Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-24
To tie Editors Of the Examiner.
BRITISH CONSULATE,
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. l9, 1857

RICHMOND, Va, Nov. l9, 1857.
Dear Sir: The Lord Mayor Of The city OF Louuon
has written to Her Majesty's Minister al Washington
10 regard to the fund now being raised for the relief
Of those who are still suffering from the results OF the
hideous mutiny in India. Lord Napier, ah1ious 10
nromote as far as possible 30 benevolent an object,
has instructed Her Britannia Msjes,y's Consuls to
opeu a subscription let in their several Consulates,
in The hope, and belief, that British residents IN this
Country will contribute 10 the extent Of their mean.
for the relief of their tellow.countrymen and country.
women, even In a far distant land. As the circum.
stances are not fully known in America, and much
mis,ake exists upon The subject, l cannot refrain from
stating come Of the facts-not Of the past, but of the
prepnt. ..,
Thousands are now suffering in British India from
want even of the necessaries OF life; thousands have
had torn from them, BY tue ruthless hands Of the So
poy., the whole property they possessed have seen
their houses burnt, their effects plundered, their very
clothing destroyed. Mothers, after seeing husbands
and brethren slaughtered, have had 10 flee, with per.
hap. their only remaining child in their arms, bare
foo: and with scanty clothing, through troplca! rains,
o-gsiay their food for hundred. Of miles Delicate
ladies, young children, ministers OF religion, II they
have been fortunate enough 10 escape massacre ard
torture, have been reduced to o stare OF restitution
INDISPENSABLE, and to undergo fatiRues and privstions
which would appal even a stoHt mans hearii and II
is for these that l appeal 10 their fellow.oountrymen
In this land.
II any further details be necessary to move the feel
inps Of the British in Virginia. or 10 sustain the fscrs
I state. | appeal TO the letter Of q most amiabIe lady,
An Irish nun in the convent near Agra, ian eye-wit.
ness of what she describes) which appeared in the
New York Herald a few days ago. Indeed, | apply
10 my irish fellow counrrynen, with the more conf
denee, because they ere known all over the world es
tender 10 women and children, and because. in an oh
i.ct Of general benevolence and true charity, none Of
those painful political Questions, which unhappily
have often created discussions, can be permitted to
ming!e by any eaus man. Ii is a factbeyond dispute,
that a large portion Of The sufferers in India are OF
Irish birth and The Catholic religion. Their convents
have been pillaged, their churches de.ecrated, their
priests and pious women insulted, If not CLAIM
All, wherever the marauding bands could
reach, have been stripped Of every poses
sion As to the fairness and equitable distri.
button Of the fund, without %sectarian feeling OF
any kind, l need only appeal to one fact OF very re-
cent date. During the ravages OF the yellow FEVER
in 1855, number of charitable institutions, Catholic
and Protestant, received and took care OF the orphan
children OF British inhabitants. Her Msjssty's Sc
crstary Of state for Foreign Affairs, the Earl of
Clarendon, with his usual l~iberAiity, sent over q con
siderable cum 10 be distributed among these institu.
tom; and |, acting TO the letter on his Lordship's in
structions, distributed the money, without the eight
est distinction of religion, according to the number
Of children relieved by each institution. For proof
of this fact | can appeal to my friend, the Rev. Mr..
O'Keef OF Norfolk.
May | request you, in there circumstances, TO pub.
lish this letter in your columns, and 70 give 8s CREST
publicity az possible 10 the fact, that @ subscription
let for contributions TO the Indian relisf fund IL opeu
az tie ofioe Of, Dear cir,
Your faithful servant.
&. Z. r. JAMES,
II. B. NJ. Consul in Virginia.