extraordinary circumstances, further rites of purification be required, these may be accomplished at the expense of a few cahoons of couries. Superstitious dread of temporal calamity, either to person or property, or to some dear relation, has, amongst the vulgar and illiterate of India, as well as amongst the poor and ignorant of many parts of Europe, an influence on the conduct more powerful than the terrors of a future state. What the general diffusion of knowledge has effected amongst ourselves, in the removal of such apprehensions of the immediate manifestation of the divine pleasure, experience, more powerful than precept, has in a great measure succeeded in bringing about in the minds of the natives of this country. The frequency of oaths on every trifling occasion, the absolute want of solemnity in the mode of administering them, the perpetual instances of their violation with impunity, as by the native officers in every court of justice, and the worldly prosperity even of those who make perjury a trade, have gone far to dispel an illusion beneficial in its effects, without the substitution of more enlightened moral principles to serve the same purpose. "The reluctance of the respectable native to come forward as a witness arises from feelings of a mixed nature. "It is discreditable to be instrumental in depriving another man even justly of property, liberty, or life; painful to have his own character exposed to further dishonourable suspicion, by the counter evidence of others; and to appear as a witness at all is like infringing on a profession reputed infamous, however frequently resorted to for aid. He dreads disgrace rather from taking an oath at all, than from its violation when taken; and the odium of having rashly appealed to, and thus virtually abused, the sacred object by which the oath is administered, forms by far the principal consideration in the objection of an unpractised or respectable Hindoo to swear in the present form. "Powerless and inert to check evil as we have described the religious, the superstitious, and the moral or social principle of the Hindoos of the present day, we shall in vain look to find in the practical terrors of the law, as hitherto administered, an effectual substitute. "Though the frequency of the crime under consideration has been unanimously testified by every judge who has sat on an Indian bench, although scarcely a judicial proceeding passes that does not exhibit an instance of its commission; yet, on the criminal records of this court for the last thirty-three years, the clerk of the crown has been able to dicover only thirty-six instances of conviction and punishment, a rarity that, compared with the vast mass of impunity continually before their eyes, can have had at best but a slight and occasional effect in deterring the offenders by dread of punishment." After confirming the statement of Sir Wm. Jones, that the Toolsee leaf and the water of the Ganges (ceremonies which, he says, many Brahmans, as well as other Hindoos of rank, would rather perish than submit to) are not the most binding forms, within the meaning of the legislature, the grand jury observe:— "Besides the consecrated fire suggested by him, and which it would at the present day be difficult, perhaps impossible, to procure in Bengal; the Salgram, or sacred stone, is by some more revered than even the Ganges and Toolsee; but many who would treat lightly all those forms of swearing, would shrink from a false oath taken on the head of their child. It is impossible then to prescribe any form that will be the most binding in every case; we know that oaths, in whatever form administered, seldom bind at all, and that we must rather rely on the respectability of the individual witness than on the solemnity of the oath administered. It has been all along notorious, that in forcing a Hindoo of any of the superior classes to swear, we inflict on him a disgrace in his own opinion and in the eyes of his fellow citizens which the legislature never contemplated, and that this dread has afforded to evil designing persons a powerful encouragement to fraud and extortion. We, therefore, most cordially concur in uniting our voice with your Lordship's in representing not merely the uselessness, but the oppressive cruelty that has been the unforeseen result of the enactment of the charter on this head; and to pray that the same privilege, which has been long enjoyed by the Mofussil or country courts, and now by courts-martial, may be extended to H. M's courts of justice at the other presidencies; that they may be vested with a discretionary power to substitute a solemn declaration, adjuration, or warning to Hindoos required to give their testimony, instead of any form of oath whatever. Several of the present grand jury can testify, from their own experience, the beneficial effects of this practice in the country courts, not only as diminishing the temptation to subornation, but as bringing within reach of the judge evidence on which he can place reliance, but from which he would otherwise be effectually excluded.” They conclude with the following remark :— "So long as the inferior assistants of your Lordships' officers continue to be natives, the duties entrusted to them will be liable to be perverted by corruption, which the vigilance of their superiors can scarcely check; but unless your Lordships continue to watch, with your wonted care and attention, the mode in which the business business of the court is conducted in the inferior offices, indolence or misplaced confidence, on the part of their superintendants, will be apt to make them relax the reins, and corruption must gradually pervert your own institutions till the forms of British law are made auxiliary to the fostering of every crime." EDUCATION. LADIES' SOCIETY FOR NATIVE FEMALE The subject of native female education in this country is becoming increasingly popular among all ranks of society, and is evidently gaining rapid accessions of strength, both from the wisdom and zeal with which its plans are executed, and from the amazing increase of its funds, which are annually augmented by the generous contributions of Europeans and native gentlemen. On Friday morning, Dec. 23, the fourth public examination of the girls was held in the Old Church Room, in the presence of the Right Hon. Lady Amherst, patroness of the Society, the Hon. Miss Amherst, the Lord Bishop of Calcutta, Mrs. Heber, Mrs. Harington, the Venerable the Archdeacons of Calcutta and Bombay, several of the clergy, ladies and gentlemen of the highest respectability, together with the Rajahs Bidenauth Roy and Shibkishen, and a large body of native gentlemen. The children were examined in suitable school-books, which give an account of the fall of man and his redemption, of the Commandments, of the Lord's Prayer, &c. &c. Several of them repeated Bengalee hymns, others read part of the New Testament, and gave the meaning of the passages; afterwards they read and repeated a portion of geography, with which they appeared familiar. The Lord Bishop, with his accustomed condescension and kindness, questioned them in Hindostanee respecting the different parts of the world, several of which places they could point out to his lordship on the Bengalee map. Afterwards, specimens of their sewing were exhibited; a sampler of needle-work was presented to the Lady Patroness, as a mark of gratitude for the zeal she has manifested in the cause. A pair of bands were presented to the Lord Bishop, and another pair to Archdeacon Corrie, as specimens of the children's progress. During the examination, Rajah Bidenauth came forward in the noble spirit of liberality and gave a donation of twenty thousand sicca rupees, to forward the cause of native female education in the erection of a central school. The ladies having been apprized of his intention, had prepared an elegant sampler, in which were marked, "May every blessing attend the generous Rajah Bidenauth!" The sampler was preAsiatic Journ. Vol. XXI. No. 126. The sented to the rajah by the Lord Bishop. After the examination the friends proceeded to inspect a large and elegant assortment of fancy articles, which had been presented by ladies in Calcutta and the Upper Provinces, for sale, to assist the funds of this great and good cause. conduct of the ladies who have so zealously aided the work, is indeed highly praiseworthy; for no less than eight hundred rupees have been realized on this occasion for articles which have been prepared by ladies in and near Calcutta during the past year. It may, no doubt, be expected that the noble example which the native gentlemen in Calcutta have before them, in the splendid donation of Rajah Bidenauth, will soon produce its proper effect in lead. ing others to appropriate a portion of their immense wealth, either to the same object, or to the support of other useful institutions which have in view the good of their fellow-men. After the examination a collection was made, amounting to 500 rupees, which, added to the sum realized by articles sold, and the noble donation of Rajah Bidenauth, amounted to 21,300 sicca rupees.→→→ [Cal. John Bull, Dec. 27. CALCUTTA CHURCH MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. The second annual meeting of this Association was held in the Old Church Room, on Friday evening, the 9th inst The Lord Bishop in the chair. On a motion of J. Pattle, Esq., seconded by W. Money, Esq., it was resolved, That this meeting congratulates the friends of the Association in the continued prosperity of their schools, which so greatly tend not only to improve the powers of the mind, but also by familiarizing native youths with scripture facts and scripture language, prepare them for an intelligent decision on the great subjects of religion in more mature years. On a motion of the Rev. M. Goode, seconded by the Rev. M. Doran, it was resolved, That this meeting also congratulates the friends of the Association on the progress made in preaching to the natives, and would earnestly recommend the support of the proposed chapel for regular Christian worship, as well as for more extended labours in the native town. After the meeting, the sum of 2,100 rupees was collected, of which the Lord Bishop gave a donation of 1,000, for the intended episcopal chapel at Mirzapore.— [Ben. Hurk., Dec. 15. Adam, and the members of the Kirk sessions of St. Andrew's Church, in the presence of a numerous and highly respectable assembly. The manner in which the different classes went through their exercises, reflected the greatest credit on the teachers in every department; and we were particularly pleased with the progress in English and Latin literature, displayed by several Hindu youths. The number of native scholars attending the Durrumtollah Academy is every day increasing, and indicates, beyond a doubt, that the advantages of an education after the European mode are becoming more and more justly appreciated, while the prejudices that formerly stood in the way of their receiving this education at our seminaries are rapidly subsiding.-Cal. John Bull, Dec. 19. BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. On Friday, the 22d Dec., the children in the school belonging to this Institution, in the Loll Bazar, were examined by the secretary, Dr. Marshman, in the presence of a pretty numerous attendance, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Lushington. The boys were examined as usual, in reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, and geography, in all of which they acquitted themselves highly to the satisfaction of those present. In the intervals several pieces were recited from memory, among which, one by three Bengalee youths, and another by a Chinese boy, born in Calcutta, evinced a correctness of pronunciation seldom attained by foreign youth. The elder boys then read from the New Testament, in Bengalee, with great clearness and propriety. The progress of the girls in reading and writing afforded great pleasure; but their progresss in needle-work was such as to fill the mind with delight, when connected with the fact, that this acquisition is such as almost to secure these poor girls a comfortable support from their own labour hereafter. The whole was closed with a hymn, sung by the children, and an appropriate prayer by the Rev. Mr. Winslow, missionary from Ceylon, The children present included seventy boys and seventyfive girls.-[Ben. Hurk. MARINE SCHOOL. The Calcutta Apprenticing Society has published a scheme for establishing a marine school, on the model of the Marine Society of London, for the reception of India-born youth, in order that they may be educated as seamen. They have purchased the Ernest of 400 tons, and propose -to fit it up as the school ship, provided the - mercantile body of insurance offices (so commonly interested in such a project, from the increasing degeneracy of the native seamen and the villanies of the Ghaut Serangs) favour the undertaking. The following is the outline of their plan and establishment: The ship will be moored off the Esplanade, a little above the fort. She will be fitted up to accommodate about 150 boys, and completely rigged on a light scale, in order that the boys may be practised in exercises aloft. The funds of the Society are sufficient to fit out the ship with every requisite for her establishment: the monthly support of government and the insurance offices, to meet the monthly disbursements (estimated at 1,200 rupees), is all that is required for the present. The routine of duty will be settled by the most competent judges. The cool part of the morning and the last hour of the evening will be devoted to bodily exercise aloft, on deck, and in boat, the other parts exposure and exertion—to religious duties, of the day to employments requiring less found desirable, a class for navigation. to reading, writing, arithmetic, and, if The boys will be instructed in all the various duties of seamen, viz. handing, reefing, bending, and unbending sails, rigging, knotting, splicing, sail-making, &c., with rowing and management of boats under sail, &c. The entire duties of the ship will be performed by the European seamen, assisted by the boys, who are not to be above sweeping and swabbing the decks, or any other work required from British seamen on board merchant vessels. exceed two years, the boys will be transAfter a preliminary education, not to ferred to the pilot vessels for such farther probationary period as may be deemed sufficient to qualify them as ordinary or able seamen. MISCELLANEOUS. THE DURBAR. held a durbar at the government house, The right hon. the Governor-general on Saturday the 24th Dec. A detachment of H.M.'s 31st regt., with the the occasion. Governor-general's band, attended on His lordship entered the state apartments at 10 o'clock, accompanied by his staff, when the several vakeels of foreign states, and native gentlemen in attendance, were presented successively by the Persian Secretary, Mr. Stirling. Khelaats were conferred as follows: on Mohummed Saeed Khan, son of Golaum Mohummud Khan deceased, on the occasion of his first introduction; Baboo Budenath Raee, son of the late Maha Raja Sookmy, on the occasion of his receiving the titles of Raja and Behadoor from the British government; Koonwur Rajnarain Raee, Raee, son of the late Maha Raja Ramchunder Raee, a khelaat of condolence on the death of his father; Sheikh Abdoollah, agent of the Pasha of Egypt, on the occasion of his presenting a letter and presents to the Governor-general from his highness Mohummud Ali Pacha; Omacanth Opadhia, vakeel of the Rajah of Nepaul, a khelaat of congratulation on the occasion of the Maha Raja's marriage; Rooplaul Mullick, son of the Gohur Mullick, eldest brother of Neemoo Mullick, deceased, on the occasion of his presentation; Kashoo Lochun, vakeel of the Nuwab of Dacca, on his appointment; Baboo Gooroopershad Bhose, on his presentation; Hooseyn, captain commander of the ship belonging to the Pasha of Egypt, on his presentation; Moorleydhur Tewarray, deputy of the vakeel of the rajah of Nepaul, occasion the same as above; Moulvee Futteh Ali, fourth preceptor of the mudrissa, on the same occasion; Moonshee Seraujood Deen Amed, vakeel of Maha Raja Mitterjeet Sing, on his appointment. At this durbar, a gold medal was presented to Rajah Budenath Raee, by the right hon. the Governor-general, in testimony of the sense which government entertains of the public spirit, liberality, and philanthropy, displayed by him in his munificent subscriptions for the support of various benevolent and charitable institutions at the Presidency. We understand that the Rajah has lately appropriated one lac of rupees to the above purposes, of which Sa. Rs. 50,000 have been placed at the disposal of the general committee of public instruction; and 30,000 at that of the governors of the native hospital.-[Cal. Gov. Gaz. NAUTCHES. A correspondent in the Bengal Hurkaru states as follows:-Those who have been residing in Calcutta for the last twenty years, and have witnessed all the grand nautches that have been given by the rich native gentlemen, in and near the city, will I think readily allow, that a very considerable improvement has taken place, in the usefulness and elegance of the houses and furniture. Every year has produced some house, more elegantly fitted up than the last; but of all the houses that have yet been seen, I think that of Baboo Pronkissen Holdor, at Chinsurah, now open, will be allowed to be the most splendid. This house, which is situated on the bank of the river, is built entirely in the European fashion, and the proprietor has spared no expense in fitting it up in the most superb manner. I received an invitation to his nautch, which began yesterday (Oct. 6), and will continue to the 20th; and being on the river, I went the first night and was much gratified. On entering the large saloon, about seventy-five feet long by forty wide, I was struck by the magnificence of the furniture, and the beauty of the Brussels carpet on the floor, the most superb lustres, girandoles, &c. which cast a brilliancy on the whole, that formed a coup-d'œil scarcely to be equalled. Other rooms were prepared with tables, spread with the choicest viands of the season, and a profusion of wines of the first quality for the refreshment of the guests. Neither expense nor trouble was spared, to insure the amusement and comfort of the visitors, and many of the best sets of singing and dancing girls have been secured that could be got at Calcutta, Moorshedabad, or Benares, with different accomplishments, from the soft melodious notes and tender steps of Neikee, to the more loud sonorous tone and Curwa dance of Bunnoo. There are also some very good native jesters, and some excellent jugglers, who perform most astonishing tricks and deceptions. The company was small (owing to its being the first night), and the evening passed off in the most agreeable manner possible. I would advise all gentlemen, who wish to see a Bengal nautch in perfection, to visit Baboo Pronkissen Holdor, and can safely promise them great satisfaction in the amusements of the evening, and the affable and polite attention of the worthy host. THE STRAND. We are happy to observe that fine promenade, the Strand, becoming more and more fashionable. The road now extends considerably beyond the new mint, forming a most pleasant evening's drive, rendered more agreeable than the course can possibly be, by the cool air of the river and the more picturesque character of the landscape, with the expanse of the river, the shipping, boats, and groups of sailors, &c. &c.-[Ind. Gaz., Oct. 11. THE SECOND GRENADIERS. Letters from Teek Naaf of the 13th Dec., give a distressing account of disasters that have befallen the 2d grenadiers. This division left Chittagong on the 15th ult., with a levy of recruits for the 26th, 42d, 49th, and 62d N.I., consisting of nearly eight hundred men. On reaching Coxe's Bazaar, the order for the recruits not to proceed arrived, their corps in Arracan having been relieved. The officer in command received an order to proceed by the new road, as it is called, or the road explored some time ago by the late Capt. Fergusson. This was pronounced by a committee of survey to be impracticable; and the flat-bottomed boats arrived for the conveyance of the troops by water. These boats arrived on the 5th 5 H 2 inst.. "Capt. Wade, the political assistant at Loodianab, has received a letter from Mr. G. Trebeck, dated Balkh, 6th Sept., which states that Mr. Moorcroft, on leaving Bokhara, had separated from the rest of his party, for the purpose of proceeding to the district of Meimuna in search of horses, and that on his arrival at Andkho he was attacked by a fever, which terminated his existence, at the latter place, on or about the 25th August. Mr. Trebeck himself had been labouring under severe sickness, but recent accounts from Caubul mention that he had entirely recovered his health, and intended to join a cafila on his return to Hindostan," BHURTPORE. The following official details are from the Calcutta Government Gazette. To the Right Hon. Lord Amherst, GovernorGeneral, &c. &c. &c. My Lord: I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that the engineers having reported to me that they were prepared for commencing operations against the town of Bhurtpore, this morning advanced a force into the jungle, and took possession of the small places called Kuddum Kundee and Buldeo Singh's Garden, which afford cover for the troops, and on being joined by a covered way, will form the first parallel, at a distance from the fort of about 800 yards. I expect that this parallel, with a mortar battery of twenty pieces at the garden, and a gun-battery of six 18-pounders at Kuddum Kundee, will be prepared by to-morrow morning, when we shall return their fire. I have inclosed, for your Lordship's information, a sketch of the country round Bhurtpore, shewing the encampment of the troops, and I hope tomorrow to be enabled to forward a plan of the intended works; in the mean time, I beg to observe, that our operations will, in the first instance, be directed against the north-east angle of the town. The return of casualties in the army this day has not yet been received; but no loss was experienced in taking possession of the gound this morning, and though the enemy have kept up a constant fire during the day, it has been by no means injurious. A return of casualties, since the 14th inst. is herewith transmitted: our loss, at present, has been confined to a few casual shot from the fort at our reconnoitring parties, and some trifling skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry outside of the fort, who have endeavoured to harass our foraging parties. Being desirous of saving the women and children in the fort from the horrors of a siege, I addressed á letter, on the 21st inst., to Doorjun Sall, calling upon him to send them out of the fort, promising them a safe conduct through our camp, and allowing him twenty-four hours' for the purpose. Having received an evasive reply, I have again sent to him, allowing him a further extension of the time for twelve hours: to this letter I have not yet received an answer, though he must have received it yesterday afternoon. I have, &c. COMBERMERE. Head-Quarters, Camp, before Bhurtpore, 23d Dec. 1825. 이 man amputated. Supposed to be killed while skirmishing. 1..Severely. .... 0 Total. 6 To the Rt. Hon. Lord Amherst, Gov. Gen., &c. My Lord: I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that since my despatch of the 23d inst. the works against the town of Bhurtpore have proceeded as regularly as I could have expected, and with very little opposition from the enemy, except on the night of the 24th, when the working parties were a good deal annoyed by the enemy's matchlock men. On the morning of the 24th, a battery of eight 18-pounders, in front of Kuddum Kundee, and one 6-mortar, which in the course of the day was increased to fifteen, in front of Buldeo Singh's garden, were opened; and this morning the advanced battery, between these positions, as shown in the sketch sent to your Lordship, was completed with five 18-pounders and five 24-pounders, at a distance from the north-east angle of about 250 yards; by means of which the defences on the east face of the work, as far as the large projecting bastion, have been, in a great measure, destroyed. The approach from Buldeo Singh's garden towards the north face of the town will be commenced this night. I beg to enclose a return of casualties to the 24th inst., inclusive. I fear that I shall be for some time deprived of the very efficient services of Capt. Smith, of the engineers, who has unfortunately received a severe contusion on the left shoulder, from a spent shot from a jingal. I likewise transmit, for your Lordship's information, a copy of my second letter to Doorjun Sal, with his reply, by which your Lordship will perceive that my endeavours to save the unfortunate women and children have failed. Several ryots, with their families, have, however, escaped from the town. I have the honour to be, &c. Horse artillery-wounded, 2 men. *Lieut. Wymer, slightly wounded. |
