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

postponing . postponed .
The Loaa Bill, the Irish Treasury Bills .
the Submits, Bills Bill were read a third time

Oa a motion for receiving dropped Orders on Tuesday,
Sir J. NEWPORT, Mr. BENNET, and Mr. DaaMAN,
complained of the practice which bad prevailed of bring-
ing on important pebHc Bills at a late hour.
The CHANCEI,LOR of the EXCHEQUER said a
few words across tbe table, and a conversation followed,
which led, as we understood, to an understanding that
the practice should be discontinued.
BURNING OF WOMEN IN INDIA.
__

Mr. F. BUXTON called the attention of the Mons,
to the dreadful practice of hnrning females in India.
lie admitted that the Governor of India had done mach
to discountenance this practice, but they had refrain-
ed very much from interference in general. lest it
might be conceived they wished to control the religi-
ons doctrines of the natives. It appeared that in the
four last revs no less a number than 2336 females had
been seen to mount the funeral pile, in the Presidency
of Fort William. Many of them were mere children ;
some were pregnant ; some had been made intoxicated;
and not a few were forced to the sacrifice. Ile relied
in some measnre upon the.disrretion and resolution of
the Governors of India, but he thonght the (louse,
ought to interfere. The Mogul Government had abo-
lished the practice, and many others bad rendered it
less frequent. lie therefore thought we ott;;;Itt et
once to prove our detestation of these • abutninable
executions. It was worthy of remark, that many of
them had taken plare in direct violation of the laws of
the natives. Those laws declared, that no female un-
der lti should he sacriiced; yet it was a fact, that
girls of Id, 13, 12, and one of J ye.irs of age, were
snhjected to this brutal sacrifice. Force als.. was pro-
Whited by the Indian law ; but very often it was had
recourse to. amid the struggling and shrieking of the i
victims. The Hon. Member stated several instances of
this description, and observed, that whatever might be
the opinion of the House as to the propriety of in-
terfere”ce in general, there could be hut one opinion
nn the justice of confining the native to the letter of
their own laws. The lion. Member concluded mov-
ing for a re urn of the number of women sarrificeil is
India on the funeral piles of their husbands within the
last fonr years.

Mr. BATHURST dill not oppose the motion : but
he doubted the propriety of European interference.
If any mode were ad .pted by confining' the natives to
the letter of their own laws, au 0111,ter of iintope
most superintend the dreadful execution. lie there-
fore doubted the policy of any interference and it
by no means followed that we 01(:lit to adopt a par-
ticular measure merely became it had been adJpted
with success by a Mahometan Government. Ihe
practice, he said, is not allowed (idler in Madras or
Calcutta, and the consequence is, that the victim is
taken and sarriliced out of the boundaries of those
-owns. Every endeavour was made by the °dicers of
the East India Company to prevent the execution
without the fee consent of the numan. Ilterr wes
reason to hope, that the indoence of 11(verionent,
disseminating uselnl knowledge among the natives,
would have a 11111(.1t more beneficial effect 111.111 forcible
interference. The ml,leet had been fully tliilrussed
through the medium of the Press of labia. The
diseassion was attended with a good effect, but be
thought it would not be proper for the Om-eminent to
make itself a party to the dispute. He trusted the,
Honourable Member on reflection would rot think of
pressing any measure on Parliament on this stviieti.
especially as the Otheers of India we r exerting them-
selves in the most laudable manner to put down the
practice.
Mr. WILBERFORCE. was glad his
I'riend had brought the subject before the House.
tie admitted the exertions of the Indian Covet-nom
to abolish the dreadful practice, and he rel;retted
that those exertions had proved so ineffectual. Pro-
vided Hiss- did not insult the prejudices of the sect,
be was convinced that no people in the world would
he more willies to tier,* to instroction in religion .and
manners than the Ilindoos. Indeed, by •prop.nr at-
tention to the essential poiws. he h al no doubt of the
practicability of the conversion of these prop:P. It
was a mistake to suppose that this tractice of im-
molation was voluntary. There were very few eases
in which it was so. A reluctant consent was ex-
torted, but when the unfortunate victim of reli,jost•
superstition came to the pile she shrank from the
consummation, but not till it srui too late, the priests
preventing all retreat. In most cases this was effec-
tually prevented by the woman being tied to a log of
wood. There was no people perhaps on the face of
the globe so anxious to receive instruction in
European matters as the Hindoos; and that beitii: the
case, it was really surprising we should be so kick-
ward in enlightening them. The most unobjection-
able plan for the purpose of bringing ahead their
conversion would, he thought, be to establish a
College in some part of our ludian dominions, to in-
struct Missionaries in the most effectual mode.,

Mr. HUME wished to know to what the motion of
his Hon. Friend tended. When be wail at !Wares, in
Bengal, it was his impression, as well as of those with
him there, that this practice was almost entirely discon-
tinued, and that that uas caused by the steps taken by
the Cowpony to discountenance it. The usual way in
which these matters were brought about, was by the
party interested in the property of the ttlfinW.
some Bramin to persuade her that she would immediate-
ly go to !leaven 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 insiht ap-
pear at first sight ridiculous, hut it would he fontld to he
a most feasible plan, as it wonld strike nt the very quar-
ter whence the evil sprung, viz. the individuals to whom
the property of the victim were to revert. He was sur-
prised to hear the !Celt Hon.lientlemau (Mr. Bathurst)
opposite denonocing this as a subject not tit fur Parlia-
mentary discussion. He was surprised to hear the Hon.
Member for Bramber (Mr. Wilberforce) tall; of tie vic-
tims being tied to a log of wood in undergoing the a.t-
critice, as he believed that part 'of the practice hail loitz
been discontinued in the Company's territtkies. Nor
Mold he agree with the Hon. tientleman in his propo-
sition for erecting a College in India f st thy purpose 01
converting the Ilinaloos, as be thought that the hit
tlvitme to be resorted to for that purpose. It %you'd Gds
the immediate .e/r.sct of aws!al.:•itii, the je4l,:trieVilf
people, 'and in all probability def Fat the benevubstfeltl-
':lttittlts of-the founders.

• •r

.•

geed ,
Lord BINNING observed, with respect to win.
Mai frog, the Hoe. Mewls* fst Montrose (Mr. Mame)
with reference to his Kight Hon. Friend (Mr. Bathurst)
that be had not represented this question as one unfit
for Parliamentary discussion. He •merely said It was
one on which a wise discretion shonld be used. He per-
fectly agreed with his Right Hon. Friend in that semi-
tent, being satisfied that the interference of the Com-
pany hitherto in this matter had only tended to maim
things worse. Ile feared the Hon. Member for Mon-
' new (Mr. Homy), when he saw the papers which were
eisoud for, would find there was too much reason for
theassertion of his Hon. Friend (Mr. Wilberforce) rela-
tivito the victims being tied to a log of wood.
Mr. CANNING said that, whatever shades of differ-
ence might exist with respect to some parts of the pre-
sent subject, there were two points on which every gen-
tleman appeared to agree. The first obviously was..l
that it would be in the highest degree gratifying to
every feeling of humanity if this abominable practice
were eradicated ; the second, that it was extremely de-
sirable that the attempt made to attain this object should
not be any thing like a coercive interference on the part
of the British Government. —(ilear. bear.)—The only
matter for consideration lay therefore between these two
extremes; soil in going over that ground he begged
geutlemen to bear in mind, that of all the exercises of
human authority and of human discretion, the most dif-
ficult and delicate was that of an interference, at once ef-
fective and at the sante time divested of the harshness
of,power.—(llear, bear.)—The problem which the East
India Company had to solve was thins one of great diffi-
culty and delicary; and though he was glad that this
silbject wan brought under the consideration of the
donne for disrnssion, he could not agree with those who
thought that the immediate and necessary effect of dis-
cussion here must be greatly to facilitate or to abridge
the tank imposed on the Indian liovernment. Ile ra-
ther thought that the effect of any hostile discussion
(none such. nuiloabteilly, hal occurred on this occasion)
or of any serious interference or dictation on the part of
Parliament, nvould not tend much to stimulate that thi-
verninent which, in fact, wanted no such blittiills to en-
gage in this work. I t would, perhaps. rather alarm the
natives of India ; and, in consequence, occasion some re-
laxation on the part of Government with respect to the
course which they itrig!it have thought proper to per
sae. for the purpose of removing a•Treliension front the
minds of the rople of In dia. lie did not mean to say,
that ultim Italy the effect of discussion might not be
good : because the hands of Government would certainly
be strengthened by the opinions collectively and iniliv
dually expressed. Butt that would not be the imme-
diate effect. In a former Session, when the lion. tient.
stated his intention to snake a Cron of this kind, he
(Mr. ('anning) earnestly hut civilly dissuaded him from
his purpose, because the information was defective in
one material point. namely, that though it was impos-
sible then to say that the Governor-tieneral was inatten-
tive to this object. or that he had not pursued it in the
most proper manner, vet they hail no meant of forming
a correct jo.lg rent of the effects which had been pro.
direct. He would ask his Ilon. Friend (Mr. Buxton)
whether, if he was legislating as the conqueror of a Ca-
tholic country, he would think his influence well
exercised under these circumstances. Let him
suppose one, out of the ninny cases which wottlil
occur, of young females offering themselves to take
the veil !retire their min:ln could either be well made
op or accurately informed with respect to the
nature of the engagement they were about to contract;
would his Hon. Friend think that his influence would
he we:l exercised I'c sending Ilene one to inquire for
the victim at the cloister or the monastery, in order
to examine her, and to tear her—upon her manifesting
the sliglrrst hi sitatior in answer to such inquiries—
from
the sacrifice that she man on the point of per- 1
forming The feelings of the Ilindoos were not le-s
acute upon such subjects than would be those of the
dentin:A nun in the imaginary rate which he had joist
been citing. India was to be regarded as a country
rettining, by the habits of education as well as by our
own policy, all its ancient institutions. The Hon.
G '
ent. motion, tion. and of whose speech he
(Mr. Canning) was sorry to have missed any part—so
much had he been gratified with that portion of it
which he had heard—had stated (not invidiously to be
sure, but in a way that mightsure, be open to such a con-1
ntrnction) that other conquerors in India, whom we'
had superseded, had found no difficulty in extiognish-
itig similar superstitions rites and sacrifices. But the I
lion. (lent. must have forgotten, that by a singular
an:l unprecedented indulgence of colonial policy, we
had left the religious apical of India as we found it—
(Bear ;)—that system wan not forcibly invaded by ns,
hut merely placed under a snore efficient protection
than it had previously enjoyed. That protection, se-
cured by us alone, tne rulers of an empire which con-
tained upwards of an hundred millions of inhabitants,
without there being one amongst us who might fairly
call one foot of the territory his awn, was, perhaps,
one of the most signal and splendid effects of human
wisd.on And human fortune whit'h could br named.—
The lion. Gent. had said, that it was to gradual means.
such as those which lie bad mentioned, that we must
look for the improvemeut of these people, anti that the
diffusion of inatisviedge was the sole legitimate and
effective mode of subduing ignorance. He (Alr.
Canning) concurred in this opinion; but be thought
also that this was the sole legitimate means ofaubduing
superstition. The Hon. Gent. lead seemed colloid out
the conduct of the Mahommedan conquerors rather as
in example to he followed by us; but the Hon. (lent.
well knew that the great distinction between the two
religions professed by the two races of Conquerors
was, that the: one -was the religion of arms, and the
other of persuasion ; that the one had fought its way
with tit-- swore, mid that the other prevailed in spite
of power ; and that this latter and parer faith must
he left to win its silent way among those nations be-
tore the total extirpation of their frightful sacrifices
woold be looked fur.

Col. MONEY eras fully satisfied that the laying of
these papers before-Parliaident could not be an inexpe-
dient ruelsure. but would rather satisfy the friends of
iinivanitt• that there was a feeling in P'arliainebt which
was is unison with their own. lo 1605, •Lord Wel-
le-ly had espees•cd his earnest hope that •eomething
j tttig!:t DC dune to extirpate these dreadful sacrifices.

might be put down by force. If the satires were se
open to onderstand our good intentions. what told
prevent their seeing that coercive measares were takes
for their benefit?
Mr. BUXTON- shortly replied. He *ogler ea
Right Hon, tientleusan opposite was wrong, whoa he
stated that there were no instances of force being sae.
ployed to pat down super4itioe. The murder of the
Ragpoots children was made a capital crime its Lodi%
The Cooab also was made capital. This Casale...di
the case of a native having a strong aversion for say
person in power; in which case he would makes law
pile of lighted wood, over which he would put tire
animals, one of which wail a cow, and_ the o'her an ell
woman. The suffering of the latter be would prettiest
as lung as be possibly could, under an Impressive that
the object of his resentment was suhjetted to the same
torments. Even the sacred penile of a Breslin hid
been violated, at some bad been hang. And, on oar
occasion, the great god Jaggerant himself. with his
car, had been seised upon and kept in paws, till the
payment of some arrears of revenue were putt
The question was then pot, and the papers ordered
to be left' on the table.

MR. OWEN, OP LANARK.
Mr. MAXWELL gave notice, (as well as the mai*
prevailing in the Louse would allow nto mik,et),
that on Tuesday nest, the 26th of June, he wonWaire
for the appointment of a commission to investigate
the arrangements which had been entered into by Mr.
Owen, at New Lanark, fur the employment of the
poor.

e
The CIIANCIII.LOR of the EXCHEQUER a fow tamilthnten soil Ile I
Verde semi the table, for the purposes we believe, of fonsiatiott relative to the practice Of
oostponing the Bill.—lt was postponed recordierly, a loot from good authority.
The Loan Bill, the Irish Treasury Bills Bitt, and Lon' BINNING observed, with n

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116!ftgen01ftembmws....."141tftteEkilltimiNowin
bad ihtesived bib tu- Mr. W. IMITH al-71111.11"11111.reed with the INO.Sookbei who
eying the vietiost to spoke last, a thinking that these alatesiaable practices
lei:4kt be oat .fors k. f. ... tr.L_ _ _.