The Sun.
London, England, 1839-06-27 00:00:00

PROSPECTUS OF

THE PROVISIONAIC6MMITTEE;t or
Forming a BRITISH INDIA SOCIETY, for bet-
tering the Condition of our Fellow-Subjects—the Natives of
British India.

PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE,
With power to add to their number.
ADAM, WILLIAM, Esq., Late of Calcutta.
ALDAM, WILLIAM, Jun., Esq., IPeds.
BACKIIOUSE, JONATHAN, Esq., Darlington.
BLAIR, W. THOMAS, Esq., Bath.
BOWRING, JOHN, Esq., LL.D.
BRIGGS, Major-General.
BROUGHAM, Lord.
BROWN, F. C., Esq., Tellieherry.
CHRISTY, THOMAS, Jun., Esq.
CLARKSON, THOMAS, Esq.
CRAWFORD, JOHN, EN.
FORBES, Sir CHARLEs, Bart.
FOSTER, VESEY LESLIE, Esq.
FRANKLAND, THOMAS, Esq., Liverpool.
HARDCASTLE, JOSEPH ALFRED, Esq.
HARFORD, JAMES, Esq , Bristol.
HOWITT, WILLIAM, Esq.
HULL, JOHN, Esq., of Uxbridge.
PEASE, JOSEPH, Sen., Esq., Darlington.
SMITH, Sir CULLING EARDLEY, Bart.
THO.MPSON, GEORGE, Esq.
TREASUREx—Major- Genera's Briggs, 11, York Gate, Regent's
Park.
HONORARY SECRETARY—F. C. Brown, Esq., 22, Harley-

street.

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TRAVELLING SECRETARY—George Thompson, Esq.
BANKERS—London and Westminster Bank, 9, Waterloo-place,

and Lothbury.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY-31r. Edward Baldwin,

Temporary Office, Guildhall Coffee-house, King-street, Cheap-

side, Ebndon

It is admitted in Great Britain, and known to be but too true
by all who have had personal experience of the real state of India,
that although a commercial intercourse has existed between the
British Isles and India, for more than two hundred years, and
the Government of this Empire now rules over a hundred mil-
lions of the inhabitants of the East, there is, nevertheless, a
general want of inforn...f;",, atralrs, and an almost

. -
total indifference felt respecting them. it must be obvious to
all who reflect upon those facts, that such a state of things con-
trasts strangely with the duty we owe to our distant dominions,
with the extent, the value, and the importance of our East
Indian Possessions, and with the many and vast interests in-
volved in the question.
British India is an Empire as large as Europe (exclusive of
Russia), with a population, including tributary States, of more
than one hundred and fifty millions. Over this Empire and
People, a sway is exercised wholly British ; and consequently,
the want of an accurate knowledge of Indian affairs, and the
absence of a proper interest in the public at large for the wel-
fare of the natives, must operate prejudicially upon their
minds, since they cannot but feel that their destinies are in-
fluenced by the disposition manifested towards them in the
parent country.
From the perusal of a variety of official and other doesments
of recent date, it appears that ignorance, poverty, crime, and
disaffection, prevail to a distressing and alarming extent
throughout the British Indian Territories. It also appears,
that during the last twenty years, though a period of profound
peace, there has been a succession of famines of the most deso-
lating description. It has been estimated that the famine of
1837-3 S, in the Upper Provinces of Bengal, swept off more
than half a million of the inhabitants. Famines are this vear
ravaging the Northern Provinces of Bombay and Madras. These
calamitous events are rendered the more mysterious and affect-
ing, when viewed in connexion with the statement, that the soil
of India is a soil of unequalled fertility, and that a very large
portion of it (by some authorities, computed at one half) lies
uncultivated, and covered with jungle, the haunts of wild beasts.
Information on these subjects has, within the last few months,
been laid before the public in various parts of the Kingdom.
The result has been, a deep feeling of compassion in the minds
of many humane and influential persons, and the formation of
Associations for promoting the welfare of the natives of India,
in Sheffield, Glasgow, Ness-castle-upon-Tyne, Edinburgh,
Darlington, &c. A strong feeling has, besides, been expressed
for the establishment of a Metropolitan Society for the same
object ; by whose inquiries and efforts, the friends of India,
throughout Great Britain, might be guided and assisted in this
new and benevolent undertaking.
In consequence of these circumstances, and in accordance
also with their own deep feeling of interest in the subject, the
individuals whose names are attached to this Prospectus, have,
after mature deliberation, resolved themselves into a Provi-
sional Committee, for forming a Society, to be designated the
" BRITISH INDIA SOCIETY, for bettering the condition
of our fellow-subjects—the Natives of British India."

In making known this resolution to the public, the Corns
mittee consider it their duty to state very briefly, but distinctly,
their motives and plans.
The Committee has its origin in a regard for the welfare of
the natives of India, who, owing allegiance to the Government,
are entitled to lookforsyrnpathy and succour from the people of
England. The Committee desire to found the proposed So-
ciety upon the strictest principles of justice and humanity—
upon a basis which will permanently exclude the adoption of
party, of sectarian, or mercenary views. They contemplate the
use of those means only which are moral, peaceful and consti-
tutional. They would suggest, and labour to secure, the delay
of all specific plans of amelioration, until every doubt respecting
the nature and extent of alleged existing evils, and the neces-
sity of remedying them, is entirely removed.
The primary duty of a BRITISH INDIA SOCIETY would
therefore be—to obtain from every available source authentic
and impartial information respecting the present actual condi-
tion of the natives of India and the circumstances of the coun-
try, and to give to the inform:Aiwa :•,o obtained the widest pos-
sible circulation. The means of accomplishing this necessary
preliminary object appear to be, viz.:—
To bring together, analyze,condense,anddiffuse, the facts
already- at band.
To adopt the best means of obtaining regular and syste-
matic information from all parts of India.
To begin a collection of the most useful Works on every
branch of the subject.
To issue, under proper management, a Piltiodical Publica-
tion, containing the most recent, important, and inte-
resting Indian intelligence.
To reprint, in whole or in part, such Works as may be
calculated to elucidate particular portions of the great
subject.
To employ an active, experienced, and effective Agency,
for the organization of Provincial Auxiliary Societies.
The judicious and zealous prosecution of a course, such as
has been now described, would, the Committee feel assured,
effectually remove the apathy which at present exists. That
apathy, they believe, may with justice be ascribed to the diffi-
culty which has hitherto attended the search after correct and
comprehensive information, respecting the condition and cha-
racter of the natives of India, and the nature and effects of Bri-
tish rule in the East.
The Committee entertain no doubt, that, when the vast im-
portance of our Possessions is understood—when the claims of
one hundred millions of British subjects are recognized and felt
—and when the responsibility and moral obligation of this nation
towards them are considered, a great and generous effort will
promptly be made, to benefit a country, which contains within
itself, the means of returning a hundred-fold into the bosoms of
its benefactors, all the blessings they can possibly confer upon it.
The Committee prefer to make their appeal to the just prin-
ciples and Christian feelings of the country. They are not ig-
norant, however, of the extent to which they might address
themselves to the I.,yalty, the patriotism, and the interests of
their fellow-citizens ; but they believe that such an appeal is
unnecessary. They feel convinced that no argument is required,
to demonstrate the inseparable connexion between the bettering
of the social, moral, and intellectual condition, of the countless
millions of India, and the accomplishment of those ends which
are sought by the promoters and patrons of legitimate corn-
p
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sincerely and earnestly solicit advice. They especially desire
the aid of gentlemen who have resided in India, and who, after
perusing this Prospectus, feel that they can cordially unite in
the work proposed.
Finally, the Committee respectfully solicit pecuniary assist-
ance. Subscriptions and donations will be gratefully received
by the Treasurer, Secretaries, Bankers, and Members of the
Committee.
May 25, 1839.
*,,* It is the intention of the Provisional. Committee to give
due notice of the public formation of the proposed Society. and
to invite the presence and aid. on the occasion, of those Friends,
in different parts of the kingdom, who may have already espoused
the cause, or who may be desirous of doing so.
s. Since the First Edition of this Prospectus was issued,
the Committee have received, from various parts of the country,
the most encouraging assurances of sympathy and support. The
Committee have been peculiarly gratified by the Resolution
passed at the Annual Meeting of the Relief Synod of Scotland,
on the 14th inst.—recognising the great importance of the
object the Committee have in view, and pledging the co-opera-
tion of that respectable and influential body. The friends of
humanity will rejoice to find that Thomas Clarkson, Esq., the
venerable and enlightened friend of African freedom, has
heartily united with those who are associated in this effort for
the improvement of the condition of their fellow-subjects, the
Natives of British India.
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Sir Charles Forbes, Bart ..... £lOO 0
Joseph Pease, Sen., Esq
General Briggs 5O 0
Jonathan Backhouse, Esq 5O 0
F. C. Brown, Esq. ...
William Aldam, Jun., Esq. 25 0
John Harford, Esq 25 0
Thomas Christy, Jun., Esq 2l 0
Thomas Clarkson, Esq 2O 0
Dr. Bowring 5 5

Itlo'°insßtruct those interested
DEBILITY, NERVOUS IRRITATION,s.Th
in these subjects on points of importance to health or ease of mind:—
Al E
il4I
WorksCA L
areA Di \ ' l
intendedO intended
(Twenty-third Edition, Si. each)
THE /EGI i OF LIFE affords a comprehensive physiological
Ist ' e&feo.llow-
history of the progress of the solitary passion, libertinism, and intem-
perance, exhibiting their rueful consequences, tending to sexual
prostration, with the various forms of nervous irritation and mental
anguish.
~d BYGEI ANA is written for the sensitive female, who, while
she shrinks abashed at the idea of revealing her sufferings, may find
in its It is especially cal-
culated
for timid and delicate wives, whose maternal hopes have been
deferred.
'fflE SYPHILIST is intended for the perusal of those who
are suffer ng from an insidious complaint, so frequently resulting from
pages a confidential and capable adviser.
indiscretion or gaiety, and producing syphilis, gonorrhoea, glect, stric-
ture, &C.

WENTWORTHS, NEAR VIRGINIA WATER.
MESSRS. MURRAY and TATTER-
SALL have received instructions to SELL by AUC-
TION, at Gexravray's, on WEDNESDAY, the alst July next,
(unless previously disposed of by Private Contract),
The WENTWORTHS ESTATE. comprising above Three
Hundred Ames of productive and highly improving Land, of
which one hundred acres at e under farming cultivation, and the
residue in Plantation and Woodland.
The principal entrance is by the Lodge, nearly opposite to
the 21 mile stone on the Great Western Road from London to
Southampton : the grounds being enclosed in a ring fence.
The Mansion, an elegant residence, in complete repair, con-
tains a vestibule, or entrance Hall, Breakfast, Drawing, and
Dining•rooms (30 feet by 20), and Library, with ten principal
Bed-chambers and Dressing-rooms on the first floor, and every
convenience attached ; Servants' Apartments, Domestic
Offices, and extensive Stabling ; good walled Garden, &c. ; a
capital Farm-house, conveniently situated, with suitable agri-
cultural buildings, and several Labourers' Cottages, with gar-
dens to them, all in very good repair.
The Coverts and Plantations thrive luxuriantly, and afford an
excellent breeding ground for game. The beauty of the sur-
rounding country, and the excelleme of its roads, in the neigh-
bourhood of Windsor, and the immediate vicinity of Windsor
Park, and the easy access to both the Great Western and
Southampton Railroads, renders this residence highly worthy of
notice. _ _ _

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For further Particulars apply to Messrs. Watkins and Hooper,
Solicitors, 11, Sackville-street ; or Messrs. Murray and Tat-
tersall, Surveyors and Land Agents, 47, Parliament-street..