The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-19 00:00:00

THUGGISM.

(From the East Indian Telegraph.)
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A NUMBER OF
SEPOYS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FALLEN VICTIMS TO
THUGS.-It appears that twenty-nine sepoys of the
Calcutta native militia had left their corps on leave at
various times from 1834 up to 1838, but regarding
whom authentic intelligence has not been received ;
they are supposed to have fallen victims to Thugs.
Capt. W. C. Hollings, Assistant,General Superintend-
ent, has forwarded a roll of the sepoys to Govern-
ment, soliciting that instructions may be issued to Mr.
M•Farlane, the Chid Magistrate, Captain Birch, Su-
perintendent of Police, and the Magistrate of the twenty-
four Pergunnalis, to make most strict inquiries as to
whether the system of murder by Thuggee prevails in
the immediate vicinity of Calcutta. Captain Hollings
is informed that Thugs have boats, and are in the habit
of frequenting the ghauts in Calcutta, and procuring
passengers from the different bazaars in the neighbour-

' hood, and from the city itself. There are aleo, accord-
ieg to %%hat his approvers stete, persons residing
iii C:il-
- in leaeue with them, who procure them pas en
gera suppiy them with iulormation, and share their
sped. Captaie Hollings is of opinion that the circum-
etance of a.)9 men of a regiment, all along steaioned in Cal-
cutta, not being accounted for, confirms the notion
that Thuggee does prevail, and many of them must have
fallen victims to Thugs ; it is most improbable that the
whole, or the greater part of them, should have died.
In addition to the 29 sepoys, Captain Hollings mentions
that he had lately received rolls of 115 men belonging
to the different regiments now in the Presidency di-
vision who have gone on leave since the beginning of
1838, and have cot been heard of. Inquiries ought to
be made as to the characters of the ghaut maniacs, for
they are often associated with Thugs, and, in tact. two
of the most notorious Thugs in the gang of them still at
large, arc supposed to have been formerly ghaut man•
jees. Captain Hollings's approvers tell him that the
system of Thuggee by murder does prevail in the imme-
diate vicinity of Calcutta, and that they themselves
hive been concerned in murders quite close to the city.
They also say that a murder might be committed in any
of the ghauts without its being known, fur so little are
the Thugs suspected, as their boats generally are good
and convenient for passengers, and the Thugs are so
practised in the arts of assuming all kinds of disguises ;
• and, moreover, they are generally of good castes and
connexions ;—some pass off for travellers, others for
traders and merchants, or any other character they
choose to assume. If Thuggee does actually exist, we
doubt not that our active superintendent with his deputy
will soon be able to trace the Thugs out.
TIIE THUGGEE AFFAIR.—An inquest sat on the 2d
of December, on the body of an old woman, who was
found strangled in her house. The inquest was post-
poned to the 7th, and did not conclude till late in the
evening of the Bth. The inquiry has proved one of the
most important we have lately had, inasmuch as it has
conduced to the disclosure of the startling fact that the
atrocities of the Thuggee system are practised, hitherto
with unvaried impunity, in the heart of the city. As the
Coroner has made over the prisoners, three in number,
one of whom has turned Queen's evidence, to take their
trial in the present sessions, we refrain lrom giving the
evidence of the case in full.

CHARGE OF MURDER AT SEA.-THE

QUEEN V. ROBERT WILLIMAN COOK, AND GEORGE
WAKEHAM.—In this case the above-named prisoners, who
were committed by Mr. Ballantine, the Thames Police
Magistrate, to take their trial at the next Maidstone Ses.

for the Wilful murder of Wiliam Sago. a sailor-boy,
were brought before Mr. Justice Coleridge on Weine ;day, at
his private residence, in Montague-place, Russell-sluare,
on a writ of habeas corpus, when the effld..vits of three
Maltese seamen, and the stewsi d of the ship, whose evidence
was not taken at the Police-office,were put in and read. They
contradicted the testimony of the witnesses on the deposi-
tions. Mr. Justice Coleridge said he had carefully read over
the depositions, and the affidavits filed in answer thereto,
and under all the circumstances he should accept bail for the
prisoners. lie ordered that each of them should enter
into securities of 2501., and four respectable housekeepers
each in the sum of 751., for the appearance of the prisoners
at the next assizes of over and terminer and gaol delivery
at Maidstone, on the 15th of March. The prisoners were
immediately discharged out of custody, and departed with
their friends, consisting of many of the principal ship_
owners and merchants of London, who appeared much in-
terested in the proceedings.

HOAX EXTRAORDINARY.—On Monday even-
itiga sprightly wag, well known as the " liciston Pocket

Volume of Fun and Frolic," raised a report there that the
Duke of Saxe Coburg, father of Prince Albert, had been
driven by stress of weather into St. Michael's Mount, and
would pass through Helston about ten o'clock on his way
to London. This intelligence, which soon reached every
ear, was apparently confirmed by the fact of eight horses
having been ordered at the inn precisely at that hour.
Long before the appointed time a crowd of persons of all
descriptions took their station at the inn door, where, in
spite of the intense cold, they remained eagerly awaiting
the arrival of the illustrious visitor. The entrance
to the inn was lighted with wax tapers; the waiting-maids
sported their richest ringlets and ferbelows, and the post-
boys exhibited their buffs, while " mine host" himself was
busily engaged in inspecting and superintending all the
necessary arrangements in doors and out. Many of the
town•couneil, too, graced the scene with their presence,
and the band animated it with its enlivening strains. At
lengtht here arrived a certain man of law and letters dele-
gated to present a congratulatory address to the illustrious
stranger, which address he " then and there" proceeded
to read to the by-standers. This display, however, was
cut short by cries of " He's coming, he's coming;" and
preacutly after two carrittays.and-tour appeared. The
band struck up " Ste the Conquering Hero comes," fol-
lowcl by " God save the Queen ;" the crowd, uncovered,
stoo in breathless anxiety; the learned delegate ap-
proached, but was dumbfounded when, instead of the father
of 1, r Majesty's royal cor,urt, he encountered only the
guard of the Malta mail ! Cornwall Gazette.

-
?NON-INTRUSION.---Mr.
M. M. Crichton, 2C-
corr,3ankd by the Rev. Mr. Grey, Perth,• made his advent
at llawick on Wednesday last to enlighten the inhabitants
by an exposition of his previously well known doctrines of
Non- Intrusion, and hand-bills were in the course of the
day placarded about the streets, and in the evening the
public er:er summoned the citizens to assemble in
the Subscription Rooms to hear this redoubted
champion ; but, alas ; out of a population of 6,000,
only about 150 could be prevailed on to attend,
and these, with the exception of a very few, were
artizans. After the lecture various questions were
put to him by the audience as to his being paid for
going about the country on his evangelical purposes, &c.,
which he did not seem to relish, while he plainly admit-
ted he was paid by a certain Society. The petition they
distinctly refused to sign, and a perfect hubbub ensuing,
Mr. Crichton was glad to escape from the room on the
plea of fatigue, doubtless sadly disappointed with the re-
sult of his visit to this place. Before going from the
town he left with the landlord ten shillings, with a copy
of the petition for hint, to try and get a person to canvass
for signatures; but as yet, we believe, he has not fallen
upon one who will undertake the jab.
.Though a collec-
tion was solicited at the door, only a few halfpence were
thrown into the plate.—Kelso Mail.
BRUSSELS, FEB. 15.—0 n the 12th of the
month a contract was entered into between the Ministers
of the Interior and the Belgian Maritime Society for the
establishment of a regular line of sailing packets between
Antwerp and Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso. A packet is
to leave Antwerp every two months on the Ist of the month.
The packets are to go alternately to Rio, and thence to
Valparaiso and to Rio only.
KING'S COUNTY ELECTION.—The Tories
have determined to start Mr: Bernard, who, for mere fac-
tious purposes, is to demand a poll on Saturday next, in
order, as the Orange organ avows, to prevent Mr. Arm-
strong from giving his vote in support of the second read-
ing of Lord Morpeth's Bill, and, further, to be ready to
turn to account any possible want of preparation on the
part of the Reformers. Forewarned is forearmed ; but
we have no doubt the Liberals are fully prepared to give
the faction such a drubbing as will make them sorry for
attempting the discreditable trick of which, we regret to
find, Mr. Bernard has allowed himself to be made the in-
strument.—Dublin Evening Post.

STAItVING LABOURERS.—Four poor feHows
from Somersetshire, with scarcely any clothing, and al-
most starved to death, were on Wednesdaybrought up to Hat-
ton Garden, charged with having stolLn a two-penny loaf
from a baker's shop. Mr. Greenwood, the Magistrate,
kindly ordered that the overseer of St. Sepulchre parish
should be immediately sent for, that they might be re-
ceived, and something done for them ; and in the mean
time he directed that they should be provided with a plen-
tiful meal each and made comfortable.

VIENNA, FEB. 6.—His Majesty the Emperor
Las conferred the Order of the Golden Fleece en the
Archduke Leopold, eldest son of Archduke Rainer, and
on Prince Maximilian, of Tour and Taxis.

The military officers who have served in India
express great r.,rprise at the conduct of the two squadrons
of the 2d Regiment of Bengal Light Cavalry in the last
affair at Purrah Darrah. They call to mind the affair at
Sc tahu'dee in 1317, when the most gallant disposition
was displayed by the natives, and their officers waited on
Captain Fitzgerald, whose post was sore beset, assuring
him that " now was the time to show their devotion to the
Company, and seal it with their blood, and that the plain
before them was the spot where they ought to die." A
correspondent, who has long served with the native troops,
expresses great concern at such an instance of degeneracy
as is said lately to have occurred, alleging, that he has
been with them in various trying situations, both in peace
and war, in their own country, in China, and the taking
of the French Islands, and that he always found them en.
dowed with the most unquestionable zeal and courage.

TIIE ULSTER ASSOCIATION.—This body of
Reformers, at a meeting held on Thursday, at Belfast,
passed resolutions in praise of Lord Morpeth's Registra-
tion Bill, and condemnatory of Lord Stanley's. They
at the same time adopted a particular form of petition in
consonance with their views, to the House of Commons,
which they recommended all their fellow Reformers in
Ireland to join in. " Lord Stanley's ingenious device'
respecting the Ulster Association is, therefore (as the
Dublin Evening Post remarks), fully detected and ex-
posed. The Reformers, also, of Nawry and Carrick-on-
Suir have set a glorious example. Their petitions, with
several thousand signatures, arc now on their way to the
House of Commons.

We are informed that the number of passengers
conveyed upon the Great Western line, in the six months
ending 31st December last, amounted to upwards of
648,000, and that not a single fatal accident has happened
to one of thorp. Of this number about 492000 were car.
lied on the London division of the line, and 156,000 on the
line between Bristol and Bath, the opening of which took
place on the 31st of August last. There can be no doubt
that as soon as the whole line is opened, the number of pas •
sengers will greatly exceed one million and a half per an-
num.—Railway Magazine.

The marriage of the Princess Theolinda of
Leuchtenborg with Count \Villiam of Wirtemberg was
celebrated at Munich on the Bth instant, according to
both the Catholic and Lutheran rites. The witnesses for
the Princess were Prince Charles, Prince Luitpold, and
Duke Maximilian of Bavaria ; those for the 'Count being
the Prince do Ilechingen and the Baron de Schmitz
Grollenberg, the \Virtemberg Minister at the Court of
Munich. According to the contract, the children are to
be brought up in the Roman Catholic religion, which is
that of their mother. There was a grand dinner at Court,
the King and Queen, all the Royal family, ail the Princes
and Dukes at Munich, the Baron do Gise, Miniter of the
Royal household and of the Interior, and the Wirtemburg
Minister ; and on the 9th there was a grand ball at Conn
in honour of the bride and bridegroom, who left Munich
for Stutgardt.—Gali9nani.