The Sun.
London, England, 1824-08-24 00:00:00

FOR TIIE SUN.

Me. EDITOn—I was much surprised to see in
your Paper, THE SUN, so conversant with India
Affairs, that a Lieut. CHEW, Commander of a
ship-of-war, the Sophia) of 18 guns, on the Bengal
Establishment, had, with part of his crew, been
wantonly seized and made prisoners by persons
in authority under the Rangoon or Burman Go-
vernment ! In the first place, there are no ves-
sels of war whatever kept on the Bengal Estab-,
lishmen.!, and vessels of that description in India
belong to the Bombay Marine ; but there is not
one of the name of Sophia, or of a greater force
than 16 guns. But there is a small surveying
vessel named, belonging to the Calcutta Pilot
Service, commanded by a Mr.JoHN CHEw, who,
it seems had, with his boat's crew, taken the
liberty to land in the Burman territory, and act
somehow inconsistent with the Local Authorities
of the place, as appears by the following extract
of a letter, dated Calcutta, 26th Feb. 1824
All seems very quiet here, except some trifling dispute
with the Bhurmesc about an island (of sand) that has formed
itself at the mouth of one of the rivers, but it is not expected
to cause much trouble to set the matter right. Mr. Chew and
his boors crew have. been, by order of the King of Ma, re-
stored
to liberty, and conducted to Chittagong (a frontier town
in the Company's territory), and I suppose all will be imme-
diately settled. It is rumoured that a great part of one of the
Company's loans to be paid off."
his, Mr. Editor, on the 26th Feb. last, did
not look much like preparation for war; but I
.am sorry to say that, by another letter, received
on Saturday last from Calcutta, dated 10th
March, the dreadful appeal to arms had actually
taken, place, and no doubt, long ere this, many a
widow and orphan have to deplore the lois of a
husband and a father, and, as it would appear,
on account of the intrusion of an illiterate pilot
(many of whom cannot sign their names) on a
disputed Island or Bank of Saud ! in a country
where we already possess a territory unwieldy in
the extreme !!!
I subjoin an extract from my worthy friend,
Dr. N—'s last letter, dated 10th March :
" We arc going Li have a war with the Miamians ; the Co.
vernment (ot Bengal) has just issued a Proclamation declaring
war against the King a Aida and his subjects!!! It t$ a ein•
gular and well-known fact, that whenever we get a new Gover-
nor, we have also to commence a limo war, and almost every
contest with the native powers terminates in the aggrandize.
meat of the Prins)! Empire.
" I have perused most of the pamphlets and papers which
you have been good enough to send me, and I am of opinion
that all the Missionaries who have been sent out to this country,
to convert the natives to Christianity, ought immediately to be
recalled to their native land, to carry on the work of conversion
at home, and by instruction and example revive the original
Christian virtues, which appear to be entirely forgotten or
neglected. Indeed I think no Hindoo would be guilty of such
horrid depravity, as is practised by those calling themselves
Christians, particularly in that unfortunate, distracted country,
Ireland."
The above, Mr. Editor, confirms me in the
opinion that I entertained on the Missionaries'.
first arrival in India, timuy of ‘vhoin were low
selfish mechanics, who, like the unfortunate
Smith, the biscuit baker, in the West Indies,
have persuaded themselves that they were moved
by something supernatural to attempt the conver-
sion, or rather perversion of people infinitely
better than themselves in every moral obligation.
—As a proof of it, 1 never heard, during my re-
sidence, un unbiassed. European give an opinion,
• who would not prefer a Hindoo or Mussulman
servant to one who had been so converted, or
rather perverted, to Christianity, which formed
almost an insuperable objection to their being
employed, for they wore neither to be trusted
with provisions or liquors, us even
those paltry
temptations were too strong to be resisted by
such persons, under their imperfect notions of
Christian morality! On the contrary, whilst
they are under the influence of either Mahomet-
anistrz or Iliiidooism, they religiously abstain from
drinking spirits or eating any of their Master'sfood.
I do not know how the Bible Society 'nay like
this comparison, but they are facts which can be
proved by thousands ; and " facts are stubborn
things," sometimes not lileasant to have related.
This communication is at your service, and
J. remain, Sir,
Your obedient humble servant,
J. W. PARKINS.
No. g, Essex-street, Strand, Aug. 23, 11121.

King FEnntvAmo, us is well known, has, ever
since his liberation, been most anxious to make a great effort
for the•recovery of his South American Colonies. The great,
and indeed the only, obstacle to the execution of his wishes,
hits been the want of money ; and it was found impossible to
raise a supply of that indispensable commodityy, unless he con-
sented toleconnize the loans of the Cortes. Ile was always in.
flexibly resolved never to relinquish the sovereignty of South
America ; but he has also uniformly declared that he was In.
flexibly resolved never to pay a shilling of the debts contracted
by the Constitutional Government; and the obstinacy with
which .he appeared to adhere to the latter determination, half
' hitherto prevented him from taking any effectual measures
agninst his revolted colonies. lint " time and the course of
events," as Mr.' CANNINO expresso' it, bringing with them
the full conviction that no loan for a considerable sum of money
could be obtained unless the Constitutional Bonds were in some
• way or other included in the terms of the arrangement, his Ca-
tholic Mujesty was at length induced to " gulp down" his re.
pugnance to receive the revolutionary bonds at any price ; and
it was accordingly, intimated to a banking-house at Madrid,
that the Spanish Government was now less reluctant than for-
merly to negotiate a loan on the basis of recognizing the secu.
cities of the Cortes, and that these would be taken in part pay.
merit of such a loan at the rate of 301. for every 1001. of their
nominal value. In consequence of this intimation, the Madrid
Bankers immediately transmitted a communication to their
correspondents in London, who are the parties that have set off
for Madrid ; —and thus the matter stands at present .—(Brilish
Monitor, Aug. 22.)

THE lIACIIA OF EG YPT.—\Ve live in eventual
times. Power springs up in quarters where it is least ex.
pecked, and weakness and imbecility are found where it was
IMitgineti.that the giant strength of old empires reposed in its
might. 'rite Pectin of Ens( ry, a vassal only of the Ottoman
Empire, is likely to become an important personage. He is,
though born in Egypt, the son of a Frenchman, and is a per.
son, who, in addition to a better education than usually falls to
the lot of the Mussulman, seems to have derived a portion of
genius and of the spirit of enterprise from his European de-
scent. Besides having introduced great improvements into the
civil administration, and into the commercial and industrious
occupations of the people under his Government, he is making
active exertions for the organization of an army on the Euro-
pean model. The execution of this important project is con.
titled to the celebrated Colonel FABvtEn, one of the French
Refugees who attempted to make a figure on the banks of the
Bidassoa, when the French Invaded Spain last year. The
Colonel Is in Egypt, though it has been reported that lie is in
London. His agents here, however, are busily recruiting, for
the service of the Pacha, Officers of Artillery, Cavalry, and
Infantry, from the French, Spanish, and Italian Refugees in
England. Several of these have already sailed from the River
for Egypt. purchases have also been made of the
nit
material for ware operations! The PACILA is likewise
forming a Secretariat, in which are to be employed men of
talent of every country in Europe! All this leads w am-
!mama reflections; and it will become a matter of grava con-
sideration for our Statesmen to ascertain whether the PACHA
i
acts of himself, or whether lie s instigated by any of the lead-
ing Powers of Europe ; thr 'Rapt it not Po from our East
India pones:ions !—(l44in.)