The Sun.
London, England, 1821-06-21 00:00:00

ASIATIC PRESS.

Colon:.1 STANHOPE postponed his motion relative to the
Asiatic Press until the next General Court.

Mr. HUME was anxious that the quesiiOn should be L.l.lewed
to stated over for the present, as he thought the tilecus,ion
would now have no beneficial effect.

COL STANHOPE would certainly bring forward the subject
at the next Court. He thought little danger was to be appre-
hended during the administration of the Marquis,of lia.stngs,
tilt he was anxious finally to put down mental despotism. —The
Court soon afterwards adjourned. • •

Singular instance of Cowardly Desperation.—A
very singular circumstance took place at Ha-
vannah on the 3d ult. The postilion or driver
of a person of considerable note had been chas-
tised by his master for improper conduct ; reflect-
ing upon his disgrace, he grew desperate, pro-
cured a sword, and indiscriminately attacked
every person he met with : be killed three per-
sons, one-a mulatto, and .wounded three others,
and then attacked an oflicer,'Who very fortunately
disarmed him with his walkieag stick, when he
was secured. lie says be only regrets that•he
did not murder hay ; and is prepared Co meet
. .
his fate.

PARLIAMENT,

ROUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 26.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY, as Chairman of the
Committee of Privileges, reported that the Claims
of Lord Doneraile to vote for the election of Irish
Representative Peers, were allowed.
The Woollen Cloth Stamping Bill was read a
third time, and passed.

- Sir F. Ckm.mA;rEY, Mr. CHETWYND, and others,
brought up from the Commons the Thames
.Las-
tage and Ballastage Bill; the Rum Importation
Bill, and several Private Bills.—Read a first

Mr. WALPOLE, from the'Treasury, presented
an account of all W►nes'imported into Ireland
from 1785 to I"B26.—Laid on the table.

The Earl of DARNLLY -presented a Petition
from Sohn Dufresne, praying for some amend-
ment i❑ the Bankrupt Laws.—Laid on the. table.
The Irish Prisons Regulation Bill, the Poor
Employment Bill,, and the Irish Stamp Duties
Bill; went respectively through Committees, and
were reported.—Adjourned.

. - • HOUSE OF COMMONS.
• • MISCELLANEOUS..
Mi. HUTCHINSON, from the Bank of England, presented
an Account of the Bank Notes now in circulation.—Ordered to
lie on the table.
'MT. JOHNSON, from the Office of the Chief-Secretary of
Inland, presented an Account of the Expellees incurred for
printing Proclamations in Ireland.—Ordered to lie on the
table. .
Admiral SOTHERON presented a Petition from the
Churchwardens, &c. of Radford, m Nottingloimahire, •against
the Poor Laws Regulation Bill—Ordered to lie .on the table.
Mr. EVANS presented a Petation from the inhabitants of
'Wean, in Shropshire, 'complaining of the severity of our Crind-
r_al -Law, and praying that the House would direct its atten-
tion to the subject, with a view to render punishments less se-
vere and more certain.
' Mr. COKE presented a Petition from a place in Norfolk,
praying for an alteration of the preient Law respecting the Set-
tlernent and Relief of the Poor.
Mr. SWANN presented a Petition from the Rev. Jr. Mil-
ton; praying the attention of the Hotise 'to a plan which he had
to tug est for conveying. the Mails at an increased speed of one
mile pe:r hour, without distressingthe horses.—Referred to the
Committee on the Extra Post Bill. •
Sir J!J%IES GRAHA NI presented a Petitionfrom Peckham,
stud Mr. C. Grant a Petition from Christ. Church, in Surrey,
praying that the'House would aliopt souse measure for the pu-
nishment of cruelty to Animals.—Ordered to lie on the table.
.31r. C. GRANT moved for an Account of the Imports and
Exports-of Ireland, for the year ending the sth of January,
1821.—Ordered. • '
Mr. CALCRAFT moved forthe production of the Minutes
of Evidence taken before the Committee appointed on the
elaiins of General Desforneaux.—Ordered.
The Coal' Drawback Bill was read a third time and pr.s.scd.
The Bill for altering-the Laws relating to Vagrancy was read
a third time and passed, on the motion of Mr. CHI: T W r x D.
The Consolidated Fund Bill was read a second time, and or-
ilered to be committed this day.
The Scottish Malt Duty Relief Bill was read a second time.
Mr. CA ',CRAFT said he should have moved an Amend-
ment for extending the benefit • of this measure to England ;
but he feared he could not rely -upon the support of the Scottish
Members, lest that support would endanger theii own Bill.—
Ile trusted however they would on a future occasion 'support
him, when he should propose other reduetions of the general
expenditure. •
Sir J. MAJOIIIBANKS defended the Bill. The Scotch
Barley in general was he said of less value by 20 per cent. than
English Barley, and by that amount the Malt was less able to
boa: the duty.
Mr. CALVERT said there. was an inferior sort of English
Malt; called Brown Malt. As this was of no greater value than
Scotch Malt, he saw no reason for denying the benefit of 'this
Bill to the consumers of Malt of that description.
'Mr. CURWEN said he should not oppose the Bill, but he
thought it was a hardship in England.
The Bill was then ordered tei be-cominitted this day.
The Scotch Distillery Drawback Bill was read a second time,
and committed.
Mr. WILBERFORCE presented-a Petition from the Inha-
bitants of Hull in favour of the Bill for punishing cruelty to
Animals.
• A message from the Lords announced their Lordships' assent
to ti=re-rat Bills.—Their Lordships also requested that P.
Goi.ExTEr.e, Esq. be permitted to give evidence before their
Leedships' Committee on the Doncraile Pecrage Claim.Or-
dezed
.
Mr. HUME called the attention of thc House to a motion
be had made for a Return relating to the Land Tax. The
Retrain for which he had moved embraced a period of ten years
‘ai-7. He now moved that the Return be extended to; twenty
raars—Ordered.
Mr. HUME moved for certain Accounts relative to the 'Un-
funded Debt.—Ordered.
Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from Bristol for a repeal
of the Statute of Anne, which allowed persons holding places
urnier. the Crown to sit in the Home of Commons.
2,1 r. BENNETT said, he heartily concurred in the prayer of
the petition. He was determined to bring tile subject before
Parliament year after year.—The petition was then read, and
ordered to be on the table and be printed.
!air...SOLICITOR-GENERAL
.presented a petition from
Aanburton, in Devonshire, against tae I'oor .Laws Regulation
Bill—Ordered to be printed.
W. GORDON. presented ,a petition from. the Brewers
tif Aberdeen, complaining of the mode in which the Excise
Laws were carried into execution.—Ordered to be printed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER' moved the
second reading of the Tobacco Duties Bill.
Mr. C. CALCRAFT opposed the Bill.
• The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER said a few
wools across the table, for thepurpoae, it was believed, of post-
poning the Bill—lt was postponed accordingly. -
The Loan Bill, the Irish Treasury Bills Bill, and the Ex-
.- chequer. Bills Bill were read a third time and passed..
On a motion for receiving dropped Orders on Tuesday,
Sit' J. NEWPORT, Mr. BENN ET T , and Mr. DENMAN' COM'
pLiaed of the practice which had prevailed a bringing on im-
portantpublic Bills at a late.hour. • . .
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said a few
words acrossthe table, and a conversation followed, which led,
as was insderausodnto an underitanding that the practice should
be discontinued.; .
BURNING OF WOMEN IN IN DIA. •
Mr F. BURTON called the attention of the
House to the dreadful' practice of burning females
in India. He admitted 'that 'the GOvernor of
India had done much to discountenance this prac-
tice, hot they had refrained very mach 'from in-
. •
terference m general, lest it might be.concei3ied
they Wisilect td 'control the religious doctrines of
the natives. It appeared .that in the last four
years n-o less than 9336 females had, been seen to
naotsnt the funeral pile-, in the Presidency of Fort
William. , Many of them were mere children;._
some were pregnant;' some had ..been. made in-
toxicated ; and not a.fevik were :forced, to- the sa-
cri-firce. He relied in some !*rfeasure upon the diS-
ctr.tion of the Governors of India,,,but be thought
-the House ought to interfere. The-Mogul Govern-
doent had ab*liShed the-praktice. and many others
:had .rendered. it less.,..frequciat......lle-.theriefore
•
thought we .ought at once to prove our. detesta.;-
tion of these abominable executions. It was wor-
thy of remark, that many of them hadAa.ken place
in direct violation of the laws, of thenatives. Those
. laws decla?ed,thot no female under 16 shouldhesa-
crificedl yet it wasai fact). that girls of 14, 13,,
12 and one of ei_glit years of age,• were subjected
to this brutal sacrifice. Force also was prohibited
• by the Indian. •law.;;•-but very ,often it was: had-
rerourseto, .amid the struggling and shrieking.of
the victims. The..-Hon: Member stated several
-instances of this description,. and observed,', that-
whatever mightilietheiopinion of the•Ho.use 'as to
the .propriety of interference. in general, there-
Lould be. but one opinion an the justice of onfin.;

ing the natives to the letter of their own laws.
The Hon. Member concluded by moving for a re-
turn of the number of women sacrificed in India
on the funeral piles of their husbands within the
last four years.
Mr. BATUURST did not Oppose the motion ; but
he doubted the propriety of European interfe-
rence. It was admitted that great exertions had
been made by the India Governors to put down
the practice. The effect of those exertions was
to invite breaches of the native law ; and it was
a melancholy fact that the interference of the Go-
vernors had led to an increase of the number of
victims. If any mode were adopted by confining
the natives to the letter of their own laws, an
OffiCer of Europe must superintend the dreadful
execution. He therefore doubted the policy of
any interference ; and it by no means followed
that we ought to adopt a particular measure
merely because it had been adopted with success
by a Mahometan Government. The practice, he
said, is not allowed.either in Madras or Calcutta,
and the consequence is, that the victim is taken
and sacrificed out of the boundaries of those towns.
Every endeavour was made by the Officers of the -
East India Company to prevent• the execution
without the free consent of the woman. There
was reason to hope that the influence of Govern-
ment, by disseminating useful knowledge among
the natives, would have a much more beneficial
effect than forcible interference. The subject
had been fully discussed through the medium of
the Press of India. The discussion was attended
with a good effect, but he thought it would not
be proper for the Government to make itself a
party to the dispute. He trusted the Hon.
Member, on reflection, would not think of pres-
sing any measure on Parliament on this subject,
especially as the Officers of India were exerting
themselves in the most laudable manner to put
down the practice.
Mr. WmaertFoncE was glad his Hon. Friend
had brought the subject before the House. He
admitted the exertions of the Indian Governors
to abolish the dreadful practice, and he regretted
that those exertions had proved so ineffectual.
Provided they did not insult the prejudices of
the sect, he was convinced that no people in the
world would be more willing to listen to instruc-
tion in relion and manners than the Hindoos.
Indeed, by proper attention to the essential
points, he had no doubt of the practicability of
the conversion of these people. It was a mistake
to suppose that this practice of immolation was.
voluntary. There were very few cases in which
it was so. A. reluctant consent was extorted,
hut when the unfortunate victim of religious su-
perstition came to' the pile she shrunk from the
consummation, but not till it was too late, the
priests preventing all retreat. In most cases this
was effectually prevented by the woman being
tied to a log of wood. There was no people per-
haps on the face of the globe so anxious to re-
ceive instruction in European matters as the Hin-
doos ; and that being the case, it was really sur-
prising we should be so backward in enlighten-
ing them. The most unobjectionable plan for
the,purpose of bringing about their conversion
would, he thought, be to establish a College in
some part of our Indian dominions, to instruct
Missionaries in the most effectual mode.
Mr. Hume wished to know to what the motion of
his Hon. Friend tended. When he was at
Benares, in Bengal, it was his impression, as well
as of those with him there, that this practice was
almost entirely discontinued, and that that was
caused by the steps taken by the Company to
discountenance it. The usual way in which these
matters were brought about, was by the party
interested in the property of the widow, getting
some. Brahmin to persuade her that she would im-
rnediately go to Heaven by sacrificing .herself.
This being the case, he thought the most effective
means of stopping the practice would be, to force
the parties to take out a licence to 'the amount of
some thousands of rupees for the privilege of
burning. He knew that this might appear at
first sight ridiculous, but it would be found to be
a most feasible plan, as it would strike at the
very quarter whence the evil sprung, viz. the in-
dividuals to whom the property of the victim
were to revert. He was surprised to bear the
Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Bathurst)
opposite. denouncing this as a subject not fit for
Parliamentary discussion. He was surprised to
hear the Honourable Member for Bramber (Mr.
Wilberforce) talk of the victims being tied to a
log of wood in undergoing the sacrifice, as he !)e-
-lieved that part of the practice had long been
discontinued in the Company's territories. Nor
could he agree with the Hon. Gentleman in his
proposition for erecting a College in India for
the purpose of converting the Hindoos, as he
thought that the last thing to be resorted to for
that purpose. It would have the irnmediateeffect
of awakening the jealousies of the people, and in
all probability defeat the benevolent •intentions
• of the founders.
• Mr. WILBEIZFOrICE said he had received his
• infotination relative to the practice of t) ing the
1 Victims to a log, from good authority.

Lord. ffiNNING observed, with respect to what
had fallen from the Honourable Member for
Montrose -01 r.. Hume) with reference to his,
Right Honourable Friend (Mr. Bathurst) that
he had not represented this question as one unfit
for Parliamentary discussion. lie merely said it
was oue.. on which a wise -disCretion should be
used. He'perfeetly. agreed with his, Right Hon-
ourable Friend in that sentiment, being satisfied
that the interference of the Company hitherto in
this matter, had only tended to make things
worse. 'He-feared-411e Hon. Member for Mont-
rose (nr:.ltUrne), when Ice saw the P.pers
were mowed for, would .find there was too much
reason for the asiiertion of Isis Honourable Friend
(MT.Arillierfece).'relative to the 'victims being
tied to a•log of wood.
Mr. CANNftiC: 'said;',- that whatever shades of
difference there might be in the opinions enter-
tained. on this subject, there 'seemed to be' two
&int's'on which all were' agreed. The first was,
that it would afford the highest degree of gratifi-
cation to,.eVerylfeeling of. huinan .nature, if this
abominable,CustOm were put 'dawn ; and the.se-
ond was, that the. attempt should not be made
by oerciye --ideasirres-oti the part of-- the COnl-
p-any, Lrihould, .be' borne in mind, that in. all

exercise of human authority and discretion, hone
was so difficult and: so• delicate as the interfer-
ence of a superior power with au inferior, which,
while it were effectual,-required to be divested of
all the harshness or appearance of controul, which
naturally belonged to command. It .would• be',
seen, therefore, that- the problem was a difficult.
one, and although-he was not sorry that 'the ques-
tion had been brought before the House, he could,
not agree with those who ~ thought that the pub-
lic discussion of it would tend greatly to facili-
tate the task of the Government of India. lie
rather apprehended that the effect of such discus-
sion, if mixed with,any hostile sentiments, from
which it was :happily- free that evening) or the
manifestation of any thing imperious on the part
of Parliament, however it might be intended to
stimulate the Government of India, which it did
not require on the present occasion, would be .to
raise the alarms of the natives, and perhaps force
the Government to adopt some relaxation in the
efforts now making in order to tranquillize. their
minds. fie did not mean to say that the ultimate
effect might not be good, in strengthening the
Government with the opinion of the House. ,of
Commons, but he- did not think the immediate
effect would be to facilitate their endeavourS,-,--
lle had, therefore, in a former Session, when
the Hon. Gentleman did him the honour to con-
sult him,•he hoped civilly, but unequivocally, dis-
suaded •him from bringing the subject before the
House. The reason was, that the information
which could then be procured must be defec.tiz,e
in one national point, viz. as to the effect of the
measures then adopted by the GoVernment of
India to put a stop to these practices. It. was
not then the case as it was now, that the matter
had attracted public attention and discussion in
India. That fact took from the present discus-
sion, in as great measure, the character of danger 7
it otherwise •possessed,- and reconciled him to the
proposition. The Hon. Member .(Mr. F. Bux-
ton), in whose benevolent mind all the evils of
human nature meta ready attention, argued that
any thing in the performance of this sacrifice,
which bore the appearance - of coercion, vitiated
the proceedings on the part of the Hindoos, and,
justified interference. This he •(Mr. Canning)
denied, • and to illustrate his argument, would
suppose they had to deal with some of the cus-
toms known to prevail in Europe. Ile referred
to a custom preValent in Catholic countries of im-
muring human-beings in nunneries, the act being
said to be voluntary. it was well known, how-
ever, that many who were thus doomed to spend
the remainder of their days in cloistered seclu-
sion, were too young to judge for themselves, and
in many cases' were 'averse from such a destiny.
—He asked the Honourable Member whether,
if called upon 'to legislate as conquerors over
a Catholic country, and it was desired.. to put
down this practice, he would advise sending an
officer of justice.to- the grate of a Convent on
the day of the ceremony to catechise the youth-
ful victim as to the state of 'her inclinations, and
upon the least.appearance of hesitation, to' tear
her from 'the- sacrifice ? It would be acting
in the way least calculated- to 'insure the object
desired, by irritating the jealousy, calling up the.
hostile opposition, and.- finally strengthening the
prejudices of the natives. And were they to sup-
pose that the feelings of the Hindoos were less
acute, or their natures different from those he had
supposed in this imaginary case ?, Ile: did not
mean to say that these superstitions might. not be
put down •by reason ; but. he insisted they .must
beware of going counter to the religious preju-
dices of the natives. One instance in .which, it
could be shown that the Government had exer-
cised a forcible interference, would do more to
wrest from them the affection and respect of the
people, than all the conciliatory measures they
could take. We had conquered this country,
and our subsequent domination of it •presented a
signal and splendid instance of preserving. all its
internal regulations, and above all thOSe which
related to religious matters, at the same time that
we found that stream of light 'and civilization
upon it which would in the end bring about that
emancipation from our yoke which had always
been foreseen, which every day seemed to exhibit
as more practicable. - Though we had . followed
the example, we had not walked in the ..footsteps
of our Mahometan predecessors. They came as
conquerors of the soil, they subjugated the inha-
bitants, and took possession not only of the Go-
vernment but the property of the nation. It had'
been our policy however, as he before said, an
original and splendid policy, to act in a contrary
way. We had left the Soil to the ,inhabitants,
and the property to the natives. We had. let the
streams of society flow on in their natural course,
only in a more efficient manner, and we stood
alone in the history of the world, the conquerors
of a hundred Millions of inhabitants, not able to
call one foot of the territory our own: (Hear,
hear !).—The adoption of this principle, which
was essayed upon our first obtaining-small posses-
sions in India, and had grown with an increasing
power, was.a monument of human-wisdom and for-
tune. If our pdlicy were abstinence, and practised
as it had been seen, in matters where lucre was con-
-cerned,-why should we therefore depart from it
in matters of religion ?' We had in the first place
to provide for the security of this vast multitude
of beings, and look to civilizatiOn to provide a
remedy for the evils of superstition and ignorance.
-According 'to the-Hen: Gentleman (Mr. Buxton,)
the diffusion of knowledge was the soleeffectual,
and the sole legitimate means of conquering ig-
norance : 'it was also the sole effectual and the
sole legitimate conqueror, of superstition. •He

knew -of no instance' in the history of nations o

superstition being put down► by force. It was in
human nature to struggle for the retention of that
which it was threatened to remove by force. It
was said that the natives of India looked up to

us as having enjoyed a state of pre-existence, and
that we appeared in this world endowed with
superior and miraculous faculties as the reward
of our conduct in a previous state, and that we
owed their affection and allegiance to this notion.
The diffusion of knowledge would dispel this
illusion, and dissolve the charm by which we
swayed tittir hearts, and we must be content to
pay as the price of truth the loss of dominion.
lie hoped whenever. that period, arrived we
should be famed as good, as `wise, and as for.

bearing as they no* pictured ; but at all events
he (Mr. canning) counselled that we should not,
by adopting rash and coercive measures, in a
case like 'th'e present, teat the mask from our
own face, arid .despoiVourselves of the pleasing
onsolatiotxthat we had been the glorious instru-
Thent of diNe illumination in' bringing about the
separation.—("r, hear, hear 4)
Col. MONEY thought that it would strengthen
the hands of Government by putting an end to
these abominable practices in a summary manner,
and it was a mistake to suppose they could not
be put down by force, as there was an instance
on record in which Lord Wellesley, by sending
a military force to one- part of our Indian domi-
nions, succeeded in putting an effectual stop to
the practice of destroying children.
Mr. W. SMITH agreed with the Hoti: Member
who spoke last, in thinking that these abominable
practices might be put down by force. If the
natives were so open to understand our good in-
tentions, what would prevent their seeing that
coercive measures were taken for their benefit ?
Mr. BUXTON shortly replied. He thought the
Right lion. ,Gentleman opposite was wrong,
when he stated that there were no instances of
force being employed to put down superstition.
The murder of the Ragpoots.children was made
a capital crime in India. The Cooah also was
made capital. This Cooah was in the case of a
native having a strong aversion for some. person
in power; in which-case he would:make a large
pile of lighted wood, over which he would put
two animals, one of which was a cow, and the
other an old won Nan. The suffering of the. latter
he. would protract as long as he possibly could,
under an impression that the object of his resent-
ment was. subjected to the same torments. Even
the sacred person of a Brahmin had been violated,
as some had been hung. And, on one occasion,
the great god Juggernaut himself, with his car,
had been-seized upon and kept in pawn, ,till the.
payment of some arrears of revenue were paid.=
The question was then Put and the Papers or-
dered to be laid on the table.
. .MR. OWEN'S PLAN.
Mr. MAXWELL gave notice, that on Tuesday next he
would move for the appointment of a Commission to examine
into Mr. Owen's Establishments at New Lanark, and to report
their opinion thereon to the House.
SLAVE TRADE. •
At the request of the Marquess of LONDONDERRY, Mr.
WILBERFORCE consented to postpone, until Tuesday next,
his motion on the subject of the Papers laid before the House
concerning the abolition of the Slave Trade.
EDINBURGH STAMP OFFICE. -
Mr. HUME gave notice, that on Wednesday next he would
subniit- to•• the House a motion respecting the New Stamp
Office in Edinburgh, and the conduct of the parties connected
therewith.