The Sun.
London, England, 1824-08-21 00:00:00

ECCENTRIC CHARACTER.

At the close of the Assizes for York, there
was often seen wandering about the streets an elderly gentleman,
who attracted the gaze of - half the inhabitants of that ancient
city by the extreme singularity of his dress and appearance : he
was about 5 feet 10 inches in heights and appeared to be above
60 years of age. He had a long white beard, which evidently
had not feared the edge of a razor for many years ; he wore a
drab-coloured hat, made of a very uncommon kind of beaver,
and in a very unusual form—that part of it which fits on the
head was nearly globular in shape, and was surrounded by
a brim of such enormous magnitiade, that even John Fox could
not have seen It without feeling tin emotion of envy. The
colour of his coat, which came down to his anclee, was. light-
brown ; the buttons of it were very large, anti, like angels` vi-
sits, were " few anti far between ; ' the pockets of it appeared
of capacity sufficient to carry off ten such dinners as are usu-
ally eaten in these degenerate days. Hie waistcoat, which
had a flap as large and as long as any waistcoat that ever
was exhibited at Court in the best days of lace and em-
broidery, seemed to be made of seeps of plumage belong-
ing to various birds, and also of scraps of skins belongine to
various animals, And was a vest of far more colours than
any philosopher has yet discovered in the tints of the rainboW.
His stockings were of a blackish brown worsted ; they had
red clocks ; and, what added still more to their singularity,
were studdedpretty thickly with large diamond spots of the
same colour. The breeches of this eccentric being—fer it
may be necessary to observe that he really did wear breeches
—did not appear to derive any assistance from buttons or
suspenders; they were tied together down the legs by an un-
interrupted succession of rosettes, which, if' they were not very
ornamental, appeared at least to be very useful. MS shoee, of
which the soles were of great consistency, were formed of un-
tanned yellow leather ; so that from the head to the foot this
gentleman formed one ot'. the strangest spectacles we ever be-
held. The name ot' this individual, who can find a patella in
none but himself, we understood to be 'Hirst. He resides at
Rocliffe, near Snaitti; in the West Riding of York, and is say.
sensed of considerable property. He' ainu-ses himieff, and
frightens his neighbours, by riding on a and we are in-
filmed,' 'that he absolutely made his appearance, mounted and
dressed as we hive described, Itiseponeastei races. He
also drives about in a wicker carriage Own MaritifaCture,
iu which he boasts that there is not a single nail. " Tam dulce
est digito monstrari, et diceri Hie est."

he met with during his intercourse, and- that no
body of men in the world, equally respectable
and as numerous, were to be met with. An-
other authority, from a popular and impartial
Review (" the Universal") triay be adduced in
support of what I have advanied
" Nor do we mean any disrespect to one part of a highly
honoured profession, when we express an opinion, that the qua-
lities just mentioned are more frequent rod more prominent in
the British Officers of the Company's native regiments, than
in those of any other military body 13 the world. This is
doubtless owing .to local circumstances, to which a brief allu•
sion will not be misplaced. The difference is obvious, between
the young ensign, who ordinarilypasses 3 is nos iciate in a depot
at home, and the cadet, who, at the age of 17 or 18, is with.
drawn from the countenance and support of his friends, and
who is liable to be called upon, immediately after his landing
in a foreign country, to exercise, In a lit-cation of considerable
trust, the prudential qualities of command, more difficult to
practice at that age than courage, generosity, and enterprise.
Need we make the remark, that such a situation is calculated
to extend the circle of the young officer's faculties, and to
make him display mental resources, which, under other dr.
cumstances, might for ever have remained dormant ? But that
which appears to be the principal cause of the distinctive cha-
racter of the Company's officers, is the practice of spreading a
native regiment in small detachments over a Considerable dis-
trict."
It will be readily admitted, that however re-
spectable and estimable a large body of men
collectively may be, individuals. will always he
found dissatisfied and splenetic, but even with
persons of an amiable and mild temperament,
slighted services or neglected talents will influ.
once the best of wen. Thus it was in some cases
in India, and had the persons alluded to in their
complaints or remonstrances confined themselves
to their own solitary cases, the evil of anonymous
assaults, through the medium of an unlicensed
press, would have been attended with hut little
public inconvenience ; but unhappily this was not
the case, and I .can prove it, far latent attacks
.were made pe.--th, Government, by calling pub-
ific
attentii)4.to buses;to mitl.practices, nod to
intotilitios meaaures.nuritted in the provinces, by
the revenue, and judicial officers of the State.—
This was often utterly false, and at all times ex-
aggerated, but the hidden assailant gratified his
own evil passions, by calumniating those oflizers,
thzat
st k
eh(e di if. et
hreloct
I,marngnel s
‘cvt:.l.l
eld
prrioolti'a balessaoirl truule),
the anonymous writer well knew, if he made an
acknowledged and direct appeal to the Govern-
ment, they would gladly and thankfully listen to
iris statements, and Heaven send those a good de-
liverance, whether civil or military, who are thus
brought to the notice of the Government, parti-
cularly if the delinquencies or misconduct has in
any wise compromised or injured the native, his
fate is any thing but enviable.
The civil servant is instantly removed from his
employment and salary of 4,000 or 5,000 rupees
per month, and reduced to his stipulated pension
of 350, and sent to rusticate. Nor is this the
only punishment—that very unpalatable thing, a
" printed general order," conveys to the service
his sentence, and troth very gratifying account of
his misdeeds. With the soldier it goes equally
hard ; he is removed from his appointment, brought
to a court-martial, and has to run the gauntlet of
the whole service, with an ugly looking " printed
general order" appended to his tail ? After a few
years purgation, he may obtain an inconsiderable
employment, and spend his days in an inglorious
and heart-breaking retreat. In India there is no
Borough influence to plead the cause of the cul.
prit, no noble or powerful family interest to ad-

vocate his fallen fortunes ; non; at all ; and all
those auxiliaries known in England to assist a
gentleman in a dilemma are unknown in India.
Ile must rise by his merit and fall by his impru-
deuce. Were it not for being too lengthy, as
Brothel JONATHAN calls it, I could give many
cases in point ; having filled the situation of Se-
cretary to the Vice-President, I must know
something of these matters, and having served in
various capacities in Malabar, the Deccan, and
Guzerat--in the Carnatic and Mysore.—ln I3en.
gal, Babar, and Berta, abundance of opportunities
have fallen to my lot, by which I huVe acquired:
some little knowledge of the Natives and their
Rulers. In short, the little I know is nut sea-
coast information.
It cannot be supposed that the civil or mili-
tary officer, filling a high nod responsible post,
and surrounded by a dozen natives of rank, men.
of talent, address, and observation, and possessed.
of intriguing and captious minds, would expose
himself to, their inquiry and censure, or that he
would eornmit himself in the eyes of watchful
and ambitious people, who would from interested
or vexatious motives be sure. to Wing his conduct
to the notice of the Government.
At this part of my subject I wish. to be parti-
'cularly understood, for malty charges.have t:oen
brought against the Indian and Rothe Ad-
ministration, under various heads, as tyranny,
oppressions, misrule, malversation, extortion,

In the country again reverting to the hands of
the Mussulman, the former blood-thirsty and
barbarous rule would be revived with a two-fold
force; it is well known they would never tolerate
in their Ilindoo subjects the freedom of discussion
or writing, so that the Ilindoo, in losing his old
masters, would have good reason to curse the day
that he became enlightened by the blessings of a
free press—and was taught the doctrines of sedi-
tion and revolt. It is with poignant regret that
I am compelled, by my love of truth, to say that
the same observation strictly applies to the esta-
blishment of the Christian faith in India. The
Mahomedan would never permit his Ilindoo sub-
jects to profess a religion which he holds in pro-
found contempt,and always(when in power) treats
with ineffable abhorrence, calling Europeans
Dogs" and " Disbelievers." The Mussulraan
of India is a fac-simile of the Turk—anti their
character and government are pretty well known
to my countrymen.
Break down the great barrier of caste among
the people of India, and give the people political
knowledge, and the freedom of using it, and I
would not give a shilling in the pound for all the
India Stock, home and foreign.
Will any man of an unprejudiced, mind ac-
quainted or unacquainted with India security,
tell me that under the circumstances thuve de-
tailed, that 85 millions of people would he go-
verned by 40 thousand Europeans, which is the
full extent of our numerical strength, including:
troops, officers, and settlers.
We have one more military case, and it is so
much to our porpose, that I cannot too earnestly
impress it on the serious attention of my country-
men.

It must be fresh in the recollection of the well-
'informed part of the British public ; the un-
happy dissensions which existed in ]BOB between,
the Madras Army and, the Goveininent ; the
dismissal of several officers (some of rank), the
removal of the Governor, and the .visit bord'!
MINT°, who, 4Y, hie ftrlll, bit. conciliatory COO.
:duit, restored 'in some degree •ttte public .tist9.n
and probably preventfdtecOMiu)sietn,..thet:
It entered to ahi,lie India to its very foundation
—( Vide Wonders of Elora,page 68.)—The com-
plaintsof the Army were redressedomd all hut three

JONES v. OWYNNE. ESQ. AND GOODYEAR-
Mr. CAMPBELL stated, that this was an action for an assault.
The plaintiff was a respectable attorney at Carmarthen, the
defendant, Mr. Owynne, a gentleman ot large fortune, keeping
his carriage and four. The other defendant. Nr. Goodyear, was
a midshipman in the Royal Navy. Mr. Jones was employed to
commence an action against Mr. Owynne, who was enved with
a copy of a writ. Mr. Gwynne took no notice at the time, but
he heard that Mr. Jones was to go to the Carmarthen Theatre,
and he should prove that before the curtaindrew up Mr. (iwynne,
accompanied by Mr. Goodyear, inquired if Mr. ,Jona. was in
the Theatre. 'they found that he was not, and pleased them.'
selves in the lobby. Mr. Jones soon came in, and Mt. °Wynne
said he would speak to him about the action ; but M. Jones re-'
fused to talk ot bosiness there. Mr. Gywnne then gave Mr.
Jones several severe kicks, and knocked his hat off. Mr. Jones
then went into a box, where Mr. (iwynne placed himself be-
fore him, and used most insulting language, saying that the:
plaintiff was the eon of an innkeeper, and a post boy. The
plaintiff left the Theatre, and thus escaped further injury.—
They would consider that the assault was violent, unprovoked,
and public.
Witnesses were called to prove the assault.
The defence was, that the plaintiff being instructed only to
serve common process on the defendant Owynne, boasted, in
the market at Carmarthen, that there was a writ out against
him, and that twp bailiffs were then in pursuit of him, which
wasfalse ; that Mr. Gwynne was in the market buying meat.
and on a peraon raying he is giving.too much—he is raising tbe
market upon us, the plaintiff said he ought to have something
better to do with his money, for there was a writ out against
him, and a " couple" (meaning a bailiff anti his. follower) were
in pursuit of him, This having been repeated to. Mr. Gwynne,
who was a most respectable person, son of Colonel Sackville
Gwynne, of St. Mary's, he was much provoked, and undet
that provocation committed the assault.
Mr. Justice PARK, in summing up to the ,Ji.ry, obsereed,
that though he was allays anxious dicoUrage actions roc
frivolous assaults, yet there was a vast differrriee between
parties in the lower classes of lite ci-tiniag themselves by bring
tag an action for every trifling dispute, and persons,of thr
higher classes of society : with them the ease was different, Mt_
if redress was Rat given for injuvieet ' .ofthis kind; thir promote of
duelling would mach, increase, and that:wee, ea Ale "o„his
demanding Werit,"a practice equally .in OraWanvoP.ol- the
lam of fledmull:oath They ithouttl leive Moderate and sni.
tilde damages, which, however, shotild,shew the defendants,
rates like this'oultd not to be commit
who were
200
The Jury Found a verdict for
young, enough to learn seluary, ipso% that, .out.

-- ,
At the Consistorial Omit of tlOter, On Friila'y
last, it was deem"! that the Alittioiii betivitOf William Itolline,
of Si, columb ?divot.; owl toutounon Trebittoth, Wa.. inftStu ow;
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and three o'clock yesterday afternoon the f'
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