The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-21 00:00:00

the language which had been so very properly com-
plained of.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. THOMPSON had said nothing disrespectful, nothing
irregular, nothing that he could not explain, and nothing
that he felt himself called upon to retract. In using
the words disgrace and infamy, he referred to the ver-
dict, which he honestly believed an enlightened and im-
partial public out of doors would pronounce upon the_
decision just given.
Mr. HUGH LINDSAY said the Hon. Proprietor had
better wait for that verdict, and not attempt to anticipate.
Mr. THOMPSON resumed. He granted the language
he had used was strong, but the act fully justified his
prediction, and he would much rather be found among
those, few though they were, who were bold enough to
arraign the conduct of men so well able to defend
themselves as Honourable Directors, than among
those who had [cast the foulest stigmas upon an in-
nocent and helpless man, and given him no opportunity
whatever of clearing his character.—(Loud cheers.)
He was adverting, when called to order, to the inesti-
mable speech of General Robertson—a speech which hat
taken out of the black arch of perjured evidence before
them the very key-stone, and brought the whole vile fa-
bric tumbling to their feet. That Gallant Direc-
tor had declared that upon such testimony he
could not hang a dog.—(Loud cheers.) General
Lodwick had declared that when his brother Com-
missioners were putting the evidence they had taken
into the official box, that it was vile rubbish, and on that
floor he had declared his solemn conviction that
the Raja was absolutely innocent.—(Loud cheers.)
The upright Director, Mr. Shepherd, whose dissent he
had before eulogised, and would again, in stronger terms
if time allowed, had gone into a masterly analysis of the
evidence, sat down by proclaiming his belief in the per-
fect innocence of the Raja.—(Cheers.) General Briggs
had heard and read all that could be known of
the Raja's case, and had proclaimed his conviction
of the total worthlessness of the evidence, and of the
entire guiltlessness of the Prince.—(Renewed cheers.)
Mr. Norris had ransacked the forty volumes of manu-
' script papers, and gone twice through every. page. of the
printed volumes, and arrived at the conclusion that the
Raja . was an innocent man.—(Cheers.) Colonel
Sykes, in his most able speech at the commence-
ment of that day's proceedings, had sifted all that re-
mained of untouched testimony, and had most minutely
reviewed the whole case, and sat down by returning, in
the most solemn manner, the verdict—" Not guilty, on
my honour."—(Loud cheering.) Finally, Captain
Cogan had made himself master of the whole sub-
ject—had, from the most pure motives devoted himself
to an examination of the merits of the case, and
had arrived at so strong a conviction of the Raja's per-
fect innocence, that he had become his unbought repre-
sentative, and had given himself to the noble work of
obtaining, if it were possible, the justice which was his
due.—(Loud cheers.) Now who were these men ? Sir,
(said Mr. Thompson,) they are men in your own service.
men of sound judgment—men of unblemished honour:
three of them returned Ambassadors from the Court of
Sattara—men who, together, have observed the everyday

life of the Raja for sixteen or seventeen years—men pos-
sessing the most intimate acquaintance with the na-
tive character—men who know the habits and pursuits
of the venal instruments who have been employed to ruin
the Raja; one of them the presiding officer over the Com-
mission, at which the evidence upon which you have de-
posed theßaja was taken. These appear here to-
day to declare upon their sacred honour their
deep conviction of the Raja's innocence.—(Loud cheers.)
And who besides ? Colonel Sykes, whose acuteness,
caution, and strong sense of honour all will admit ; Mr.
Norris, Chief Secretary in the political department at
Bombay; and Captain Cogan, a naval officer under you,
of unblemished veracity.—(Loud cheers.) Yet all these,
you have ruled out of Court. You have despised their sup-
plications in behalf of a suffering Prince. You have denied
the prayer, which I hope you will not some day present
on your own behalf with a similar result. You have
pertinaciously denied a hearing to the accused.—
(Cheers.) Sir, I must repeat it ; I had a high opinion
of the integrity and moral courage of many of your ser-
vants, but the conduct of these distinguished men on this
momentous question, has raised the body to which they
belong immeasurably in my estimation.—(Tremendous
cheering.) But in proportion to the honour which will
be awarded them—and too much can never be bestowed
—will be the regret, that when at your bar they asked
for justice to an exiled Hindoo Prince they were
sent empty away.—(Cheering.) I object, strongly
object to the amendment. And why ? It does not
meet the demands of justice—of naked, eternal justice.
If less than justice is to be done, or none at all, I would
throw the responsibility all on you. The Raja asks not
your pity, still less the gold you have taken from him.
lie asks for a declaration of his innocence, and
to be placed upon his throne.—(Loud cheers.)
His language is, " Keep the dirty dust in my treasury.,
deck yourselves in the jewels of which you have spoiled
me, but give me back my honour."—(Cheers.) But,
no ; you are aware that inquiry would lead, not to the
conviction of the Raja, but to the confusion of his ene-
mies and the demonstration of his innocence, and would
compel you to put him again upon the throne from which, at
the dark hour of midnight, you hurled him with such
guilty precipitancy.—(Cheers.) Now, Sir, I say boldly
that no inquiry is demanded. Inquiry, itself, would be
contrary to justice. Your own evidence against him
falls to the ground, and the Raja, therefore, stands
where he did.—(Loud cheering.) Sir, say what you
will, and do as you will, he is at this moment, in the eye
of God and of impartial men, the Raja of Sattara.—
(Loud applause.) The onus rests not upon us to prove
that he is not guilty, but upon you to prove
that he is. This proof you have attempted.
You have moved the whole machinery of your
Bombay Presidency. You have sent to native
States. You have ransacked the haunts of Goa. You
have offered liberal rewards, indemnity, and dis-
tinctions, to those who would give evidence
against him. You have brought the evidence so obl,
tained before us, and it has been shown to have been the
filthiest and most polluted mass of prevarication, perjury,
and blasphemy, that was ever gathered out of the sewers
of vice and profligacy for the:purpose of blackening and
destroying a human being. What then ? If trial there
must be, let it be the trial of those who have worked
this iniquity, and are ripe for retribution.—(Cheers.)
I demand from you the open proclamation of the Raja's
innocence. I demand from you the restoration of this
fallen but still exalted man, to the throne he graced. Had I
50 votes I would withhold them all when an attempt is made
to compromise or abate the claims of justice. I know of
no honourable resting-place between justice and in-
justice ; while complaining of your injustice, I must lift
up clean hands myself, or not at all.—(Cheers.) Oh,
but you say, there are lions in the way. There are in-
surmountable difficulties. We have not the power to do
right. Remember, our faith is pledged to the man
upon the throne. Most admirable imbecility. Most
honourable attachment to treaties and pledges. You saw
no• difficulties in putting a traitorous villain on the
throne, but you see insuperable impediments to
the restoration of the rightful man.—(Vehement
applause.) And is this the justice of the Court
of Directors ? If it be, then henceforth let us call
that principle which supports even the throne of
Deity itself, by some other name.—(Applause.) Your
justice is a justice of which you should enjoy
an undisturbed and unenviable monopoly.—(Cheers.)
Sir,-the rock on which Sir James Carnac split is now
fully viL•ible above the waters. When he prepared that
celebrated memorandum which has been so often alluded
to, and presented it for signature to the Raja,
he doubtless thought he was about to manage
the whole affair with unexampled dexterity, and win
for himself the admiration and thanks of this body ; but
he knew not the man he had to deal with. The instru-
ment was rejected, and the Raja was dethroned, not
because he was guilty, but because he would not sign
away his honour. The very head and front of his offend-
ing hath this extent, no more.—(Loud applause.)
The Hon. Baronet, Sir Robert Campbell, had read a note
from Dr. Wilson, a most respectable, pious, and worthy
man, and would have you believe that gallant
cavaliers, upon prancing steeds, presented by the Raja, were
proclaiming the treason of the Raja at the corners of the
streets in Goa.—(Loud laughter.) What a monstrous
and self-refuting story—not worthy of aught but a
smile. Let me tell you a story out of a book
in my hand, entitled " A view of the Agricul-
tural, Commercial, and Financial Interests of the
island of Ceylon." The passage which he was about
to read, referred to the time when the Colony was
in the hands of the Dutch. The author states :
" However reluctant the different British collectors may
be to admit the assertion, I can nevertheless state with
confidence, that I have met with very few indeed who
were not strongly influenced in their public conductby the
native head-men that were immediately under their com-
mand, and nearest to their persons. Collectors, and even
Governors of the most distinguished talents, have been
under that influence. Governor Vander Graaff, who was
represented by all to have been a superiors character
among those who have ruled Ceylon, was most t grossly
deceived by his first Modilear, Abesinga. Thism man m,as
carrying on a false correspondence between the Governor
AGtsienriagaor.—WrHeafra,brhieeaatri
and Pelime Talao, first Adigar of Candy, in whose
name
he
,nghearle.)tterDsuradindgrestsheids
correspondence on matters of great weight which were
naturally never brought to a conclusion, many presents
were interchanged On both sides. Those from the Go-,
vernor were always, as customary, the most costly.
When the expectations of Mr. Vander Graaff were raised
to the highest, waiting the conclusion of a very favour-
able treaty, Abesinga happened to die, and to the great
surprise and mortification of the Governor, the whole of
his correspondence with the Candian Minister was found
in Abesinga's desk, and the presents in his chest."—
(Cheers and laughter.) Sir, the Dutchman was outwitted,
and so are you. The plot against the Raja will do to
bind up with the story of Abesingn. (Laughter.)
And now, Sir, in imitation of the example f
shall read the
Honourable Proprietor opposite,
h land shall think I
amendment as part of my speech,
be therefore
have said enough in support of it, and
Silent when it is submitted. It is all I ask at this stage
of the business, and I can consent to nothing less. I
think I must have the vote of everyd Hon. Proprietor who
has said "Not Guilty" on the_teavi
it
brought before us.
t will be carried. It
I am not permitted to hope that
will share the fate of my Learnedmotion, but
Friend's
I satisfy my conscience
and vindicate my con-
sistency by placing it t before you. At this tri-
bunal we shall obtain, ,
fear no justice forour injured client, but there is another and a
stern and impartial one, before which we must all
stand—the bar of public opinion. The cause
that bar, and to that tribu-
nal be tried at
l Those who have taken up this cause
nal I appea .
zeal
will
Their
are not defeated.
this temporary disappointment of their hopes. They will
to ask for justice elsewhere, and though repulsed
go forth
at your bar, wi see
11 kit confident)
y at -the hands
of the benignant Queen of your Indian empire,
and the assembled representatives of • the British
people.—(Vehenient cheering.) The following is the