The Sun.
London, England, 1833-07-19 00:00:00

CAPTAIN NAPIER.

As the public generally may have forgotten the par-
ticttlars of the dating exploit achieved by this officer dur-
ing the war, in the year 1813, on which is founded also
the title he has taken in the Portuguese servite, tie fol-
lowing official account of it, taken Nom the Annual Re•
gister for that year, will no doubt be acceptable :
" (Vitra the tondon Gazette, Tuesday, June 15.)

" Admiralty-office, June 15.
" (Copy of an enclosure to Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew,

Bart.)

" His Majesty's ship Thames, Ponza.harbour,
" Feb. 27, 181 G. _

" Sir,—Agreeable to your directions, I embarked Lieut.-
Colonel Coffin, and the 2d battalion of the 10th regiment, on
the 16th inst., and arrived off Ponza on the 23d, the harbour
of which is about a quarter of a mile wide, with a mole at the
extreme end of it, defended by four batteries, mounting ten 24
and 18-pounders, and two 9-inch mortars.
" Colonel Coffin and myself agreed that the shortest and
surest road to success was by running both ships into the
mole, and carrying the place by assault; but the weather was
unfavourable for such an attack until the morning of the 26th,
when the ships bore up in close order, with a fine breeze.
" The enemy were prepared for our reception, and opened
their fire nearly half an hour before our guns could bear; the
batteries were, however, passed with little injury, the ships
engaging on both sides, and the Thames was anchored across
the mole.head, the Furieuse bringing up a little astern of her.
" Colonel Coffin and the troops landed the same instant, and
pushed for the height of a strong tower, into which the enemy
had retreated; and their appearance, together with the severe
fire from the ships, induced the Governor to hoist a flag of
truce, and agree to the enclosed capitulation.
" I have much pleasure in informing you that this service
has been performed without the loss of a man in either pro-
fession : our being hulled three times, and the Furieuse
twice, sails and rigging a good deal cut, is the only damage
suffered.

" The most perfect cordiality has subsisted between the two
services, and I am much indebted to Captain Mounsey for the
excellent support he gave, and his quickness in following our
motions ; and if the resistance had been greater, and another
battery (which was expected) I have little doubt but we
should have succeeded, particularly with such a storming
party as Colonel Cashell's regiment, and such a leader as
Colonel Coffin.

" I have much reason to be satisfied with my first lieute-
nant, Davies, officers, and ship's company • their steady con-
duct and excellent firing accounts for the smallness of our
damage. Captain Mounsey likewise speaks highly of Lieu-
tenant Croker, his officers, and crew. Mr. James Wilkinson,
mate of this ship, I attached to Colonel Coffin; and Mr. Black,
of the Furieuse, I intrusted with the charge of the landing.
" Enclosed is a return of prisoners, guns, &c., and 1 shall
send a survey of the island by the earliest opportunity.

" I have the honour to be, &c.,
" CHARLES NAPIER, Captain.
" Sir Robert Laurie, Bart., Captain of His
" Majesty's Ship Ajax.
" [Here follow the articles of capitulation, by which the gar.
rison surrendered as prisoners of war.]"

DI P.E R I AL PA it LI AM ENT

THIS DAY, FRIDAY, JULY 19.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The Speaker entered the House at a quarter past twelve
o'clock, at which time about 30 members were present.

EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER.

On the motion of Mr. C. GRANT, the House resolved itself
into a Committee for the further consideration of the East
India Company's Charter Bill. . . .

The Chairman (Mr. BERNAL) put the 89th clause, which
related to the appointment of two bishops, one for Madras, and
the other for Bombay, at a salary of 24,000 sicca rupees each,
to be paid out of the revenue of those territories.
Mr. O'CONNELL said this was a most important part of
the Bill, for it recognised what he thought was a separate
Christian establishment—(Hear, hear)—indeed, the Honour-
able Baronet (Sir R. Inglis) had given the name to it of
a dominant church in India. Not a word was in the Bill, and
not a word had been said by any Member of the Government
about a dominant church ; but as the Hon. Member for the
University of Oxford had stated triumphantly that it would be
so, he (Mr. O'Connell) would adopt the expression, and con-
tend that no such principle should be extended to India_ He
hoped that the Bill would be received as the first great charter
in India, and that it would be the basis of a new order of things
after centuries of misrule, cruelty, and ignorance, and that it
would be the means of the gradual introduction into that part
of the world of manufactures, the arts, science, and literature.
Those were the objects of the Bill; but they would be defeated
if the causes of all the religious dissensions and jealousies of
Europe were transported to India, and they could not
have a dominant church without introducing at the same
time all the rancour and hate of religious animosity
and opposition. All Christains should be put upon
an equal footing. The Honourable and Learned Member
entered into a detail of the vast disproportion between the
members of the Protestant Church in India, and those of the
Catholic Church, and said that the object of the clause now
before them was to appoint two Bishops for about 15,000 or
20,000 Protestants, while there were above half a million of
Catholics, all of whom would be taxed to pay the salaries of
those Bishops. At Ceylon had been shown some of the evils
of intolerance. When Sir Alexander Johnstone, to whom he
gave the utmost credit for humanity and good feeling, arrived
there, he found that the efforts of the Jesuits and other mis-
sionaries, had spread the doctrines of Christianity so far, that
the highest species of Boodahism was already extinct. But
when the Dutch came to govern that country, by their penal
enactments, they reduced the number of Catholics from
400,000 to 60,000, and sent to Siam for a new Boodah establish-
ment, a new dominant hierarchy. He would not admit the neces-
sity of any ascendancy or domination in religion ; but called upon
the Hon. Gentlemen opposite to declarecandidly their opinions
and intentions. He did not charge them with a desire to in-
troduce domination, but they had been so charged, and the
accusation would be confirmed by their silence, if they were
silent. The Government was bound to look to two classes of
his Majesty's subjects—to the Catholic and Presbyterian, as
well as to the Protestant. It would wring the hearts of Hon.
Members if they could see the letters written by the poor
Catholic Irish soldiers in India to their friends at home—
written in a state of physical debility—and with the ex.
pectation of death from the effects of the climate. In such
strictions, the chief and constant complaint of the poor sol-
dier was, the want of religious consolation. If there were
provision made for the Protestant, there should also be provi-
sion raade for the Catholic and Presbyterian; and he would
again ask to be told explicitly, whether the same assistance
was to be rendered to these as to the Protestant?

Mr. C. GRANT complimented the Hon. and Learned Gen-
tleman on the temper with which he had introduced the
question. The ground upon which the alteration had been
founded was, the necessity for increased means of religious
consolation. At present there were but one Bishop,
and three Archdeacons; it was proposed to increase the
number of Bishops to three, and leaving the Archdeacons
as they stood, with respect to numbers, to take from them
incomes as much as would provide 2,5001. a year for each of
the two additional Bishops. The Right Hon. Gentleman then
went into a statement showing the necessity for this addition,
and contending that this country had no right to send forth
its subjects abroad without giving them the religious advan-
tages they enjoyed at home, or to keep from nine millions of
Indian subjects the means of attaining the blessings of Chris-
tianity. But in making this provision, he would un.
hesitatingly declare to the House that he did not like
the idea of connecting domination with the Church.—(Loud
cheers.) It was with the intention of providing religious
instruction, that he had proposed the resolution, it was with
an idea of affording spiritual aid, the diffusion of which would
surpass all the contemptible thoughts of human domination.—.
(Continued cheers.) The Government held out to India
nothing that was unfair or intolerant to any religion ; but only
such as did honour to the English name, and to tho principles
of Christianity. He certainly avowed a strong feeling in
favour of the Established Church, to which he belonged—
(Hear, hear)—but there was nothing in that prediliction
which could induce him to allow its interference with any
other religious belief.—(Hear, hear.) He knew there was a
very large Roman Catholic community in India, and they
deserved the particular regard and consideration of the Go-
vernment, but in what mode, to what extent, and under what
form their claims could best be satisfied, he was not prepared
to state; it would not be difficult, however, to adjust the
matter between parties who applied themselves fairly and
sincerely to the task—(" Hear, hear," from Mr. O'Con-
nell)—and he would be happy to communicate with the
Honourable and Learned Member for the city of Dublin
upon the subject. He thought that without reference to reli.
gious feeling, it would be the best policy (and he knew the
Catholics of India were anxious for it) that the Catholic pas.
tors in India should be British subjects, and not foreigners.
Mr. WYNN said, when he was in office a great desire was

manifested by the Government and by the East India Com-
pany, that the greatest facility should be given to Catholicism,
the free exercise of their own religion, and that arrangements
to that effect had been niade iii favour of the Catholics who
were in the army.
Mr. C. GRANT said, that during the time he held the
office he had now the honour of holding, every thing should
be done to induce feelings of communion in all the function-
aries of the Church in India.

Mr. SHEI
said that the President uf the Board of
had edttiitted thdt ht tbag itrikiotis td establish his
bWsl lieenhat fdrhi 'or Chrittianitj, in Ihdia. Let the Hon.
Qeht (bingo indulge in his Predilittions ih his chiset,htit not in the
Cabinet; let hint adore his God in his bwii fashions bdt
ndi make his sectarian preferences the basis of his legislation.

—(Hear, hear.) Paley had laid it down that the governor was
bound to look to the religion of his people, not to his own.
The Hon. Gentleman acted in direct variance with that posi.
tion. The Hon. Gentleman had not answered the question,
whether he desired to have a dominant church in India ?
Mr. GRANT--I distinctly stated that I did hot.
Mr. SHVIL—Does he desire to have an ascehdant Church ?
Mr. GRANT—I am surprised the Hon. Gentleman shotild
repeat the question.

Mr. SHEIL—Then where is the difference between
an ascendant Church and an established Church, since esta-
blishment implies ascendancy.—(Hear.) Are all religions to
be established in India ?
Mr. MACAULAY—AII are to be paid.
Mr. SHELL—Yes; but payment does not constitute
establishment. In France all religions are supported, but
none is established. You give pre-eminebce by Act
of Parliament to the Angio-indian Chutch; and this
is done despite the advite of the East India Company.—

4lear, hear, hear.) He had in his hand the correspondence
of the India Company with the Board of Control, dated Julylo,
1833. They protest against the establishment of two more bishop-
ricks. They insist that it is unjust to tax natives for the sup-
port ofanestablishment.He should read the following remarkable
passage :—" And here, Sir, the Court must call your attenticli
to the striking fact, that the charge to India of the ecclesias-
tical establishment has been augmented since the institution of

the see of Calcutta from 48,0001. to more than one hun.
dred thousand pounds per annum, and that the
clerical part of the pension list has been increased from
6001. per annum to 5,0001. per annum. The Court, therefore,
cannot contemplate the creation of two more sees, without appre_
hen sion of financial consequence. We recognize, indeed, in your
proposal, great anxiety to limit the expense ; but we fear
that it will be found impossible to maintain the limitation *heti
the offices are created, and the Bishop of Calcutta shall have
become a Metropolitan."—(Loud cries of" Hear, hear.") Thus
the Company, to whom the powers of Government were to
be transferred, protested against this enlargement of the
hierarchy, which would end in a vast Episcopal Esta-
blishment. Already the expense had arisen from
48,0001. to 100,0001. If one Bishop had produced this
increase of expense, what would two more effect ?
and if one Bishop generated two, would not the three
soon produce a large Episcopal progeny ? The majo-
rity of native Christians were Catholic ; they were six
hundred thousand in number. How grossly unjust then it was,
to establish a Church to which they were wholly alien ?
Besides the six hundred thousand native Catholics, there was
a large body of European Catholics, especially Irish
soldiers. Thus all the evils of the Irish Church establishment
were to be sown in India, and would produce the same results.
Let them transplant Christianity to India, but not controversy,
the weed that grew beside and killed it. In a few years, a
struggle would take place between the Catholic, the Calvinist,
and the Protestant population, arising from the pre-eminence
given to one. Mr. Sheil concluded by quoting from the
works of the famous Baptist preacher Robert Hall, the follow-
ing observations against establishment :—" Happy had it been
had civil establishments been useless, instead of being pro.
ductive of the greatest evils. To the alliance of Christianity
with civil power, it is owing that ecclesiastical history
presents a chaos of crime, and that the progress of religious
opinions which left to itself had been calm and silent, may be
traced in blood."—(Hear, hear.) _

..
Lord ALTHORP wished to ask the Hon. and Learned
Member for Dublin, whether the answer of his Right Hon.

Friend to his remarks was not satisfactory to his views on
the subject. Government wished to make such an ar-
rangement as would be satisfactory to all parties, and tend
to the spreading of religion. The views of Government were
thise—the death of a Bishop as at present, left India for
a very long time, without any spiritual superintendence which
the present proposition would obviate. The Government had
professed that they were willing, and promised to give every
protection to Roman Catholics, and that promise would be kept.
Mr. O'CONNELL had been asked a question—in answer he
had to say that the answer of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
C. Grant) was most satisfactory to him.—(Hear.) Though the
promise was not an official one, he had every confidence in it,
when he thought of the man from whom it fell—(Cheers)—a
man whose whole life showed that it was impossible for him to
be insincere.
Sir H. INGLIS denied the proposition of the Hon.
Member for Tipperary (Mr. Sheil) that it was the establish-
ment of the bishopric of Calcutta which had raised the expense
of the church from 48,000/. to 100,000/. Our possessions had
been, since 1814, very much increased. It was the duty of a
Christian Government to extend to all under its protection the
advantages of a Christian superintendence. He would support
the original clause.

Mr. HUME would have preferred that this clause had been
postponed. There were altogether 13 clauses contingent upon
the addition of two Bishops.—(Hear, hear, hear) We un.

derstood that the Noble Lord conceded to the wishes of
the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin ; and thought
it would follow that the Irish Church would be provided for
He would ask the Noble Lord how he could consistently
recommend a reduction in the Irish Bishops, and an increase
in those of India. He protested against the necessity for
more Bishops from the unhealthiness of the climate. He was
himself a proof that the climate was healthy. That there was
no occasion for more Bishops from increase of duties was clear
from this, that the Bishop of Calcutta and Bombay had,
_ _

from time to time, applied for the addition of Ceylon, which
was granted, and then also of Van Diemen's Land, to his
Bishopric.—(Hear, hear.) And he had also applied for the
addition of the Cape of Good Hope, and the Mauritius.
The doctrine of the Hon. Member for Oxford might be car-

ried further, and for every surgeon there might be a clergyman,
a dissenting minister, a catholic priest, and in fact a repre-
sentative of every religious creed.—(Hear.) He contended the
House was not in a condition to proceed with the clause,
which should either be thrown aside entirely, or postponed; as
should the other contingent clauses.

Mr. C. BULLER hoped his Majesty's Government would
not continue their course of conciliation towards the Hon.
and Learned Member for Dublin, and those of his persuasion,
at the expense of the Hindoos.
Mr. FRENCH rose, but owing to loud cries of " Question"
and " Divide," he would postpone his observations to a future
period.
• ' ' ' "

Mr. BRUCE, amidst the same cries, contended that it was
the duty of all states to uphold an established church, and
therefore he hoped the Government would persevere in the
clause. He was not surprised at the opposition of the Member
for Middlesex, because he had long ago heard that Hon. Member
say, " It was better to reign in hell than serve in heaven."—
(Loud cries of "Oh !" and " Question.") As a member of
the Church of Scotland, he saw in the Bill a great boon in fa-
vour of that clause.

---
The House then resumed, and the Chairman having re.
ported progress, the SPEAKER left the Chair.

THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY.)