The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-09 00:00:00

THE SUN LONiON,

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
Advices from the Cape to the 13th of January in-

elusive have been received.
The Zuid Afrikaan, of the above date, says
The post of Wednesday night last brings informa-
tion from King William's Town to the 29th ult., repre-
senting affairs in Katirland itself as in a favourable stf.tte
for the pacification of that country. All was tranquil.
The 7th of January was the day fixed for the meeting
of all the chiefs of British Kaffraria, when their future
position, their prospects in case of good behaviour, and
the course that wilt be pursued if the reverse, would be
announced to them by her Majesty's High Commis-

stoner.
This meeting will, if post-Able, be of greater import-
ance than the previous one, destined, as no doubt it is,
to declare to that restless people, hitherto accustomed
to nothing but licentiousness, in plain terms, that the
term 'British subject,' is not a mere empty sound.
That their former habits must be laid aside, and a strict
obedience shown to the laws and regulations enacted for
their enlightenment and civilization ; and above all that
their aggressions upon their white neighbours cannot be
prosecuted at a less price than their total destruction.
" This, we presume, will form the principal part of
the deliberations of a meeting, the result of which is
anxiously anticipated by the colony at large, as the
ratification or the rejection of the terms upon which the
peace agreed to can only be confirmed. The task still
to be performed by Sir Harry Smith—making all allow
ante for his eminent qualifications—is difficult in the
extreme. The conviction, however, that he is no
stranger to such matters, and the recollection of his ad-
mirable government of the British Kafir Province in
1835-6, again fills us with the brightest expectations.
A determined rigidness but justness, tempered by mercy
where circumstances allowed of its exercise, was then
the rule which elearly regulated all his actions, and by
which, within so short a period, he made such astonish-

ing progress.
•• It is indeed with heartfelt satisfaction that we bring
to mind his proceedings of that time, and the paternal
car• with which, sometimes by force of argument, some-
times by well merited punishment, he endeavoured to
convince both chief and subject, that a new, a better
state of things had been brought about, and that a
lock had been forged for the security of the colony which
they would not be able to pick.'"
The news from the frontier is not so satisfactory as
might have been expected, as will be seen from the
following extracts from the Zuid ilfrikaan of the 13th
January :

"Fort Beaufort, Dec. 19.
"This day about eleven o'clock the Kafirs succeeded
tri driving off twenty head of the contractor's cattle.
Four Kafirs only were seen by the Fiegoe herds who had
charge of them at the time, and who came into Beaufort
as quick as possible to give information. Eight soldiers
were sent out with them as a cattle guard, but who had
left them and gone down to the river, when the Kafirs,
watching the opportunity, succeeded in getting off with
the cattle in safety. Mr. McKenzie and two or three
more, with six of the Dragoons, went off in pursuit, and
have just returned (five o'clock), horses knocked up, and,
as usual, unsuccessful, the ground being so hard they
found it impossible to trace the spoor. How the cattle
guard will come off I don't know.'
" Belevue, 22d December, 1847.
" The Kafirs entered our kraal last night, and cut
loose eight horses. The number of marauders was sup-
posed to be from eight to ten, but being alarmed by the
dog we immediately fired on them, and succeeded iu
killing one of them, but still they got off with one horse.
"GEORGE CLAYTON,
"JOHN CLAYTON."
" Scott's Farm, Dec. 25, 1V47.

"I had occasion to write to you last week concerning
my loss of cattle, stolen out of my kraal on the 16th
instant by Kafirs, but no notice was taken of it. I am
again compelled to write, as the Kafirs paid me anothir,
visit last night, the 24th, and took out of the kraal four:
oxen and the only cow I had, and I am sorry to say got 7
clear off with them, although I found out that they were'
gone as early as half-past twelve o'clock.
"JOHN PANKHURST,
" Waterloo Camp. Dec. 20,1847.
"Yesterday morning myself and family were walking
a short distance from this camp, scarcely half a mile,
when we were suddenly surrounded by five armed Kafirs,
four with assegais and one with a gun ; they instantly
demanded tobacco, and knives. I told them I had none,
when one of them drew an assegai from his
bundle and presented to my breast, which he
did several times. I desired him to take it away, but he
still threatened to throw it; at length he seized my hat,
with which he ran off saying something in Kafir to his
companions. The man with the gun presented it to my
breast. I told him to take it away and go and fetch my
hat, which he did not seem disposed to do. As soon as
he lowered his gun I turned towards home, took my only
child from my wife, and ran as quickly as possible
towards the camp. We had not proceeded many paces
before the man fired ; the ball passed over our heads;
fear gave wings to our fliglic and in a few minutes we
were at home. I went immediately and reported what
had transpired to Captain Christy, who promptly sent
out a party of Cape Mounted Riflemen, and twelve of
the 91st Regiment. I went with them to the spot,
showed them the spoor of the Kafirs, and returned to
the camp. I am sorry to say the patrol returned in a
few hours without falling in with the enem
Ey.
"JOHN DKINS."
FRlDlY.—lnformation has reached town of the murder
last night, by the hands of Kafirs, of John Stanley, at
his farm in Groblers Kloof, about ten miles S.E. of
Graham's Town.
From a deposition made before the magistrate it
appears that the unfortunate deceased went out yesterday
morning with his waggon for the purpose of cutting and
bringing into town a load of fire-wood. On reaching
the bush, on his own farm, a Hottentot, who accompa-
ni,d him, observed that there were several spoors or
footmarks of Kafirs about the spot, and lie remarked to
his master that he thought the Kafirs themselves must
be in the immediate vicinity. Stanley treated this with
indifference—said be had no fear, and proceeded as usual
to collect the fuel, as originally intended. They had
retired to repose after the close of the day, the oxen
being tied to the waggon, when the man was aroused by
the discharge of fire-arms and the noise of Kafirs.
Springing upon his feet and calling to his master, he
fled, and when a short way off heard the cries of his un-
fortunate master, and who must then have been in the
hands of his savage murderers. On receiving this report
a patrole of the Cape Mounted Rifles was immediately
sent to the spot, accompanied by the Hottentot who
escaped, and by whom the remains of the unfortunate
man were soon discovered.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON...---Tho body of the murdered
man has just been brought into town and delivered over
to his now desolate and distracted widow. It was
found lying on the ground at the back of his waggon,
from which there is reason to believe the unfortunate
man must have been dragged by the merciless savages.
The two principal wounds were a gun-shot wound
through the right breast, and a shucking gash at the
back of the head. The back was black from contusion,
and the muscles of the thighs and ribs were pierced by
assegais, as though to gratify the insatiate appetite of
the savages for blood. There were several wounds in
the ablomen, from which the intestines were pro-
truding, and the grass—which had been trodden down,
as though the murderers had danced round their
victim—was saturated with blood. The oxen of the
waggon, a gun, cooking utensils, and every por-
table article had been carried off. The case of
this unfortunate man is one well calculated to
excite public commiseration. Ho was sixty-seven
years of age, twenty-eight years of which had
been spent on this frontier, having come hither
with the British emigrants of 1820 He was a
native of Lichfield in England, was respectably educated,
possessed considerable intelligence, and had ever evinced
great industry and perseverance in the cultivation of his
farm. By the Kafir invasion of 1834-5, and also the
present war, ho was a severe sufferer, his premises being
tired, his fields laid waste, and his cattle carried off.
From comfort he has latterly been reduced to poverty;
his only means of subsistence being that of cutting fuel
on his farm, and selling it in Graham's Town. While
thus unoffensively and usefully employed, he fell, as
above detailed, by the hand of the savage natives.
The Graham's Town Journal contains a full report
of the great meeting held by Sir Harry Smith at
King William's Town on the 7th inst. The follow-
ing is the oath taken by the chiefs. An address
from Sir Harry closed the proceedings of the day.
Sir Harry was about to start for Natal, aid Shiloh
and Colesberg :

EAST INDIA HOUSE.
Yesterday a special general meeting of the proprietors
of stock in this corporation was held at the compitny's
house, for the purpose of re•considering the case of the
lute ex-ilaja of Sattara. The chair was taken by I,rr.
Ilertry St. George Tucker. The Court was bat thinly"
attended.
The CHAIRMAN stated that since the last Court certain '
papers had been presented to Parliament, the titles of
%%hich would be read.
The CLERK read the titles of the papers.
THE EX-RAJA OF SATTARA.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the Court was mode
special for the reconsideration of the case of the late
Raja of Sattara.
The CLERK read the following requisition:—
" London, 16th Feb., 1845.
'.To the Chairman and Directors of the East fmlia Company.
:Honourable Sirs,—We, the undersigned Proprietors of East
India Stock, duly qualified by law, request that you will convene a
Special General Court of Proprietors, for the purples of taking into
consideration the aecomptmying resolution, and that you hlll be
pleased to publish the same with this our requisition.—Wo have the
honour to be, Honourable Sirs, your obedient servants,
(Signed) "JOSEPH HUME.
" ALEX. RAPHAEL.
" ARTHUR J. LEWIS.
"J. SULLIVAN.
" 1101;ERT J. BACISILLW.
" CHARLES FORBES.
" J. W. GRAHAM.
" J. WILLIAMS:.
'• GllO. TIIOMI'SON."

" Resolved—
"That it appears by the official documents laid before tide Court
that, in the year 1836, a secret inquiry was instituted, by order of
the Government of Bombay, into all alleged breach of the treaty of
the Vali September, 1819, subsisting between the East India Com-
peny and his Iliglinees I'ertaub Sheen, the Raja of Sattara.
" That on the 26th of October, 1836, the Raja appeared before the
Secret CommiSe ion, consisting of Colonel Lodwick, Mr. Willoughby,
Reid Colonel Ovens, and requested a Mahratta copy of so ranch of the
' depositions of the two Soobandars and the Brahmin as affected hhn-
self, which was not at the time objected to.'
That on the '37th October the Commission were occupied the
greater part of this day in preparing Mahratta translations of the
evidence regarding the interview at the Palace, for the ultimate use
of his Highness the Baja of Sattara.' (Par. Pa. No. 569 of 1843,
p. 348.)
" That Sir Robert Grant, Governor of Bombay, recorded in a
Minute of Council, on the 15th of August, 1837, (Par. Pa. p.
86, para. 12) I hat lie was strongly of opinion that, before
the case is conclusively disposed of, the Raja should be made
acquainted with the fresh evidence that has been elicited against
him, and should be allowed the opportunity of offering defence or
explanation.' And again, in his Minute of Council of the 20th of
September, 1837, (I'ar. Pa. p. Ina, para. 13,) suggests, That Colonel
Ovens should be instructed to prepare a complete statement of
the case which has been established against the Raja, in order
that when his inquiries are concluded, it may be furnished to his
Highness for any such explanation, or answer, as he may choose
to offer.'
"'that Mr. Wathen, Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay,
in his letter to Colonel Ovens, dated the 27th of September, 1837,
' directed Colonel Ovens to prepare a complete statement of the case
established against the Raja, that it may be furnished to the Raja,
and that if this statement be denied, his Highness should be con-
fronted with the witnesses, the most effective measures being adopted
for their protection.' (Par. Pa., p. 422, para. 48.)
" That Sir Robert Grant, again, in a Minute of Council, dated the
31st of May, 1838, says, 'The Raja has not been told of the evidence
taken by Colonel Ovens, and undoubtedly has a right to be heard it,
his vindication." I repeat this opinion (which he) expressed in
a Minute of Council, in August, 1837, not meaning that there should
be merely the form or farce of a trial, to be closed by a ready-made
judgment, but that the defence should be fairly heard and impar-
tially weighed.' (l'ar. Pa., p. 20.5, para. 53.)
" That Lord Auckland, the Goveraer-General of India, in a
Minute, dated 23d et September, 1838, ordered in the following
words
• I would, as suggested by Sir ilopert Grant, request that the
Raja should be furnishcel with a written statement, embodying a
full and clear detail of the facts connected with the several charges,
and of the nausea (with any reservations which may be absolutely
required for the safety of the party) of the witnesses by whom they
are proved, with a notice of the circumstances tinder which the evi-
dence was obtained, and call for front hint, within a certain reason-
able time to be fixed, a similar written statement of whatever he
may desire to urge in his owe behalf.' (Par. les., p. 229, para. 12.)
" That notvrithstandiag the preparations of the evidence promised by
the Commission (which closed its proceedings on the 4th November,
1e36), and the repeated desire expressed by the Governor of Bombay,
and the Governor-General of India, that t statement of the whole of
the evidence taken against the Raja should be placed in his Highness's
hand, such statement was withheld, for reasons secretly stated by
Colonel Ovens, Colonel Ovens personally informing his Highness,
'that the proceedings of the Commission being strictly secret, it did
not consider itself authorised to grant a coar.py or any part of those
proceedings to any person whatsoever.' (P Pa., P. 367.)
" That thedethronement of the late Raja of Sattara, when no Bud-
-Alen emergency, nor imminent danger, nor any preparations made by
.14na for: commencing: hostilities,' threatened, without obtaining
previous and express sanctions of the Home authorities for the
act, was a violation of the 33d George Third, cap. 52, sec. 42 and
43, made and provided to guard against and prohibit the exercise of
such dangerous and despotic power by any subordinate authority in
viz.:—
"India,
Section 43—' It shall not be lawful for the Governor-General in
Council, without the express command or authority of the Court
of Directors, or of the Secret Committee, by the authority of
. the Board of Control, in any ease (except where hostilities
have actually been commenced, or preparations actually made
for the commencement of hostilities against the British nation in
India), either to declare war,:or commeuce hostilities, er enter
into any treaty for making war, &c.'
" Resolved,—That this Court, taking all these circumstances into
consideration, is of opinion that the dethronement of the Raja of
tiattara, by Sir James Carnac, without furnishing him with a copy
of the evidence taken in secret against him, Ind thereby withholding
from him the means of making a defence, and without the previous
Consent and authority of the Court of Directors, or the Secret Cove -
mittee of that Court, and of the Board of Control, was unjust, pre-
mature, mud contrary to law ; and, therefore, the guilt or innocence
of the lisle Raja of Sattors, and the conduct of the Bombay Govern-
ment, in these transactions, ought to he made the subject of a public
and impartial inquiry, alike for the protection of the Princes of India
in alliance with the East India Company, from the perpetrations of
similar wrongs, for the satisfaction of the ends of justice, and for
the vindication of the honour of the British nation, and the security
of the British Empire in the East."
Mr. Josiret liuME, M.P., complained that the ballot
had not been taken on the last meeting. The Court was
asked only to retrace its steps, and re-open the inquiry
as to the innocence of the ex-Raja of Setters. The
Hon. Proprietor then reviewed the proceedings of the
Court of Directors, which have already been fully re-
ported. From first to last the ex-Raja had not had a
fair trial. The Raja did not even know the charges
brought against him—a privilege allowed to the lowest
mechanic in this maim/. lie was never allowed to pro-
tect himself from the charges. The conduct of the
Government of India had been most heinous, and the
time would come when the people of India would rise
against such injustice being continued. The character
of England was as much jeopardised as the Government
of India in refusing a fair trial. Lord Auckland, while
Governor-General of India, wished the ex-Raja to be
furnished with full statements of the charges brought
against him. There was a secret motive in the conduct
of the Bombay Government, which he (Mr. Hume) was
anxious to fathom. But still this most reasonable request
was never complied with. Let the Court of Proprietors
do justice to the ex-Raja's memory. His (Mr. Flume's)
object was to obtain a ballot. Such a tissue of injustice
could not much longer last. He would persevere until
justice was done to the late ex-Raja. The Court of
Directors had not sustained the dignity of the Govern-
ment of India. So confident was the ex •Raj a, that he
declared he would retire from his post while the inquiry
went on. He (Mr. Hume) wanted to • know the secret of
this most abominable proceeding against the late ex-
Raja. Under all these circumstances, he should move
the resolution. The stability of the Government of
India depended upon justice being done to the late ex-
Raja. It was no time to trifle with the people of India.
Mr. flume tendered an addition to the resolution, which
was as follows:
" We, the undersigned proprietors of East India stock,
duly qualified by law, and present in Court,s do request
a
that the Court of Directors will appoint ballot, accord-
ing to chap. 8, sec. 1, of the By Laws, to determine the
question this day brought before the General Court,
relative to the late Raja of Sattara.—Signed, Joseph
Hume, J. Sullivan, John Briggs, S. Gaselee, Mulkey,
Johnston, H. Stephen, Arthur J. Lewis, Thomas
Newham.—March 8, 1848."
The CHAIRMAN would not receive any addition at the
present moment. He intended to move an amendment,
that of adjournment.
Mr. Serjeant GAZELEE protested against this course.
If these questiohs of adjournments are to be moved, the
fate of the Court of Directors was sealed. He had the
utmost respect for the directors, but they had got into
bad company.—(Laughter.) The bylaw upon the
question of adjournment was illegal, and the proprietors
would subscribe their money, and fight the directors
upon the point.
Mr. SULLIVAN said the ex-Rajah had been dethroned
and deprived upon ex.parte evidence. Had the directors
or the Government of India the power to set up or pull
down native Princes at their pleasure, contrary to solemn
treaties, as in the case of the ex-Raja of Setters ?
Did the Court of Proprietors do wrong in their course
of proceeding, in not seeing if the Raja was innocent
or guilty ? If the directors had done wrong, let them
retrace their steps. Was not the Raja's throne in per-
petuity granted to himself, or his heirs, or by adoption.
There was not a native Prince of India whose fate
might not be that of the late Raja of Setters. There
was a public opinion in India that could not be sup-
pressed. The native army of India might become
affected by a continuance of the injustice to the ex-Raja
of Sattara.
Mr. LEWIS contended that the by-law, by which the
Court was attempted to be coerced, was illegal. It was
as follows:
" By-law, chapter 8, sec. I,—Then it is ordained, that
if, at any general Court, nine of the members present
duly qualified to vote. shall demand a ballot for deter-
mining any question, except for adjournment, or the
previous question, or an amendment, such question shall
be put by the ballot, and not otherwise."
After some discussion upon the subject, Mr. WIGRAM
held that there were no difficulties in the case ; unless
these laws were under appeal, the Court of Directors
were bound to abide by them. The privilege of the pro-
pi ietor was to move an amendment or an adjournment.
Mr. THOMPSoN, M.P., held, if such be the law, it
nullified the Charter of the Corporation. The ballot
was given to the proprietors for their protection, and
not to overpower those who were the friends of
justice and truth. The most eminent men in the
country were is favour of the cause of the late Raja,
including that high and honourable man, Mountstuart
Elphinstone. The Court of Directors were not asked
to revise their opinion ; they were only asked fur
a full inquiry. The Hon. Proprietor condemned the
conduct of Sir Robert Grant, in keeping back papers
connected with the charges against the late Raja. Was
not this a subject for full inquiry ? Had the Court of
Directors no sympathy for the character of the late Sir
Robert Grant ? Why, then, refuse an inquiry ? He
wanted to have an inquiry into the conduct of Sir James
Carnao. He went out a friend of the late Raja, and be-
came his enemy. The Court of Proprietors only wanted
a full inquiry into the course pursued by the Government
in India, and in the policy of the course adopted by the
Court of Directors. They wanted to know the legality
of the dethronement of the Raja. Would the legal ad-
viser of the court say that the dethronement was legal.
Why was not he (Mr. Thompson) prosecuted for the
charges he had openly brought against Colonel Ovens ?
lie repeated those charges. The character of the com-
pany was bound up in this question—tile fate of Princes
and of treaties in India, as well as that of the lowest
of the people, was concerned in this base transaction
connected with the ex-Raja. lie would say—perish
the East India Company, its patronage, its pelf, its cor-
ruption, rather than injustice to any one of the people
of India. Would not the Court of Directors heed the
signs of the times? This one act of injustice, if fully
understood, would consign the company to infamy. The
people of India were oppressed to a degree almost past
bearing.
Sir J. W. HOGG defended the legality of the by-law,
and said that the right to ballot was not given by common
low, or any statute, but only by the by-law of th© COM*