The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-04-03
aDo,ne6t1c.
craoM THE AuRoKA.l
SKETCH OF BRITISH AFFAIRS IN ASIA

The disturbances in Asia are very little uader-
stood IN England. any more than in America it
| Is something about as ludicrous as certain edi
tors calling themselves federslists and disciples
or Washington, and yet iaoouTing with all their
little might to dissolve the union upon which
"ashington's glory is founded-it is not so seri
Gus, but 1t IS as ludicrous to peruse the ignorance
winch the British news papers nnocently publish
ON Asiaiic affairs
The system pursued from the days of Hastings.
VINO began the suppression of the press in India
ao%n tDroogh CORVALLIS, sir John Shore, and f.
many marquis Wellesley, has efiectually proven
tea the circulation OF authentic information con
corning tho internal transactions of Hmdust,n.
through any other channels than by the means of
persons who have lived in that country, removed
out OF Ii, and brought with them in their minds
what 1t would not be safe to commit to paper. or
even 10 speak. The system of British Asia il
very like that ot the inquistion to talk of the
MINISTER'S oil power, is to attack it il is some
thing Ike the principle of the law of Draco.
whch made all crimes equal. The person who
Das oeen so unfortunate as TO entertain any ideas
OF freedom OF speech, on policy, government.
hES' power, liberty or right, in Asia, could not
entertain any IDEAS more dangerous ; habits of
i'eseoi' Oh speech, however, guarded by cauti.
on, VIII sometimes break over the bousdS of dis-
erection a man viii have curiosity tn discovcr
whether the Lama is man or a bow so n man
VIII tiiIis, ana sometimes unthinkinply saw, that
men have rights, that power has limits that there
Is such tbihg as tyranny, that such policy is
good, other policy indifferent, ard third execra-
pie that law may be interposed TO arrest the M
justice OF power and that government may be
better or worse administered that a certain of
hcer IS good virtuous man /; and that another "a
not quite So good that he may be even bad. or
worse.
Ideas of this kind, or comparisons involving
such ipeas' are not adapted TO the atmosphere OF
BRUSH dominion ~ Asia you might talk or e.
ven writc with freedom at Delhi, under the Mo-
gun government or even at .Seringabata,,t, under
Hyder ALI Behadhur il is a fact not generally
! known out OF Hindustan, that ne VS. papers have
always been, and continue TO be published to this
day, at every court aud at the hall of every net
ty prince or chleftainiin India, in which every mi
mute concern OF the court as well the characters
ana measures, or the war and policy of the gov.
ernmenls these papers openly written in the
nails OF the courts Of the chiefs, Frequently in
their presence, aud always unmolested
But under tbe Bruish domiaion, il is no, per.
united to publish any thing that concerns the DO
iicy, nnance, war, laws, or even the conduct of
| ny Ofcer OF tie Brush government
1heTc must be some reaaOn, 1t will he said, for
this Enlargement poll igae, when the reputed
dssPots u Asi.I allow freedom ofdiscussion, and
the rcputed J4eemaH sHd projectors of ASH, make
writing or taking OF political affairs high crime
rs such contradiction OF the received nations,
mat u we did not know the fact 10 do exactl, as
stated, from actual personal observation and prf
V~tion 100, we SHOULD be disposed 10 consider II
AZ i'Ss9Sus hctisn inverted at Boston, and pro