The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-27 00:00:00

credit for them or rot. that the augmentation of the army of
India from Ireland would be much facilitated if the population
of that country were made sure that some redress in this matter
was likely to be granted. The letters from the Catitalic
soldiers in India had made a wider impression than
the Right Hon. and Gallant Baronet was aware. They had
been communicated to the clergy, and they had made a won.-
impression against joining the Indian army from Ireland.'
Well, the document referred to by the Right Hon. Baronet
stated that in the Presidency of Madras there were nineteen
Protestant and Presbyterian stations, in only twelve of which
the Catholic soldiers had any opportunities of spiritual assist-
ance. For the maintenance of the Protestant religion in the
same Presidency 22,010/., fur the Presbyterian 2,0801., and
for the Catholic only 2071. In Bombay there were twenty
stations of the Protestant Church, and only seven of the
Catholic Church. The minimum income of any Protestant
clergyman was 9501. a-year, while, with the exception of one,
no Catholic clergyman received more than 601. a-year, and
that one Catholic clergyman received 74/. a-year. In Bengal
there were twenty-six Protestant stations, and only seven
Catholic stations. The minimum income of any Protestant
clergyman was 900/. a-yea* ; 1,870/. was the toad sum divided
among the Catholic clergymen. There were two Catholic
clergymen with 250/. a-year each, and none of the
others had mere than 601. a-year each. The Mar.
quis of Hastings had recommended that the clergy
of the Catholic soldiers should be attended to, and hail advo-
cated those claims in the strongest manner, and every succes-
sive Commander-in. Chief in India had done the same, down to
Sir Henry Fane. Sir Henry Fane was the first. who had re-
fused to concur in these representations, and when he was
requested to do so be peremptorily refused. With regard to
the 44th Regiment, which had so distinguished itself at Ghuz-
nee, there was a singular fact. The regiment had for some
years before that period been stationed at Bhurtpore, where a
subscription was set on foot to erect a Catholic chapel, to
which the privates and sergeants subscribed 6001., no slight
proof of their affection for their religion. The Catholic sol-
diers complained of these grievances—first, that from the
asylum for the orphans of soldiers the Catholics derived scarcely
any benefit. The general order of 1827 for establishing the
asylum was calculated to bestow on them all the benefits, they
could desire, but since that time certain regulations had been
made which materially interfered with their deriving that
benefit . from it to which they were entitled. The second
was that they ware compelled to send their children
to the regimental schools, and if the officer was a
man of harsh manners and a narrow mind, they
were compelled to learn the Protestant Catechism, were taught
out of Protestant books, and were prevented from learning the
tenets of the Catholic religion. Some officers had behaved
very harshly, but others, and among them Lieut. -Colonel
McGregor, had given Catholic soldiers every opportunity of
attending to their religious duties, not interfering in any way,
or compelling them to learn any doctrine net in accordance
with' that which they professed. But the matter depended
upon the discretion of the commanding officer of each regi-
ment, and grievances of the most afflicting nature were said to
have occurred in consequence. In all the stations in India,
including those in that part of tae Burmese empire now in
our possession, there were only sixteen or eighteen where the
Catholic soldiers could get any species of religious assistance.
By the report of Brigadier-General O'Halloran, General Sale,
and other commanding officers, it appeared, that when soldiers
had an opportunity of attending. to their religious duties, there
was a marked difference in their conduct from that of those
who were separated from their clergymen. It was but neces-
sary to let the fact be known that one-third of the soldiers in
India were Catholics, to give ground for his proposal that in
every regiment where there was a reasonable number of sol-
diers, there should be a chaplain. The Catholic soldiers
ought not to be left destitute of the means of spiritual conso-
lation ; and it should be recollected, that' it was more im-
portant to the Catholic soldier to have a clergyman, than to the
soldier of any Protestant persuasion. The Holy Scriptures
ar.d Christian officers might render a clergyman al-
most unnecessary to the Protestant soldier, but not to the
Catholic.— (Hear.) He was not saying that a shilling
too much was bestowed upon the Protestant ch eilains, but ail
he asked was, whether the grievances he detailed were not of
such a nature as to render it just that redress ought to b 3
applied to them. He would not press his motion to a division
if he got an assurance from the Government that they would
take up the matter, and remedy the evils, but if he did net hear
that such was their intention, he should then press his motion,
conscious that there was a scarcity of instruction for the
Roman Catholic soldiers, and that they were not inferior to
any of the troops ire India. He should therefore move for a
't Select Committee, to consider and report upon the state of
spiritual destitution of the Catholic soldiers serving in India
and China."
The question having been put,
Mr. BING RANI BARING said he would not deny to the
Catholic soldiers in India the praise they deserved, and he
thought them entitled to as much consideration as the Pro•
testant soldiers.—( dear, hear.) The principle on which the
Government of India had acted was never to deny sa'aries to
Roman Catholic chaplains appointed by competent authority
within that country, and they had even increased the
pay of chaplains with a view to encourage the ser-
vices of Europeans. In the province of Bengal the
chaplain had 1501. a year, and the chaplain of Malacca had
2501., and the rest, it was true, had a smaller salary ; but the
chaplains were paid in consideration of the services they ren-
dered, and in proportion to the number of persons whom they
had to give spiritual instruction to. He did not think that was
the proper time to enter into the consideration of the compa-
rison made by the Right Hon. and Learned Gentleman be-
tween the Protestant and Catholic chaplains. The Indian
Government had also subscribed for the repair of chapels, and
suspended the customs laws, that the vestments for the cere-
monies might be more easily imported. They had also distri-
buted tracts and prayer books ; and with reseeet to the inter-
ference of officers to force Roman Catholic children to receive
instructions from the regimental schools, the case was repre-
sented to the Governor-General, who referred it to the Corn •
mender • in-Chief, and no time was lost by him in issuing such
instruction as would make it impossible for such
conduct to occur again. He could assure the Rielit
Honourable and Learned Gentleman that the spiritual wel-
fare of the troops was paid as much attention to as their
bodily wants, and that where there was any real cause of com-
plaint, every means of redress was given them.
Mr. HUME, from what he knew of the Government, be-
lieved that any representation on the part of the Catholic
soldiers would meet with attention from the Government. The
Irish troops had always been ready to assist in supporting the
honour of their country, and therefore it was that he agreed
with the Right Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, that
the Government ought to look strictly to their interest. He
hoped the complaints that had been made would speedily be
remedied. lie would second his Right Hon. Friend in any
course that he might think fit to pursue, to force the subject en
the attention of Government.
Sir H. HARDINGE was delighted at the temperate tone
of the Right Hon. Gentleman, in bringing forward this motion ;
at the sane time, however, he was bound to say, with
regard to many of the complaints that had been made, that
they were without foundation. In some places causes of com-
plaint might have occurred, but generally speaking, in all
parts the officers were most anxious for the welfare of the men.
Similar complaints had been made at the Military Asylum at
Chelsea. The Commissioners of that Institution met and de-
termined that the children of Catholics should not be required
to learn the Church Catechism, but that they would be
brought up to the religion of their father and mother. He was
quite satisfied that the same principles pervaded the whole army.
The lion. Gent. had stated that the Protestant soldiers received
that spiritual consolation of which the Catholics were deprived,
but he feared that they were both placed in the same predica-
ment. During the Peninsular war in 1813, there were only
ten chaplains in the whole army. In 179t1, in consequence of
the inconvenience which had resulted from it, the whole sys-
tem of chaplains of regiments was abolished. Subsequently to
that period, the soldier had been invited and eneouraged to
attend the Church of his creed. The rnle laid down was
that because it was practicable for the soldier to be accom-
modated in the parish church he would there receive
religious instruction ; and that where that advantage could not be
obtained, a separate service should, under certain regulations,
be appointed for his use. A sum in the army estimates was
appropriated to that purpose. It appeared to him that that
system was infinitely better than the system of regimental
chaplains. He did not see in what way they could alter the
existing arrangement. A recurrence to the old system would be
full of inconvenience. The greatest harmony and good feeling
now prevailed in the different regiments; and if they had two
elergymen of different creeds in each regiment he was confi-
dent that it would do the British army great disservice.
Equally confident was he that it would not only be inconve-
nient but dangerous to the interests of the army to adopt such
a system. He could noI but approve of the manner in which
the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had brought forward the
subject ; but he trusted that, after the objection which had
been stated, he would see that it was desirable not to persevere
in his motion.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS said he would not interrupt
the harmony which appeared to prevail by any harsh
observations. The House, however, was aware of his views on
this subject. The principle for which the Hon. Gentleman
had contended, if carried to the full extent; would require the
House to provide a chaplain for every form of religion pro-
fessed in the regiment ; and unless the House was prepared to
establish the nrinciple that an established form of religion
should be provided for every sect in the country, he could not
see how they could consistently accede to the motion of the
Hon. and Learned Member.
Mr. O'CONNELL said that he was aware he would not ad-
vance his cause by pressing it to a division, and he would there-
fore beg leave to withdraw his motion.
The notice was then withdrawn.
LEGACY DUTIES.

appointedLE Al 3 ER presented
theentl Vestry--- petitionof- sti fromm a r
tin , , a .
urging Com-
mittee N ir
upon the Legislature the justice and necessity of subjecting
landed property to the same probate and legacy duties, as those
now imposed upon all other property liable to them ; that the
excepti,n of landed property was unjust, by reason of its par-
tiality ; that various duties would he tound pressing exclusively
upon personal property ; and praying the House to institute an
inquiry intothe truth of these statements, and to render justice
by one equal imposition of probate and legacy duties u Jen fixed
property of every description.
Mr. ELP RINSTO NE rose, pursuant to notice, to move—
" That it will be expedient for this House, at an early period,
to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, for the
purpose of considering the Act 55 Geo. 111., c. 1114, with the
view of imposing legacy and probate duties on succession to
real estates, of the same amount as are now imposed by the said
`Act on succession to personal property." He said he should
endeavour, with the permission of the House, to point out the
anomalies in the existing state of the law in this matter, and
the estimated amount of revenue that might be ob-
tained if the House would agree to his proposition.
He would previously, however, state how Mr. Pitt had treated
the subject. In the year 1796, he introduced a Bill, the pur-
pose of which was to impose upon real property the probate
duties which were imposed upon personal property. The Bill
passed through various stages, in all of which it was supported
with great elovence and ability by that statesman. On the
question, however, " that the Bill do pass," the numbers being
equal, Mr. Pitt thought fit to withdraw the measure. There
were three statutes referring to this subject, the 30th, the
43d, and the 55th of Geo. 111. The cJnabined effect of this
state of the law was, that if a man was possssed of personal
or leasehold property, it was subject to r. tax of 13 per cent. ;
ill uponn tapxersoantal all.
whereas, if it were freehold or ropyhold property, it would
landed The legacy and probate duties
land itse e property, and upon elle/ye,
upon What
Now he asked, why was this ?—( Heel,.
h,ar.) ..:was the justice of such a law ?—( Hear, hear. )
sot see on what ground the landowner was exempt
bu.kin,g to the burdens of the State.—( Hear.). Ili,
cl-lo fromeul
dc could •-
r.i.
v the man who invested his property in the
.
funds, or why leaseh,,lds should be subject to the tax, and copy-
p!.operty paid the
see w,.'
copy-
holds not. Why was it that personal property paid the probate
,thaenlegyaecty tt,hatiattyr?evieiresiohnaadr
andprobate leg aaciyi
dd unotty
inunications on this subject, ai.:l amongst them a letter
saidfrom a
ryeceived many corn_
Gentleman in Warwickshire, neer Leamington, who that
he had to pay a large amount of probate and legacy duty upon
property which he had derived from his father,
whilst at the
same time the son-in-law of the ;Ate Duchess of
.Bucelench
ree ived under her will the estate galled &either, in the,
same county, worth 33,000/. without paying a shilling o,
probate or legacy duty,
.because the properiy was freehold.—
( Hear, hear. i The writer declare.' he did not see why his fa-
mily should b'e ta.ced on personal property, which was 1.110 pre-
duce of a life of hard labour, and their neighbours should pay
no tax upon that which had cost the bequeathers nothing.—
(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman then went into numer-
ous statistical details, in which it was impossible, from his in-
distinct and rapid manner, to follow him with correctness and