The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-24 00:00:00

SINDE.

Viscount JOCELYN moved for copies of the evidence
and report of a Commission appointed to inquire into a
charge preferred against his Highness Meor Ali Morad,
Amur u Upper Sinde, of having made fraudulent altera-
tions in the treaty of Normahar, concluded between his
Highness and the late Meer Koostun Khan, and of all
minutes and correspondencia on the Indian Records con-
nected with the charge: and, of the report on Sinde of
Sir George Clerk, K.C.8., late Governor of Bombay,
dated the 24th day of April, 1848. The Noble Lord, in
making ths motion, addressed a few remarks to the
House, with the view of showing that the docu-
ments that he moved for ought to be furnished
to the country as a matter of history. He was aware
that many years ago the Sinde question was supposed
to have be.n finally disposed of: but silica then many
neby matters had c, me to light, and it might hereafter
turn out that the native prince referred to in his motion
was not quite undeserving the commiseration of the
House. It was some time since a Noble Earl had
moved for a portion of these papers in another place;
but the papers produced were only part of those which
he now called tor. The papers had not been returned
to the seciot department of the Indian Board, but to the
East India Company, and there could be no difficulty in
producing the documents which he asked for. The
Noble Lord then proceeded to recal to the recollection
of the House the incidents and results of the campaign
in Sinde, which began in 1838, and terminated
in 1842. In 1841 Sir Charles Napier came upon the
Sinde scene, and immediately concluded an alliance with
Afi Morad, which so alarmed Meer Koostun that he

threw himself upon fho mercy of the British General.
The British General, however, instead of rendering him
assistance, referred him to his brother, to Ali
Monad, and iu the end Meer Koostun was
forced to take refuge in Lower Sinde. Here the people,
indignant at the treacherous treatment he had received
from his unnatural brother, espoused his cause, and
a terrible battle ensued between them and the
British forces. The natives were defeated, and'

then it transpired that Ali Morad, through
the instrumentality of a forged alteration, which
he had introduced into a treaty, bad secured property
which belonged by conquest to the British Government.
A Commission was thin appointed to investigate this
charge, which was made at the instance of Meer Koos-
tun, and the forgery was proved. It was also
established that toe charges which had been preferred
against Meer Koostun of conspiring, with the Court of
Lahore, against the British Government, were wholly
without foundation, and the evidence upon which they
were attempted to be supported to be pure fabrication.
Subsequent events, and after discoveries, had only
tended to confirm the innocence of Meer Koostun,
and it was only an act of justice to that unfortunate
prince that he now asked for the production of these
papers, which would redound alike to the honour of the
British Government as to the credit of the victims of the
abominable and unfounded charges which he had just
been adverting to. In 1842 the opinion of the Governor-
General was entirely in favour of the unfortunate Meer
Kuostun. But a few years later that untoriunate prince
,d been a homeless wanderer. He (Lord Jocelyn) had
received innumerable letters from officers who had long
resided in Sinde, testifying to the high character of
these unfortunate princes. The position of the
Ameers sines the acquisition of the Sindian
territory has been wretched in the extreme,
some of them even had been reduced to
actual distress. The wives of these princes had remained
at Hyderabad, where they lived in a hovel without even
a mat on the floor, and scarcely protected from the
weather. This was one of the most painful stories con-
nected with the British rule in India. It was a story
known throughout Central Asia, and it had even pene-
trated ir,to Africa. It was a question involving the ho-
nour of the British name, and which therefore required
the utmost attention. In behalf of the exiled Ameers of
Sinde he asked for the consideration and sympathy of
the House.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS said he felt it to be an
honour and pleasure to second the motion of his Hon.
Friend. The treatment of the inhabitants of Sinde was
the most strking instance of tyrannical oppression re-
corded in the page of history. He hoped that the House
would attend to the suggestions of his Hon. Friend.
Mr. BAILLIE considered that the speech of the Noble
Lord had very little reference to the motion which he
had submitted to the House. He was surprised that the
Noble Lord should now rake up this old question with
regard to our Indian policy of 1848. If blame
attached to any one it was to the Government which
sanctioned the acts of which the Noble Lord complained,
rind of which he was, notwithstanditig, a member.
Six o'clock having arrived, the discussion was ad-
journed till to-morrow.