The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-09 00:00:00

PRIESTCRAF f IN INDIA.

" A Bramin is tlic chief of all created beings : the
'world and all in it arc his ; through hini, indeed, other
mortals enjoy life ; by his imprecations he could destroy
a king, with his troops, elephants, horses, and cars ;
could frame other worlds and regents of worlds, and
coul.l give being ti new gods and new mortals. A
B-tun:n is to be trei:te l with more respect than a king.
His life and person are protected by the severest laws
in flis world, and the most tremendous denunciatioes
for the next. He is exempt from capital punishment
even for the most enormous crimes. His offences
against other el Isses arc treated with remarkable lenity,
whale all offences against him are punished with ten-
fold severity.
" The King must hive a Bramin-for his most confi-
dential counsellor ; and by Bramins is he to be in-
structed in policy as %ell as in justice and all learning.
The whole judicial authority (except that exercised by
the King in person) is in the hands of Bromine ; and
although the perusal of the sacred writings is not with-
held from the two nearest classes, yet the sense of then:
is only to be obtained through the exposition of a Bramin.
The property of the sacred class is as well protected by
the law as its power. Liberality to Bramins is made
incumbent on every virtuous man, and is the especial
duty of a king. Sacrifices and oblations, and all the
ceremonies of religion, involve feasts and presents to
the Bramins, and those gifts must always be liberal:;
the organs of sense and action, reputation in this life,
happiness in the next, children and cattle, are all de-
stroyed by a sacrifice offered with trifling gifts to the
priests. •
" If a Sudra sit on the same seat with a Bramin, be
is to have a gash made on the part offending. If he
advise him about his religious duties, hot oil is to be
dropped into his mouth and cars. This is a great
practical improvement on Professor Sewell's mere verbal
rebukes of the want of implicit acquiescence in his au-
thority as a teacher. We arc clear for the superior
efficacy of hot oil in the mouth and ears. " Under the
same penance with some real offences comes giving pain
to a Bramin. Saying hush,' or pisb,' to a supe-
rior, or overpowering a Bramirt in argument, involve
each a slight penance.' —Elphinsione's History.

Thalberg and Ole Bull are at Warsaw, where
their concerts are most numerously attended.
We regret to say tliat a quondam writer here,
oho. commenced business some years since as a merchant
and importer of green cloth, absconded last week, leaving
debts and liabilities, as estimated by some, to the amount of
upwards of 100,000/. Few of our manufacturers but have
sustained heavy losses; and many in the neighbouring
towns of Forfar, Kirjiemur, and Dundee, have also suf-
fered by this nefarious transaction. The cccurrence of such
" an untoward event," coupled with the already depressed
state of the markets, has had a very hurtful influence upon
the manufacturing and commercial interests of the town in
general; but we trust that, by a little prudential manage-
ment on the part of all concerned, matters may still be
maintained on a steady footing.—Montrose Review.
Patronized by theit Majesties the King and
Queen of Hanover, and their Royal Highnesses the Princesses
Augusta and Sophia, her Serene Highness the Princess Kfterhazy,
the Princesses Mary and Rosa, her Grace the Dowager Duchess
of Bedford, and their Graces the Archbishop of Canterbury and the
Dukes of Norfolk, Devonshire, and Manchester. In addition to the
above distinguished patronage to the newly_invented spectacle
Lenses and Invisible Operative Voice Conductor, the Messrs. S.
and B. Solomons, opticians and aurists, 35, Albemarle street, Pic-
cadilly, and 76, King William-street, Bank of England, feel gr..,at
pleasure to state that their valuable inventions have also gained the
sanction and unqualified approbation of above four hundred of the
principal members of the medical profession ; as also of numerous
individuals of high distinction, who have been greatly benefited by
their use. Immediately these improved Spectacle Lenses are
placed before extreme imperfect vision, it is at once brought back to
its natural and original state, every object becomes clear and dis.
tinct, and the most minute particle is seen, either by day or candle-
light, with ease and distinctness. Their Voice Conductor, by
which thousands of deaf persons have bees greatly benefited, is not
the least perceptible, not more uncomfortable, than having a piece
of wool in its place, and the faintest whisper at a public assembly
is heard with enact distinctness.-3D, Albemarle-street, opposite
the York Hotel, and 'l6, King William-street, Bank.---No con.
flexion with persona of the vane nitre.