The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-21 00:00:00

N°.17,860.] LONDON, FRIDAY E E G N 7 DECEMBER 21, 18i9.

NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE
ASSURANCE SOCIETY.
26, CORNIIILL, LONDON.
Capital .£500,000. Empowered by Act of Parliament.
The leading features of the Society are guaranteed of an ample
Proprietary Capital.
Moderate Rates of Premiums.
Two-thirds Premium Loaned to the Assured.
Annual Division of Profits.
Half the Premi•im may remain as a Loin for Fire Years.
Extensive Travelling Leave granted, without extra Premium.
Moderate extra Premium for Residence in Tropical Climates.
N.B. The last Annual Bonus to the Assured varied from 27 to 65
per cent. (according to age) on the Premiums paid.
Examples of Bonuses already Declared, and Options.

• , i 1 Perms- Sum the
S Annual Policy' Bonus 'n Bonus vent Re- Assured
Age. „.. E Pre- takes arldt tlon
Is 'thictism t 4 may bor-
- mium. 9tit In to Sum Cash. Annual ; row on
r, °° Assured.
Premium. 1 Policy.
I.£ s. d.l £ s. (11 .£ s. el j ..£ s. d.
1837 1276 14 3 128 14 31 21 7 2'593 6 8
183.4 251 18 10,115 11 a 1 IA 12 R. 543 17 9
.£ 1339 226 6 0 102 IS 11 16 2 9 194 8 10
60 1000.£ s.d. 1811 178 001R2 14 21 12 14 11415 0 0
74 3 4 1841 174 0 078 3 41 12 3 0'395 11 1
1842 147 4 2 5 15 10 10 2 41346 2 3
1843 99 18 4 41 8 41 6 15 111296 13 4
1844 62 G 8 27 13 4 4 4 0 247 4 8

Prospec
,r any of
.arded yi

THE NATIONAL MERCANTILE LIFE
and FIRE INSURANCE SOCIETIES,
POULTRY, MANSION-HOUSE, LONDON.
Under the same official management, but with separate capital and
liabilities.
*}ROBERT WILCOXON, Esq., Chairman (Life Office.)
*tJAMES PEEK, Esq., Chairman (Fire Office.)
}Edward Baker, Esq. (Gale, Baker, Ward, and Oldnell.)
}George Cursham, M.D., Saville-row.
*Charles James Jones, Esq. (William and Thomas Jones and Co.)
*tWilliam Lawson, Esq. (Trower, Lawson, and Trower.)
*John Mair, Esq. (John Mair, Son, and Co.)
}George Moore, Esq. (Groucock, Copestake, and Moore.)
tWilliam Nicholson, Esq. (J. and W. Nicholson and Co.)
*tGlles Redmayne, Esq., New Bond•street.
t Peter Roil, Esq. (Brockelbank and Rolt.)
*Hananiah Mare, Esq. (Wiggins, Teape, and Loder.)
The names marked t are Directors of the Lite, and those marked *
are Directors of the Fire Ofnce.
BONUS.—At the last division of profits assurers in this office were
benefited to the extent of a reduction of 40 per cent, on their life
premiums, which, if investei in new assurances, would obtain for
every 1,0001. asittred at the original age an additional policy for 4001.
CLAIMS.—Every claim nprn this office has been promptly paid
without dispute.
PREMIUMS.—The rates of premium have been cempited by the
first mathematicians of the day, and tested by the Actuary, and wil
be found as low as Is compatible with safety to the assured.
JENKIN JONES, Actuary and Secretary.
N.B. Parties making pronosals for assurance upon life on or before
the 31st December next, will be entitled to participate in the division
of profits in 1853.

BRITANNIA LIFE ASSURANCE
COMPANY".
1, Princes-street, Bank, London.
Empowered by special Act of Parliament, 4th Tict., cap. 9.
ADVANTAGES OF THIS INSTITUTION.
MUTUAL ASSURANCE BRANCA%
Complete secnrlty afforded to the Assared by means of an ample
subscribed capital, and the large Mud accumulated front the pro-
infants on wpwards of 9,005 policies.
Half the amount only of the annual premium required during the
first five years, the reinainiag half premiums being paid out of the
profile, which, after five years, will be annually divided among the
Assured.

PiterRIETARY BRANCH.
The lowest rates consistent with security to the Assured.
In increasing scale of premiums, peculiarly adapted to cases where
assurances are erected fir the purpose of securing loans or debts.
Half-credit rates of premium, whereby credit is given for half the
amount of premium for seven years, to be then paid off, or remain a
ckargo upon the policy, at the option of the holder.
EXTRACTS FROM THE TABLES.
Annual Premiums required for an Assurance of 1001. for the whole

Term of Life,

MITUAL ASSURANCE ➢RANCH.

Rah' Pre- 1 Whole Pre-
mium, first Winn, after
fire years. I are years.

♦ge.

Whole Pre-
mium after
seven years.

it. 4.
1 0 0
I 2 2
1 4 11
1 11 6
1 13 3
1 19 6
2 7 9
2 IS 10

X Y. d.
2 0 0
2 4 4
2 1 10
2 17 0
3 6 6
3 19 2
4 1.5 6
5 17 $

20
25
30
Z 5
40
45
50
55 I

£ s. 1.
0 lt 0
O 19 Y
1 1
1 4 11
1 9 2
1 14 II
2 9 9
2 12

s. d.
1 16 0
1 19 2
2 3 6
2 9 10
2 18 4
3 9 8
0
4 5 6

PETER MORRISON, Resident Director.

THE CATHOLIC LAW and GENERAL
LIFE ASSURANCZ COVFANY.

No. 8, New Coventry-street, Leicester-square, Londoa.
MINTED,.
The Right Rev. Nicholas Wiseman, D.D., 25, Golden-square.
The RiaUt Rev. William Morris, D.D., Acton, Middlesex.
The Right Hon. the Lord Stafford, Cossey Ilall, Norfolk.
Sir Henry Paston Bedingfleld, Bart., Oxburgh, Norfolk.
Sir Richard Jenkins, Director of the Hon. the East India
Company.
Thomas Raritowell, Esq., 15, Yerk-terrace, Regent's-park,
Thomas Eyre, Esq., 62, Pulteney-street, Bath.
James Marshall, Esq„ 24, Carlton Villas, Maida-hill.

PUBLICATIONS.

NEW STORY OF SCOTTISU LIFE.
Now ready at all the Libraries, In 3 vols.,
PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF
3IRS. MARGARETE.MAITLAND,

'Written by Ilerst•lt.
The most gratifying work of its class since the great delineator of
',coltish manners c• ase t• write." - Tait's Magazine.
"We hive read t,is book with nosseal pleasure. It has points of
merit which mad• compare with Miss Ferrier, Galt, Lockhart, and
Wilson."-- Examiner.

` This
story creiVes an absorbing' interest by the deep ant
masterly touches of nature with will !h it abounds."--,inlin Bun.
" Our readers will enjoy this work —its genuine nationality of
tone an.l sentiment, its refined and poetic homeliness, and Its strokes
of quiet humour."—Scotsman.

Henry Colburn, Publ sker, 13, Great Marlborougli.street

OT [CT:4
Now ready at all the Libraries,
J LIES IN AMBER
By MI;S PARDOE.
Authoress of " The City of the Sultan," " The Pretty Woman," Sce,

3 vole
And of Monday next,
SCENES OF TILE
CIVIL WAR IN lIUNC/ART,
In 1849-9 ; With the Personal Adventurt s of an Austrtan Officer in
the Army of the 14811 of Croatia. 1 vol., 7s. 6(1. hound.
W. Shoberl, Publisher, 20, Great Marlborough. street.

Just published, complete, Is. boards; or Is. Gd. clotk,
111 It.
LondonSciliVapOmlatinia'nfid
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Just published, price 35.,
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Or, COURT and FASHIONABLE REGISTER, for 18.50.
With considerable Additions, and Corrected io the Present Time.
Webster and Co., Stationers, GO, Piccadilly ; and all Booksellers.

THE RED BOOK FOR 1850.
Just published,
T" ROYAL KALENDAR, and COURT
and CITY REGISTER, for England, Scotland, Ireland. and
the Colonies; c mtaining an improved and enlarged feerage and
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The Queen's Ministers-Royal Household - Government Depart-
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vised, price ss. Found in red ; or, with an Appendix or Index of
Names contained in the volume, 6s. 6d.
London :—R. and A. Suttaby, Stationers'-court, and other pro-
prietors.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

FHE ROYAL POLYTECHNIC
INSTITUTION, REGENT-STREET.

The First of a Series of Illustrated Leetnres, by Dr. Bachhoffner,
en the Philosophy of Scientifi• Recreation, daily at Two o'clock, and
in the Evenings, at Eight.—An entirely new Set of Dissolving
Views of London in the Sixteenth Century. and as It now is, whit
a Descriptive Lecture, daily, at Half-past roar, and in the Even-
ings at a Quarter to Ten.—The Tiews of Rome, including new
Views of the Interior and Exterior of St. Peter's, with Dioramic ef-
fects, are shown daily, at One o'clock.—Lectures on Chemistry, with
brilliant experiments, by Mr. Ashley.--Experiments with the Diver
and Diving-b 11.—New Exhibition of Chromatropes.—The Ma-
chinery, 3l•dels,. kc , explained. _ .

Admissioit. Is.—Schools, Hail-price.

TEBROVirS MUSTACHIOS, and WHISKERS produced in a
few weeks, and Baldness removed and prevented, by the ace of
RIM ST 0 N E'S AROMATIC
R EXERATO R.
‘-?‘

If you are in want of that beautiful adornment of the human
%um a natural snaly of human hair, obtain through the post, or
of any wholesale or retail chemist cr druggist, or perfumer. an I Is.
bottle of Grimstone's Aromatic Regenerator, This is an essential
spirit, drawn from aromatic herbs and flowers (grown at his Iler-
vary, Highgate), which has been long known to the nobility and
gentry, by whom it is 14111 y appreciated for its manifold virtues, too
numerous to ba set forth in an advertisement, but may be read In his
pamphlet, in which the bottles are enclosed.
Each pamphlet has the signature of Wllliatn Grlmstene, Merchant,
Flerbary, Highgate, and wig be found at page 11, utPer the copy of
lire. Weekly's Letter to the Editor of the " Times" newspaper, 7th
of August, IA4G.

This pamphlet is forwarded through the peat, on receiTing two
postage stamps.

•
The Aromatic Regenerator can be forwarded through the pest on
receiving a post-otlice order for 4s. 6d., 7.. id., er la., which in-
cludes the postage with the case.
The lls size contains four of the 4s.
A few rf its many Tit tues, es thousands can prove, are published
In the pamphlet enclosed with each bottle.

Reader, reflect f:r a few minutes, and Wpm are 40 years of age,
you will remember the thousands of blind you meet with In yosr
walks, others with various coloured eye-shades ; indeed, such was
the demand for eye-shades, that it was a business. What has re-
moved those sightless brings, and given place to a straightforward,
clear-sigired people (the climate is the sanie)? tell you the cause
—the universal uss of Gtimstono's Eye tiatuffl and because it cured
Ophthalmia, Gutta Screnl, Oatar,ct, Nervous Ileadach, and Deaf-
ness, the Lords of the Treasury directed it to be denominated a medi-
cine, and to ho stamped. Although this advanced Its character, 67
cases of cure being proved by the informers, still it was an act of
oppression; as in 1825 the Solicitor of Stamps, Godfrey Sykes, Earl.,
altered the label, and sanctioned its sale under order of the Lords of
the Treasury; the letter of protection, signed by 'Terries, Tog., to
Mr. William GrionstOst,, bearing date 18th February, I Wt. This was
on account f its curative qualities, being sold at that tints In can's-
tors, within the reach of every poor family. But ander this order of
Government it Is obliged to be stamped.
GitINIS'TONE'S At EDICATED EYE sold in canisters,
inclosed in a pamphlet of medical and other testimonials, under the

Govern.reat order, at Is. lid., 2s. 9d., and 4s. 6d. cads. The
Pamphlets sold at Id. each. If through the post, Is. Bd., is. id., and
Ss. ad., I,,eloding postage, kc. The following letter is ono otit of the
many thousand proofs.
/tend the following Medical Testimony to the care of flyo oases
of Cotta S,rena, from G. H. Bunten, l'rofe.ssor of Galvanism :

"Siuthsea, rear Portsmouth, Ilants,sth Noy., la4S.

" MR. W. GRIPASTONE:-31r—I must in jastice to yeu send the fol-
lowing Testimonial with regard to the extraordinary efficacy of your
Eye Snuff in cases of Gutta Serena. I have used it in Ave cases with
the most astonishing benefit and cure. Sir, yen may advertise this ! !
er make what use yon please. The cures have wholly astonished
me and thousands of ethers.—Tam, Sir, kr.,

G. H. W)UTELL, Professor of Galvanism."
All letters to Mr. William Grimstone, Herbary, Highgate, near
London, at which establishment he continues to manufacture hie
far-famed HERB TOBACCO, so much esteemed in all foreign parts.
Toe blowing letter, in testimony of its delightful qualities, is from
the author of the " Pleasures of flame :"
" Springflel•i Ccttage, Mullion, Devon, 15th August, Ma.
" Sir,— I cannot deny myself the pleasure of stating how highly I
esteem your Herb Tobacco. I have now found in it a substitute far
the choice leaf, hitherto obtained by me from a friend la Censtanti-
nople. lam sure that lovers of mild, fragrant Tobacco woald find
yours a great and acceptable gift, at a very reasonable price.
•' I sun your obedient servant,
" STUART FARQUHARSON, D.C.L.
" To Mr. William Grimstene, llerhary, Highgate."
This extensively-famed Tobacco is sold by all chemists and drug-
gists, and others, with W. Grimsteue's signature attached, at Nd.,
Is. I►qd., 2e. !id., and 4s. fist. each, including the Government stainD

Tilt IT-FIRST EDITION.
nlestratecl by 211 Anatomical Coleurun Engravings on Steel.
,131 PRYSICAL DISQUALICATIONS, GENERATIVE INCATA-
CITY, AND IMPEDIMENTS TO MARRIAGE.
.rsw di ti ort , enlarged to 196 pages. Jest published, price 2s. id., or

by pest, direct from the le,stliblrshineat, is. 6d. in Po;tage stamp's,
"IIHE SILENT FRIEND, a Medical Work on
the intratittes aad decay of the generative system, front ea-
ossive Indulgence, infectiea, and the theranate see of mercury,
(itla remarks ea Marriage, and the means of oirriatiag Certain dis-
,aaliflcations. Illustrated by 24 Coloured Engravings. By ft. and
.. PEI= and CO., Consulting Surgeons, It, Berners-street, Ox-
..rd-street, London. Published by the Authors: sold by Stream
Paternoster-row ; I.laanay, 63, and Sanger, 15e, Oxford-Street ;
ttarie,l3, Titchbqrne-street, Haymarket; and lordon, 146, Leaden-
,all-vtreet.

PAXT I. treats of the anatomy and physiology of the re-prodaethe
,rgan,,, and is illustrated by Six Coloured Engravings.
?LET IL treats of the consequences resulting item excessiveiniu'.
mace, and their lamentable effects on the systems, producing mental
ad bodily weakness, nervous excitement, and generative neapacity.
illustrated by Three Explanatory Engravings.
Pala 111. treats of the diseases resulting from infection, either Tit
ne primary or secondary forms, and centalas explicit directions for
:heir treatment, This section is illustrated by Seventeen Coloured
Engravings.
rAnv IV. contains a Prescription for the Prevention of Disease
by a simple application, by which the danger of infection .s ob.
stated. This important part of the Work should no eser2o the
eader's notice.

PART T. is devoted to the consideration of soarrisge, and its
Wiles. The causes of unproductive anion are alas ,einsidcred, and
the 'vb.'s subject critically and philosophically incleired into.
TnECORDIAL BALM OF STZIAOIOII Is exclusl,--.ly employed in treat-
I nervous and sexual debility, impotsuce, arc., 11s. and 331. per
b.ittle.. The Concentrated Deters! re rseence, au anti-syphilitic
remedy, for purifying the blood /- cases ufinfection, secondary symp-
toms, eruptions, and the abuse of wk•cary, Us. and 335. per bottle.
Perrv's Purifying specific I-Is, 2r. 9d. 4s. 6d., and 11r. per box, a
certain. remedy for gonorttees, Fleet, stActisre, and chronic Inflasarna-
lon of the bladder. ,ensizitatiou fee, if by letter, 11. A minute
detail of the case is tequit : age, habits, and plsitioi in society.
•S Packets, watt advice, to be had at the Establishment only, by
which the [06,11., 1^ saved. Messrs. Perry, Surgeons, are in 2tten
emu, om;.• at 19, rtarearx-atreet, Oxford-street, Londe., F•om Me-
vas till T.. 0 sed vie. to rirht. me Sunday* from Irlr.cmi in Os.

EXPLOSION ON GAS IN GREAT QUEEN- STREET.-
Last evening, about six o'clock, the inhabitants of Great
Queen-street and the neighbourhood were thrown into
a state of alarm by hearing a loud explosion, which re-
sembled the discharge of a park of artillery. It appears
that Mr. Willson, of OS, Great Queen-street, smelling the
gas escaping from some of his pipes, went below to the
meter to ascertain the cause, having taking a candle with
him, when he was suddenly thrown to the ground by the
explosion which followed. In an instant the rafters of
the floor of the shop, with the ceiling of the kitchen, were
blown up, and the glass smashed throughout the house.
The shopman was completely lifted off his legs by the
tearing of the flooring. and nia face so severely burnt
that he was immediately taken to King's College Hospi-
tal. Mr. Willson, jun., was also thrown down a flight of
steps, but fortunately escaped froaa any serious injury; and
a cat which was asleep under the pipe which burst was
blown completely through a square of glass. breaking
one of its legs by the concussion. It is feared the unfor-
tunate shcpman will never again recover his eyesight. the
exp!osion having blinded him the moment it occurred,'
and Mr. Willson's face was so severely burnt that he
was obliged to send immediately for medical assistance.
Two other domestics were severely injured. The engines
were sent for, but their services were not required, no
ignition having taken place.
FAT CATTLF.—Some fine specimens of the short-
horned breed were exhibited in Eccles yesterday. The
cattle were bred by Mr. G. Sutcliffe, of the Bridgewater
Hotel, Worsley, and fed on the Earl of Ellesmere's
Home Farm, and were certainly the finest specimens of
their class that have been seen for a long time in that
celebrated breeding neighbourboed. The cattle have
been purchased by Mr. John Bradshaw, butcher of
Eccles, and are intended to be slaughtered by him
for the approaching Christmas festivities.—lllunehester
Guardian.

On Monday evening a little boy, of the name of
Pickard, between eleven and twelve years of age, while
reaching over the side of a boat near the Bonhay, fell
over, and though he succeeded in reaching the opposite
side of the river, could not affect a landing, and was
drowned.—Exeter Flying Po4t.

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

A quarterly general Court of the East India Com-
pany was held on Wednesday; Sir A. Galloway in
the chair.
The minutes of the last Court having been read and
confirmed,
The CHAIRMAN announced that he had received a
letter from Major-General Thack well, acknowledging
the receipt of the resolution of thanks adopted at a
Court held in April last, to the officers, &c, engaged
in the victory of the Punjaub.
The letter was read by the clerk.
The CHAIRMAN then acquainted the Court that
with reference to certain proceedings at the last
general Court, he had to state that copies of the minute
of Sir Charles Metcalfe, relative to the right of native
princes to adopt a son or successor, together with
same other papers on the same subject, had been laid
on the proprietors' table; also a list of auperannua-
tions that had been granted since the last Court to the
company's servants in England.
The CHAIRMAN lastly informed the Court that the
warrants for the payment of the half-yearly dividend
on the company's stock would be due and payable on
the 7th of January next.
The preliminary business having been disposed of,
the CHAIRMAN called upon Mr. Sullivan to bring
forward the motion of which he had given notice.
Mr. M. LEWIN rose to order, and claimed a right
.to bring forward his motion which had been post-
poned from the last Court day.
The CHAIRMAN said the Hon. Proprietor had given
no proper notice of his motion.
Mr. LEWIN contended that the intimation which he
gave at the last meeting was a sufficient notice. He
denied the right of the chairman to decide, and said
he would not give way. The chairman was only an
individual proprietor like himself; and he had no
right to take functions upon ,himself which belonged
only to the Court,—(Cries of " Order, order.")
The CHAIRMAN said he would put an _ end to the
discussion by calling upon, the secretary to read the
minutes of the last Court in relation to the question.
The minutes were read, from which it appeared
that the notice in question had been postponed, and
that no notice of renewal having been given, it had
dropped as a matter of course.
Mr. Lawns still insisted upon his right to address
the Court; but be was received with cries of " order,"
and "chair."
The CHAIRMAN thereupon appealed to the Court,
whether further discussion of the question was not a
waste of time.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Lewin having resumed his seat,
THE SEPOYS IN THE MADRAS CAVALRY.
Mr. SULLITAN then, in pursuance of a notice he
had given, proceeded to move " That copies of all
correspondence relative to a court-martial held on
the sth of September, 1844, on certain Sepoys of the
6th Madras Cavalry, be laid before this Court, and
copies of all opinions given by law officers on the
subject." It might be asked, why he mixed
himself up in the troubled waters which had
been first stirred up by his Honourable
Friend Mr. Lewin ; but he would frankly
tell the Court that it was because his Hon. Friend
who from his entrance into . the public service had
been an able, upright, and honourable man, had, by
his unfortunate language, rendered himself so ob-
noxious in that Court, that even if he had an angel's
cause to plead he would be unable to do him justice.
From the character of the discussion which had taken
place on this subject at the last Court, it appeared to
him that the Chairman and the Court of Directors
were ignorant of the real merits of the case ; still, if
it was asserted the law officers of the company hrd
given an opinion in favour of the course adopted with
regard to the Sepoys, namely, that they were liable
to be brought to trial any time within three years
after the offence, the production of those opinions
would at once justify the Indian Government. It
was therefore their interest to bring them forward
at once and give them all possible publicity. So far
as his impression went, the opinion of the Commander-
in-Chief was directly opposed to that of the law
officers, if indeed they had ever given such
an opinion as that he referred to. His own view,
though he was no lawyer, was, that if a soldier com-
mitted an offence on the Ist of January, and returned
to his duty, and had his arms and accoutrements re-
stored to him on the 3d January, he could not after-
wards be brought to trial. for that offence. If there
actually existed so material a difference between the
('pinion of the Commander in Chief and that of the
law officer., the sooner they were reconciled the better.
Another point to which he should direct the attention
of the Court was the legality of the court-martial by
whom the neer) had been tried. They were entitled,
under the Articles of War, to a certain proportion of
native officers ; but this proportion had not been in-
cluded in the members of the Court. The charge was
that they had taker. an illegal oath; yet it appeared
they had for a considerable period been permitted to
perform all the duties of soldiers. Cui bona, an agi-
tation in relation to the proceedings of a court-martial
held so many years ago ? His reply was the vast im-
portance to the tranquillity and good government of
India, of all their servants, military as well as civil,
being well affected towards the company, and of there
being not even the appearance of illegality or injustice.
If the agitation was in any way mischievous, the
Court of Directors were themselves only to blame,
inasmuch as they had taken no steps to have the sub-
ject thoroughly investigated at the proper time.
Mr. Mar.coera LRWIN said he rose to second the
motion of his Hon. Friend Mr. Sullivan, and in doing
so he would not detain the Court at any great length.
In the first place, the cause of this meeting had not
been explained. The Governor of Madras withheld
fr.an the Sepoys their accustomed pay, and imme-
diately after that the Sepoys made a passive resis-
tance. This lasted until measures were taken to
repress it, and the Sepoys after a while were recon-
ciled on the arrival of the Division officer, General
Watson, the complaints of the men having been lis-
tened to, and their pay restored. An order of the
Commander-in Chief, under the date of the 21 of
November, 1844, was in these terms : " With the pre-
sentation of these arzes (petitions to General Watson,
which the Sepoys had been desired to present) the
excitement commenced to subside, and an order which
had been dispatched by the Government the moment
the error which had been committed by the Pay
Department was known, having been published the
same day, cancelling the previous order for the dis-
continuance of the beats, the men gradually returned
to their duty." Here they had a plain statement that
the men returned to their duty on the mistake about
their pay being corrected. Most peop'e would have
thought that the regiment having returned to their
duty, that circumstance would have been taken as
a means of conciliating them. But no; the men
were kept to perform the services of the Government
for four months longer, and still further they were kept
perfectly unconscious of the fate which was awaiting
them all that time. So soon as it was found that the
men had returned to their duty a letter was addressed
by the Commander-in Chief to the Regiment in these
words:—" The Commander-in. Chief has received
the Brigadier's (Watson) letter of the 10th: of
December, with Major Lichfield's (the commander of
the regiment) of the Bth of December enclosed. The
Commander-in-Chief is happy to understand from
these circumstances that the men of the 6th Light
Cavalry have returned to their duty, and that they
appear to be sensible of their late misconduct. But
as his Lordship cannot allow the regiment, under the
reproach of such unworthy and unsoldierlike beha•
viour, to continue at a station where it might be
required for employment on actual service, he has
ordered it to be sent into cantonment at Arcot."
Now, there was a clear punishment which the
regiment had incurred in consequence of the dis-
obedience of orders. It was considered to have com-
mitted a breach of duty, and therefore that it could
not be employed on another service. Both within
and without the regiment it was thought that the
letter of the Commander-in-Chief, written by the
Deputy Adjutant-General, had disposed of the
whole case, and that nothing more would
have been heard about it. It was perfectly
clear, after the matter had been thus disposed of in a
regular way, there was no law authorising their being
tried again. His Hoo. Friend, Mr. Sullivan, had
referred to a case where a man had been tried three
years after the commission of his offence, hut that
was only the case of a man who had had no opportu-
nity of being tried before. The offences of these men
were very well known, and it was clearly laid down
by Simmons that these men could not be tried again.
It was perfectly clear there was an opportunity of
trying them in the first instance, seeing that they
passed through a country where there was an abun-
dance of soldiers, just after the offence with which
they were charged had been committed. But nothing
was done. The men were kept in a state of perfect
unconsciousness of what fate awaited them. Some of
the men who were guilty of this mutiny were brought
forward and punished for a minor offence, and by
the mere accident of being so punished for that minor
offence they bad escaped the greater punishment.
Major OLIPHANT—Had any individual been
singled out, or was the whole regiment charged with
disorderly conduct.
Mr. LEWIN could not say—(Beer, hear)—but
it was perfectly well known who were the offenders,
as some of them had gone to Captain Byng's quarters,
which was distinctly mentioned as the chief gravamen
of their crime. These men were for nine months em-

ployed under the orders of the Governor in doing duty
on the frontier, where their services were particularly
required, and had they not rendered those services
others must have been called in to perform them, lie
(Mr. Lewin) said there was something of a disgusting
character in the fact of the Government, who were
meditating the destruction of these men, reaping
the benefit of their services. 0,1 the men re-
turning to their duty the thing was at an end ;
hut then the question arose whether they were
guilty of mutiny ? So soon as they were paid
they showed a readiness to return to their duty, and
the Government should have shown a readiness to
perform their duty. The Mutiny Act, which engag'd
the services of the soldier, guaranteed the plyment of
those services. Was it the weaker perry only that
was bound by a contract ? Let the Court look at the
cave of the Nottingham rioters, which took place the
other day. Those men committed a ten times higher
offence than the Sepoys in question, and yet were
only punished with three months' imprisonment. But
these Sepoys were put on their trials for life,
and two of them were shot. They were tried
by a court (which required thirteen members)
composed of no more than seven, a junior Major
being President of a court appointed to try an issue
affecting the lives of seventeen of his fellow-creatures.
Very different was the treatment received by Captain
Byng, an officer of the regiment, whose trial fol-
lowed that of the Sepoys, the charge against him not
involving an issue of life. In the case of that officer,
the court-martial was composed of thirteen members,
the President being a distinguished Peninsular
General, who commanded a division of the army at
the time. That being so, it was very clear that they
had one law for the natives, and another for Euro
peans.—(Hear, hear.)
Major OLIPHANT—Captain Byng was tried by hie
peers.
The CHAIRMAN—The law has a privilege.
Mr. Lawler—Admitting that to be so, was the
native soldier entitled to a less privilege? There was
another point which had been referred to by Mr.
Sullivan. There were two of theme Sepoys shot for
administering illegal oaths to their comrades. There
was no such overt act mentioned in the charge on
which they were tried. Not a word on the subject
occurred in the articles framed against them. It was,
therefore, clear that those men had been tried
for one offence and shot for another. There was
another point to which he thought it right to call
the attention of the Court—that was the Special
Court held at Arcot preliminary to the court-martial,
which he (Mr. Lewin) contended had vitiated the
evhole case for the prosecution. Then there was the
counter decision of Lord Gough, the Commander-in-
Chief in India. Suppose there were two judges in the
Court of Queen's Bench, and one of them gave a de-
cision by which a prisoner had been saved, would
another judge, having a ce ordinate jurisdiction, be
justified in hanging that prisoner? If he did so, he
(Mr. Lewin) apprehended be would be guilty of a
high offence, for which he would have to answer at
the bar of justice. Besides, the Sepoys had not the
advantage of counsel to plead in their def ne
During the trial of Colonel Bell, it might be known
to the members of the Court, that all the officers had
counsel assigned them by the Government, and the
proceedings were all public; but it was far otherwise
in the case of those Sepoys, and every man of
them was in consequence victimised. But if
there was one circumstance which called
for the attention of the Court more than another, it
was the proceedings preliminary to the trial. The
emissaries of the Marquis of Tweeddale were sent up
to Arcot to get up the evidence, but when they pro-
ceeded to investigation they could not get at all
the evidence they wanted. They had native
officers before them and interrogated them as
to their knowledge of this mutiny. Those native
officers who were under articles of war would bare
been guilty of the offence of death if they had ac-
knowledged their guilt in the transaction; so they
said they knew nothing at all about it. A letter of
the Commander-in-Chief, written by the Deputy-
Adjutant• General of the Army, of the date of the
14'h of August, 1844, states that " they (the
native officers) have given information, some
more some less, but nose have stated any-
thing worth knowing." That was a splendid
specimen of the rhetoric of the Marquis of Tweeddale.
Afterwards six of those officers were dismissed without
trial for not having stated " any thing worth knowing."
Then there was a bJdy of dragoons and others eta
tioned round the place of trial, by which the men's
minds were intimidated, an.l that was called a cour-,
martial. 13:sides, if these men had been alio-.ved
counsel, not a single witness iv ho appeared against
them would have been allowed to be heard; the
evidence would have been rejected on the ground of
its having been suborned. So intent was Lord I
Tweeddale on finding the men guilty, that he
passed an order, with respect to the native
officers who could not state anything worth
knowing, which was directly contrary to law,
and there was no precedent of a native commissioned
officer being dismissed the service without a trial
before a court-martial. Lord Tweeddale, however,
made it out by a trick that these men were dismissed
by an order of the Government, and that the Go-
vernment had given their consent to it. The
circumstances which preceded the trial should be
noticed, because they plainly proved that the Sepoys
had not the slightest opportunity for defending them •
selves. Their relations were refused admission to
them, and they had not a list of the witnesses given
them, which they ought to have had. Simmons, who
has written' on the law of courts-martial, says it is
incumbent on both the prosecutor and the accused to
give a list of witnesses. lie sap—
" Unless there were some sufficient reason to justify
its bei.-g withheld, it wonld not be in accordance with
the existing practice of the service to refuse the prisoner
a list of the witnesses for the prosecution ; the almost
universal practice is to give it as a matter of course."
Again, he says—
"As the prisoners' witnesses, if duly summoned,
must be known to the Judge-Advocate, it fellows that
to puce the parties on a tooting, affording to each op-
portunities of questioning and supporting objections to
'he competency of witnesses, the witnesses to support
the prosecution should be made known to the prisenere."
—Sammons, p. 170.
All these men were afterwards sent to Madras to
endure their transportation. At a very early period
the Madras Government appeared to have become
aware of the illegality of the sentence passed on the
Sepoys, for when they were sent as convicts to
Madras, and it became known that a writ of habeas
corpus was likely to issue, they were
suddenly removed without the jurisdiction of
the Supreme Court. Now, after that the
men had returned to their duty under the circum-
stances which had been stated, the placing them on
their trial was not only in contravention of numerous
precedents, but one of these precedents had been
furnished by the Marquis of Tweeddale himself in his
decision on the case of private Shekh Aly of the 30:h
regiment of Native Infantry. Shekh Aly was tried
by a native general court-martial for sleeping on his
post. The Court found him guilty, but accompanied
their decision with the following remark :—" The
Court begs most respectfully to bring to the
notice of his Excellency the Commander-in-
Chief, that it appears in- evidence that the prisoner
was allowed to return to his post after having been
found asleep on it, and that he was released from
confinement." The Commander-in Chief afterwards
di•approved of the proceedings altogether, and, indi-
cated by the following extract from a letter under his
hand of the 28th of December, 1842, that the Court
had been wrong in passing any sentence :—" Under
the circumstances (said his Lordship) which appear
in evidence, of the prisoner having been placed in the
main guard f)r the present offence, and subsequently
released, and permitted to return to his duty, I con-
sider that he was improperly brought to trial for an
offence which had been previously disposed of,
and consequently withhold my approval from these
proceedings; and I have to express my surprise that
the officer commanding the 30th Regiment Native In-
fantry, with a knowledge of the facts, should have
recommended the trial of the prisoner." Mr. Lewin
concluded by'saying, he should never quit this sub-
ject until justice had been done.
Mr. WEEDING opposed the resolutions, on the
ground that the Court of Proprietors was not a
proper tribunal to review the sentence of a court-
mertia'. He had no doubt that the Noble Lord whose
conduct was coenplained of had acted under a due
and imperative sense of duty.
The CHAIRMAN said this was the third time this
subject had been debated before the Court of Proprie-
tors ; but if ever there was any question unsuitable
for discussion in such an assembly, this was one.—
(Hear, hear.) The discipline of the Indian army wts
too precious to be sacrificed by being exposed b-fore
a tribunal which had not the means, and never was
intended to have the power, of entering upon ques-
tions of this great importance. With regard to mili-
tary discipline, the Commander-in-Chief had absolute
power. An offence of a very serioue character had
been committed by a native regiment, which had
previously distinguished itself, and the Governor-
General recommended, in consequence, that it should
be disbanded. The Marquis of Tweeddale, wire was
an old soldier, however, knew it was impos ible the
whole regiment could be guilty of so abominable a
crime as that imputed to thew, and he, in
consequence of that opinion, declined to dis-