The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-08 00:00:00

PvtATistc r Tf‘

melancholy, but it was true, that it was the work of
Englishmen, by men who claimed to be highest
in the scale of civilization—they were the pri-
soners, the murderers by starvation. Not one of them
but in private life would spurn at having those words
applied to him ; but because it was done in a body, did
that make any distinction when the fact was see We
had now arrived at a period when these hideous things
should be made known, when men should be raised
from a slumber resembling death, and be awakened to
the voice of humanity.—(Cheers.) Let them use all
their energies, and slacken not their efforts until they
had abolished all trade in opium—abolished the
salt-tax, and until the man, the native of India,
could call his house his own—(Loud cheering)
—and his family be enabled to live in the hope of suc-
ceeding him. They were a brave, a generous, and a
gentle race. Where was to be found the Gentoo err the
Mahommedan who was capable of refusine' succour to
the needy, or mercy to all—who ever stood braver cat
the field of battle ? He would appeal to their sense of hu-
manity. Oh, why should the mother be obliged to become
the agonized executioner of her children—to theirsenseaf
Christianity—oh let not the foul blot remain longer
upon the pure and celestial shield of Christianity—let
it not be an empty theory and 0- vain name, but let the
Gentoo know its sacred influence alone by its beneficent
acts—teach l.im your superiority by shoving him you
are his benefactor and his friend—the voice of humanity'
is raised to you, and Englishmen will obey its call,—
(The Hon. and Learned Gentleman sat down atnidst
loud cheers.)
Sir C.FORBES, in rising to second the resolution, said
he would show them his sense of the Littering manner '
they had received him by not attempting to details
them at any length after the eloquent speeches which
had been addressed to the meeting. He could not re
sist the opportunity, however, of congratulating thee
meeting and the people of India on having such able
advocates as the Noble Chaim-ia and the Hon.
Member for Dublin. He congratulated the people of
India not only upon their appearance that .day, but
from the steady advocacy of two such men, The
Noble Lord, while Lord Chancellor, had been mainly
instrumental in passing a Bill which raised
the .natives of India, by giving then the
privilege of filling not only the office of Juror, bat s
Grand Juror and Justice of the Peace. Upon that
occasion also Mr. O'Connell most ably supported the s' !
friends of India in the House of Commons. He had •
with him an extract from a speech made by the Hon.
Gentleman in September, 1831, in which he eloquently
pleaded for equality between the natives of India and the
Europeans there. For his exertions the chief natince
of India had written him a letter of thanks. He was
sorry to be obliged to say that he concurred in the
greater part of what had been advanced by all speakers
who had preceeded him. He wished he could bring
himself to believe that lie was mistaken in the evils and
injuries that had been inflicted upon the natives of India.
—(Hear, hear) These sentim .nts of his were nothing
new.—(Cheers.) He would conclude by coogratu-
lating the meeting upon the number and respectability
of those who bad attended it. He was surprised, how-
ever, to find so few noblemen or gentlemen connected with
India, and who, like himself; owed every thing they had in
the world to that country. He trusted they wouldpereevere
in their efforts—that they would endeavour to conciliate
that kind•and generous race of men who might forget
an injury but a kindness or a benefit never.—(Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and agreed to.
Lord BROUGHAM observed, that the worthy Barontet
who had just sat down had come forward when the K
terests of India were at stake manfully, fearlessly, and
ably to discharge his duty to a country in which he had
passed the greater portion of his life, and to which he
had been on all occasions ready to pay the debt of gra-
titude lie owed. He wished the same disposition bad
been evinced by other parties to pay their debts to that
country ; but lie hoped the gentle and just hint of the
Hon. Baronet would be the means of inducing them to
attend their next meeting.—(Cheers.)
Mr. FINCH, M.P. for Walsall, felt great pleasure in
coming forward to give his humble aid to the objects of
the meeting. The resolution which had been put into
his band was as follows :
That for the purpose of obtaining and diffusing informa,.
tion--of directing more efficiently the public attention to r
subject involving no less our commercial and political inte-
rests, than our social and moral duties—and of suggesting
sed giving effect to such measures as are likely to improve
the circumstances, and provide for the happiness of the
people of British India, an Association be now formed, to
be called " The British India Society, for bettering the con-
dition of cur fellow-subjects—the Natives of British
He was satisfied that a resolution with such objects
in view would be carried unanimously. If they looked
at what had lately taken place in the North American
and West Indian possessions the people of England would
see the importance and necessity of paying more attention
to the wants and wishes of the inhabitants of their 'lndian
empire. He believed a great and lamenteble deficiency of
information was abroad with respect to India, and never-
was that more conspicuous than on that occasion, when .
lie (Mr. Finch) had lent his humble aid nith Mr.
Crawford in endeavouring to get rid of the Ei't India •
Company's Charter.—( Hear, hear.) They shotild re-
collect, however, that getting rid of the Charter was
only one step towards the objects they had in
view. After the eloquent addresses they had' liStened
to, he need not detain the meeting by divining upon the
unhappy condition of :he docile, hurn:me, and kind-
hearted nation of India—(Loud cheers)—from genera-
tion to generation they had berm miliketed;to Vie' sway
of successive conquerers—theY 'had been Tire'it'elp led
to be shorn, and like lambs led to the slaughter, and
opened not their mouths. He wouM not trespass :
further on their time, but merely propose the resolu-
tion for its adoption.
The Noble CHAIRMAN said, he lied no right to in-
terfere with the arrangements of the Committee, but he
had a particular interest in interpoSing Menthe present
occasion. He was exhausted by the proceedings else-
where, and would be obliged very shortly to seek
needful rest-=if he did not therefore call u pen his friend
Mr:Thompson to address them now he would be de-
prived of the benefit of hearing him at all, as he could
not hear him where he ought to be heard—in the House
of Commons. He hoped, therefore, Mr. Thompson would
break the arrangements of the Committee, and second
the resolution.—(Cheers, and calls for Mr. Thompson.)
Mr. GEO. Tuastieson then came .forward, and was
loudly cheered. He said—Nothing was more remote
from my mind five inmates ago-than the thought of ad-
dressing this re, pectable and intelligent assembly, nor
do I feel justified in trespassing snore then a few mo-
ments upon its time, seeing tlait the day is far advanced,
and that there are those behind menvho have been ap-
pointed to speak to certain resolutions, and who, full of
matter, and still more full of. zeal, would go away dis- .
tressed if they were not able to tell you that which
they know of India, and which would he more difficult,
how much they love the country in which they have spent
many years of their past lives. I can know but little of
India ; that which I have gathered respecting the con-
dition of it I have gathered from works and eye-wit-
nesses. But I have not been slothful during the last ,
nine months in collecting evidence touching the present
condition of 80,000,000 of people who deeell between
the Himalayah mountains and Cape Cormorin and the
sacred waters of the Gange.4 and the Bramahpooira
on the one side, and the Indus on the other. It is
most extraordinary fact in the history of this country,
that in the accumulation of benevolent institutions to
guard the rights and extend the liberties of mankind,
there has never been formed, even to this hour,
(for at i
present there is no metropolitan association in retarenee
to this topic, although I trust not many minutes will elapse
ere you will with heart and voice ratify the determinatnen.
that some individuals have come to, that a society of
this description shall be formed in London)—it is most
extraordinary that in London which owes ranch of its
wealth to India, there should be no British India
Society.—(Loud cheers.) . I say it strikes me as, a
most extraordinary phenomenon, that there should
have been no Society for making known the wrongs of our
Musselman and Endo() brethren, who are so much en-