The Sun. — 1832-06-25 (London, England)

RITE OF SUTTEE.  The important question which has engaged so much of the public attention, as to the right of the local Government of India to prohibit among Hiudoos the religious rite iif Suttee, or burning of widows, came to be argued before the Privy Council on Saturday in the form of " an appeal by certain Hinder) inhabitants of Bengal, Bahar, Orissa, &c., against a regulation made by the GovernorGeneral (Lord William Bentinck) on December 4, 189, declaring the practice of Suttee illegal and punishable by the Criminal Courts."  The Privy Councillors present were—the Lord Chancellor, the Marquess of Lansdowne, the Marquess Wellesley, Lord Amherst, the Master of the Rolls, Lord John Russell, Sir James Graham, Sir W. H. East, and the Right Hon. Charles Grant.  Dr. LUSHINGTON, with whom was Messrs. DRINK• %% VIER and M‘DoucaLL, argued the case en behalf of the appellants. He proceeded in the first place to show that the religious rite and custom of Suttee was an integral and essential doctrine of the Hindoo religion, as al-, pearei from the concurring opinions which had been oh. tained from some of the moat celebrated Pundits, cotroborated by passages from the Hindoo sacred writings. From several extracts referred to, we insert one as containing the substance of all that is contained in the opinions of the Pundits in favour of the practice. It is from the text of Angiras, which is stated to be of high authority.  " That woman, who on the death of her husband ascends the same burning pile with him, is exalted to heaven, as equal in virtue to Arundhati. " She who follows her husband to another world shall dwell in a region of joy for so many years as there are hairs on the human body, or thirty-five millions. " As a serpent-catcher forcibly draws a snake from his hole, thus drawing her lord from a region of torment, she enjoys delight together with him. " The woman who follows her husband to the pile expiates the sins of three generations on the paternal and maternal side of that family to which she was given while a virgin. " There, having thebest of husbands, herself the best of women, enjoying the best delights, she partakes of bliss with her husband, in a celestial abode, as long as fourteen Indras reign.  " Even though the man had slain a priest, or returned evil for good, or killed an intimate friend, the woman expiates those crimes ; this has been declared by Angiras.  " No other effectual duty is known for virtuous women, at any time after the death of their lords, except casting themselves into the same fire,  " As long as a woman, in her successive transmigrations, shall decline burning herself, like a faithful wife, on the same fire with her deceased lord, so long shall she be not exempted from springing again to life in the body of some female animal. " When their lords have departed at the fated time of attaining heaven, no other way but entering the same fire is known for women whose virtuous conduct and whose thoughts have been devoted to their husbands, and who fear the dangers of separation."  Having commented on the sincerity of the conviction which induced Hindoo widows voluntarily to submit to the sacrifice of self-immolation, as proved by the practice itself, the Learned Civilian went on to argue that the Government of this country was pledged to preserve inviolate the religion, laws, and usages of the Hindoos, and that the regulation now appealed against was a direct in• fringement of that sacred pledge. In support of this view he referred to the general tenour of the Acts of the British Legislature with respect to our dominions in India, and the regulations and conduct of the East India Company. The legal question, be maintained, admitted of no doubt, under the provisions of the Statute 37 Geo. 111. cap. cxlii., sec. 12, which contained these words;_  " In order that due regard may be had to the civil and religious usages of the natives, it is enacted that the rights and authorities of the fathers of families and masters of families, according as the same may be exercised by the Gentoo or Mahomedan law, shall be preserved to them within their families respectively ; nor shall the same be violated or interrupted by any of the proceedings of the Supreme Courts, nor shall any act done in consequence of the rule or law of caste, so far as respects the members of the same family only, be deemed a crime, although the same may not be justifiable by the laws of England."  Now it could not be asserted that, at the passing of this Act, the Legislature was in ignorance relative to the rite of Suttee ; and therefore he contended that the practice was recogniz ,d by the Legislature, as it had been in express terms by several successive Governments in India. In conclusion, he pressed upon the Privy Council the injustice and impolicy of the regulation, which would be regarded by the natives of India as the commencement of a series of innovations upon all those religious rites and practices which they revered. Giving full credit to the motives of those who wished to put an end to the burning of widows, as revolting to our Christian feelings, be begged to ask, if we began upon that principle, where we should atop? The gross idolatry practised in India was as much opposed to our feelings as Christians to suicide; yet idolatry was not only recognized, but encouraged in India, and it was well known that a large revenue was derived from it. In truth, those who sought to put an end to this practice laboured under a great delusion. Upon grounds of expediency, no less than of justice, he called upon the Privy Council to avert the gathering storm, by d c ding in favour of the appellants' prayer. _ _  Air. DRECKWATER followed on the same side, and had not closed his argument when the Council rose. The further hearing was adjourned to Saturday next, when the Solicitor-General, Sir Charles Wetherell, Sir Edward Sugden, Mr. Sergeant Spankie, &c., are to be heard on the part of the East India Company. Ram Mohun Roy and several distinguished individuals connected with India were present during the argument.  The Rev. ROWLAND HILL, who seems to have obtained a new lease of existence, preached a sermon at Cheltenham on Sunday last. The Rev. Gentleman is now in his 88th year.  Miss FANNY KEMBLE'S " Dramatic Sketch" is, we perceive, announced to appear in the July Number of the Court Magazine and Belle AsseinbMe.