The Sun.
London, England, 1826-06-22 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin—As you obligingly give immediate admission to my 'for-
mer letter and extract from the work of the learned Joseph Bing-
ham, on the subject of Simony, I presume you will allow we to
transmit you some further account, as given by the same authOr,
of what was considered by the Ancients of the Christian Church
as constituting that crime. Mr. Bingham tells us that it was
commonly distinguished by them into three sorts—let, Buying and
selling spiritual gift'; 2d, Buying and selling spiritual prefer-
merits ; Sd, Ambitious usurpation and sacrilegious intrusion into
ecclesiastical function., without any legal election or ordination.
The first sort was that which most properly had the name of si-
mony from Simon Magus, who pretended with money to purchase
the gift of the Holy. Ghost ; and this was always thought to be
committed when men either offered or received money for ordina-
tion. But as this species of siMony, as well as what he terms the
'third sort, " Ambitious usurpation and sacrilegious intrusion into
ecclesiastical functions, without any legal election or ordination,"
are seldom, or perhaps never, practised in these days, it would be
quite idle to propose to fill your columns with lengthened quota-
tions respecting them ; and 1 will
,only herewith beg leave to
transmit you what our valuable author says concerning the second
sort of simony, " That of buying and selling spiritual prefer-
ments." I am, Sir,
Your very obedient servant,
A Ratift OM ITS.
" But they did not only call that simony which consisted in
trafficking for gifts of the, Holy Spirit, but also all purchases mad.
of the spiritual preferments of the Church, and all pro Motions
made without just merit, out of mere favour and affection. The
Council of Chalceilon not only threatens deposition
_to any Bishop
that sets grace to sale, and ordains a Bishop, or Chorepiscopue,or
Presbyter, or Deacon, or any Clerk', for money; but also, if lie
promotes an aconomus, or steward, or an Eedicus, that is, an
Advocate or Defensor, or a Paramonarius, that is, a Bailiff or
Steward of 'the Lands, for his own filthy lucre. And birth the
Clergy to ordained are to be degraded; and the Officers so pro-
mated to lose their places;
and if any one be instrumental as a
mediator in such dishonourable and unlawful traffic, if he be
a Cleth, he is to 'be degraded; if a Layman or a Monk, to
be anathematised. By the Laws of Justinian, every Elinlor
was to depose upon oath, that he did not chose the party elected
tame he knew him to be a man of the true Catholic
either for any girt or promise, or friendship, or any other cause,
fbanithnnly' bec
and
unblameable life and good learning' °.eVrY the
Great, says, there t, reward of money for
ordination, and' Were wins IV.O took no re
yet w measure guilty of intim] y,
because they gave holy suele
orders for human favour, and thence sought
the reward of praise r
and favour They did not give
freely what they had and
anion
n an holy
office, they required the y,_reeeived ; because for gm three
sorts
of bribes, one from °Wee:. of
favour for thatli
ware
hand* end
another from the tongue. 'That another from
les
was a ser-
vile subjection unduly paid ;,,thartotfii obeeinnouenr
Wai
money ;
that from the tongue was favour,...4 roul
the
hat:i tof simony
,made men liable to ecclesiastical cut whether this sor t
but
only speaks against it as a great ceoursuure'• ha,
dutir
Mel' they
who' give holy orders, ought to keep themselvesrli"
free,fr"according to
that of the prophet,..lial.
114' 15. IHe that shaketh his hands
front hottlitig of Ibribef.'"
.

Colonel ST;soroex rose to submit *series of Resolutions on the
subject of the Policeof Bombay, which he undertook to prove was
now converted into a system of oppritision on British as well us
native • subjects. The motion he should offer to the Court was
founded on facts obtained from public documents, and he there-
fine earnestly called upon the Court of. Directors to protect the
rights and privileges of Our East Indian Colonies, and in doing
this, imitate the ancient Romans, who were always zealous in
the defence of their distant Colonies. On the authority of Sir
Edward West, Sir James Macintosh, and others, persons of
the first authority and distinction, lie could prove to the Court
that the Magistrates. of Bombay were in the continual habit
of acting illegally, by banishing and flogging the inhabitants
illegally' trying them for felonies, though they had no
jurisdiction for doing so—and by depriving them of redress
of their grievances by withholding from them the writ of
Habeas Corpus. The Gallant Colonel then briefly reviewed
the history of the Police of Bombay from the year 1779, and
commented on the disgraeeful, system of club-law and universal op-
pression which, he said, had existed-in that colony, and which had
been declared by the eminent individual, he had before named, to be
in direct contravention of the Statutes passed for the better govern-
ment of thatleountry. Flogging, which was still inflicted in our co,
looks, was now nearly discountenanced by every civilized nation. It
had been abolished in the French army ; but before it was discon-
tinued, it might be said to be one of the leading causes which led to
the decapitation of the French King, and the Revolution that soon
after followed. It was banished by Napoleon from I taly,and it was not
till the return of legitimacy in France that it was again revited in
that nation. hi India it still prevailed. Formerly it was only in-
tended as a punishment for men of the lowest caste, but now men of
superior character were degraded by the use of the lash. The un-
happy culprit, it was stated, was taken out, stripped, and tied to a
tree, and in that situation, punishment was inflicted with the ratan,
and so dreadful were the stripes of that weapon, that the sufferers
were sometimes clothed in a leather jacket—a sort of a cuirass, to
prevent the blows taking a mortal effect. Indeed so shocking were
the blows of the ratan, that the catto'-nine-tails had been recom-
mended to be used in its stead, as not inflicting more than a
twelfth part of ,the punishment. It had been the practice to or-
der these severities to be used, equally on British and native sub-
jects, with Out any foundation in law for these orders, and snore
than one-sixth of the felonies that were tried at Bombay were tried
illegally, as they were not taken before the Supreme Court, and
the unfortunate prisoner was prevented from appealing, though
he had the right of doing so, fearing to excite the virulence of the
police against him. One of the points he therefore wished to
gain was, to give the Supreme Court the power of interfering
when it saw occasion, which was a privilege it slid not now pos-
sess. In fact, the whole system was one of extreme oppression,
-and if it were suffered to be continued, it might be said
that the reign of law was over, and the reign of anarchy
had arrived. One instance of severity, of many which he
could name, was that of a Hindoo who had broken his bail,
with the respect to the observance of same native ceremony,
for which he was taken before a Magistrate, and ordered to
be flogged—this he endured, and four days afterwards died, of
what was said to be the cholera morbus—but there could be no
doubt as to what was the real.cause of his death. Had this event
occurred in England, there was not a !martin the land but would
have taken fire at such cruelty—nor a hand that would not have
been raised against such a grievous oppression. Another case was
of a sepoy, who was sentenced to be flogged for some slight offence,
to avoid which he cut his throat, but not so effectually but that
he received the lash in ten days after, and while the wounds of
his throat were yet unhealed, and his back raw from the :stripes,
the unheard-of cruelty was exercised of marching him at the head
of Isis regiment, worn down as he was by pain and disgrace. The
Gallant Colonel, after naming the fact, that the Courts-martial of
Bombay had the power of intheting as many as 1,000 heirs et a
time, said be trusted measures would be taken to abolish this
cruel, abominable, disgraceful. and iniquitous practice. fie then
moved the following
I. That in the sth Article of the Honourable Company's Rept-
lst of l N 14, it is declared lawful for one of the Justices
of Police upon complaint made by any master or mistress against
any servant or hamal, on such complaint being established on the
oath of one credible witness, to punish such offender, by causing
any number of lashes, not exceeding twelve, Air such offences, to
be inflicted on him or her so offending.
2. That this regulation (acted upon at Bombay) is utterly
illegal ; for any power of the Petty Sessions at Bombay to inflict
the punishing of whipping, must be derived froM the regulation
made under the -statue, 30 and 40 Geo. Ili., cap. '79, sec. IS,
according to which corporal punishment can only be inflicted on
conviction before two Justices of the Peace.

3. That in defiance of this statute, and the wise idmonitions of
Sir James Macintosh and Sir Edward West, inn have been fined,
flogged, and banished, and these monstrous practices are still
obstinately persevered in by the Magistrates, and sanctioned by
the Grand Jury of the settlement.

4. That the Court doth humbly recommend to the Count of
Directors to repeal the 6th article of the Regulation of let of
1814, which is opposed to 39 and 40 George 111, and to cheek
the barbarous practice of flogging in British India. -
b. That returns of the convictions and punishments had and
inflicted before the Magistrates, sitting jointly and separately :
and also before the Petty Sessions of Bombay since 1811, be laid
before the Court, anti that the King's Judges at Bombay be re-
quested call on the Magistrates for the said return.
6. That a list of the sentences of Regimental Courts Martial,
which have occurred in the Hon. Company's Army, from 1890
to 1825, be laid before the Court. -
Dr. Guctletsr Seconded the motion. When he was 4 humble
Assistant-Surgeon in India, he witnessed the flogging of an artil-
leryman, and was set to watch that the poor fellow did not lose his
life by the severity of the chastisement. Ile saw the wretched man
flogged till his back was as raw sea piece of meat in a butcher's
shop, and seeing the man's life was in danger, and not being able
to endure the sight longer. he desired the officer in command to
desist, at his peril. He did so, saying, however, that the man
would not thank him, as it wonld only be renewing his punishment
at a future day, notwithstanding the poor fellow had recently come
out of the Hospital. He, however, escaped by his interference,
and never after received the remainder of the lashes, though the
exereiee of this forbearance was very unusual. In the French
army flogging was very seldom rearted to. The truth was, the
men, rather than suffer the disgrace, shot themselves, or else the
officer who had ordered them to bear that chastisement ; and he
was sorry that we were the only people who required to be flogged
into acts of duty and bravery. He hoped to lee the practice
wholly abolished.

Sir C. Rontssow, the Chairman, said he did not mean to be
the advocate of practices such as bad been diceribeil•-•—(flear, heir.)
words in justifivation of the Directore.
butHe
he
the particular regulation of the let of
was wished
from defending
1814; and 'Wit was in otipositton to the statute of 39 and 40
Geo. 111. the Court of Directors would he most anxious to cor-
rect the error. The Court of Directors had no power to call for
the information from the Supreme Court, required by one of the
proposed resolution, ; but if the cruelty described really existed,
he had no doubt but that, on applieatiou to another quarter, it
would soon be put a stop to, - He, hoWever, wished to observe,
that flogging was reeognieed by the laws of England ; and what
applied to England in that restiect, must also'apply to India. It
was not in the power of the Court a Directors to put a stop to
that species of punishment; that could only be done by the Le-
gislature. The Directors would do all in their power to prevent
any unnecessary severity being used ; and this assurance, he hoped,
would induce the gallant Colonel to withdraw his motion.
After some further observations from General Thornton, Mr.
Trant, Dr. Gilchrist, and Captain Maxfield, Colonel Stanhope
withdrew the motion, on the reliance that the pledges given by
the Chairman would be acted upon.
motion the
Dr.' Guettalsr next brought forward his on ,
jet of the !Wilke Establishment of Bombay. He read copiously
front the communications of Dr. Britain, Captain 1114 Can, and
various other gentlemen connected with India' on the subject of
the great advantages to be derived by the diffusion of philosophical
and scientific knowledge among the native inhabitants; and be
paiticularly drew the attend.* of the Court to the numerous be-
nefitstluit would wive by die proper study of physic by the na-
tive doctors.. An institution for this purpose had been formed
Wider the Gomunent of the Of Hastings, slid he mitt-

" That it be strongly recommended by the Court of Proprie-
tors to their Executive Body at home to encourage and support
by every rational attempt on the part of the Government abroad,
to communicate useful knowledge among the whole of the British
Indian subjects, and more especially the branches of beueficial
information now taught by the Medical School, now some years
established in Calcutta by the Marquis of 'lasting*, and warmly
countenanced by the present Governor-General, Lord Amherst,
for instructing the Native Doctors attached to the Bengal Army,
in the modern art of surgery, and the existing practice of phy-
sic, including those indispensable sciences on which the success-
ful application of medical aid must ultimately depend."
Capt. 4‘l.txrtsa.n seconded the motion. He thought a Medical
School would be of the greatest assistance to promoting the know-
ledge of physic and surgery, but he thought it absolutely necessary
that the person who superintended it should not hiee'a plurality
of appointments, as the duty of the office was amply sufficient to
occupy his whole time.• lie was aware that pluralities were raudh
admitted in India,: and he held in' his hand a list of nine appoint-
ments which one person held. The Medical School, in his
opinion, had gone into decay for want of proper attention being
shown to it, for it could not be douhted that if properly conduct-
ed, the greatest benefits would, be derived froM it. •
Sir C. ROnmsoN considered that the present motion implied a
severe censure on the Court of Directors, in not having duly at-
tended to the intellectuil improvement of the inhibitants of the
British possessions in India, although they annually expended
very large sums in contributing to the support of numerous schools
and colleges. With respect to this school, it had been considered
that as there was a Medical School at Madras, where scholars were
instructed without a superintendent, the same course might be
adopted at Bengal, without any prejudice, as it was believed that
more knowledge could be obtained. by practice than in attend-
ing to the lectures of a superintendent, who might have other
engagements • to attend to, for he admitted that pluralities
of appointmenta was one of the worst features of this ease. If the
institution was a useful one, he admitted that no person was better
able to fill the office of superintendent than Dr. Britain. The
Court of Directors, however, were not yet in possession of all the
aircOmstances that could enable them to judge of its utility ;—When
they bad that information, they were perfectly disposed to do that
which was most advantageous to the CoMpany's good ; and as
this was a matter which had better be considered by them than by
this Court, he submitted, as an amendment, that the subject be
left for their discussion.
This amendment, after some further remarks froM Dr. Gil-
christ, Sir John Doyle, and Mr. Tram, was carried in the affir-
mative,

The Court confirmed a Resolution of the Court of Directors of
the 3d inst. providing that Capt. Michael, of the Madras Esta-
blishment, upon his resigning the military service, in order that
he may continue to act as Mahratta Translator to the 'Tanjore
Commissioners in England, in which capacity he received a salary
of tom. 10s. per annum, should be granted a continuance of that
salary for life; and further providing, thist whenever the period
Should arrive at which, if Capt. Michael had continued in the
military service, be would haVe suceeeded to the command of a
regiment and a Share of off-reckonings, the said salary of 6821.
101. per annum be increased from that date, to 1,050/. per annum
for life.
The Meeting then adjourned.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

LLOYDS'-JuNt 21.

DIAL, JUNK 20.—Arrived and remain the Sarah, Tue%ter,
from Bomber; Brothers, Mauritius; Deveron, Rdlett,
Honduras; Nelly, Chater, Trieste; anti the Jannatte, Formic,
from Surinam. Protseti through from the River, the Nimble,
Writrbtvon, for Barcelona ; Prince Regent, Hider, for
tlli-
raniicd►i ; and Flortidia, Aldhain, for India.—Wind fi h
breeze.

Yaxri►u.►urtt,JvNa W.—Off the Pori, the Maitland, Hopton,
from Bombay ; sod the Dolphin, A Melt, from Rio Jailtirti.
Wind S. 8. R.

PLYMOUTH, JU NT. 19.—Arriveil the Waterloo Transport, from
Woolwich fot, Gibraltar. Off the Port, the Pallas, , from
the Isle of France.—Wind W.

FALMOUTH, JUNE 19.—Sailed the Lady Wellington Perim,
for America; and Magdaline, Hume, for Rottardain.—Wilid
variable.

LIVERPOOL, Juwa I9.—Arrived the Mary Ann, fil'Kenutie,
from Buenos Ayres; Cornelius, Arthur, from Monte Video;
Fairfield, Nelson, Sierra Leone; Minerva, Thompson, Charleston;
and Vigilant, Oliveira, from Lisbon.--Wind
Cowls, Jur►x 20:—Arrived the Agnes, Stripling, from
Monte Video, in 98 days.—Wind calm.
Arrived off Brighton, the Albion, Weller, from Calcutta.
Arrived off Dover, the Eliza, Sutton ; and %wren }listings,
Mason, from India.
Arrived off the Wight, the Briton, Forster, from Jamaica ; and
the Sophie, Splidt, from Manilla.
The Ciistle Huntley, Drummond, from London to Madras and
Bengal, was spoken with the 26th March, in let. 22, long 22.
The William Fairlie, Blair; and the Orwell, Ferrer, front London
to China, on the led, of May, off Madeira.

A fatal rencontre took place near Arthur's Seat
on Sunday sennight. Two young men, tradesmen, quarrelled
about's female, to whom they wile both attached, and agreed to
decide their claims by combat. One of them was carried home
in a state of insensibility, and died on Tuesday last. The sur-
vivor has been apprehended, and the situation of the unhappy girl
who was the innocent cause of quarrel, is said to be most lament-
able. We have heard that the surgeons who examined the body
of the deceased gave their opinion that the young man died from
the effects of excessive passion.

LOVE AND *TEA LOUSVe-LIEGE , JUNE 9.--A
tragical scene has just taken place here, which may be compared
to any of the most painful tales you have read in romances. The
facts are as follow :—A young man, Joseph Verbue, had recent-
ly been enrolled in an artillery regiment, in garrison here. Ile
entered the army as a volunteer; the motives which have induced
him to leave his home, were disappointments in love and execs.
sive jealousy. He had been acquainted for a long time with an
interesting young female, whom he wished to marry : his friends
were not averse to the match, which, it was expected, would
shortly take place. The young person who bad flattered him
with every encouragement, and whose conduct manifested tender
feelings towards him, bad not, however, given a positive consent.
She framed various reasons for postponing the celebration of
the nuptials, but the real one, which unfortunately she did not
at the time communicate to any person, arose from a jealous
feeling which she entertained towards one of her female
friends, to whom her lover had shown wore attentions
that she
thanu toivtahleirye
g
wards her supposed rive), war the only cause of the youth's ipulies4taklinet toinhleire; ciotnljteacstusriense,s abr fnr iepnrteidp, alone to -
kind-
ness to her. In order, as she thought, to estrange his affections
from her rival, she had recourse to the not uncommon, but danger-
ens phut of rendering Mtn jealous. To effect this, she showed a
particular wayr imprudent man who visited her father's
house, ndon desire
occasionuiprudent enough to walk out
one
with him atone in the evening. The circumstance natarally came
to the knoWletly of Itieph, who, after upbraiding her with her
inconstancy; suddenly left his home, and immediately' became a
soldier. A few weeks after this event, having heard that he was
at Liege, slid repaired thither, in company with the young man
ahtwe-mentioned, and went to the residence of the yoting sohlier.
He received her kindly, but when informed with whom she had
come to Liege, Ida anger knew no hounds; he swore that lie
would murder her, and struck her a violent blow; he 'then ran
into an adjoining room And seizing a sabre, returned and inflicte,t
several deep wounds on his prostrate victim. He was hist:lllth.
arrested. The' unfortunate girl, notwithstanding the wounds
hadreceived, recovered. Such was the evidence that came out un
the trial. He was senteneed to death. The poor female who had
been entnpello to appear'int A
'witness against her lover, was no
sooner informed that he was to be executed, hut she rushed out Of
the room to which then had conveyed her, ran faro a slop, and
a sharp. instrument upon 4 table, she seized it and stabhe4
WWI to tilt heart.