The Sun. — 1841-06-22 (London, England)

IDOLATRY IN INDIA. Sir R. H. INGLIS, seeing his Right Hon. Friend the President of the Board of Control (Sir J. C. Hobhouse) in his place, begged to put some questions to him upon the subject of idolatry in India. In the first place he perceived that some returns in relation to the matter moved for by a Right Rev. Prelate in the other House had not been presented to Parliament in a complete form, and he begged to know whether the deficiency could be supplied ? He also wished to ask his Right Hon. Friend whether he could state to the House that any  measures had been taken, or were now in progress, for the purpose of putting an end to the connection between the Officers of the East India Government, and the practice of idolatry, in consequenee of their being appointed as superintendent over the collection of the tribute in the temples. Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE said that he would take care that the returns referred to by his Hon. Friend should be presented in as complete a form as possible. He also had to state that he had lately received a memorandum from India, from which it appeared that measures were about to be taken for the purpose of putting an end to any connection between the officers of the Company and the idolatrous practices in the natives. He had on the receipt of the memorandum, written at once to the Government of Madras, expressing his satisfaction at the measures about to be taken, and requesting that no time should be lost in carrying them into effect. He should always use his best exertions in the subject. Mr. BAINES expressed his gratitude for the exertions of the Right Hon. Gentleman in attempting to suppress practices which could not be creditable to this country. Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from a place in Gloucestershire, praying for Church Extension. Mr. LEADER presented a number of petitions from various places in the metropolis praying for a repeal of the Corn-laws and fiscal reform.  Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from Dr. James Henry, in Ireland, complaining of the conduct of the enumerators appointed to take the late census in that country. From the inquisitorial nature of their questions they had raised great opposition, and thus rendered the returns imperfect. Mr. DUGDALE presented a petition from the North American Colonial Committee against any alteration of the timber duties. Mr. LEADER presented a number of petitions from Leicester and the neighbouring villages, signed amongst others by 11,200 females, in all by 17,000 persons, praying for the immediate abolition of the Corn-laws. Mr. HINDLEY said, seeing the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Colonies in his place, he wished to advert to a petition which he presented the other evening from the Aborigines Society, complaining of the conduct of Colonel Gawlor. It appeared that in consequence of an alleged murder by a party of the natives in South Australia Colonel Gawlor ordered some of them to be hung. He (Mr. Hindley) wished to ask the Noble Lord what had been the conduct of the protector of the aborigines in the colony, or whether he had any powers by which he might maintain the rights of the native tribes.  Lord J, RUSSELL replied in a very low tone. We understood the Noble Lord to say that the parties bad been tried, and that their trial was conducted with the concurrence of the protective. Mr. THORNILY presented 52 petitions from different parts of the metropolis, praying for the repeal of the Corn-laws.  Mr. WAKLEY presented five petitions from various parts of the metropolis to the same effect. Colonel PERCEVAL presented a petition signed by 1,323 residents of Market Harborough against any alteration in the existing Corn-laws.