The Sun.
London, England, 1824-08-19 00:00:00

UN.

but the first effects of that would be to convince
them of their real power and resources, and of
our weakness. It is an established axiom, " that
knowledge is power," and the first use the Na-
tives of India would make of it would be in cut-
ting our throats with all imaginable haste.—
They would have abundance of printed autho.
thy for so doing, and revolutionary doctrineS
ready manufactured, to prove that a sub-
dued people have a right to be free, and by the
same reasoning could gee that we have no right
to be in India.

If we want to lose India, in CoiPanamrcoto-
i nine, it at once. Let loose the bloodhounds of
rapacity and cruelty, to deluge the fair plains of
Ilindoostan with blood, murder by scores the
• mild inoffensive Hindoos, ravish their lovely and
• virtuous females, renew the scenes practised by
the Pizarros and Cortezes of South America, re-
vive the proceedings of the blood-thirsty French
revolutionists in St. Domingo ; you have the
example of Christian nations for your deeds, and
the authority of the Mehomtnedans to guide you ;
the Philanthropist will be rejoiced at improving
the mind ; the Fanatic will glory in the punish.
meat of an idolator ; the desperate and needy ad-
venturer will find employment and plunder at the
price of blood ; the nation will get rid of its super-
fluouseep sweepings
uolfattiii(vn ,arii
ls, wt s
ill icnuirriluoi
ifus ofi cnide tayc,
oairnuilsotrhte.
able home, with little labour, and less cares. What
an addition it will be to the rural economy of
the now happy Ilindoo village, where a crime or
riot does nut happen once in half a century, to
see a Tread-mill, with half a dozen enlight-
ened and reformed Hindu() females, performing,
their lazy evolutions! Happy, thiice happy
change.

In sober sadness—what are the natives to
gain by being new fashioned, or in becoming
Christians; are they only to receive our very few
virtues, and reject our numerous vices ? At
present they have few, very few evil propen.
sities, and still fewer vices ; but in the search
after improvement of mind, they are only to
take that which is good and amiable, and leave
that which is corrupt and bad. I take exact-
ly
the converse of the suggestion, and, from
the nature of man, think they would become
worse instead of better by the change. It muit
be recollected that they are not savages, or no.
groes, formed of rude materials that may he
moulded to any shape.
We have now done with the European and
N4tive part of the population of British India,
and it only remains to speak of another part of
the people miscalled a Public, namely, the East
India Company's Officers, civil and military.—
This is a delicate ground to tread on ; I have the
honour to be one of the body, have a near con-
nection who recently tilled the highest office in
India, and have a son educatkg fur India, but
what is all this to me ? nothing ! I speak fear-
lessly from conscience and principle, and while
thus fortified, and intending to offend no one
whatsoever, I shall cheerfully pursue my task
without looking to the right or left.
No body of men, of equal numbers, in any part
of the world, are to be found with minds so richl v
cultivated, of more polished manners, and pos-
sessing more general and useful acquirement, than
the Company's servants. It may he accounted
for by their reeeiving the best of education, un-
dergoing strict examinations, entering the service
young, and being of respectable parentage. An-
other great reason is, that those. who are ambi-
tious, and look to advancement,
know it is only
to be obtained by superior qualifications. Society
in India is refined and select, and dull and ne-
gligent indeed must be that man ss ho, if ne-
glected in his youth, does not take a higher
and improved tone from the daily example he
meets with.

It will be asked, among such an estimable and
respectable body, how can a Free Press be pro.
ductive of any evil ? We will answer this short-
ly.--Many men fancied that they possessed
talents, which the Government did not properly
notice; they become dissatisfied, and vented their
ill humour in anonymous writings, often errone-
ous in their statements, and vindictive in their
expressions. Sometimes an attack was made on
their immediate superiors, which, if not errone.
ous, were highly coloured anti distorted. The
effect of this was, often to bring their seniors into
contempt, and the junior branches of the service
were led to believe that the Government, or
their superior officers, instead of deserving thiir
approbation and respect, only merited their ridi-
cule and contempt. In small bodies in the in.
teriornothing could be more mischievous than this,
for it produced parties, and consequently pique
and resentment, where, before this freedom of dig.
cusion existed, nothing but good will and esteem
were found. It could possibly be permitted
in small societies that one man of talent and disap-
pointed ambition was to sow the seeds of discord,
and censure that authority which it was Ms
bounden duty to venerate. In short, this feeling
had got to a great height, as I well know. An
instance once occurred!where an Officer of rook,
highly respectable, but very weak, objected to a
necessary and required exertion of power, simply
because he was afraid of " being put in print."
The evil did not end here ; the natives often
heard the particulars, and too often formed pre-
judiced opinions in cases where they, as soldiers,
had no right to think.
The Native Officer and Sephanie always feels.
most keenly the situation of his immediate su.
perior European officer, to whom their g4tl4ol`'
meld and devotion is boundless; his good or evil'
fortune is alike a source of joy or grief to his mi-
litary followers, and this affection exists in con.
sequence of the European Officer, respecting l

PRlCE.evattpsicpat.

the Customs and religious prejudice* of, the Se.

Men, who in the course of their military dttliesi
had rendered the most trifling services, found
thernselvatt neglected and injured, if they were
' not immeAtttely:provided for by the Government;
this was found 'impossible its many cases, and :the
same laudable intl4ltion,siVch led to services; of
enterprise /10-4 tcit4l4.llto led the same estimable
fanciedmen to figure off in prl'nL;` they
Aditaac okd the,
d drni
t they,
:
ande
plausibio state.
ments were issued, and though the_ parties after.
wards, when heir reason was a little sobered, and
their judgment matured by experle-nce,.„tagit fe•
gretted their vituperation, still the mischietwas
done, the Government was insulted and ofteide-
teived, hostile feelings were produced, and, he
natives were told to think that things wont ou
wrong, and that they themselves had many and
great causes of complaint. Slighted service, like
slighted love, is hasty and intemperate, nothing
is seen in a clear light, and excited and impas-
sioned feelings lead us into error and folly.
A soldier is wedded to the Government ; it h:
his own choice, and he, while in that state, can-
not think of " wearing the breeches," his duty
stone is to obey, to approve of slhe Government,
and support them in all their measures : it is
not for him to think, (that is left to others),
much less to write Brut publish his opinions.—
But, to quit the similitude of the " happy state,"
services catmot at all times be recompeoced ; there
are seniors and others who have greater
claims, and if the public authorities rewarded all
their meritorious and deserving Officers of the
Indian army, in faith they would have to make
nn extra provision for nearly the whole army 1--
It will be said that this eulogium is undeserved,
and that I am partial to my brethren. admit
that esteem them, but it shall not lead me into
an obtuseness of vision, in viewing their chivalrous
actions, their proud spirit, their great accom-
plishments, the tumour of their actions, or the
suavity of their manners and the urbnnity of their
dispositions. I will speak with candour, and I
trust with truth.

I have, the honour to tie, Sir,
Your very obedient Servant,
JOHN 13. SEELY,
Captain, Bombay Niitivis Infantry.
Wyke, Doritt, Aug. 15, Mi.