The Sun.
London, England, 1838-04-06 00:00:00

MILITARY FLOGGING.

Our time and the space of our columns have been so much
occupied, that we have not until now had an opportunity to
comment upon the division in the House of Commons upon
Captain Boldero's motion for a " Committee of Inquiry to
ascertain the practicability of finding substitutes for military
flogging."
We must say that the majority which appeared against such
an inquiry is most disgraceful to the National Assembly, par-
ticularly so to those who call themselves liberal, or Reform
Members, and most disgraceful to a Ministry who, while out
of power, represented military flogging, upon all occa-
sions, as one of the most disgraceful, iniquitous, and in-
famous practices existing in the world—not only at va-
riance with every principle of religion and humanity, but
subversive of morality and abhorrent to the feelings of
Englishmen, and a disgrace to the nation to countenance.
Sir John Cam Hobhouse, one of the supporters of the
system, was one thing when Member for Westminster,
craving after popular favour, but another now he is as a
member of the Whig Cabinet. At the present moment he
advocates that which he most vehemently and indignantly ab-
jured all his life, and the cat-o'-nine-tails with him now be-
comes as necessary for a soldier as the red coat he wears upon
his back. In short, the dastardly and deceitful conduct of the
Whigs has placed this important question, or its satisfactory
settlement, in a far worse position than when they came into
office. We must therefore be excused if we handle them upon
the subject not quite so gently as we have formerly been used
to do.

Military flogging has been abolished in the army of the
native troops of the East India Company; an army of about
300,000 men. The experiment has been tried, and it works
well. Why has it not, then, been extended to the European
troops in India, at least the expriment tried ? The answer is,
that British soldiers must be slaves, and be treated " lihe
brutes."
Some of our contemporaries will deny our position, and de-
clare that in India the abolition of flogging has produced the
worst of consequences, and had the most fatal effects. This
we deny ; nay, more—we maintain that when flogging was
abolished in that army, so great was the disgust which it
had produced that they dared not, in many instances, attempt
to carry it into effect in the native army. This is the only
excuse which can be found for Lord William Bentinck, upon
his own simple authority, dispensing with it in the native
Indian army. It was a foul blot, however, upon the adminis-
tration of his Lordship when he withheld the boon from the
European troops, and kept the lash over their backs. There
was manifestly a great imprudence in so doing, totally incom-
patible with all proper notions of legislation, to draw such a
distinction as to the intrinsic merits and value of a black back
over a white one.
In some of the Indian papers and English journals, refe-
rence has been made to a number of atrocious murders which
have been committed of late years by the native troops upon
their officers, as emanating from the abolition of flogging in
that army. That is a very wrong and unjust conclusion ; it
proceeds from other and very serious causes, which we will
hereafter explain. For the present we will merely advert to
the fact, and while it grieves us much to acknowledge that such
murders have unhappily become frequent, we must again say
that it does not proceed from the cause assigned. In another
part of the Paper there will be found the details of three
such dreadful occurrences, and which took place within 20
days—in the months of October and September last year.
So far from the cause of humanity with regard to military
punishments having advanced, we consider that it has retro-
graded. Nay, more—we do not see any desire on the part of
the Government to find remedies that might put a stop to it.
We consider this as most disgraceful, and it shall not be our
fault if their memory is not refreshed again and again -.Ton
the subject, until we have compelled them to listen to this
most important and just of all the complaints of the British
nation.

Our readers will not have forgotten the brilliant letters
which appeared in our Journal in April, 1836, addressed by
Captain W. White to Lord Melbourne, upon the Report o
the Select. Committee of the House of Commons to inquire
and report upon punishment; in the army, and in which, as
we then remarked, he, " in a most masterly and conclusive
manner, exposed and converted into mere waste paper the
Report of the Military Commission ;" letters to which we
" called the attention of Ministers and the Legislature as con-
taining the most unbiassed and comprehensive, and judicious
views which have been taken on the question."
Although we give every just meed of praise to Captain
White for the extensive and comprehensive views which he
takes on the question, there is one point in which we differ.
lle says—nay, more, he all but proves—that flogging can be
d►ipensed vtith in quarters; but is of opinion that the power
ought not to be withdrawn with troops in the field, as it might
sometimes be impossible to do without. This is the opinion
of all Tories—and most military men are Tories. The Cap-
tain's reason is that no adequate punishment can be found.
Now this we deny, because the very punishments Captain
White suggests for quarters we say would be equally, if not
more efficient, with some alteration, in the field. This we
shall hereafter speak more fully upon; but we cannot con-
elude without expressing our surprise and regret that the Go-
vernment, without any remedy of their own to cure the evils,
should have disregarded the suggestions of Captain White,
" who," as we have already said on a former occasion, " is a
practical man. His opinions are formed from extensive ser-
vice and mature experience. Few men are more competent
to give an opinion, and none that we have seen have been so
comprehensive, unbiassed, and conclusive."
We conclude to-day with the following forcible and impor-
tant observations contained in one of Captain White's letters
to Lord Melbourne, and in the sentiments of which we most
heartily concur, and reccmmend to th• serious attention of our
readers :

" Never did Royal Commission break ground on a finer
field than the Military Commission—never were the public
more sanguine in their exuectations of a satisfactory result;
but, alas I alas I never did a Commission take up a worse posi-
tion, display less tact, less knowledge of what was before
them, less judgment, or draw stronger or more unsatisfactory
conclusions, or more at variance with what was expected from
them than the Commission issued, of which my Lord Wham-
cliffe was at the head. The public are not only disappointed
in their expectations, but if we are to view the Press as the
organ of expressing public feeling, they are positively disgusted
with the report, for they con,ider it as a base job. The pub-
lic not only keenly feel that their decision upon the main point
has not been in unison with their long and anxious expecta-
tions, but they are indignant at the treachery which appears
to have been practied upon them by the advocates of abolition
of military flogging, and the insult offered to them by a repe-
tition of the old, hackneyed, and threadbare excuses for the
continuation of the system, unaccompanied by arguments and
facts requisite to establish the propriety of making!them."—
Morning Advertiser.

A SEA-PIE.—" Is there no way, Mr. Macacid,"
asked the good. natured captain, of the gunner, " is there no
way of reconciling you to the young gentlemen? Can't you
by any means be brought to stomach a midshipman? I think,
Sir," replied the venerable Mr. Macacid, shaking his white
head, " I think I could like one in—a pie."'—Jerrold's Men
of Characterr.
FATAL MORTIFICATION.-01) Saturday last,
Mr. James Turriff, shoemaker, who had for a long period
been precentor of the South Church, accidentally probed his
thumb with an awl, immediately under the nail. At first, no
serious consequences were dreaded from the wound; but on
Monday symptoms of mortification were observed, and so ra-
pidly did the disease increase, that it terminated his existence
on Wednesday. —Aberdeen Herald.
THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.—Tuesday the open
space in the interior of this national edifice was thronged with
antiquarians, metal-dealers, and general-dealers of the Jewish
persuasion, it having been previously announced that Mr. Pul-
;en, the auctioneer, would sell by auction the building mate-
rials, &c. Some time before the hour appointed for the sale,
the curious and speculative were busily engaged in iaspecting
the various lots, and at one o'clock the auctioneer mounted a
pile of stones near the western entrance, and proceeded to sell
the greater part of the broken remains. The whole of the
materials in the quadrangle were sold for 2361. ; the tower was
sold for 501. ; the carved figures of Europe, Asia, Africa, and
America, were knocked down for 801. The other materials
were sold in detaikfor smaller sums,
THE SHARE-FEVER IN PARIS.—The suppres-
sion of the gaming-houses at Paris has had the effect of turn-
ing the attention of the speculators solely to the Joint stock
Companies which at prtsent so abound in the French capital.
The effect bac been to produce what is called " a share-
fever," greater, if possible, than that which raged in London
in 1824. Tile Legislatu:'e has taken the alarm, and Bills
introduced in the Chamber of Deputies for placing
greaterrestrictinns on the forming of Companies than hitherto.
qls'livaeebeen tws as they stand are so lax upon this point as to afford
every facility to artful swindlers, who are so aptjve iq turning
the preset nitekripled mania to their own advantage, that it
hqs become necessary for the Chamber to interfere in order to
pfcvcnt the social convulsion} which must otherwise sh9rtly en-
sue,
.
—/lifeharijcs' Noict;infi

ELECTION COMMITTEES.

(YESTERDAY.)

(From our Second Edition of last night.)
HULL.

Andrew Hare, the landlord of the Holder:less New Inn, was
examined at great length, but his recollection was so bad as to
elicit the remark from an Hon. Member that he ought to go
to Italy.—( Laughter. )
Mr. Charles Hammond, Chairman of the District Corn.
mittce in Holdcrncss Ward, was next examined. He said he
did not recollect giving any voters orders about refresements.
Mr. HlLL—Without dwelling on any particular form of
words, I will ask—were you not, directly, or indirectly, the
means of voters obtaining refreshment at the election?
Witness—l should think not : but I should wish to throw
myself on the mercy of the Committee whether I am bound to
answer that question; for, if I went further, I might criminate
myself.

The CHAIRMAN informed the witness that he was not bound
to answer any question which might invalidate his vote.
Witness then went on to state that he could not recollect
having given any orders for refreshment. He had been applied
to by the landlord of the Crown Inn for payment of a bill, but
referred him to the General Committee.
In crass-examination, witness said he never authorised Tho-
mas Bell Oliver, the first witness, to get any liquor either at
Hare's or Bowlby's.
John Bowiby, the landlord of the Blue Bell, was next exa-
mined, but to very little purpose, for his memory appeared to
be more defective than even that of Hare.
The Committee retained the vote.
Richard Conkerton was next objected to.
James Goddard, who was landlord of the Bowling-green
Tavern, at the election, stated that on the morning of the
election, breakfast was given at his house to about 30 persons.
Mr. Spence was one of the gentlemen who ordered it. After
the election witness sent in his bill, amounting to 71. or 81.
He sent it to Mr. Gleadon and Mr. Spence also, but they
took no notice of it. Witness had brought his books and
papers in obedience to the summons, but they were at a house
where he stopped.
An application was then made to adjourn the case, in order
that the books might be produced.
The Committee adjourned at three o'clock until ten to-
morrow morning.

MALDON.
The Committee retained the vote of Ambler:
The next vote objected to was that of a person named
Pepper, on the ground that he had been improperly admitted
to his freedom.
After a lengthened argument the Committee retained the
vote. Adjourned about a quarter before four.

KINSALE.
The Committee retained the vote of Donovan.
Arthur Buttle was next objected to, on the ground of being
engaged in the collection of the revenue, being the guard of
a ma►l. After the examination of one witness, the Committee
adjourned at two o'clock until to-morrow.