The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-16 00:00:00

BURA7NG OF lIINDOO WIDOWS.

A return has been made to the Houce of Commons, of the
nullifier of Staters, or immolations of Ilindoo widows on
the funeral piles of their husbands, which has caused a
good deal of discussion in the daily prints. From these
returns it appears, that the annual number of victims to
this horrible superstition has hardly either increased or de-
ems:A throughout the Bengal Presidency, as far as the re-
port goes, at least ; though there are different numbers
reported every year, yet these are not regularly greater or
less than the se of the year preceding.
The question upon this subject scans to be within very
small h Is indeed, and to resolve itself into two beads ;
tinit,—llave we, the governors of the country, aright to In-
terti!re with what the people of the country consider as a
religious rite, and of which the victim is so voluntarily f
and, seemully,—llave w•e the power to pr.:vent such a sa-
crifice ?

On the first of these questions there may exist some
doubt. Ram Mobun Boy, the best-inforined and most
liberal-minded Bramin that ha• ever lived, declare s, that
there is nothing in the Willis, or Ifindoo Scriptures, which
even sanctions hitch a barbarous usage ; but as his duo rine4
are not considered more cirtlnalox by his e:ountrytnen than
Mr. flume's or Mr. Oii.bon's are by oars,—and as every
one interprets the Scriptures after his own fashion, without
much regard to tI:Q reasonable meaning of the text, his opi-
nion must be put out of the question altogether. But one
thing is certain, that even if we atimit the justice of allow-
ing this sacrifice t 3 people come to the years of discretion,
we ought not to permit those whose minds are not suffi-
, ciently expanded to be freed from tin shackles of parental
control, and who can have none of that connubial affection
for a husband to whom they arc only betrothed by the fiat
of their parents, to throw away a life of which they know i
not the value. We should not, in that case, hear of
children of twelve, and even seven years of age, burn-
ing themselves with old men who might be their grand-
fathers.

If, on the other hand, it i 3 admitted that we have a right
to interfere to prevent what we consider a movt atrocious
murder, the means are at hand and very eadly used, and
the outcry about the danger of interfering with the reli-
gious prajtulices of the natives is nonsenvieal. A police
officer, with a serjeant's guard of Sepoys, has been found
amply sufficient to prevent the annual sacrifice of children
at Sangur Island, and no tnunnur has' been heard on the
subject ; and the Thannadar or Derma of the district,
with a doz n of his men armed with hill lattice (Hi-
bernere, shillelahs), nould he amply sufficient to pan a
at hole procession to the rotate, Bramins, relations, Wal-
lahs, and all, and no complaint would ever be beard on
the subject. As the matter stands at present, it does not
appear that the Thannadar has any interest in interfering
at all ;—if he is a Ifindoo, he will be loath to interfere
with the rites of his own religion ; if, as is most frequently
the cue, a Mussulman, he will look upon the sacrifice of a
heathen in her idolatory as a matter so perfectly in the
proper order of things, that he would not lay down his
hookah to prevent a whole generation of unbelievers front
petishing body and soul : but give him, in either case, a
reward equal to what he would receive for killing a tiger,
or intercepting a smuggler with a load of contraband salt
or opium, and you will not have a Suttee from Ceylon to
the Himalaya Mountains.

Yesterday a Court of Directors was held at the East
India House, when the following ships were thus sta-
tioned, 'hr.:—

The Sealeby Castle, Capt. D. R. Newall, Bengal and China.
Charles Want, I:Apr.--; lionihay, Capt. ; Lowther
Castle. Capt. Baker; Bucking hanuhire, Capt. Iliciiant Maioipoole;
and Warren Hastings, Ciiptain Richard Rawer—for China direct.
The times of the ships Atlas and Herefordshire, were
changed, via.:—To be afloat 4th January, 1823; sail to
Gravesend 19th ditto; stay there 30 days, and be in the
Downs the tad February.
Last week a ship was taken on a slip in this dock-yard—
liftoslren Sir Robert Seppings plan, her old false keel
taken out and a new one put in and fastened, befor: the
reflowing of the tide !—Piumonth Parer.
PATMUNT or PRIZE-MONEV.—Ann, widow of Thos.
Hanes, a seaman on board his Majesty's ship Sanspareil,
in 1792, on a late application to Greenwich Hospital for
her husband's share of priz:-nloney, was informed that it
bt ing only Is. Gd. it was too small a sum to be remitted ;
reply was immediately forwarded to the clerk of the Check-
office, stating that it was nut too small to be accepted by
an aged widow ; when an order was in consequence dB.
cially issued that the sum of Is. Gd. should be paid, free of
expense, lit di: Excise-office of Towcester, and it was re-
ceived there by the poor widow on IVe.duesday last.—
Northampton Mereury.
In the spring of the present year, the crew of the Pre-
v. ittive Service boat stationed at Portpatrick caught a
young start or water-raven—a species of sea-fowl, which,
though scarcely known on our shores, abounds particularly
on the coast of Ayrshire, and is at once remarkable for its
whimsical appearance and great dexterity in the art of
diving. This nursling was brought on shore, and placed
in a shed at the village of Drumore, where it has regularly
roosted ever since. In the morning and eve • git hops
about very much at its ease, and is ready to give battle to
the boldest of the poultry, by whom it is regarded as a sort
of interloper. It then retires to the coast to fish and gam-
bol with its own kindred: but evening always brings the
wanderer home. Though only about the size of an ordi-
nary duel:, it has been known to gobble up at once, and
apparently with case, a fish weighing 21bs. '1 his feat, of
course, occurred at Drumore, for as it never brings a single
fin home, nor rejects a codling on account of its size, no one
can tell the extent of its swallow.—Domrries Cuuricr.
ST. LEO ER START.—The Corporation RTC about to adopt
means to have the course near the St. Leger starting-post
kept quite clear of the populace during the time of starting.
This excellent regulation will allow the company on the
stand, and the whole line of spectators, to ace the horses
take their canter past the Grand Stand towards the Red
House. Independent of the gratification this will afford to
the company, it will obviate the sudden turn which several
of the jockeys were obliged to take, to get any thing of a
start with the leading horses, as, from the great space about
the starting-post, the horses may be walked up by a gentle
curve. This is a desideratum. Other regulations for the
greater comfort and safety of the lives Rini property of the
visitors are being adopted. Besides the usual attendance
from Bowestreet, a number of additional constables are to
be sworn in.—York Courant.

On Saturday week, in the parish of Davidstow, Devon.
a person gave a tea-lroonful of oil of vitriol to an infant, in
mistake for syrup of rhubarb. The little innocent lin-
gered in torment fur an hour, when death put a period to
its sufferings.
An inquest was recently hold on a Mr. David Jones, who
arrived in Bristol on Thursday, from London, and after
dining at the house of a tradesman in IVine-street, took a
walk towards Clifton, and on ths following morning he
was found drowned in the river, near the Black Reck.
Several sovereigns, a watch, pencil-case, &c. were found
ou his person.—Verdicr, FannilDroirnel
Coax WA LL MlNl:S.—Quantity of Copper Ore, sold at
Rear-nth, on Thursday, 1703 tons.—Average produce, B.
Quantity of fine Copper, 136 tons, 19 cwa—Arnount of
Sale, 11,92'21. Ks. Ga.—Average Standard, 1411. St.—No
'Sale next week.—Copper Ores sold at Swans.a, Sept..l,
593 tons.

l'inntmo and Co.'s Office, No. 1, Cornhill, still proves
the foots of attraction ; the public arc Impelled there by
the never-to-be-forgotten instances of extraordinary !Int—
one Gentleman, cf Ltadenhall-street, obtainc Five Capi-
tals there within twenty-five months, two of them ilitkrent
20,0001. Atiodur Gentleman purchased Two Shares of
20,000 f. in two sucemding Lotteries (the last Share sold
by Pidding and Co. to one, and the first in the next): be
had also two other Capitals there, a 1,0001. and a 5001.1
These and many similar occurrences, though sounding like!
tales of romance, are absolut •ly facts. Thera are now
Four of 20,0001., with 34 other Capitals, all to be decided
Sth of October, and Pitliling and Co, hope an ample die-
tribution of diem will signalize the new office they hart,
opened at 13, South Bridge, Edinburgh, which will always
have part of every number shared at the Lucky Corner,'
No. 1, Corolla,

DESPERATE ATTEMPT ET THE rzLzErit"

!SLANDERS.

The Syren, South Sim Whaler, Captain Frederick Coffin,
arrived, on Thursday evening last, at Deptford, after a
voyage of twenty-five months, having left Gravesend the
21 of August, In She was beeilt as a pleasure yacht,
by. the express command of Duonaparte, and has met with
great success, having returned with three hundred and
twenty tons of oil. During the riaswige out, on Easter
Monday, March 31st, 1523, while off' the southermcst
of the Pelew Islands, under a lively breeze, several large
lulling canoe. mipearea. in sight, which increased in num-
ber to near thirty, each having from six to ten on board,
upon which the Syrcn ,lackened sail, and on approaching,
Imany of the natives called out, as through metiers of le-
quiry; " English ? English ?" and being answered in the
at 9 trniti ye, they came alongside, and with tolerably correct
!pronunciation, repeated, " Give us a rope;" this was coin-
plied with. From the generally reported mild and pacific de -
meaneur of these people, who, to the number of about Into,
quickly crowded the deck, civilities werr exchanged in ap-
i parently the most. friendly manner, and as they brought
few provisions with them, and no artier a of curiosity,
the crew comineneeel bartering for their spears, wit's
which they were armed, and with which they seemed t. 4
, part reluctantly. At this time the vessel continued under
easy sail, the canoes closely accompanying tit m, to their
companions, in which those on board seemed in no degree
anxious to return. The mate, *rho felt a little elistrtht
from their superiority in number, the cr •w being on!y
thirty-seven, communicated his op!uien to the captain,
who instantly coincided, and gave orders to crowd rune
sail, thinking it would induce them to depart. This ap-
peared to occasion some little dislike, and in a few minutes
after, while Captain Coffin was in a boat !imbed is the
side, giving orders to that effect, two of the natives, at a
preconeerted signal it is supposed, suddenly seized him,
and endeavoured to throw him into the sea, while a general
attack was commenced on the rest of the crew. The
Captain disengaged himself, succeeded in gaining the deck,
and calling aloud that their lives and the safety of the ship
'depended on desperate lighting, a fierce engageMent en-
' sued. Those of the natives whci in traffic had parted wick
their spears were assisted with others from the canoes, or
availing themselves of the harpoons, which with great
den,rity they broke to a suitable length, while others
gaining the whaling spades, used in digging into the fish
when caught, continued A most furious attack; notwith-
standing the disparity, the crew succeeded in driving them
to the stern of the vessel, Where they leaped overboard and
regained their canoes. _ _

It is worthy of remark, that when any of the native,
were wounded, or Ftunned by being knocked down, they
were instantly thrown by the:r comrades i•ito the sea,
wit. ra they either swam, or Were picked up by their emu.
panions, who frequently attempted to accompany them to
return, but were always repulsed in endeavouring to get up
tile idea, and throughout encouraged than by loud cheer.
in'. On their quitting the Syren, the crew commenced
tiring, and though greatly exhauited, having a ready sup-
ply of ammunition, it was kept up while within maraca
shot, but with what effect is riot known, as several they
suppt sod killed, from their falling into the water, we:Ferrol
to rise, and regain their canoes. Nearly the whole of the
ship's Company were wounded severely in this attack ; the
effects of which, notwithstanding the unremitting exer:it»:s
and skill of the surgeon, several will never, it is feared, en-
tirely recover from, and it is to be regretted that the cat-
Fitter, named Joseph Caulfield, who fought most cou-
rageously, lost his life by a blow from a whale spade, whieht
nearly severed his head from his body ; as did Witiiaru
Warren, boat-stecrer to the second mate, who was speared
most duradfully through the bo.ly. Th • !vine has left an
aged mother, and the former a wife and ten children, liv-
ing in London, totally unprovided for. The retrcit el the
savages was as sudden as tl:e attack, from their mode of
which, their pronunciation of certain words, their jealousy
in parting front their weapons, the seizure cf peculiar im-
plements, and converting them into weapons, the attack
and a:izure of the captain, and its commencing when there
were fewest on deck, the crew continue in opinion, that the
whole was concerted end organised by Huropeans or Ame-
ricans, resident in the bland. What deterred Vim from
entertaining the least suspicion was, the Syren having a
short time previous spoke to a vessel, which stated that she
had been a-ground neat the Pellew Islands, and the prompt
assistance that had been rendered by the natives.

C.4NXIBALIS.IL

(From the Bogen Deqy .4deernser.l

In the tr;g Sultana. which arrived at this port yesterday,
from London, came passenger Mr. Joseph Price, of Wit.
inington, Delaware, who was one of the crew of the brg
Genersl Gates, of Boston, and was taken pawner by the
natives of New Zealand.

The General Gates sailed from Boston in IP2I, on a
scaling voyage, and on the 10th of August fonowing, Mica
was landed, with five others, on the coast of New Zealand,
to catch seals. After remaining there six weeks, having
procured 3.563 skins, they were taken by a party of native
of New Zealand, at ten or eleven o'clock at night. The
naives set fire to their huts, burnt their skins, and de-
stroyed their provisions, not knowing the use of them.
They then tied their hands behind them, mulled them
to Looking-glass Bay, a distance of more than a hundred
and fifty miles. They had nothing to eat but roasted fiall.
They were then marched 200 miles, to Sandy Bay, where
they found a collection of savages, who carried them be-
fore their King and Queen. As soon as they arrive!, one
of their number, John Rawtcr, of London, was ordered
to be killed. Ile was tied to a tree and struck on the hea.l
by two savages armed with clubs. His head was cut off
and buried, and the rest of the body they roasted in a kind
of oven under-ground, and offered to the survivors to cat;
and having nothing else, they were forced by hunger to
partake of it. They tied the remaining five to a tree, with
SO men to guard them. Time next day, James Webster
was killed and roasted ; the day after, William Rawson,
of New London ; and the day after, William Smith, of
New York, shared the same fate. The next day, from
what they could learn from the ceder, James {Vest, of
New York, was to die; but the night previous, a heavy,
squall rose from the cast, with thunder and rain, which se
frightened the natives, that they all ran away to the wee,t,
with a hideous noise, leaving the men feel under tit: tr.y.
They succeeded in untying themselves, escaped to the
shore, found their boat, in which they put to sea witbeut
provisioner. They were not thirty yards from the shorn
when they saw 700 savages coming in search of throe.
They had been three days en the boat, when they were
pie Led up by the brig Margery, Captain White, of Sid-
ney, New South Wales, at which place they were landed
on the 10th of November.

ArrarnEwstow or A SWlNDLER.—Thurstlay, a well-
dressed fashionable looking fentlrman, going by the name
and ad:lress of J. White, Esq. of Sligo, but whose real
name is Taylor, from the county Tyrone, went to Mr.
Ellard's, in Patrick-street, and ordered ■ pined of t;!ik
handkerchiefs and stockings, two pieces of linen, loos of
thread, needles, fie. which he ordered to he sent to Mr--
White, at the Cork Hotel. The gentleman of the chop
having seen the customer in the Cork jail, recognised bins
on taking his order, and immediately after Squire 11'11!te
Lft the shop, he went to Captain Drought, who load two
of trio police dressed in coloured clothes and sent to this
shop, and on the goods being made up, one of the voliee
went to deliver them as the shopkeeper's clerk. The roods
were taken up to his rotes., and after a few rollout a the
new clerk was called, and asked by the gentleman why 04
remainder of the ordtr was not executed, adding, at Oh:
same time time. " Stay here with these goods, and I will
go over myself to order the remainder, and I will rhrn pay
for all."Phe policeman retrained; but Mr. White, aut.;
Taylor, not minim; back, the palieeroato return•d to the
ebtp, alien iewaa discovered that ,welre of the silk ham:-
ki rchlefa hail vanisheeL The police went ito pursuit ; and
at two o'clock yesterday morning this unfortunate young,
man was found in a lodging-house iu the East Liberties,
about tour miles from town. He An accordingly brought
in and committed to gaol.—lt appears that this young
man, who is about twenty years of age, has been practising
similar carers in Cork, Waterford, and Clonmel ; bat, per-
haps happily for himself, his career in this way is cut
short, as he wad have to meet with the tuitigatcd
punish-
ment, a bile a continuance in these pract:ci.z may Lave lad
to utory serious results.—/rirA Tines.