Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-09-12
SEI.F IMMOIATION

CALCUTTA, Jan. 10, 1811.-A Sauttie took
place in the vicinity of Calcutta on Sunday
last, which deserves to be noticed from two
considerations First, as it is the only in
stance of this kind of self immolation that has
occurred in the neighborhood of Calcutta for
sever >fhonths past; fact which affords
satisfactory evidence that this custom, so alb
horrentto nature and to reason, is passing in
to disuse in this, the most populous part of
Bengal; and secondly, this Sauttie is noticea-
bic from the age at which the victim of con-
nubial veneration, devoted herself to death.
Neederam Dutt, Hindoo of the Cost cast,
died on Sunday morning, after short illness,
at the age of 81 years. On his disease, his
wife, who had attained her 71st year, forth
with declared her resolution to be burned
with her husband, with whom she had lived
in state OF uninterrupted happiness for 90
years. Accordingly, at two o'clock, of the
day of her husbands decease, she was pla-
ced in aFAlankeeD, being too infirm to walk,
and boTAe with the body of her husband to
CossyporesSwhere the cheeta or funeral pile
had been prepared. After ablution in the
Hooghly, and the usual Brahminical ceremo-
MES, she was laidupon the pile, her right arm
passing under her husbands neck The sig
nal being given, her son applied the lighted
torch, the pile caught the fame, and the pi-
Gus widow was quickly placed beyond the
reach of suffering.
That ayoung Hindoo widow upon the death
of a beloved husband, in whom conferred her
affections, and whom she regarded as the
source of all her responsibility and happi-
ness; that such woman in the first parox-
ysm of grief, should resolve to comply with
the prejudices of her religion and education,
and voluntarily devote herself to death, is
much less surprising than the same resoluti
on should be formed by woman of advan-
ced age, whose affections are less acute, and
whose sensiblity must have been chilled by
the lapse IT years.
On thek1ash of August, the Governor Of
Lower csfeda, issued the following procla
mation
WHEREAS the expectation Of salt Petre,
Gun Powder, Ammunition, Arms and War
ike Stores Of any denomination or descrp-
ton whatsoever from our Province Of Lower
Canada may, at this time, prove injurious &
prejudicial to the interests of our Empire, in
asmuch as such Expectation will not only de-
prive us and our subjects ola resource which,
in the course Of future events, may be requir-
ed, but by transportation from foreign ports
may become a source Of supply to our enc
mics.
htAh = NitNt AitDNsiAA ltAf ny anu Will
tle advice Of our executive council of our
said prqNlhce of Lower Canada, TO issue this
our Roy1f Proclamation, and for the safety
and beneiitSf our subjects to order, and we
do hereby Nr&er that IN Embargo be forth
with laid up0rail Ships, Vessels, Boats, Ca
noes, Rats and Carriages Of what kind or
nature socver, wholly or parsly laden, or to
be laden in the ports Of our said Province Of
Lower Canada, or in any part thereof, with
Salt Petre, Gun Powder. Ammunition, Arms
and Warlike Stores Of any denomination or
description whatsoever, or with either or any
Of the said articles to be exported wthoutli-
cencc, as hereafter is expressed.
And we do hereby further strictly prohib
il and fofpid the deportation of Salt Petre,
Gun Po~n, Ammunition, Arms and War
Ike StoreS OF any and every denomination or
descriptions whatsoever, from our said pro-