was only
supplied with 25 &epee and no mere. Dr. Taylor suggests
that in these cases the dose might be swallowed in the
presence of the dreiggist. It is certain that opium is con-
sumed to a lane extent in the manufacturing towns, and
Dr. Taylor says that it causes 37 per cent. of deaths
annually. The sale of opium he thinks it would be difficult
to stop, as o smuggled trade would inevitably supervene on
the suppreseion, of the regular business of the druggist.
About 20 to 25 drops of laudanum may even be obtained for
a penny. and thie for an adult is a safe dose, although a fatal
one if admielistered to an infant as a quietus. It is fuether
shown that if the sale of poisons by the regular druggists
were res'ericted, sqntiry subtle poisons, such as hemlock
and henbaneemigbt he procured, and, for improper pur-
poses, from the herb lets of Covent• garden and elsewhere;
and Dr.,Tayber suggests whether those (often ignorant)
herbalists Ought not to be included with the druggists
Nvileri tkle dal in an particular poisons. Here a curious
aneedeeey ise related.y A. gentleman living in Portland-
Place: wee ordered by his physician to take the well-known
infr.sion of ash leaves. - On taking the prescribed dose he
W as seized with very alarming symptoms, and was soon in
re state of narcotism an 1 convulsions. The physician was
sent Tor, examined the infusion, and drank a wine-glassful
himself, but with tte same alarming consequences. It,
turned out.that the herbalist (of Covent-garden) had sold
belladonna (the deadly nightshade) instead of. the ash
leaves. In another case a druggist's apprentice took the
iberty of dispensing, instead of black dose (the vele-
kno wn purgative preparation of senna), the " black drop,"
or acetate of opium, a madly nareatic Dotson -, and in
Another case, strychnine was dispensed with Mal effects,
in the place of saticine, a tonic prepared frow. the bark of
the willow-tree. Such are a few points or, the evidence
which a cursory perusal of it, has affueo„ed us an oppor-
tunity of extracting.

suiting with defendant respecting two Comity Court
actions. The defendant contended. that he had never
consulted the plaintiff in the,County Court actions; and
that in respect to the action in. the Court of Record, he, .
had merely given him, instructions to plead, and the-
whole costs had been paid by Mr. Diciinsori. The.,
Judge, looking at the itetas in the bill, said that it appeared .
to him the charges were lower than usual.; he thonght:;
the plaintiff had charged too, little. The .elefendant said
that when the Court ©.f Record action was given np, the-
plaintiff said to hica -that Mr. Dickinson. would pay the
costs, and subsequenety he told him that Mr. Dickinson_
had paid the costs. He (defendant) hail received a gee
summons at the same time (March last) that he received.
1 the plaintiff's first awount (the account had not been ren-_
dered till then, although the matters referred to had been.
concluded in the July previous), and as that was the.
election time, he could not but look upon the whole affair
as an act of intimidation. (Lettg,htar.)- His Honoilr asked,
the defendant what the plaintiff had to do with the gsa.
summons? The defendant said it was at least 5 curious.
coincidenee. The plaintiff's cleric, who appeared to pre-
sent° the ease, handed in tete letters which had beam
received from defendant, and which defendant admitted hie
had sent. His Hollow reser them amid the laughter or
the court. The first was an follows :--
MarchlBs7:.
Sir,—Henry Fletcher -wishes to know if yous comrnudea-
tioa was intended to 'be read at the ward meetings, and to be
published- through the city as a political illustration. An
answer per bearer -will &Age.
The second bet ter was sent after the plaintiff Ille sent
in his detailed? bill, in, July. It was as feilows :
Swait Court, Manchester, July 30„ 1857.
Sir,—At your bill ;is a fictitious one, intended for the pur-
pose of intimidation ar corruptioe. I shal foci it ;lay duty to-
take the tretible of inquiring whether, undo: the circumstances,
you,are nc.t liable to tholaw against bribery and intimidation
at elections, or to the law arminst conspiracy, to, defraud. Unless
you withiraw the claim, I shall subrait the matter to the
Master of the Roll-. Your answer by, return., will oblige,.
yours, &c., lIENRY. FLETOELSR.
To Mr. Southern.
His Honour sail that was certainly intimi lation
threatening Mr. Southern with, the Master of the Rolls..
(Laughter.) After the long experience the, defendant had ,
had in that court, he really considered, he should have,
paid the bill. Verdict for the plaintiff,

In the unusually severe storm,on Sunday week, the.slec-
trio fluid. ignited a stack of wheat in a field the property
of Mr.. Biildero, of Rittlesden, and, every sheaf WV 3, con-
sumed. At Oakley and about the same time., one of
Kerrison's gamekeeper's took shelter under a tree, but the
rain falling heavily he removed to anothrir tree, and. within
a feweiinutes the one he left was struck by the electric
fiui.d and shattered to pieces. Burg Post.
Tun SALE AT ALTON. Townus.— i Ire amount realised by
the sale of the contents of this fans MIS mansion is 441,000,,
added.to 'which the plants in the gardeussold for £250.,.
making &grand total of rather more thanL42,ooo. The
sale is considered to have been
,a most successful one, amt
Messrs. Christie and. Manson ha•.-e bean highly compli-
mented by the executors for thrir share in its management.
TUB INDIAN MAILS AND TB& EGygnAN. Gov.EuN)IENT.
—lt is hoped that the cunduc.t of the• Egyptian Govern-
' went, at this crisis, will not be; passed over without notice,
Ever since the outbreak of th Indian mutiny, the
management of the transit of the Egyptian mil front.
Sue z.to Alexandria has become., worse than ever.. On the
present occasion, the Jura steamer was detained at
Alexandria in order that +.,,rie English mails , from India
and China. 'might be deeria(
oiled a day sooner. Bat the
Egyptian Government, '
I;tiough aveare that a steamer was
ill wailing, contrived%tat the tralsport cf the Bombay
mail across the Isths.nus should occupy ten hours more
than was occupied in the transmission of the Calcut
mail, whic`a was the heavier of the two. It will be asked,
perhaps, what is the English Consul-General doing ? It
will be remembered that the E tglish Consu:-Gleneral is the
same eary_going gentleman who protested against belts!
again subj:cted to e4o much trouble as was entailed upon
him by the forwarding of a regiment from India acros
the Isthmus on its way to the Crimea, Btsides, thi
gentleman is at present absent upon leave, drawing hi
fall salary, and acting as the (we btlieve paid) privet
secretary of his brother, Lord Elgin, in China. Th
management of English affairs in Egypt is confided, in hi
absence, to a gentleman whose deep stake in the Egyptia
railway renders him naturally averse to urge the Paella t
anything he has little mind to.-1)00 News