The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-16 00:00:00

THE RAJA OF SATTARA.

Mr. HUME then moved an address to her Majesty,
that she will be graciously pleased to direct, that there
be laid before this House copies of the overtures made to
Purtaub Sing, twenty years Raja of Sattara, and now
an exile at Benares, to the effect, that if be world renounce
his claim to the sovereignty of Sattara he should be
allowed to change his place of residence and enjoy
other advantages, in return for his compliance
with these degrading proposals ; also, copies of
the orders by which these overtures were made ;
also, copies of the answer of the ex-Raja to
these overtures; and also copies of the correspondence
between Major Carpenter, the officer in charge of the
ex-Raja at Benares, and the Governor-General, and the
St cret Committee of the Court of Directors in England
on the subject. That her Maj. sty would also be gra-
ciously pleased to comply with the petition of the ex-
Raja, presented to her Majesty in March, 1845, and
grant him such a trial as the poorest peasant in
her Majesty's dominions is by law entitled to claim.
The Hon. Member denied that the assertion of the
Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Board of Control,
that the late Raja had been taken from a prison by the
British Government, to be placed on the throne
of Sattarah. The dignity belonged to him by right,
having been handed down from his ancestors. He
also denied the second and third assertions,
that the Prince had been found guilty of
treasonable practices continued from an early period,
and that Generals Briggs and Robertson were aware of
them. The Raja had been held up as model for the
princes of India ; and a sword had been sent to him, as
a mark of respect from the East India Company. The
Hon. Member read letters from Generals Briggs and Ro-
bertson, to disprove the latter assertion. Having made
these explanations, which he was prepared to prove by
the evidence of all the papers, substantiated by the
parole evidence of Colonel Ovans, if the House would
compel his attendance. He would now proceed
to refer to other portions of this case, which
had been adverted by the Right Honourable Baronet.
He had five witnesses at present in London, who were
well acquainted with the facts of the case, and who
were prepared to prove that the Raja was guiltless of
the charges made against him, and that all the allega-
tions were without foundation.—(Hear, hear.) All
that the Prince wanted was, that an investigation should
take place, and that he should have an opportunity
of fairly meeting the charges against him. He (Mr.
Hume) was prepared to prove his innocence, if he had
the opportunity, and he would not detain the House
any longer as he thought he had stated sufficient
grounds why the inquiry should be instituted. All he
wanted was a trial in any way the Government might
think necessary, and he hoped the House would
pardon him for the time he had occupied in bringing
this matter before it.

Sir JOHN CAM HOBHOUSE said, that as he had
already occupied the attention of the House two hours
and a half on this subject, he did not think it necessary
to dwell upon it now. There was not a statement which
had been made by the Hon. Gentleman with reference to
some parts of the evidence but was wholly at variance
with truth.