The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-07 00:00:00

Death of a Well-known Hindoo-

The Hon. Juggonath Sunkersett, the recognised
representative of the Hindoo community of Bombay
for the last thirty years, died on the 81st of July,
and long notices of his character and career appear
in the local journals. Seventeen months ago a
public meeting of the inhabitants of Bombay was
held in the Town-hall, for the purpose of voting
him a statue. He showed considerable capacity for
public business. He took an active interest in
municipal affairs ; and his services in the Legisla-
tive Council have been valuable to Government.
He was almost invariably selected as president of
public meetings of his countrymen, and memorably
of the great meeting which voted the Victoria and
Albert Museum as a memorial of the transfer of
India to the Crown, and of the loyalty of the people
of Bombay to the person and Government of her
Majesty. He was president of the committee
elected to carry out the resolution of that meeting,
and president also of the Agri-Horticultural Society,
the Bombay Association, and of the Board of Trus-
tees of the Elphinstone funds. He was one of the
first members of the Board of Education ; and as
one of the founders of the Elphinstone College, and
for his labours in promoting education generally in
Western India, he will be especially remembered.
When he found death was approaching, he ex-
pressed the desire that matters connected with
that event should be conducted according to the
Hindoo religion, to which he was personally
attached. The Bhagavad Gita was read in his hear-
ing before he was carried to the lower room, on the
earthen floor of which it was desired that he should
expire; several cows were presented to him by Brah-
mins in a ceremonial form, and the wish was ex-
pressed by him that this donum should be expended
on his account to the number of 108. In the last
chamber to which he was takenthe Gajendra Moksha
(a well known passage of the Bhagavata Purana)
was read, and a thousand names of Vishnoo were
pronouced before him, while he rested on the bosom
of the earth. When the time of his departure ar-
rived water from Timbak, Benares, and Punderpoor
was poured upon his body. The deepest grief was
expressed by his family and friends when, about
noon, it was seen that he had breathed his last.
Among the parties who came early to express their
condolence on the occasion was Sir Jamsetjee Je-
jeebhoy, who, in succession to his father, has been
long one of his most attached and faithful friends.

The funeral procession left the garden-house of
the deceased somewhat after 3 o'clock in the after-
noon. The only son of Mr. Juggonath, with head
and feet uncovered, and the spare garments used
by the Hindoos when disposing of their dead,vi alked
in front of the body, carrying the fire employed in
commencing the cremation. About 500 members
of the Sonar caste, to which the deceased belonged,
several officiating Brahmins, and a few Banyans
walked behind ; while on the whole road to the
burning ground at Sonapore multitudes of specta-
tors were congregated together, and showing not
merely curiosity in the case but deep-felt emotion.
Among the poor on the road about 500 rs. were dis-
tributed in small silver pieces. After the usual cere-
monies the funeral pile was ignited by the chief
mourner at half-past 4 p.m. The wood forming
the pyre was of sandalwood, the favourite " tulasi"
(seen before so many doors of the natives), and
the " bilva" (Oratmva religiosa) consecrated to
Shiva, Mr. Sunkersett's favourite god. At half-past
8 o'clock the glowing embers of the exhausted pile
were quenched with milk, and the procession re-
turned to the house of mourning. Theparty forming
it then went sorrowfully to their houses, after the
chief mourner had, in the Hindoo form, performed
his first ceremonial ablutions.
The funeral rites will be continued for 10 to 12
days, according to Indian custom.
The Bombay Saturday Review says of the deceased :
" It is the general sentiment on the death of the Hon.
Juggonath Sunkersett that we did not fully know his
worth until we lost him, while his loss as a,represen-
tative native is felt equally by thoughtful Europeans
and Hindoos. A Hindoo of the Hindoos, and yet
sagacious enough loyally to accept accomplished
facts, thoroughly independent and yet conciliatory,
and possessed of a greater influence than any native
of Bombay ever has, or is ever likely to have again,
and yet using his power with remarkable unselfish-
ness, he at once gained the confidence of the Govern-
ment as a valuable adviser, and the sincere gratitude
of his fellow-countrymen. He owed nothing to caste,
nothing to wealth, and everything to the native
force of character ; in a word, he was a Mahratta,
a type of the race of Nana Furnavees and Rajah
Pinker Rao. Bombay will never again find so re-
markable a representative. Even in the accidental
accessories of his unique position he was perfect.
His complexion was fair as a high caste Brahmin's;
that is, it was as fair as an Englisman's or German's,
only its secondary hue was as of burnt sienna, and
not Indian red, as in Teutonic complexions. It is the
sign of higher nobility than Hindoo caste, or English
rank can give—the nobility of wholesome, unmixed
blood. His eye was large and brilliant, indicating
mental power, and lighting up a strongly chiseled
face full of character, and which in youth must
have been strikingly handsome. He was tall and
commanding in appearance, and his manners those
of the dignified and thoroughly well-bred Hindoo
gentleman. Wherever you met him there was none
goodlier than he to look upon, and from his shoulders
and upwards he was higher than any of his people."

Naval and Military Intelligence.

- -0 -

MALTA, Sept. I.—The absence of the fleet gives
little to notice of naval movements. The Magi-
cienne, 16, Capt. W. Armytage, left Malta harbour
on the 31st ult., taking with her a quantity of stores
and provisions for the ships she expects to meet at
Castellamare in the Bay of Naples. The Surprise,
4, Commander G. Tryon, has received her orders
for England, and has left Genoa for Portsmouth, to
be paid off. The Racer, 11, is here. The following
officers have arrived from Marseilles :—Dr. Parke,
R.A., from Southampton ; Assist.-Surgeon Nathan,
R.N. ; Assist.-Surgeon Ashford, Ensign Atchin,
Ensign Jamieson, Ensign Dowins, and Ensign
Crumely. From Sicily—Lieut. C. Russell, R.E.,
with Mrs. Russell.

Yesterday Mr. E. J. Reed, the Chief Constructor
of the Navy, visited Chatham dockyard,- for the
purpose of inspecting the progress made with the
iron-clad vessels under construction at that estab-
lishment, especially the two armour-plated ships
Bellerophon and Lord Warden, for the early com-
pletion of which every effort is now being made.
Both vessels lie in adjoining docks, close to the fac-
tory, where the iron work and other materials used
on board are being prepared. After transacting
business in the master shipwright's office, Mr. Reed
visited the Bellerophon, the most forward of the
two ironclads, on which all the available workmen
are employed. At the time of Mr. Reed's visit up-
wards of 1,000 workmen were employed in various
parts of the Bellerophon, and under their exertions
the frigate is rapidly approaching completion. The
whole of the extended armour-plating, as well as
the plates forming the bulkhead protecting the gun-
deck battery, are fixed, the iron decks laid, and the
ordinary planking in its place. Between decks all
is bustle and activity, and it is here that the princi-
pal work now remains to be executed. The large
300-pounder smooth-bore gun deposited some weeks
since on the main deck for experimental purposes,
with Mr. Reed's machinery for training guns of this
description, still encumbers the deck, awaiting the
inspection of the Lords of the Admiralty, who will
then decide as to the adoption of the machinery for
each of the otter 300-pounders the Bellerophon
will mount. Mr. Reed also visited the ironclad
frigate Lord Warden, the fitting of which is
being proceeded with, although the work is not
being pushed forward so energetically as is the
case with the Bellerophon. The 5 inch broad-
side plates below the water-line of the frigate
are already fixed, and the operation of fixing the
remainder of the plates is now being proceeded with.
The machinery for the Lord Warden is now being
fitted on board by Messrs. Maudslay, Son, and
Field, the contractors, the principal portion being
already fixed in its place. There is still several
months' work remaining to be executed on board
before this frigate will be out of hand and ready for
her first commission. Mr. Reed was occupied in his
inspection until late yesterday afternoon, when he
returned to the Admiralty.
The ships composing the Channel fleet at Spit-
head, consisting of the Edgar (flag), Achilles, Black
Prince, Prince Consort, Hector, Defence, Research,
and Trinculo gun-vessel, have filled up with coals,
stores, and provisions, and are under orders to sail
for Portland and a cruise westward. The Salamis,
despatch vessel, requires sundry repairs, which may
probably detain her a short time at Spithead after
the departure of the fleet.

The Austrian screw frigate Fredrich, Capt. Von
Wiplingen, sailed from Spithead early yesterday
morning on her return to Bremerhaven.
The Minotaur iron frigate, 6,621 tons and 1,350-
horse power of engines, is nearly ready for commis-
sion at Portsmouth, and her trials of speed over the
measured mile are expected to commence to-morrow
or Saturday. Although now nearly ready for com-
mission, yet, as she has been fitted as a flagship, she
may possibly not hoist her pennant of commission
until wanted to relieve the flagship of the Com-
mander-in-Chief on the Mediterranean station. One
of Commander Scott's iron carriages for mounting
and working 12-ton guns on the broadside is being
fitted on the Minotaur's main deck.

The Orontes, screw iron troopship, Capt. 11. W.
Hire, was undooked at Portsmouth to-day on the
completion of her refit for further service. To-day
the Warrior, iron frigate, will be placed in the same
dock from which the Oruntes has teen removed.

We understand that Capt. Oeoffrey Phipps
Hornby, at present flag-captain to Rear-Admiral
Sir Sydne: C. Dacres, K.C.8., the Commander-in-
Chief of the Channel squadron, will hoist his pen-
nant on board the Bristol, screw frigate, as Com-
modore on the Cape of Oood Hope and West Coast
of Africa station. Mr. G. Love, secretary onboard
the Edwar, accompanies Capt. Hornby in the Bris-
tol as secretary.

The depot of the 49th Regiment, at present sta-
tioned at Mullingar, is under orders to proceed to
Colchester, and will, on its arrival at that station,
be attached to the 4th depot battalion.
At the close of Major-Gen. Stransham's inspec-
tion of the Woolwich division of Royal Marine
Light Infantry, he dined at the mess with Colonel
Maxwell, Commandant, and the officers of the divi-
sion, and in an appropriate speech complimented the
gallant Colonel and the officers on the high state of
efficiency of the division.

The annual athletic sports, races, &c., by the
non-commissioned officers and men of the Chatham
division rf Royal Marines Light Infantry took place
on Chatham Lines yesterday afternoon, by permis-
sion of Major-Gen. Sir Robert Walpole, K.C.8.,
and under the patronage of Col.-Commandant J.
0. Travers, C.B. The arrangements were made by
a committge of management of officers and non-
commissioned officers ; Lieut. and Adjt. Way acting
as starter, and Lieut. Rodney as judge. The day being
beautifully fine, the number of spectators was unusu-
ally large, the pleasures of the afternoon being en-
hanced by the playing of the bands of the divi-
sion. The first prize for the high jump was won
by Private M'Mahon, 4ft. 9in. ; wide jump, 14ft.
Gin., Private M'Mahon ; flat race, 150 yards, Pri-
vate Parch ; flat race, quarter of a mile, by non-
commissioned officers, Colour-Serg. Addyman ; flat
race, quarter of a mile, Private Parch ; flat race for
drummers, W. Chenies ; flat race, one mile, Pri-
vate Raney ; hurdle race, half a mile, over eight
flights of hurdles, Private Raney ; officers' hurdle
race, Lieut. Baldwin first ; Lieut. Kilchoffer second;
flat race in couples, arms and legs tied, Privates
Hector and Toogood ; hurdle race, 200 yards,
double•hurdles, Private Austen; flat race, 300 yards
in heats, Private Raney ; flat race, 50 yards back-
wards, Private Peto. The other sports included a
race for drummers under 15 years, a sack race for
drummers, a sack race for non-commissioned offi-
cers and men, and a marching-order race. The
whole of the races and games were well contested,
and the prizes awarded to the winners, varying from
155., 10s., and 7s. 6d. to the first, down to 7s. 6d.,
55., and 2s. 6d. to the second and third. The
ground was well kept by clerks of the course selected
from the non-commissioned officers of the division.

The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—Capt. Sir J. M'Clintock, to be
Captain of the Aboukir and Commodore of the first
class, in charge at Jamaica ; Capt. de Homey, to
the Aurora, vice Al' Clintock ; Commanders Knowles,
Harington, and Kelly, to be Inspecting Comman-
ders of the Coastguard ; F. 0. Patch, paymaster„
to the Cadmus; Dr. W. Stables, assist.-surg., to
the Meeanee ; R. M. Colwell, assist.-paymaster, to
the Fisgard as supernumerary ; J. Watts, clerk, to
the Fisgard, as supernumerary ; and E. E. Lucas,
promoted to first-class assist.-engineer, to the Cock
atrice.

JOHN STUART MILL'S B I RTHP LA C E.—John Stuart
Mill was born in Rodney-street, Pentonville, Lon-
don, on May 20, 1806. The house in which he first saw
the light was that in which his father, James Mill, com-
menced his famous work on India. Mr. Mill, sen., had
greatly distinguished himself at Edinburgh University,
and on leaving that place had found his way to London,
after having been engaged for some time as tutor in the
family of the Marquis of Tweeddale. He had originally
been intended for the Established Church of Scotland ;
but, abandoning all thought of becoming a clergyman, he
joined the ranks of the literary profession, and prepared
himself to undergo the ordeal of difficulty and trial, through
which so many litexary aspirants have to pass during the
earlier portions of their career.—Cassell's Illustrated Family
Paper.

The latest returns of the cholera in Italy :are
Ancona, 2d, 11 cases and 5 deaths; Osimo, 11 cases and
no deaths.