Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

?

the Secret Committee was very questionable, for the Act (3 & 4 Will. 4, cap. 85, sec. 35) gave that body power to make peace or war, and to hold negotiations with native princes and powers; but having deposed the rajah, and reduced him to the station of a private person, he could not see how they could call such nego. tiations, negotiations with a native prince. (Hear.) To retain those papers in the Secret Committee was unconstitutional, if the public service would not be injured by the publication. The President had said he had no objection to produce them, and that their publication would not injure the public service. Was it then right that they should remain under the seal of secrecy He doubted, also, if the Board had the power of refusing its sanction to the Secret Committee giving up papers in its possession. In his opinion, that power rested with the Committee itself alone. (Hear.) The learned proprietor then urged the injustice to the rajah in withholding the papers, because, if the overtures had been made to the rajah, it was perfectly inconsistent for the Government still to affirm their belief in his guilt. (Hear.) He was glad to find so many of the Directors had entered dissents on this question, for from a Parliamentary return he found there had been four dissents concurred in by seven Directors, the first was signed by Col. Sykes, Sir R. Campbell, and Gen. Robertson; the second by Mr. Plowden, and Capt. Shepherd; and the third by Major Oliphant, and Capt. Locke. From these the hon. proprietor quoted. He trusted that at length the stain on the British name in India would be removed, for by maintaining our character for even-handed justice could we alone sustain our position in that country. He was happy to see that the prospects of the rajah were more cheering than hitherto, and he hoped that the time was not distant when full justice would be done to that unfortunate prince. (Hear.) The hon. proprietor then referred to the Goa case, and read a letter from a Col Bagnell (as we understood), affirming his belief that the rajah was innocent, and concluded by moving

"That, considering that the correspondence adverted to in the Court's resolution of the 25th March last arose in consequence of a statement publicly made in this Court, and in order that the Court of Directors and Proprietors might be informed of the truth or falsehood of such statement, this Court is of opinion that such correspondence ought not to have been imported into the Secret Committee. That the retention of such correspondence in the Secret Department for a period of nearly fourteen months, without any alleged injury to the public service, is impolitic and unconstitutional. That the non-production of correspondence which may, as in the present instance, affect the judgment of the members of this Court in regard to the innocence of the Ex-Rajah of Sattara, is repugnant to the first principles of justice, and calls upon this Court to declare its conviction of the necessity of an immediate inquiry into all the proceedings connected with this case."

Mr. SULLIVAN seconded the motion. He regretted that his hon. and learned friend had made the production of these papers contingent on the compliance of the President of the Board. He could not believe that that gentleman had the power to refuse them, for he would ask if the Board could refuse papers on an order of the House of Commons, and if not in that case neither could they in the present. The Secret Committee might perhaps urge their oath as a reason for refusing compliance with their request, but that he contended was without weight, for there was a great difference between general and indiscriminate disclosures of secret transactions, and compliance with the wishes of a properly constituted authority. (Hear.) If the Board were legally empowered to place whatever business they chose behind the screen of the Secret Committee, then all hinged on that body, and all the power was actually in the hands of the President; it was a mockery, a delusion, and a snare to call those Courts the executive government of India, and they ought to petition parliament for a dissolution of the power possessed by the Board. He quite agreed with his hon. and learned friend the mover, that this business ought never to have been in the Secret Committee at all, for having deprived the rajah of his throne, they could not be said to be carrying on negotiation with a native prince. He had been at some pains to examine the motions for the production of papers of a secret nature in that Court, and he found that on several occasions they had been produced on the motion. In 1801, an acrimonious correspondence between the Court and the Board was moved for and obtained; again in 1806, 1816, and 1835, on all of which occasions the papers moved for were granted. In the last case they had been refused in the House of Commons. Now if the President of the Board had the right to withhold papers, he certainly would have refused his sanction to the publication of some of those. Forty years ago the Court was employed in protesting against the encroachments of the Secret Committee, and Mr. Grant and Mr. Thornhill, members of the Court of Directors, had both warned them of the danger of suffering the Board to encroach on the rights of the Court.

Had the papers that formed the subject of the present discussion been adverse to the rajah, and received in the Secret Committee on Monday, on the Tuesday following they would have been in the hands of all the members of that Court. (Cheers.) As to refusing them because copies had been impro. perly obtained, he did not think that an argument at all, nay, it was an argument in favour of producingthom. The great Wilberforce on one occasion urged, as a reason for the production of some papers refused by Government, that copies had been obtained and imperfectly printed, and argued, that true and authoritative copies should be published. He called on the Court to shake off that day the power of the Board. If, as was affirmed, the Secret Committee was compelled to transmit to India all dispatches sent down from the Board, what was to prevent that body from sending letters to India, authorizing the most extravagant deeds; and if that were the case, all substantial power had passed into the hands of the Board. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. WEEDING was anxious to say a few words on this subject before submitting an amendment, and first he must state his objection to the motion, because it naturally supposed that the powers and privileges of the Court had been invaded, which he did not consider to be true. He was compelled to suppose that the gentlemen who had signed the requisition had signed for the express purpose of having a good set quarrel with the President of the Board. He contended that the answer of the Board was the only one that could have been given, and was the only one consistent with the former conduct of the President in the House of Commons. It was, moreover, in his opinion, the most courteous one that the President could have returned. Mr. Weeding here read an abstract of the debate in the House from the Times, and contended that having refused to give up the papers to that House, it was not to be supposed the President would produce them to that Court. Instead of the answer being the effusion of a splenetic temper, as the hon. mover had affirmed, it was in his opinion the only answer which a gentleman, situated as the right hon. gentleman at the head of the Board was, could give. He should move as an amendment that this Court do now adjourn. (Cheers.)

Mr. FIELDER Seconded the motion, and deprecated further discussion as worse than useless.

Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON Commenced with some acrimonious observation on Mr. Weeding, when an angry discussion ensued between himself and that gentleman, with respect to Sir John Hobhouse's observations in the House of Commons. He then urged that the papers ought to be produced, as they had arisen out of a statement of his made publicly in that room. On the Directors retiring to their room, it was resolved to send out a dispatch on the subject, and accordingly the one which he had printed from the secret papers in his possession had been despatched to India.

The DEPUTY CHAIRMAN (Lieut.-Gen. Sir J. L. Lushington, G.C.B.) The Directors never saw it till you published it. It issued from the Secret Committee.

Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON resumed, and stated that it was sent to India with the concurrence of the Court of Directors. The hon. proprietor then entered into a review of the powers of the Secret Cornmittee, quoting from the Acts of Parliament, from Auber's History, vol. i. p. 6, and the oaths taken by the mem bers of that committee, to prove that the committee was intended to be used only in cases of war and peace, and was instituted at a time when the French were in India; and the struggle was, in fact, between the Government of our country and France. He did not complain of the existence of a Secret Committee; it was absolutely necessary that Her Ma jesty's Government should have some means of communicating directly with India, but what he did complain of was the introduction into that Committee of matters entirely foreign to its objects, and quite inconsistent with the Act of Parliament. The dispatch which he had published, had origi. nated with the Court of Directors; the thought was begotten in that room, and never would have emanated from the Board. Until recently they had never heard of the power alleged to be possessed by the Board, of withholding what papers it chose; and it was not till every other excuse was exhausted that this was resorted to. The hon. proprietor was proceeding to dis cuss the powers of the Secret Committee, when

Mr. WIGRAM rose to set the hon. proprietor right on one or two points. He seemed to suppose that the Directors were aware of the contents of these papers, but they were entirely ignorant of them, except so far as they had been published by the hon. proprietor. With respect to the business transacted in the Secret Committee, it was quite true that its was limited here, but there was no limitation as to the matters forwarded from India to that Committee. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON Considered that he had a right to

t

have these papers published, as he was personally named in them. He had a right to know what Lord Hardinge said, and what Gen. Carpenter said. He must tell the Court that the answer from India went entirely to exculpate the rajah, and that other papers were in the same Committee, and had been there for a length of time, which, if produced, would have settled this question months back. Whenever these papers saw the light there was an end to the rajah's case. (Hear, hear.) No sufficient argument had been advanced for the retention of these papers, and he called on the proprietors to say whether they would submit to the President of the Board withholding from them their own. Their opponents had been completely floored. (Cheers.) The advocates of the rajah's cause had swept all before them, plot after plot had been demolished, and every atom of attributed guilt disproved. (Hear, hear.) Had not the hon. mover of the amendment moved for an adjournment, it was his intention to have moved an amendment, which the hon. proprietor read. And concluded by averring that he would never cease to demand those papers until he had obtained them.

The CHAIRMAN-I have waited thus far to hear all that can be advanced by those in favour of the motion, and I have paid the strictest attention to all that has been said. In my observations to-day I shall be very brief. The hon. mover objects to this business being introduced into the Secret Committee, but I will ask who is to determine what is proper for the cognizance of that Committee? (Hear, hear.) I say that no one but the President of the Board can determine that point. It has further been stated that it was determined by the Court of Directors to send out the dispatch to India. On that point I cannot speak, as I was not at the time a member of the Court, but I have no doubt whatever that it emanated from the Secret Committee alone. The hon. proprietor is perfectly aware that Sir John Hobhouse refused to give these papers when asked to do so in the House of Commons; notwithstanding that, I think that, the Court on a late occasion was justified in requesting of the President their production, but having done that I do not think it would be right again to ask for them. (Hear.) Because the President said that at a future time they might be published, are we to infer that he has not sufficient reason for withholding them now? The hon. mover has objected to these alleged negotiations being carried on through the Secret Committee, on the ground that the rajah, being deposed, is no longer a native prince; but as these negotiations would affect the reigning sovereign, I do not think that objection can be held good: for any negotiations, with respect to the ex-rajah's right to the throne, must necessarily involve the continuance of his brother and successor on that throne. (Hear, bear.) I must beg to be understood, that I do not of myself state the existence of any such correspondence in the Secret Committee; but as it has been admitted by the President of the Board, I see no reason why I should not refer to it. Another reason why I oppose the present motion is, that I consider it inexpedient to re-open the rajah's case, and I think, that if this motion were agreed to, it would tend to throw open the case from the beginning. (Hear, hear). I have not altered my original opinion on the merits of the rajah's case, and from the period I formed my judgment, I have seen no reason to depart from it. But this Court has so often determined that the case shall not be opened again, that I should be bound to bow to the decision of the majority, even if it were contrary to my own opinion. (Hear, hear.) I may pity the condition of the rajah, as I pity the misfortunes of every one, but I cannot on that account alter my opinion on the merits of his case as it now stands. Every thing has been done to alleviate his condition, short of restoring him to his kingdom, and grants of money have been liberally supplied; but it must be borne in mind, that in regard to the rajah and exrajah, in doing justice to one, we should do injustice to the other (hear, hear), for having placed the brother of the ex-rajah on the throne, we cannot restore the latter without being guilty of great injustice to his brother. (Hear.) I must apologise, no, not apologise, as I am not to blame, but I must explain to the hon. mover the reason why I did not answer his last letter until last evening. The hon. gentleman must be aware, that certain forms are necessary in all matters connected with this house, and as his letter did not reach me until late on Wed. nesday, and it was requisite that a Court of Directors should be held before I was in a situation to answer it, he will see that I could not reply till yesterday, that being the first Court of Directors after the receipt of his note. (Hear, hear) With respect to the observations of the hon. gentleman, on the acerbity of Sir John Hobhouse's temper, I must say, that in all my dealings with that gentleman, I never experienced any petulancy or ill-humour (hear), but on the contrary, throughout our transactions he has ever been most cheerfully willing to assist the Court of Directors on all occasions,

and to do all in his power to keep up the good understanding subsisting between those bodies. (Hear, hear.) Indeed without that good feeling it would be impossible to carry on the government. (Hear, hear.) I will now, in conclusion, say a few words on the last point of the hon. proprietor's speech. He says that the exigency of secrecy is removed. Now I ask who is to judge whether it is or not? Who but the President of the Board? And that he does not consider it removed is evident from his refusal to give the papers to the House of Commons. He stated that he had no objection to produce them at some future time, but as he declined to publish them then, the only just inference is this, that he does not consider the exigency for secrecy removed, (hear, hear,) and therefore it is that when, in compliance with the resolution of the Court of Proprietors, the Court of Directors applied for them, the President declined producing them. Another hon. proprietor who has spoken, has imputed unworthy motives for withholding them. But I ask what possible motive can there be for retaining them? In all matters of public life I like to do that which is useful and practicable, but I do not consider that the continuance of dis. cussion on this subject can be at all useful to the cause of the rajah, or practically benefit that prince. The hon. proprietor seems to consider that the rights and privileges of the Court of Directors have been violated and invaded by the Board, but I say that the Directors would be unworthy of their position, if they tamely submitted to such conduct on the part of the Board, and we may be sure that the Directors will not abdicate their own privileges even for a moment. (Cheers.)

Sir J. W. HOGG wished to remove any misapprehension as to the papers laid before the Court in 1835, respecting Lord Heytesbury. The hon. proprietor (Mr. Sullivan) seemed to suppose that that correspondence had been in the Secret Committee, which was not the case. It was true that the then President of the Board refused to produce it to the House of Commons, and that it was afterwards granted on the motion of the Court of Proprietors; but there was a difference between the two cases. In Lord Heytesbury's case, as he had stated, the papers were not in the Secret Committee, and therefore the President could not withhold them from that Court. (Hear, hear.) With the President of the Board alone, rested by law the right of granting or withholding documents in the Secret Committee; and such being undoubtedly the law of the case, no resolution of that Court could compel the production of those papers. They had not met to consider the state of the law on that point, and to talk of abstract doctrines of right and wrong, but to consider the answer of the President to the resolution of the last Court. It seemed to be supposed that the rights and privileges of the Court of Proprietors had been invaded, but they might rest assured that when they were assailed, those of the Court of Directors would be gone. (Hear, hear.) The time for talking of those rights would be when the day came for them to ask for a renewal of their charter, and he warned them that, if these motions were persisted in, it might be urged that that Court had arrogated to itself powers to which it had no claim. (Cheers.) The right of producing papers by the Government rested not in the parliament, but in the minister of the Crown for the time being, who granted to or refused on his own responsibility; but parliament had no power to demand papers: and it was right that the minister should have this power, for otherwise the parliament might demand papers, the production of which would be most injurious to the public service, and perhaps to the public safety. (Hear, hear.) It was true that parliament could petition the Crown to remove the minister, in case of a refusal; but that was only an indirect way of getting the papers. Was it to be tolerated, that any body of men should demand the production of documents, the contents of which they could not know, and the effect of which they could not tell. (Hear, hear.) An hon. proprietor had accused him of interpolating words in a motion in the House of Commons, though he (Sir J. Hogg) had never seen the motion, nor had any communication with the President on the subject. (Hear, hear.) He hoped,-no, he believed,that all the hon. proprietor's other charges were as u terly with. out foundation as this. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the observations of the hon. mover, as to the splenetic temper of Sir J. Hobhouse, he would beg them to call to mind what had fallen from his hon. friend the chairman, in whose remarks he entirely concurred. He begged to add that at no time during the period he had the honour of occupying the chair, whether, under the government of Sir Robert Peel or Lord John Russell, when Lord Ripon and Sir J. Hobhouse were successively at the Board, had he ever experienced the slightest discourteousness on the part of either or the slightest wish to approach the verge, much less to trespass on the powers and priviliges of those Courts as established by law. (Hear, hear.) Another proprietor had made a long statement of what passed in the other room; to that

he should say nothing, but that the dispatch which the hon, proprietor had printed and which he said was sent from the Court of Directors, was signed by but two members of that Court; whereas the law required that all dispatches of the Court of Directors should be signed by thirteen. Another proprietor had advised that they should petition parliament on the subject of the control exercised by the Board; but there was no need for this, as their remedy was in their own hands, the law authorizing them to apply to three of her Majesty's judges when a difference existed between the Court of Directors and the Board. (Hear, hear.) Deprecating, as he most earnestly did, all those discussions on their own rights, powers, and privileges, as highly injurious to them as a Court, he cautioned them not to take any unusual steps till those rights were really invaded. (Cheers.)

The DEPUTY CHAIRMAN.-I shall, on the present occasion, be very brief in the observations that I think it my duty to make. The question to be decided seems to be admitted by all to be, whether it was proper that the correspondence respecting the alleged offers to the ex-rajah should have taken place through the Secret Committee; and as the question did most undoubtedly involve the continuance of a native prince on his throne, I think there can be no doubt of the legality of that correspondence passing through the Secret Committee. (Hear, hear.) I confess I am surprised that the hon. proprietor, who says he is in possession of these secret papers, should have published any portion of them after the strong observations he himself made at the last Court; but having published a part of them, he would cut the Gordian knot if he were to publish them entire. (Hear, bear.) I for one can see no objection to such a course; at the same time, I hope and trust that they will some time be laid before the proprietors in an official form. (Cheers.) The hon. mover has read a letter from Colonel Bagnell, and quoted it with approbation; but I will only observe that I do not consider that officer any authority at all, and this opinion I have before expressed. For my own part I do not see what advantage is to be derived from these frequent discussions. I consider that parliament is the proper place for any further proceedings; and if that authority says that the rajah is an injured man, I, though of an opposite opinion, shall bow to their decision. (Hear, hear.) I do not see any reason for altering the vote I gave on the last occasion, and shall therefore support the amendment. (Hear, hear.)

A PROPRIETOR stated that he had been a member of that Court for twenty-five years, and he considered the case of the rajah one of peculiar hardship.

Mr. HOLT MACKENZIE addressed the Court at very considerable length, but throughout was almost inaudible. He was understood to deprecate the power of keeping back correspondence in the Secret Committee as liable to great abuse, though it certainly was at times beneficial. Great care should be taken that the business introduced was comprehended by the Act. The President of the Board ought to decide what should be produced, but should not withhold any papers except on very strong grounds. Mr. Mackenzie concluded by reading a motion, which he had intended to submit, had not the amendment for adjournment been made, viz.

"That by the general law and usage regulating the administration of the affairs of India, it is required that all important measures of the several Governments in that country shall be regularly recorded, and that the records of such proceedings shall, with the special exception of cases requiring secrecy, be communicated to the Court of Directors; that in order to maintain that principle, it is essential that no proceeding shall originate with the Secret Committee, unless the Board of Commissioners shall be of opinion that they are ones requiring secrecy, and that no record of the proceedings of any of the Indian Governments shall be retained in the Secret Department unless the said Board, represented by its President, shall declare, that to divulge the contents thereof would be injurious to the public interest; that the papers now required by this Court have been withheld without any such declaration on the part of the Board of Commissioners, and that consequently it is the right and duty of this Court to adhere to and reiterate the resolution passed on the 25th of March last."

A long statement, occupying half an hour in the delivery, was here handed in and read, as the speech of Rungo Bapojee, the exrajah's agent. It did not present any new features, and consisted chiefly of correspondence between the writer and the Board, the latter declining to receive the statement of the Raja's agent, except through the ordinary channels. It was very impatiently listened to, amid a buzz of conversation which sometimes almost drowned the voice of the reader.

Mr. TWINING expressed his satisfaction at the able speech of the chairman. He had been in the habit of attending for many years at that Court, and he could bear witness that few things tended more to give weight to that event than a good under.

standing between the Board and Courts. (Hear, hear.) He considered any further discussion on this subject as useless, and the case itself, he thought, ought now to be considered closed. He did not think that this discussion on the powers and privilege of the Courts would at all tend to their advantage. They were as critical subjects as could be brought under their notice, and he thought they had better be waived till some more fitting opportunity. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. SERJEANT GAZELEE said he had come down to see if he could do any good to the Rajah's cause. He was not prepared to take the law as it had been laid down that day respecting the Secret Committee; but he could not doubt the honourable motives of Sir John Hobhouse in withholding those papers. (Hear, hear.) It was ridiculous to suppose that the President would grant to a majority of two in that Court what he had distinctly refused to give up in the House of Commons;-(hear)-such a majority would never induce him (the learned proprietor) to give up any documents he felt disinclined to grant. (Cheers.) When Sir John Hobhouse refused his sanction, he must have had proper motives; and he thought the present course impolitic, and likely to injure the cause of the rajah. His hon. friend had much better withdraw his motion, for though they might get a majority of one, even if they got that, yet it would be of no use. (Hear, hear.) He saw the prospects of the rajah brightening, and he advised the friends of that prince not to injure his cause by such ill-advised conduct. He should support the amendment. (Hear, hear.)

Major OLIPHANT was not of opinion that any discussion in that Court on their own powers and privileges was at all likely to lessen their authority. He certainly was not satisfied with the reply of the President of the Board. If that Court had a right to request the papers, they had a right to expect a suitable answer; but was it an answer to their resolution merely to say it had been received? (Hear, hear.) The law stated that no resolution of that Court could affect any act after the sanction of the Board had been obtained, from which it was clear that it could alter such acts before they received the confirmation of that authority; and he called on the proprietors to say whether they would use their privilege or not. He did not believe the Board had the power to refuse the papers called for. (Cheers.)

Mr. Serjeant STORKS, in a humorous speech, contended that there were no abstract theories in the discussion that day, as had been affirmed by an hon. Director. He hoped that the public service would never require such secrecy as there was in this case. He trusted that the proprietors would show themselves gentlemen and British subjects that day, and not vote for the adjournment sine die; he should not, and having voted for the original motion, he should depart satisfied.

Mr. LEWIS was heard in reply. He stated that the exigency for secrecy was over; and moreover, as Sir John Hobhouse had stated his willingness to produce them, he urged the proprietors to persist in their determination. He should like to know by whom the words excluding these papers from the parliamentary return were interpolated, and whether they were not inserted by the hon. chairman then occupying the chair. (Hear.)

Sir J. W. HOGG.-I am surprised that the hon. gentleman should refer to this subject again, after my previous remarks. I thought I had made it distinctly understood that I had nothing whatever to do with that matter. (Hear, hear.) The hon. proprietor is quite mistaken, if he supposes that I, or any one else in this house, can alter any motion for papers before the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.) The mode of obtaining papers in that house is so well known, that the hon. proprietor cannot be igno rant of it. There are two ways of moving for papers, either by at once taking the motion to Speaker, or by first shewing it to the Government. In the latter case, it is handed to the proper department, and the answer is, either an unconditional assent, or else it is conditional on certain alterations in the form of application being made, and the member is at liberty to make the motion in the terms pointed out, when he obtains what he wants, or to take the sense of the house on his original motion. I distinctly declare upon my honour as a gentleman, that I never made the alteration in this order alluded to, nor had any communication with the President of the Board, nor with any other person on the subject (cheers), and that I did not know of the alteration until pointed out by an hon. proprietor in this Court. (Loud cheers).

Mr. LEWIS made a few further observations, combating the opinion, that the case ought to be considered closed, and on the question being put, there were For the amendment Against

Majority for the adjournment The court instantly broke up.

36

24.

[ocr errors]

12

MISCELLANEOUS.

A MAD CHALLENGE.-[We copy the following from the Bombay Times, but place it in our Home department, because we do not clearly understand whether the author is in India or in Great Britain. Wherever he may be, we would suggest the propriety of his friends looking after him.-Ed. Allen's Indian Mail] :Michael Shaw, a Lieutenant-colonel in the Hon. E. I. Company's Service, under the Presidency of Bombay, Challenges, as one Soldier of the Cross may Challenge another, all, or any, of the Ministers of Religion in Scotland, to a disputation, wherein he (Michael), shall, with God's help, maintain the following propositions against all comers :

First. That Drunkenness is the sin of Great Britain, in as marked a manner as idolatry was the national sin of the Jews before the Babylonian captivity.

Secondly.-That Drunkenness is the curse of "moral Scotland"-so called, because she observes external decency in the keeping of the Lord's Day.

Thirdly. That temperance, as a principle in opposition to total abstinence, cannot be the same with us as it was in New Testament era, until (as was the case in that era) a large body of Nazarites, or total abstainers from all that intoxicates, come into existence for the control of that principle-viz. temperance.

Fourthly. That while God permits men, or gives them the option to act upon the principle of temperance, as a principle, they may, nevertheless, shew more love to him, and ensure safety to themselves from the temptation into which it was possible for even Noah to fall, by becoming total abstainers from all that intoxicates.

Fifthly. That a decent drunkenness is living in the complacent regards of many who hear, but who feel not, the Gospel, because of this very sin.

Sixthly.-That Sabbath-breaking and all other sins on the part of those who never hear the Gospel, are kept in existence by means of drunkenness.

Seventhly. That drunkenness itself is kept in existence by the example which is taken from those holy men of God, who use a thing which is the strongest weapon Satan ever used for the ruin of souls.

Eighthly. That the ministers of religion, together with all who area royal priesthood," are bound (under the law of love) to adhere to the command which God gave to the sons of Aaron in the following words :-"Do not drink wine, nor strong drink, thou nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between clean and unclean. And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken to them by the hand of Moses."

Ninthly.-That the law of Love should constrain the followers of the Great and True Nazarite (who, "sanctified" himself for our sakes), and lead them to abstain from using a thing which causes their brethren to offend.

Tenthly. That it is the duty of Ministers of religion to come forward as total abstainers from "wine and strong drink," and to call upon their people to enter into covenant before God for the suppression and disuse of all drinks which intoxicate, in order that the natural image of God, being renewed and invigorated in the heart of man, the moral one may have a door of entrance, by the preaching of that despised thing called "Jesus Christ and him crucified."

:

These propositions Lieut.-Col. Shaw is ready to maintain and if the Mihisters of the Gospel cannot gainsay them, they act a strange part in declining to act on the principle of total abstinence from all that intoxicates.

PRINTING IN CHINA-BOOKS FOR THE MILLION.-According to the best authorities the art of printing was known in China upwards of 900 years ago. In the time of Confucius B.C. 500, books were formed of slips of bamboo; and about 150 years after Christ, paper was first made: A.D. 745, books were bound into leaves: A.D. 900, printing was in general use. The process of printing is simple. The materials consist of a graver, blocks of wood, and a brush, which the printers carry with them from place to place. Without wheel, or wedge, or screw, a printer will throw off more than 2,500 impressions in one day. The paper (thin) can be bought for one-fourth the price in China that it can in any other country. The works of Confucius, six volumes, four hundred leaves, octavo, can be bought for ninepence. For an historical novel, twenty volumes, one thousand five hundred leaves, half-a-crown is the price amongst the Chinese. -Montgomery Martin's China.

CHINESE ENGRAVING.-In wood and ivory engraving, the Chinese are not behind Europeans; and what would cost two or three pounds sterling in London, could be done in China for

three or four shillings. The beauty and finish of their tortoiseshell, ebony, and mother of pearl, is too well known to require description. The rapidity with which the Chinese cut their characters for printing is truly surprising; when a book is to be printed, the characters are written on a sheet of paper, and transferred to a block of wood which is quite smooth, to which it adheres; when the paper is removed, the writing is found to adhere to the glutinous paste with which the block has been covered. The engraver then cuts all the strokes which run level; then the oblique, and afterwards the perpendicular ones throughout the whole line; he then cuts the centre parts, and thus completes a block with probably one hundred characters on it, for which he is paid sixpence; this is an ordinary day's work. -Ibid.

ACCUMULATION OF SILVER IN CHINA.--Judging from the constant influx of large quantities of silver, supplied by the foreign trade for more than a century, without any being exported or wrought into plate to any great extent, the stock of silver hoarded up in China must be very considerable, notwithstanding the present heavy drain upon this accumulated treasure, by the large exportation of bullion for opium; this is also counterbalanced in some degree by the annual production of the mines: by the importation of bullion and coin from Europe and South America, and by the savings of thousands of Chinese, scattered over the Indian Archilpelago, who remit money home for the support of their parents and relations. It is computed that 400,000,000 dollars passed from Acapulco to Manilla during the two hundred and fifty years of their intercourse; of this sum it is estimated that one-fourth passed from Manilla to China. Since 1784, about 100,000,000 dollars have passed from the United States to China. Siam and Cochin China send large quantities of gold and silver in ingots to China. Japan, it is estimated, has poured into China during sixty years of free intereourse, at least 100,000,000 dollars. From all other sources during the past century, China has received about 50,000,000 dollars. The estimated metallic circulation is 500,000,000 dollars. Silver mines exist in several parts of the empire, some of which may have been already exhausted and the working of others prohibited; but the most extensive mines and those from which a part of the sycee silver is obtained, are at Fok-shau on the frontiers of Burmab, and at Sung-sing in Cochin China, on the frontiers of Kwang-se: they are worked by a company of Chinese merchants, who are said to keep constantly twenty thousand men employed in the works, which they farm from the crown. The quantity derived from these mines annually, does not, however, appear to exceed 2,000,000 of teals, or about 600,000l. sterling. - Ibid.

THE THEATRE IN JAPAN.-The Japanese drama is after a model so different from that of Europe, that the Dutch visitors could comprehend little beyond the boxes, pit, and stage, which reminded them of home. The female parts are sustained by boys, and three pieces are frequently played in the course of the same performance, not successively, but in alternate acts,a plan for insuring variety which is worth the consideration of our minor theatres. A Japanese play-goer may thus amuse himself with a walk or any thing else between whiles, and return when the interrupted thread of the drama he wishes to see is resumed. As for the ladies, they are well satisfied to remain in the boxes during the whole of the afternoon and evening, as they are themselves an important part of the spectacle. Ritchie's British World in the East.

FLAX, THE REMEDY FOR IRELAND'S DISTRESS.-Under the above title, Mr. Thomas, of Finch-lane, has published at an extraordinary low price, for distribution, a letter which appeared in The Times, of the 23rd of April last, and which, in this season of calamity, is deserving the notice of every one interested in promoting the prosperity of Ireland, and the comfort of its population.

Mr. HUME has given notice of several motions connected with India to be brought on, on Thursday next. One of them is for the production of the papers which were recently refused in the House on a similar motion by the same hon. gentleman.

ENGAGEMENT OF SHIPS.-The ship Dartmouth has been engaged for the conveyance of recruits, and the Southampton for the freight of stores to Calcutta.

SHIPPING. ARRIVALS.

MAY 24. Brilliant, Cowan, Mauritius.-25. Prince Albert, Rossiter, Mauritius.-26. Owen Glendower, Robertson, Bombay.-27. Queen, McLeod, Bengal, -28. Hereford, Reaburn, New South Wales; Isabella and Ann, Lumsden, Ceylon.-29. Apame, Wilson, Algoa Bay; Superb, Ritson, Mauritius.-31. Prince of Wales, Hopkins, Bengal; Johnstone, Harrison, New South Wales; Glenlyon, Hodgson, Singapore; Sir Henry Pottinger, McWean, Bengal; Indianeren, Holm, Bally; Frederick Leo, Šiedenberg, Akyab; Rob

Roy, Dryburgh, Mauritius; Rambler, Hutchinson, Lombock ; Christabel, Vale, Bombay; Bonanza, Mossop, Shanghae. JUNE 1. Euphrates, Wilson, Bombay; Socrates, Randall, Bengal; Eliza, Warwick, Ceylon.

DEPARTURES.

From the Downs.-MAY 23. Montrose, Ferguson, Lombock.25. Record, Pattulo, Bordeaux and Mauritius.-26. Agricola, Bell, Calcutta.-27. Gemini, Benn, Calcutta; Susan Crisp, Holdsworth, Cape; Saghalien, Jones, New Zealand; Berkshire, Whyte, Sydney. -28. Rachel, Brown, Adelaide.-29. Ann and Jane, Deas, HongKong; Samuel Boddington, Chapman, Calcutta ; Richmond, Furber, Algoa Bay.

From LIVERPOOL.-MAY 21. Emily, Herriman, Shanghae.— 22. Frances Barclay, Matthews, and Emma, Bibby, Hong Kong; Navigator, Putnam, Singapore; Aspasia, Davidson, Calcutta.23. Hope, Miller, Calcutta.-24. Albert Edward, Downard, Shanghae; Aurora, Corkan, Madras.-26. Anger, Bell; Robert Henderson, Todhunter, Bombay.-27. Palatine, Stubbs, Calcutta ; North Pole, Walker, Port Philip; Elizabeth Thompson, Betts, Hobart Town and Adelaide.-28. American, Williams, Calcutta ; Anne Mary, Valentine, Calcutta.-29. Guisachan, Ord, Calcutta.-31. Emperor of China, Brown, Calcutta.

From HARTLEPOOL.-MAY 26. Toronto, Simpson, Aden.
From TROON.-MAY 21. Senator, Nagle, Manilla.

From GREENOCK.-MAY 23.- Victory, Potter, Calcutta.27. Fleetwood, Richardson, Mauritius.

From PLYMOUTH.-MAY 22. Rajah, Ferguson, Port Adelaide.30. Aboukir, Scott, Port Adelaide.

From HULL.-MAY 21. Flora M'Donald, Proud, Hong Kong. From SHIELDS.-MAY 20. Caractacus, Barber, India. From the CLYDE.-MAY 28. Minerva, Brown, Penang.-29. Catherine, Jamieson, Hutchinson, Sydney.

DOMESTIC. BIRTHS.

The lady of Capt. Norman C. MacLeod, Ben. eng. daughter, at 2, South-crescent, Bedford-square.

May 24. The lady of Maj. gen. Tickell, c.B. daughter, at Cheltenham.

MARRIAGE.

May 11. Capt. F. C. Wells, 15th Bom. N.I. to Barbara Emilia Susanna, daughter of R. Thurburn, Esq. at Alexandria.

DEATH.

Feb. 17. Sophia Maria, wife of Capt. J. W. C. Starkey, 1st Madras N.I. at Suez.

EAST-INDIA HOUSE.
May 25th, 1847.

ARRIVALS REPORTED IN ENGLAND.

MILITARY.

Bengal Estab.-Lieut. Albert G. Austen, artillery.
Lieut. Thomas R. Snow, 9th It. cav.
Capt. Robert W. Fraser, 45th N.I.
Lieut. col. James O. Clarkson, 49th N. I.
Lieut. Charles W. D'Oyley, 58th N.I.
Lieut. Charles Warde, 68th N.I.

Bombay Estab.-Maj. gen. David Barr, 24th N.I.

GRANTED AN EXTENSION OF LEAVE.

CIVIL.

Bengal Estab.-Mr. William Vansittart, 6 months.

APPOINTMENTS.

MARINE.

Bengal Estab.-Mr. Charles Louis Clarke, appointed a volunteer for the pilot service.

Mr. Joseph Stanton Robertson, ditto.

EMBARKATION OF TROOPS FOR INDIA. Per Samuel Boddington, from Gravesend, May 27th, 130 troops.-Officers: Capt. Toulmin, 63rd B. N. I.; Ens. Norgate, 69th B. N. I., and Dr. Irving, Bengal estab.

Per Robert Small, from Gravesend, May 29th, 130 troops.Officers: Capt. Bridge, 84th foot; Lieut. Hinxman, 15th hussars, and Assist. surg. Linton.

LITERARY NOTICES. Wanderings of a Pilgrim in the Shadow of Mont Blanc and the Jungfrau Alp. By GEORGE B. CHELVER, D.D. Author of "Lectures on the Pilgrim's Progress, and on the Life and Times of John Bunyan." Glasgow and London: J. Collins. THIS is a very clever, a very amusing, and frequently a very instructive book. The author, an American minister, is a little mad

on the subject of voluntaryism; but he is, in the main, so right. minded and sound-hearted, so well read and well judging, that we cannot but forgive his occasional outbreaks on this subject, which probably are attributable to the circumstances of the country to which he belongs. He is, at all events, no ignorant or narrowminded zealot. He is familiar with our literature, ancient and modern, quoting and obviously appreciating the simple-minded and truthful GEORGE HERBERT, our glorious divine, ROBERT SOUTH, and among more recent poets and thinkers, WORDSWORTH and COLERIDGE. The book is one of the same series with "Wylie's Scenes from the Bible," which we also notice. Its cost is only eighteenpence, and as it contains at least ten shillings' worth of good reading, we expect our readers as a piece of economy to buy it, feeling assured that they will thank us for the recommendation.

We have taken exception to one part of the author's religious views; but there is much in them in which we can entirely concur. The following passage, called forth by the state of education in a particular village, has the charms both of eloquence and truth; and is applicable universally to Christian States.

"These primitive people are old-fashioned and Biblical enough to think that religious instruction ought to be as much an element of education, and as constant and unintermitted, as secular. They are right, they are laying foundations for stability, prosperity, and happiness in their little community. The world is wrong-side up in this matter of education when it administers its own medicines only, its own beggarly elements, its own food, and nothing higher, its own smatterings of knowledge, without the celestial life of knowledge. Power it gives, without guidance, without principles. It is just as if the art of ship-building should be conducted without helms, and all ships should be set afloat to be guided by the winds only. For such are the immortal ships on the sea of human life without the Bible; its knowledge, its principles, ought from the first to be as much a part of the educated intelligent constitution, as the keel or rudder is part and parcel of a well-built ship. Religious instruction, therefore, and the breath of the sacred Scriptures, ought to be breathed into the child's daily life of knowledge, not put off to the Sabbath, when grown children only are addressed from the pulpit, or left to parents at home, who perhaps themselves, in too many cases, never open the Bible. If in their daily schools children were educated for Eternity as well as Time, there would be more good citizens, a deeper piety in life, a more sacred order and heaven-like beauty in the Republic, a better understanding of law, a more patient obedience to it, nay, a production of it, and a conformable organization to it, and an assimilation with its spirit beforehand. It is by celestial observations alone, said Coleridge (and it was a great and profound remark), that terrestrial charts can be constructed. If our education would be one that states can live by and flourish, it must be ordered in the Scriptures."

The Works of William Cowper, his Life and Letters. By WILLIAM HAYLEY, Esq. Now first completed by the introduction of Cowper's Private Correspondence. Edited by the Rev. T. S. GRIMSHAWE, A.M. &c. &c. Vol. II. London, 1847: Tegg and Co.

THE second volume of this edition of Cowper's Works contains his correspondence between the years 1781 and 1784, including some of the most delightful specimens of the epistolary art. The power possessed by Cowper of depicting in living language the scenes he describes, and bringing before the eye of the reader even the minutest objects, has, perhaps, never been excelled by any author, dead or living. As examples of this, we need only refer to the consultation at the blacksmith's shop, related in the present volume, p. 105, and the visit of the canvassing candidate, p. 247. The illustrations are, the Poet's house at Weston-a delightful view of a snug country village, whose very aspect induces calm reflection,—and a charming picture of Olney, in Buckinghamshire. The view across the water, with the distant church and bridge, and the sloping hill to the left, does great credit to Mr. Harding. We need scarcely say that the engraving is unexceptionable.

Scenes from the Bible. By the Rev. J. A. WYLIE, A.M., Author of The Modern Judæa, Ammon, Moab, and Edom, compared with Ancient Prophecy," &c. Glasgow and London: W. Collins.

THIS volume, one of a series published at an almost incredibly low price, is a commendable attempt to direct attention to some of the more striking passages of Scripture history. It is divided into thirty-two portions, each devoted to a particular subject. It it written with much power and beauty. The author occasionally shews a leaning to his own denomination (some form of Presbyterianism); but, for the most part, the work may be read with pleasure and edification by members of any Christian community.

« ElőzőTovább »