The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-23 00:00:00

SUMMARY OF NEWS

Lord and Lady Francis Egerton leave Belgraveasqnare tea
morrow, to pass the Easter recess at Oatlands.
NIEsCEZZAAniartIS.
Burials in churches have in former times occasioned exten-
sive epidemics. Haller states that a church was infected by
the exhalations of a single body, twelve years after burial, and
this corps occasioned a very dangerous disease in a whole con-
vent. Raulien relates that the opening of another occasioned a
dreadful eodemid in the plain of Armagnac.
On this day, in 1519, Kotzebue was assassinated; it is also
the anniversary of the death of Weber in 1829.
The gardens belonging to Chelsea Hospital wia be opened
to the public on Sunday next fur the season.
M. Cherubin6 funeral took place on Saturday, at Paris, in
the church of Saint Roch. His own requiem, composed by
himself for his funeral, was finely performed. On passing along
the Boulevards, the band of the 2d legion of the National Guards
executed from time to time funeral symphonies, and, amongst
others, that composed by the deceased, in 1824, for the funeral
of Louis XVIII.

AND

Vitt)tic Optrtion.

" Who runs may read."

ronExGN.

_ -
Our Paris Contemporaries do not present us with more no•
velty in the columns devoted to original articles, than they have
had for some days past.
The Courrier Francais replies to the article of the National
of Saturday, on the pfoject of a commercial treaty between
France and England. This Journal does not agree with
the National in representing the commercial tariff of
France as liberal compared with that of England, but on
the contrary asserts that the prohibitions and restrictions
of the French tariff of customs are in a degree with which
those of the English tariff will bear no comparison. The
Courrier also states, as a fact for which it can vouch that Sir
R. Peel has urged I\l. Guizot to sign the Treaty of Commei ce
which was drawn up during the administration of M. Thiess, al-
though in that treaty there is no reduction of the duty upon
British iron, whilst, on the side of England, there is a large re-
duction on French wines and brandies. It also expresses its
belief that, if M. Guizot had consented to reduce the duty upon
British iron, the English Government would have consented
to a considerable reduction of the duties upon French silks.
Our contemporary censures M. Guizot with great severity,
for not availing himself of the spirit of concession manifested
by the English Government, and unhesitatingly declares that,
up to the present moment, all the blame in connection with this
treaty is due to the French Government.
We find the following in the Courrier Francais:—" M.
Cunin-Gridaine has taken a serious view of the difficult posi-
.tion in which the postpenement of the sugar question has
placed him. It was he who prepared the Bill with the full
assent of his colleagues, and in laying it before the Council of
Ministers, he thought he was merely complying with a matter
of form. The inconsistency and bad faith which have been
attributed to the Cabinet have more particularly applied to him.
He consequently gave in his resignation two days ago, and has
since resisted all the entreaties of his colleagues to change his
determination."
".We are assured," says the Paris Globe, " that the Coun-
cil of Ministers has not come to a final decision to postpone the
Sugar Bill, and this is confirmed by the non-appearance in the
official journals, the Messager and Moniteur, of the note sent to
to Moniteur Pa risien as a pilot baloon."
The Observateur Suisse publishes the answer given by the
Pope to the communication made by the canton of Lucerne of
, its constitution of August last. His Holiness says he cannot
approve of it entirely, as it contains clauses incompatible with
the rights of the Church, but. he accepts with grateful feelings
the manifestations of respect for him made by the canton, and
hopes for new proofs of its piety.
According to a letter from Constantinople, 23d ult., in the
Leipsich Gazette, the Porte has decided upon sending imme-
diately an army of 20,000 men into Syria.
PARLIAMENTARY.
• Amongt the petitions presented to the Lords last night, was
one by Lord Brougham, to exempt Mechanics' Institutes from
the assessed taxes. His Lordship stated that some mercantile
houses had saved from 1,0001. to 3,0001. a year from the re-
duction of postage.
There was to have been a commission, and the House was,
to have adjourned till April 7th, but by some accident the com-
mission could not be found, and their Lordships therefore
meet this day.
In the Committee Mr. Bankes gave an explanation of the
circumstances of the Dorsetshire Magistrates having committed
persons to the quarter sessions instead of the assizes, as has
been said to avoid paying fees for the defence of the prisoners.
Mr. Ashworth was brought to the bar and repremanded
by the Speaker for interfering with a witness on the Clitheroe
Election Committee.
Sir Charles Napier moved a series of resolutions, having for
their object to improve the navy. A considerable debate ensued,
in which Sir James Graham, Captain Berkeley, Lord Ingestrie,
Captain Pechell, Sir R. Peel, and Mr. C. Wood, took part;
in the end the resolutions were rejected by the previous miestion.
. Subsequently the House was occupied by Mr. O'Brien's mo-
tion for papers relating to the case of Flanagan, whom some
gentlemen are accused of having murdered in a lark, by setting
fire to his clothes, after they had poured oil of turpentine over
them.
Lord Eliot explained the course of the Government, which
seems to have been proper on the occasion.
The papers were not refused.
Committees were appointed to inquire into the state of the
British possessions on the West coast of Africa and the state of
the different West India Colonies in reference to the existing
relations between employers and labourers.
The House adjourned at a quarter past one o'clock.
PUBLIC OPINION.
The following is from The Morning Chronicle :—" The
income tax is imposed upon altogether deceptive pretences. The
resources of the country are fully equal to any emergency
which exists, if they had but fair play from monopoly. Were
it otherwise, we might still ask, when ever did the dimi-
notion of income avert the danger of bankruptcy? Equally
deceptive is the other excuse for the income tax, viz., that it
is to operate as a counterpoise to the changes in the import
duties. Why, the most important of those changes will be
sources of revenue. Absolute prohibitions and prohibitory du-
ties bring nothing to the coffers of the State. Every instance
in which the ditty shall be hereafter paid on meat or fieh will
bring so much gain to the Government, while it cheapens the
price to the consumer, and haves him better able to bear his
remaining burdens of taxation. Any reference to the tariff,
in justification of the income tax, is a transparent fallacy.
There is no necessity for the income tax whatever. The pre-
tended occasion for it is a hoax. Its real design is that of a
boon or bribe to the interest which raised the present Ministry
into power."
The Times observes, in reference to Mr. Webster's despateh
to the. American Ambassador in London, on the subject of the
brig Creole :—".Not.. Lord Aberdeen or the Crown itself can
justify a detention which the law does not justify ; not all the
'most sweet voices' of the United States will excuse a British
functionary in overstepping that authority' with, which the law
invests him. We have our laws, arkd we govern by,our laws,
and it is mere arrogant impudence, rAro presuming on English
gullibility, to demand of us. to govern by any other. 't his,
however,, Mr. Webster is obliged to demand. We de" not
doubt that he feels the difficulty of his task—we believe he is
alive to the audacity of requiring that English magistrate's
should administer AmeriCan law on English territory. His
tone is not that of a man who thinks himself in the right "
The Advertiser o'userves —"As Mr. Labouchere cogently
stated, if a r cal sys'ern of commercial reform were instituted,
an income tax would be unnecessary. Why did not Sir Robert
commence with a real system of commeacial reform ? Instead
of, at such a crisis in the national destinies, imposing fresh
fetters upon industry, why did he not rather confer upon it all
the emancipation of which it could be in need, by abolition of
the corn duties? To propose a scheme of direct taxation,
while the people were already pressed by an amount of indirect
exaction net tai lie strained further, arid taxing the income of
industry at the same rate as that accruing from land or realised
capital, is in itself a policy of the most tuspicidui character."
The ;Herald contains a leading article, suggested by Sir C.
Napier's naval speech in the Commons last night, in the course
of which our Contemporary observes :—" It is certainly asto-
nishing that-the noblest service which any country can boast of
should be left, at this time of day to vindicate. any fair preten-
sions which it may possess, whether to the protection of the
Legislature or the indulgence of the public. }or ourselves, the
bre,tent disposition of our opinion js, in favour of a naval Lord ;
ecause we believe that the true administration of his high
office roust be greatly governed by a practical intimacy with the
details of his department, such as it would be scarcely fair to
demand of a mere civilian."
The Post contains the following remarks : Sir 'William
Clay would utterly abolish the Corn-laws, in order, as he cons'
ceives, always to secure low-priced food—and, by consequence,
(so runs his argument), to sustain the revenue. But it must
surely be obvious to the apprehenstan of most people, that by
the abolition of the Corn-laws, the harvests would, so far as the
soil of England ,is concerned, be rendered always bad, inas-
much as the attempt to grow wheat on any but the finest soils
would be immediately abandoned. The larger portion of the
wheat consumed in England (if wheat might, after the aboli-
tion of the Corn -laws, be assumed to continue the staple food
of the English people) would be brought from abroad ; but
even then the impoverishing effects of a bad harvest would be
felt as much now.''
rezoNE" rTnaE—COIVINCERCE.
The mill-owners and manufacturers of Yorkshire, and more
particularly those in Mr. Ferrand's own neighbourhood, viz.—
Bingley, having been accused of being guilty of the truck
system, the latter parties have signed a paper, in which they
repudiate the charge, or that they pay their workpeople in any
other than the coin of the realm.
The introduction of a tax on foreign servants is much re-
commended at the present moment. The Duke of Sutherland's
establishment consists almost entirely of foreign servants. So
also, more or less, with the majority of the English nobility,
The late. Marquis of Hertford seldom or ever engaged an
English domestic,
At Liverpool trade is a trifle better, and a fair business has
been done in the cotton market during the past week ; the
Yorkshiremarketsappear to display symptoms of reviving health;
the Maneheater market, however, shows little improvement.
Property in the borough of Stockport has so for decreased,
that double houses, which two or three years ago let for 2s. 6d.
and 3s, per week, are offered at 7d,,- clear of all rates, in order
to satisfy The chief rent, the tenant being merely required to
keep the dwelling in repair.
LAW AND POLICE.
At the Coventry Assizes, on Monday,:David Revill was con-
victed of breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Samuel
Randle, in the parish of Sow, within the county of this city,
on the 27th of September last, and stealing therefrom 80 sove-
reigns, 8 guineas, 12 crowns, a silk handkerchief, a silk
purse, and a box. The prisoner having preciously been con-
victed of felony, was sentenced to be transported for life.
Sophia King, a milliner's apprentice, aged 23, was tried at
Cambridge, on Monday, for stealing on the 12th of January,
a post-office packet, containing bank notes and securities of
the value of 785/. The Jury found her guilty, but recom-
mended her to mercy. Sentence was deferred.
At the. York Assizes Henry Wilson and John Rose were
tried for a burglary, with violence, in the house of an old lady
at Brampton-Morthen, on the 17th October. It appeared that
tt
ehneTye
hekeonftocr
idakeleadot
hf h
sweraamed
roewGc nor
ratdywe,
di et. eh ,e and her neck was nearly dislo-
cated. }tole was acquitted, and Wilson found Guilty. Sea-
had been removed by Lord Norma
snubb-y
cameher ff
on
nf
alltftehneaAgihoanna,gwho
Assizes on Thursday last, upon the charge of shooting at James
Cunningham, with intent to murder him. The
Urorswerej
locked up two nights, not being able to agree to a verdict. By
consent of Court, therefore, they were on Saturday morning
discharged, and the prisoner was sent back to abide
his trial at
the next assizes. It is stated that eleven of the jury were for
an acquittal.
Patrick Hogan, indicted for the wilful murder of Denis
Roughage, wood-ranger, by striking him with a hatchet, was
found guilty at the Nenagh Assizes last week of manslaughter.
William Andrews, apprentice to Messrs. Bradbury and Evans,.
printers, of Blitekfriars, was yesterday re-examined at Bow_
street, charged with stealing a quantity of Chambers'Edinburgh
Journal, and, Charles Carter, keeper of a shop in Holyweee
street, Strand, for receiving the same, knowing it to be stolen.
The evidence was insufficient to authorize their committal, but
they were ordered to be brought up again in a week.
Richard Jenkins, charged with stealing 3001.'3 worth of
jewels, from the residence of Mr. Marsham, of Berkeley..
square, waibrought up for re-examination at Marlborough_
street yesterday, and discharged.
SPORTING.
The fish in the Tweed are very plentiful this season ; and it
rarely happens that at so early a period of the year se many
clear salmon are taken with the rod.

CABOOL.

A meeting of the Young Men's Anti•. Monopoly Association
was held on Monday evening, at the Political Institute, 55,
Old Bailey, and resolutions against the income tax passed.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

CHANCERY COURT.-(THIS DAY )
His Loansitir disposed of several lunatic petitions of trivial
interest.

VICE-CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)

(Before the VICE-CU tNCELLOR OF ENGLAND.)
No case presenting any feature of public interest was heard
in this Court. •

(Before Vice•. Chancellor IVIGRABL)
LEENING V. SHERRATT.

His HONOUR gave judgment iri—ihiS;Use, which came be.
fore the Court on further directions. There were two points
raised at the bar. In his will, the testator gave 1,0001. to
each of his children. With respect to the daughters they
were to have 500/. paid to them, and an additional 500/. was
to be settled upon them in a particular mode. The ~..irection
in the-will was that the interest of the second 500/. should be
paid to the daughters, and the principal be disposed of in such
manner as they themselves should direct to their issue, "but
in cite they die without issue, I give such principal amongst
the survivors of my children in equal proportions." The first
question was, whether the words "in case they die without
issue " meant an indefinite failure, in which caso the limitation
over would be void. He was of opinion that the words meant
an indefinite failure. The second question was, whether he
should construe the word " survivors" as meaning others.
The authorities on that point were very contradictory. In this
case the provisions which the testator had made in his will were
sufficient to satisfy him, that he used the word "survivors " in
its proper sense, and thit the testator intended to give to the
survivors of a deceased child the same benefit as would have
been received by the parent.

INSOLVENT COURT-(THIS DAY)

RE JOSZPH CORBYN.

The insolvent in this case, who was'.described as a Com-
mander in the Royal Navy, and at present of the Royal Hos-
pital, Greenwich, applied to be liberated on bail until the day
of hearing.

The Learned COMMISSIONER proceeded to examine him
with regard to the statements in his schedule, where the names
of several creditors to a large amount appeared, but he seemed
to be quite incapable of understanding the nature of the legal
technicalities upon which he was questioned, when
Mr. CooKE informed the Court that although a very small
sum appeared by the schedule to be available to the creditors,
yet the insolvent had lately got an appointment in Greenwich
Hospital, and received 3001. a year compeisation, 150/. of
which he gave up to his creditors, and all of them considered
him to have acted in the most honourable manner, and consented
at once to accept of it, save a person named Walker, who was
his detaining creditor. Captain Corbyn had been indebted to
this individual in the sum of 801., out of which 721. was paid,
and yet he refused to accede to the same composition as other
and incomparably larger creditors. He (Mr. Cooke) consi-
dered the insolvency under such circumstances as these could
scarcely be considered a discredit.

Mr. Commissioner HARRIS said he agreed in the opinion
expressed by the Learned Counsel. So far as Walker's oppo-
sition was concerned, that he thought would be disposed of very
soon at the general hearing of the case.
Mr. COOKE further stated, that there were some small
excepted articles belonging to Mrs. Corbyn, from whom the
insolvent had been livaig some time separate, and allowed
her 401.: a year for maintenance, se that he thought it
would he useless to occupy the time of the Court, by dwelling
further on that subject.
The bail having justified, Mr. Corbyn was ordered to be
discharged.

LITERALIVIT CIENTIFIC.
At a sale at Sotheby's last Saturday of autographs and manu-
scripts, a State document, to which was prefixed the signature
of " Marye the Queene," sold for 41., and the sign manual of
her sister "Elizabeth,' a fine specimen, was disposed of for 3/.
COURT PASEIONELIILE.
The Duke of Beaufort has returned to Badminton from
Beaufort House.

The Marquis of Hertford has arrived at Dorchester House,
from Bagley Hall.
The Ala:lisle of Londonderry 'returned to Holdernesse House
on MOnday,. from Newport, Isle of Wight.
Lord_and-Lady Seyniodt are expected home from italy-4hil
. -
week.
The Countess of Munster and her daughters removed on I
Monday to Albemarle-street,

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING. MARCH 23, 1842.

INDIA HOUSE.
(Tills DAY.)

COURT OF PROPRIETORS.

The Quarterly General Court of the Proprietors of the
East India Company was held at Twelve o'Clock this day, at the
East India House, Leadenhall.street.

GEORGE LYA LL, Eq., M.P., the Chairman of the Court of
Directors, in the Chair.

The SECRETARY read the minutes of the proceedings of the
last Court.

Mr.' WEEntNa, before the Court proceeded to business,
wished to ask a question.
The CHAIRMAN rose to order. It was contrery to the
rules of the Court for any Hon. Proprietor to ask a question be-
fore the business of the day had been disposed of.
Mr. WEEDING said that in another place questions were
constantly asked before the business of the day commenced, and
as the question he was about to put was on a subject of the
most vital importance to every Proprietor of East India Stock,
he trusted that, acting on the old maxim, talus poputi suprema
lex, the Chairman would permit him to put the question. It
was in relation to the army in Cabool.
The CliatamaN could not answer the Hon. Proprietors
question at that stage of the proceedings, even if it were put, as
it would be contrary to the Byellaws for him to do so.
Mr. WEEDING would then reserve his question until he could
put it without infringing the Standing Orders of that Court.
ADDRESSES OF CONGRATULATION.
The CHAIRMAN reported, that the Address of Congratula-
tion to her Majesty on the birth of the Prince of Wales, which
had been agreed to a Special Court, held on the 17th of
November last, bad been presented to her Majesty at the
last levee, by a deputation from the Court of Directors,
and had been most graciously received by her Majesty.
He also reported that the Address of Congratulation to
his Royal Highness Prince Albert had also been presented, and
that his Royal Highness had most graciously received the same.
RETURNS.
The SECRETARY then read the account of the different
papers which had been laid before Parliament by the
Company since the last Court, andwhich, in conformity with
the Bye-laws, had been printed for the use of the Proprietors,
These were an account of all monies supplied from the reve-
nues of India towards expenses in England, in continuation of
a former return. An account of all bills drawn on the different
governors in India, and an account of the rate of exchange
thereon. A return of all monies received from India and
China. A return of all returns received from China, stating
whether the same were made in money, silk, or
other goods, and how the same were distributed.
Copies of any resolutions of the Court of Directors, granting
any pensions. Copies of any resolutions of the Court of three-
lore, granting any salaries. Copies of any resolutions of the
Court. of Directors, granting any superannuated allowances.
Copies of any resolutions of the Court of Directors, granting
_any compensation money to the officers of the Company, or
others. A list of all compensations granted up to the lst June,
1841 ; and an Account of all Superannuations granted since
the last Quarterly. General Court.
HILL COOLLIES.

The CHAIRMAN then said that the Court was made Special,
for the purpose of laying before the Proprietors, a"seeably to
the Bye-law, cap. 10, sec. 1., a Bill now before Parliament,
entitled, " A Bill for regulating the Carriage of Passengers in
Merchant Vessels" (Colonial Passengers' Bill). The only
section of that Bill which at all affected the East India Com-
pany was the 41st, which he would call on the Secretary to read.
'the SECRETARY then read the 41st section of the Bill, as
fellows :—" And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the
Governor-General of India, in Council, from time to time, by
any Act or Acts to be passed for that purpose, to declare that
this Act, wish such exceptions as are hereafter mentioned, shall
extend and apply to the carriage of passengers upon any
voyage from any ports or places within the territories of
the East India Company, to be specified or described in
such Act or Acts ; and also in like manner to authorise
the substitution as respects such voyages of other
equivalent articles of food and provisions for those here-
inbefore t numerated, and to declare the rule of compu-
tation by which the length of any such voyage shall he
estimated, and to confer the powers hereinbefore con-
ferred upon Government agents, and collectors and comp-
trollers of the customs, with respect to ascertaining the
sea-worthiness of a ship upon such officers of the East India
Company, as the Governor in Council may think proper, and
from and after the passing of such Act or Acts of the Govern-
ment of India, and whilst the same shall remain
in force this Act shall, with such exceptions, as are
hereinbefore made as respects voyages from colonies, as
apply to and extend to the carriage of passengers upon such
voyages, as in the said Act or Acts of the Government of
India shall be specifies."
Mr. WEEDING had carefully read the Bill, and could cian-
firm the statement of the Chairman as to that being the only
clause of the Act which at all affected the natives of India.
The subject was one in which that Court had always taken a
deep interest. In July, 1838, it had been discussed in that
Court, and again in June, 1840. In both instances the Court
had come to a resolution to petition the House of
Commons on the subject; and although he (Mr. Weeding)
had more confidence in the regulations proposed in the present
Bill for the protection of the naives of India, than he had in.
those which had formerly beset proposed, yet he thought that
the Court, before it sanctioned any proposition for the deporta-
tion of Hill Coollies, ought to be in possession of further in •
formation. He should, therefore, move a resolution to the
effect, that before the Court could come to any opi-
nion as to the justice or propriety of any plan for the de-
portation of the natives of India to the Mauritius,
it was necessary that they should have further information on
the subject, and that therefore the Court of Directors be re-
qnested to lay before the Proprietors copies of any despatches
which may have been received from the Indian Government in
reference to this subject; and also ,copies of any orders refer-
ring thereto, which may have been issued by her Majesty in
Council; and also that the Directors be requested to obtain in-
formation as to the precise nature of any enactments which
might be in ertistenee in the Island of Mauritius, for the pur-
pow of regnlating'cohttatts entered into between the labouring
population' and the agricultural and manufacturing proprietors-
of tho said island, and to lay the same. before the Court:
—(Cheer§.) Ile felt much obliged to the gentleman who
was sitting below the liar (Mr. Hogg), for the admirable speech
he had made on the subject in hie place in Parliament, in reply.
to Lofd Stanley, on the discussion of Mr. Vernon Smith's
motion: That gentleman was entitled to the warmest thanks;
and he hoped that the Court of Directors had thanked him the
first time thee had met, after the delivery of his admirable speech.
In his (Mr. Weeding's) opinion, it scat inpossible to prevent
the deportation of Hill Coolies from degenerating ultimately
into a slave traffic.—( Cheers.) If the Government would form
d entlts of regulations Writhe Mauritius, compelling parties
who brought flatlet,' of India into that Island to enter into a
bend to a large amount fa tend them back to the East Indies, in
t lie event of work, not beingtfotind for them; or of; their ill-treat-
ment, that woeld be more effectual then all the complicated
machinery which it eras proposed to' introduce. After
all, to what did that machinery amount to. • It
left everything iti the hands of the Governor-General. He
might be a perfen hiving estates in the • Mauritius, and
might be interested in the deptlttation of these people.
It behoved the Court to pause betoi'd they gave their sanc-
tion to any .measure fur the deportation is the natives
of India. He certainly should in,;•e, liked the ques-
tion to have been asked in Parliament, as to 0e cost of the
Mauritius to the mother country. Now India did not cost
land anything,and it was unjust to transport the natives of India to
the Mauritius, and to employ them there in the euls
tivation of sugar, which would compete with Indian
sugar in that market. The population of . Mauritius
was already sufficient to cultivate all the existing estates,
and the Coolies could only be wanted for the purpose
of reclaiming the wilderness, and turning a barren rock into a
fertile soil, at the expense of the industry of the natives of
India. He trusted the papers would be granted, and that a
Court would be called for an early day to consider the subject.
Mr. 11ONTGOMERY MARTIN seconded the motion. lie had
seconded a similar one in 1838 and in 1840. He held in his
hand a despatch of the Governor-General of India, which
he was assured not one half of the Proprietors had seen, and
without a knowledge of which it was impossible to con-
a der this qUestiotle It was a Report of a Committee
of six gentlemen who sat at Calcutta to consider the subject,
three reported decidedly against permitting tht de,
portation of Hill Coolies at all. One gentleman had
.14 India before the Report was drawn up ; an-
other, a Mr. Dowsen, wa>i ati agent for the emigration of
these Coolies, and therefore had a personal interest in the con-
tinuance of the system, and the last,:a Mr. Grant, was an
exceedingly young man, too young to be able to form a compe•
tent opinion on the subject. Lord Auckland had stated that
great caution was necessary to prevsht ifs degenerat-
ing into a slave trade ; and if they permitted
this, deportation fo . take place from British India, what
was to prevent the:deportat ion fromtaking place fromPondicherry,
Husqucbar, and from the native ports and foreign settle-.
merits. It was impossible to foresee to what extent
it might be carrie.t„'if the principle were once sane •
tiened there were hundreds of miles of eneultitated
ground in India, on which these Coollies might be em-
ployed, if they waived employment ; therefore, it was
no hardship On them to, prevent the deportatioM The subject
was most important; and he had great pleasure in seconding
the motion.
An Holy. PaoratEvoa hoped the COurt would not
interfere to prevent the Indian labourers from
taking their labour to the best market. Both Lord
John 'Russell and Lord Stanley were in favour of
permitting the emigration of Coolies to the Mauritius.
and the fears entertained on the subject were groundless.
The Governor of the Mauritius himself stated that
the existing laws of the Island gave ample pro-
tection to the Coolies, and he was a disinterested
witness, for he had, as he himself stated, gone out
to the Island having a great distrust of the planters.
He was very much identified with the party who had taken up
the question so strongly in this country, and his testimony
might be considered unbiassed from the manner in which it
was given. With regard to the opinists of the natives them-
stlvet, they had heard that very many of those who
had '`returned to India hid applied to be sent back
to the Mauritius. An investigation into the circum-
stances had been instituted by Lord Auckland, and the
result had not been unfavourable to the emigration. The evi-
dence had been sifted by Lord Auckland, and many persons
had expressed themselves favourable to it. The Hon. Pro-
prietor then read some extracts from the evidence, going to
prove the good treatment of the Coolies, and concluded by
stating that he should not move any amendment to the resolu-
tion, but should leave it in the hands of the Court to
deal with it as they thought fit.
Mr. G. Tnomesoss said he admitted the right of every
British subject to the free exercise of his locomotive powers.
He would not abridge one individual of his personal liberty, or
deprive him to the smallest extent of his eight of choice.
But with regard to the Hill Coolies, or those
naives of India who came under that denomination
he thought they were persons scarcely in circumstances to be
able to exercise a sound and enlightened choice. From the
moment permission was given by the Order in Council, some
years ago, to import into the Island of Mauritius and to De..
merara the class of which he spoke, he had Watched
as carefully as it was possible to do the working
of that Order in Council, and he had seen with the utmost.
pleasure the rescinding of that order, by a counter-order of
Lord Glenelg. He had also rejoiced over the defeat of a
similar measure, when afterwards introduced by Lord John
Russell. They were called on that day again to consider the
question, and he did not see any circumstances that induced
him to alter his opinion. Ho should be glad to extend to the
natives of India the largest possible measure of liberty—
he should rejoice to see them able to better their circumstances
by going either to the colony of Mauritius, or to any other
portion of the British dominions. But he had yet to learn that
they did better their circumstances by se emigrating; he had
yet to learn that they were able to judge on their native soil of
the circumstances in which they were to be placed when they
got to the distant country. In the first place they were
ignorant of'the language of the parties who urged them to
emigrate, and ignorant of the language of the country to which
they went, whether it was. British Guiana, the Mauritius, or
any other part of the world. They were ignorant of naviga-
tion, and of the situation of climates and colonies ; they were
ignorant of the kind of work they would be called on to do ; igno-
rant of the particular nature of the contracts they entered into ;
and more than all, they-wereignorant of the .arts and strata-
gems of the planters, as individuals, and the practice's of the
Colonial Councils, Assemblies, and Governors of the country to
which they went. He, unhappily, was not ignorant of those prac-