The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-03 00:00:00

TORTURE IN MADRAS.

The Earl of ALBEMARLE rose to move for an ad-
dress to her Majesty for a copy of an erder, dated sth of
July, 1855, from C. I. Shubrick, Esq., collector and
magistrate of Chingleput, to Streevansee Row, Tehsil-
dar (native collector) of rariapollium, a district in
that collectorate, directing hire, under penalty
of a "severe order," to collect the Government
loom-tax from certain weavers in his district,
"without leaving any part whatever unrealised ; "
a copy of petitions, dated Ist of Aug., 1855, to C. I.
Shubrick, Esq., in his fiscal capacity, of several weavers
of Pariapollinm, setting forth the cruel tortures to which
they were subjected by the native collects; Streevansee
Row, on the 27th and 28th days of ,tll'y, ,for the non-
payment of the Government loom-tax, Praying for
a respite from payment on account of their
poverty, and in consequence of many of their
inhabitants having ab,conded from their village ;
a copy of the depositions taken before the aforesaid C.
I Shubrick, Esq., in his capacity of magistrate, on the
23,1 of August, 1855, of 14 weavers, respecting the tor-
tures indicted upon them by the aforesaid Streevansee
Row, nn the 27th and 28th days of July, 1855, in order
to realise the whole of the Government loom-tax, which
evidence led to the conviction of that officer : a copy of
the opinion, if such has been given, by the Governor and
C eincil of Madras, or the Court of Foujdaree Adawlut,
or other superior authorities, in respect to the decision
of C I. Shubrick, Esq., joint collector and magistrate
of Chingleput, in the case of the afore-aid 14 weavers of
Peria,pelliurn, by which the Tehsilnar Strevansee Row
was sentenced to pay a fine of only 5 rupees Or 10e.)
for having c dlected the Government tax on looms by
the instrumentality of terturs from the weavers in ques-
tion. And to call the attention of the house to the
nature of the tax called " Moturpha," of which the
loom-tax is a part. The noble earl said he did not,
think that the papers for which he moved would be prr-
duced, but he would avail himself r f this opportunity to
lay before their lordships some statements of a very
h,,rrible description of the torture inflicted in the Ma-
dras presidency, and also to the tax caged the " MOtur
pha." Since the last report was received 14 fresh cases
of torture had occurred, t) which he had referred it, his
motion. The tax called "Moturpha" was a most ini
quitous one. The word was Arabic, and was indicative
of the barbarous nature of the tax, which was introduced
into India by the Mahometens. Lord Cornwallis; who
was well known for his humanity, when he ascer-
tained the exi tepee of this tax, abolished it in
1793 tbrcugkout the British possessions in Bengal.
Some years afterwards it was abolished in Bombay. It
never existed in the district of the Punjaub, and, in
fret, it was only retained in the presidency of Madras,
which had become rsrnarkahle for its tenacity concern-
ing these most cruel practices. In July last year 14
unfortunate individnale were seized and tortured for the
non-payment of this tax. They were obliged to
stand under a burning sun with their bodies
bent to the ground, and with a 121 b. weight upon
each of their backs, the effect of which was, as it were,
to strike a severe blow upon the spinal cord.
They were pinched by two men at a time on each vie-
time who had subsequently to bear the weight of one man
on the back of each. They were kept in this miserable
state from the lr,ur of 8 io tl e morning till 10 at night,
and the system was resumed the next day.
The Duke of ARGYLL raid, on the part of the Go-
vernment, there would not be the sliehtest objection to
give the papers moved for by the noble earl. A portion
of the papers would have to be sent for to India ; and if
it was the wish of the noble lord, he would
produce the papers, with this exception. The
G rvernment had the greatest wish that the
system of torture should be abolished, and, notwith-
standing the difficulties that stood in the way, and he
trusted ultimately the object would be attained. (Hear,
bear)
The Earl of ALBENIARLE stated that if the Go-
vernment would admit that the statements he had made
from papers already in his possession, he would not in-
sist in the production of the papers he had Moved for,
The motion was understood t) be withdrawn.
Their Lordahips then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(This Evening.)
The SIMAYER took the chair at the usual hour. •
LUNATIC RETURNS.
Mr. TITE moved for returns of the total number of
lunatics in respect of whom commissions of lunacy are
now in force, and of the total amount of their annual
incomes, and the total amount of the sums allowed for
their maintenance; for each year, from 1850 to 1865,
inclusive, of the number of lunatics in respect of whom
commissions issued ; distingui.hing those in respect of
whom commissions are now in force ; and of the num-
ber of criminal lunatics now under confinement.—
Agreed to.

FIRE INSURANCES,
Mr. OLIVEIRA moved for a number of returns re•
lative to fire insurances.—Agreed to.

COUNTY SURVEYOR'S (IRELAND);

Mr. VANCE moved for returns of the dates of the
Commissions issued by the Irish Government for the
examination of candidates for the office of County Sur-
veyor in Ireland since the passing of the Act 3 and "4
Will. IV., o. 116, to the praient time ; of the names of
the examiners appointed in the abovenamericommissions
for such examinations ; of the names of all persons cer-
tified to be qualified by the said Boards of Examiners,
and returned to the Irish Government for appointment,
with the dates of such examination and return, froM
the Pe3siog of the said' act to the present time ;
of the ,allocation of qualified candidates to the va-
rious counties and districts, showing the acceptance
or refusal of office, the transfer, retirement, dismissal,
or death, with the date of each event, from the passing
of the said act to the present time ; and, of the names of'
all persons now eligible for appointment to the office of
County Surveyor in Ireland.—Agreed to.
BREWERS AND VICTUALLERS.
Mr. A. PELLATT moved for a return of the nurn
ber of persons in each of the several counties in the
United Kirgdom licensed as brewers, victuallers, to sell
beer to be drunk on the promisee, to sell beer not to be
drunk on the premises, and to sell spirits in Scotland
and Ireland ; stating the number of each class who brew
their own beer ; particularising each elms in each county,
from the 10th of Oct., 1854,-to the 10th day of Oct.,
I 855.—Agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. Demurs, leave of absence was
given to Mr. Long for one month, on account of domestic
affliction.

THE BALL Ti
- •
r Mr. H. BERKELEY gave notice.. that : on the 22d
inst. Le should move for leave ta bring in.a bill to autho-
rise the takitlg of votes at elections foe: members of Par-
liament by ballot. • •
STATE OF GREECE.. _ . •
EWART inquired whether any plumes were

being adopted to procure the removal, by the Govern-
ment of Greece, of export duties and dim es, stated in the
report from our consuls as pressing injtaliously on the
commerce with that country ?
Lord PALMERSTON said the subject had been
under consideration for some time, but he could give no
satisfactory information. The state of Gi eece was so
unsatisfactory that the only part of it that could be tra-
versed with safety was three miles of road between
Athens awl the Piraeus, which was patrol ed night and
day by French cavalry. (Laughter.)
THE BLOCKADE.

Mr. T. MITCHELL asked Viscount Pal merston whe-
ther, British property to the amount of n lore than one
million sterling being now locked up in Russia, it was
the intention of the Government to continue the block-
ade of the Russian coast pending the ratification of
peace ; and whether, if the blockade was to cease at
once, an arrangement had been made to, enable vessels
to enter Russian ports for commercial purposes without
risk of seizure ?

Lord PALMERSTON—The Congress yesterday ex-
tended the armistice to sea as well as land, as the
armistice lately made known only extended to the
land operation. The signature to the treaty of
peace fortunately would prevent the resumption
of hostilities, and, as he had said before, the
congress had extended the armistice to the sea, the block-
ade would cease. With respect to the after part of the
question, he must for the present decline to give any in-
formation.