The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-04 00:00:00

doubtedly were morally and equitably liable to
the claimants. And if the old adage, that " the
receiver is as bad as the thief," be well founded,

they cannot be considered in any degree better
than the NrzAM himself or his unconscientious
advisers.

If we know not whether the original transac-
tion itself, or the flippant tones in reference there-
, to, adopted by the representatives of the Cannon-
row and Leadenhall-street Boards, reflects greater
disgrace upon the system, which the British Par-
liament is at this moment endeavouring to per-
petrate, we are convinced that neither Sir
CHARLES WOOD nor Sir JAMES HOGG would, in
their individual capacities, be guilty of such con-
duct as that so clearly and ably described by Mr.
J. G. PHILLIMORE. Unfortunately, however,
there is a code of morality recognised in pub-
lic affairs which, if acted on in private mat-
ters, would brand the characters of the perpe-
trators, and cause their expulsion from respectable
society. And thus it is that we see men who
would be incapable of taking an unfair advantage
for their own peculiar benefit, sanctioning and
supporting in public acts utterly and totally in-
defensible, disregarding all notions of equity and
justice, and preventing even inquiry into the
truth of complaints that have been put forward.
The brothers whose serious wrongs were last
night detailed by Mr. PHILLIIIIORE had, by inde-
fatigable perseverance, unflinching energy, and
unblemished and unsuspected integrity, risen
from a comparatively humble position to one of
considerable importance. They had acquired the
esteem and confidence, not merely of the inhabi-
tants, but even of the Government of Bombay.
More than five-and-thirty years ago they were
entrusted with the fiscal management of an
important district which had then recently been
acquired or annexed from the territories of a
native Prince. Not only did they render
mostimportant and valuable services in the
revenue department, having within a period
of seven years more than doubled the pecu-
niary resources of the district, but they gave
an extraordinary stimulus to the cultivation and
trade in cotton, which increased more than two
hundredfold under their incessant exertions.
This branch of their business brought them into
connection with a portion of the Berar territory
belonging to the NIZAM, through which they had
opened roads, and afforded many advantages to
the cultivators of cotton in the locality, so admi-
rably suited for its growth, and, amongst others,
making large pecuniary advances to the peasantry.
In carrying on their trade it became necessary
that the senior partner should visit Hyderabad,
the capital of the NIZAM'S dominions. Previous
to doing so, however, they added the precaution
of obtaining the sanction of the Anglo-Indian
Government to the visit, and also the appointment
of an umpire for disposing of such questions as
might arise between them and that Prince, both of
which requests were promptly acceded to. Under
such circumstances the firm was induced, we had
almost said compelled, to undertake the manage-
ment of the revenue affairs in the Cotton dis-
tricts, which they did with the knowledge and
sanction—nay, more, the implied request—of the
Government to which they owed allegiance, for
there never was any doubt or question as to their
being, to all intents and purposes, British sub-
jects. Under their superintendence the revenue
flourished, and the condition of the country was
materially improved. They made, as Sir
JAMES HOGG admitted, was universally ex-
pected from persons similarly circumstanced, large
advances ; but still, until the period of the
Afghan war, these advances were kept within
reasonable bounds, being within 60,0001. in the
beginning of 1838.
A severe pressure was occasioned by the hos-
tilities then instituted on the Exchequers of the
Company and of their allies. The NIZAM found
himself unable to pay the contingent force, which
he was by treaty bound to keep up. The emer-
gency was one of no ordinary character when any
failure with respect to what was practically a por-
tion of the Company's available forces would have
been peculiarly embarrassing to all parties con-
cerned, more especially to the Company. In this
exigency, the now wealthy, we had almost said
princely, firm of PESTONJEE VICCAJEE came to
the rescue, with the full knowledge and approba-
tion of the British residents. They supplied the
necessary funds to liquidate the military expen-
diture, so that within a few years their claims
amounted to the enormous sum of 687,0001.
The whole of this almost fabulous sum did not
come from their private resources. Large as were
their means, they were inadequate to sustain so
serious a drain. But their credit was good, and
even that was strained to the utmost in the cause
in which they had embarked. In 1841 they applied
for a tangible security, as well for the satisfaction
of their creditors as for their own security. It
was granted. A considerable portion of the re-
venue of the Berar district, which had so largely
increased under their judicious management, was
lodged with the British Resident, who placed it on
the records of the Presidency, giving a copy to the
mortgagees, and thus practically countenancing,
we might almost have said guaranteeing, the trans-
action—certainly showing that it was considered
to be perfectly free from any taint of illegality.
The debt was soon largely reduced. Nearly
400,0001. had been 'satisfied, when the NIZAM
became desirous of obtaining further advances,
which the firm could no longer, in justice to them-
selves, advance. They, however, lent a sum to
the NIZAM personally, although they could no
longer continue to satisfy the demands of the
contingent force. Thereupon was committed an
act of the most nefarious character. Their agents
were expelled by force from the mortgaged terri-
tories, 16 being killed and 15 wounded in the
operation. The deeply-injured and indignant
firm complained to the Resident of the atrocious
robbery that had been perpetrated, and appealed
for justice as British subjects, and as having
really advanced the money for the benefit and
with the sanction of the British Government.
It is due to General FRASER to say that he
forwarded the appeal, and endeavoured to the
tmost of his power to obtain justice for the peti-

loners, but the Supreme Government refused to

interfere. A single application to the NIZA3I
would have prevented the barefaced plunder.
That application was not made. We suffered our
subjects to be victimised with impunity—we
bandied them about from Bombay to Calcutta,
and thence to England. In every place they
were met with hypocritical professions of condo-
At length, when. in England, they
memorialised for the justice denied them in
India. They were informed that " the instruc-

ence.

tions of the Court of Directors would be
communicated through the Governor of India."
Private assurances were, however, given that these
instructions would be favourable ; but when they
arrived at Calcutta they were found to be that he,
the Governor, was not to interfere for the realisa-
tion of any such claims. Not only was this the case,
but the Company have even taken possession of
the mortgaged lands, and thus doubly participated
in the plunder of their faithful and efficient ser-
svoants.
inquiry into
And this is one of the fruits of the system
highly lauded by Sir CHARLES WOOD, and any
Which is, at his instance, and that of
the Chairman of the
East India Company, refused
by the British House of Commons ! It is diffi-
cult to find lauctuage to characterise the whole
transaction in the term
s the British Public to • it deserves. We leave
judge of what is a suitable
pendant to the case of the dethroned and deeply-
injured RAJAH Of SATTARA.

c---7-.the unfortunate
The life of SARAH BAKER
melancholy
ei
young woman to whose truly
last week directed public attention,
case we
o
to be
spared, the capital punishment being : is
i her
a life,
case
about to be commuted to transportation
or for a prolonged term of years. This i
should be. The wretched young creature had sit
suf-
fered too much from the inhumanity of the law,
and the rigorous conduct of hard-hearted officials,
to permit any doubt to be entertained as to the
propriety and justice, in her case, of a remission
of the extreme penalty of the law. Considering
that she bad at all times manifested an extreme
affection for the poor child, for whose early death
she was legally responsible, that she had expe-
.