This, however, is of little consequence. What scarcely recognize my own child, was as folreally is mischievous is, that men who ought lows:--to know better and who have ab lity to lead the "In fact, the rent of land has been set aside from native mind, feed and flatter its ignorance and time immemorial as the great primary fund from which prejudice, and lead it wrong lead it to com all the expenses of Government were to be defrayed. plain of unreal grievances, whilst they leave it And this fund was as much the right and property,as one of the community, and as held by the Govern to acquiesce in much that is utterly unsound ment of the day, in trust for his benefit, of the shopin principle, and oppressive to individuals, and keeper in the town, or of the merchant or sailor at the oppressive to individuals, and destructive to sea-port, as of the zemin lar or of the ryot. As private general wealth and well-being, in practice. A property, it did not belong, and never had belonged, tax upon rent is undeniably a good tax; taxes upon internal commerce, taxes upon any com either to one or the other." No one who knows any thing about the mat indirect sanction" of such abuses. Nothing short of a special exception can invalidate the fundamental general rule above adverted to, or void the right of the community that the utmost possible proportion of the public expences should be paid from the rent of the land. Whilst lakhirajdars are eating this fund, the transit duties and taxes on justice, are a robbery. merce, and taxes upon justice, are as unques- ter will gainsay this position. My opponent tionably bad taxes. Yet what outcry against has built nothing even on his own version of the first! What miserable supineness in re-it, that has not been already abundantly an swered. All grants that the Government the gard to the latter! And how childish is it to allege, that the assertion of the right of the state sanctioned, are valid against the Government, to its share of the rental of land held on inva- but I deny that there has been, or can be, any lid Lakhiraj tenures, is opposed because it is a fresh imposition, and because, whilst it is not denied that such an assessment upon rent is a far better source of revenue than taxes upon trade or taxes upon justice, there is no absolute certainty that when the Government has possessed itself of the one, it will relinquish the other. Why not try? Why not attack systems of taxation which are undeniably bad, and, therefore, weak, instead of wasting strength Mr. Dickens objects to my position that laagainst claims advanced by Government on khiraj tenures have always sold at a risk behalf of the community, which are based upon price," because I have only brought forward the eternal rock of truth and justice? Assai! that which is mischievous and rotten, and, besides all other advantages, you will have the great body of public servants, high and low, with you. Ask the Government to give up a rupee of its transit duties, or of its taxes on justice, for every rupee which it has derived, or may derive, from the assessment of invalid Lakhiraj tenures, and "quia magna est veritas, prevalebit," you must eventuelly compel them to comply. You will gain nothing by knocking your heads absolutely against resumption for the same simple reason; because the measure of Government, however open to this or that minor objection, is substantially supported by reason and equity. 66 one single case in support of it. This is amusing as coming from the spokesman of the party who have always built what is really their most plausible argument upon the converse assumption that such tenures have sold at fee-simple prices, without adducing even the shadow of a case in proof. The " single case which I cited, was one which the Landholders' Society, and I suppose Mr. Dickens as a member thereof, thought a very strong one in aid of their cause; for they reported it in the newspapers, and declared their intention of appealing it to ng land. I shewed that this, the picked case of the Landholders' Society, told againet those who brought it forward, inasmuch as the lands had sold twice, and once as late as 1804, at Mr. Dickens states that what he calls my little more than three years purchase upon what fourth proposition, "is in substance that each the agent of the ci-devant Lakhirajdar admitted individual in the community has as much inter- to be their rental. And now, I am taunted by est in the public Revenue as the Government, a writer who is riding away upon mere bold because Government is merely a trustee for the public benefit." I did say, that every tolerably good Government must be regarded as a trustee for the people; but I did not say that the interest of each individual in the public revenue, (I spoke only of the land revenue), was " because" of this trusteeship. What I did say, in mp letter No. I., Mr. Dickens quoted correctly in his second let er, though in his fourth he bas twisted it into such deformity, that I can assertion, with the air of one who believes it to be absolute demonstration, because I have adduced but "one single case!" This is too bad. I have said before, and say again, let cases be produced, in which a real fee-simple price has been given for Lakhiraj land. (I have never seen one yet,) and I pledge myself that consideration will be manifested. But till one single case" of that description be proved to exist, it is a little too much to use sake of temporary popularity, or to ward off the assumption that there are hundreds or imaginary danger, might expect the scenes of thousandsof such cases, to give something like the Castle of Otranto to be re-enacted in Goa backbone to the ricketty argument of pre-vernment House, the forms of Clive and scriptive right. Warren Hastings descending from the frames, to eject them from the Council Chamber. I will venture, however, with my oppo: nent's leave, to imitate the example of the anti-resumptionists, by bringing forward "one I have done. Having replied to all that Mr. Dickens has published up to this date, I leave the controvesy, which, under existing circumstances, I shall not have leisure to continue, to the judgment of the public. To the judgment of those who really know my public principles and acts, I also confidently remit the question which my opponent has decided against me, whether I am the friend or the ment direct all resumed tenures to be set led nue from that best of sources, the rent of land, GAUNTLET. [Hurk. Jan. 26. SECTARIAN BIGOTRY. and habits at the times in question, and which was as strongly developed in the reign of Elizabeth as in that of Mary. The day, however, is not far distant when appeals to the passions, such as the paragraphs quoted by our correspondent, will be condemned by all sects alike, an the errors and crimes of an earlier period, be treated with greater forbearance and be riore dis We have published in another column, a letter from A FRIEND TO LIBERAL EDUCATION, and regret that the passages which he quotes should have been insert d in a work intended for the intruction of children in a shape so highly objectionable. But the spirit of religion is, as we had lately occasion to observe, scarcely yet sufficiently Christianized to lead the followers of one set of opinions, to refrain from doing their utmost to blacken the character of the followers of another; and thence passionately canvassed. In the mean time, we we too often see, both on the side of Catholics and Protestants, a deliberate suppression of all the political circumstances which weighed so much in the animosities of the day, and which were so closely connected with the religious differences. The strife was not mere ly confined to speculative opinions on the shortest and surest road to heaven, but embraced the most efficacious modes for secur ing the greatest amount of good on earthsuch good at least as can be repressented or purchased by power and wealth. shall always be ready to open our columns to the reprobation of any sectarian bigotry, come from what quarter it may.-Hurkaru January 25. To the Editor of the Bengal Hurkaru. Sir. The public are just in proclaiming your widely circulated paper as the staunch and consistent advocate of toleration and liberality, and as being opposed, upon principle, to sectarianism in all its forms. Instances of this are often seen in your columns. To notice but one, your remarks of last Wednesday, Nor do party historians make sufficient al-on an article in the Dublin Review, upon Enlowance for the general forceity of feelings tic's Spelling and pronouncing Dictionary, are worthy the admiration of all friends of sound of the land of his duties as a king, told him that he was and liberal education. Books of this kind a servant of the Most High God, and that it was his ought, in these days of true Christain Charity, to be banished from every School. pieces of the cross, and all images, should be destroyed. duty to see that God was worshiped, and that all The young king listened meekly, for he had an hum. ble spirit. He loved Cranmer, and he liked every one to tell him the truth." You allude in your remarks to certain ele mentary works published even in this country, which are not free from such faults. Holding, wicked man; they never read the Bible, and used to Mary married Philip of Spain, a very rich, but as you do, the editorial reins of the leading pary to the Virgin Mary, and pieces of wood, and at paper in India, and thereby in a great mea- last her heart was got so hard, that she burnt every sure controuling public opinion, I think it is one to death that read the Bible; she would have put your duty and interest, to expose to merited the Princess Elizabeth to death, but she feared the peocontempt, publications of the nature you allud-ple. Bishops Hooper, Ferrar, Rogers, Ridley Latimer, and Cranmer were all burnt, hecause they loved the Lord. ed to; for in as much as they exercise an Bishop Rogers had eleven children, and Mary would influence on the tender minds of youth, in so not even let him bless his wife and babes before he much do they oppose and undermine the con- died; but he gave them to the care of Him who has trary principles of liberality, which it is your serve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me." said, "Leave they fatherless children. I will preMen, women, and children were burnt if they dared to Bonner, two cruel men, helped Mary in all these read the book of God. Bishop Gardiner and Bishop murders; but although they were rich, they were not happy Gardiner died in great agony, saying that he know that God would not forgive him. Wretched man! his sorrow was not a goldly sorrow, which worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; it was the sorrow of the world which worketh death." object to inculcate and establish. In accordance with these views, I beg leave to send for your edification, a little book received from one of our public school. Its title page is as follows: English History for children, from four to ten years of age, by one who loves the souls of the Lambs of Christ's fuck.-Calcutta, reprinted at the Church Mission Press, 1834 "Phillip hated his wife, and lieved almost always in Spain. Mary was fond of him, and she felt much at seeing Pray Mr. Editor, could you, after so that Philip disliked her; she was miserable the last two honied a frontispiece, expect to find any years of her life; she passed her days in tears sectarian gall within the little volume? Yet and regrets, at being deserted by her husband, and to do, for the sake of Christian charity, take in the night; she was always afraid that some one rage against her subjects: she scarcely slept two hours the trouble to read the accounts of the reigns would murder her. She died after a reign of five years, of Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, and in a fearful state of mind, having burnt two hundred Queen Mary, and you will then find suffici- and eighty-eight of her fellow creatures, becanse they ent of sectarian venom to disgust you. would not deny their Lord. Every one of them could I have saved his life by denying the name of Jesus, but they would not inflict upon your readers the peru- would not; they testified against the worshsp of saints, sal of even so much; but the following para-pieces of the cross, of any and every God save one living graphs, I think, may be laid before the public and true God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus as a specimen of this little gem of juvenile but sealed their testim ony with their blood." Chirst; and they loved not their lives into the death literature. "He married six wives, one after another: the name of the first was Catherine; she was not good, for we know there are none good; but she tried in many things to please the Lord, yet I fear she did not read the Bible, for she often prayed to pieces of the cross of wood upon which our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, and many other foolish things. She had one daughter, Mary, and I am sorry to say, that she taught this little girl to pray to these things also, although Jesus said, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him ony shalt thou serve." "When King Henry the Eighth died, the throne belonged to his little Edward, Jane Seymours baby. Dear child; he was only nine years old when his father died, He was a happy child, for he was a lamb of Christ's own flock. His papa had never taught him to love his God, but he had a kind uncle, his mamma's brother, the Earl of Hertford, who early taugut him to pray and seek the Lord. Archbishop Cranmer was his godfather, and Cranmer believed in Jesus, and often talked to Edward of his Saviour. The little boy's tutors were Dr. Cox and Sir John Cheke, and they too both of them read the Bible." The most notable characteristic of the above quotations, is the mixture of Scripture texts and a vein of religious cant, with Sectarian venom, which latter is conveved to the tender and unsuspecting hearts of children as stealthily as the forbidden fruit was to the lips of Eve, by the crafty serpent. ty in guarding the public, and more especially A FRIEND TO LIBERAL EDUCATION, 19th January, 1839. P. S. The Italics in the above quotations are "The day he was crowned, Archbishop Cranmer spoke to him before all the noblemen and gentlemen mine.-Ibid. MOFUSSIL AND SUPREME COURTS. They are said to be corrupt, and the word is passed from one person to another, until it is taken for granted to be undeniable. They have no one to defend them.'Vide Mr. Shakspeare's Minute. To the Editor of the Englishman. SIR,-I am an old subscriber to your paper, and as such, call upon you to publish these few lines. You have, however, always shewn, so far as I am aware, ready inclination to publish whatever may be fairly urged on each side of a question, that may be mooted in your paper. I therefore boldly come forward, after perusal of the speeches published by you, which were delivered at the late important meeting held on the Act XI. of 1836, especially the speeches of Baboo Dwarkanauth Tagore and Mr. L. Clarke. I do not come forward to discuss the merits or demerits of the Act, for I have not been consulted thereon, or given any opinion on it. Neither do I come forward to vindicate the Government, or its civil servants; both of whom are, or should, be able to vindicate themselves. I come forward in behalf of those who have no advocate, and who cannot speak for themselves. I mean the native judicial officers and the native judges. appear, however, not to plead their cause, but merely as a witness to state a simple fact in their favour. Baboo Dwarkanauth Tagore, in his speach, gave expression to sentiments, that influenced him in supporting the European portion of the community of Bengal, which must be deemed highly creditable and generous. Was, however, his unmeasured reprobation of his own countrymen, without a single fact in substantiation thereof, equally generous? You observe, that the opinion of Baboo Dwarkanauth Tagore, must have great weight, from the information he must naturally posses on the subject. This I would readily admit, if the Baboo had entered into particulars; his reprobation, however, is in generals; and you know, generals, so very good in the field of battle, are just good for nothing in the field of argument.. officer of the Mofussil courts? and whether either previous or subsequent to the payment of those sums, any complaint or representation was made to the superintending judge, or civil servant, of those courts? Until he can shew that such was the case, I leave it to his own honourable judgment to say, whether it be just to accuse those courts, or the ministerial officers of those courts, of bribery and corruption? How does he know, or do the assignees know, that the money was not kept by the assignees' own Agents themselves? I merely put the question. I do not presume to decide it, I will now advert to what induced me to come forward. I am one of the oldest Mofussil judicial servants in the country, having spent nearly a quarter of a century in the vice. I am certainly the oldest Zillah Judge, judicial branch, exclusively of the civil serhaving been judge of this district thirteen fore feel it incumbent on me to come foryears next January consecutively. I thereward, as a witness in favor of those who have honestly. I come forward openly, I give my so long served under me, so far as I am aware, name. I beg it may be kept in mind, I attack I merely appear as a witness in behalf of those no body. I enter into no general discussion. who cannot defend themselves, and I have only to state a simple fact, which, if unrefuted, speaks for itself. I have been, as I said, thirteen years judge and magistrate, judge and session judge of Midnapore and Hidjellee, a district comprising in extent one hundred and forty computed miles, west and east, and one hundred miles north and south, taking its extreme points. Its population, by two separate census, lately prepared by the magistrate and myself, amounts to about a million and a quarter. It is, too, contiguous to Calcutta, the seat of the Supreme Court, and the Sudder Dewanny Adawlut; and, therefore, possesses every facility for appeal. I have, during my long residence in it, visited at different times, every quarter of it, and conversed freely with all classes; and I am, therefore, personally known to very many in all portions of the district. It is notorious in it, as any one by coming Mr. Clarke has entered into particulars. here may ascertain, that I am in the habit of What he bas said respecting the Government, conducting the public business even to munior the judicial civil servants, I leave them tia in open court, that my Amla, the minisseverally to notice. He has, however, assert- terial officers of the court, have not the least ed, "that had not the assignees of the great influence over me, and that I am ready to reInsolvent firms, win ked at the application of ceive all complaints, which may be bona fide large sums of money as bribes, by their agents preferred against them, or the native judges in the native courts, the inevitable conse- subordinate to me. I mention these particuquences would have been loss to the creditors." lars to shew, that every facility is afforded to Now, will he kindly inform the public, if he as- all who may honestly wish to complain. certained, or the assignees ascertained, that Anonymous petitions I reject without perusal, these large sums were actually paid to the na- and spies I have never used; both I utterly tive Judges,or the native Aumla, the ministerial abhor. During this long period of thirteen years, not a single specific charge of bribery indeed we go so much further, that we think and corruption his ever been preferred to me, the peculiar class out of which these officers against the principle Sudder Ameen the have been selected, is of all others, that which, Sudder Aumeen, the Moonsiffs, or my Amla; from previous habits, is the least likely to be save in one instance, in which the charge was pure and uncurrupt. Our correspondent not proved. Baboo Dwarkanauth Tagore gallantly steps forward in their defence, and possesses a large estate in this district, which as far as his own testimony goes, is most unwas lately sold for arrears of public revenue doubtedly an unexceptionable witness, but we by the collector, and purchased for Govern-fear that he will not obtain a general verdict ment, and it has, I hear, been restored to him. of acquittal on the strength of the particular He,therefore,cannot be altogother unacquaint instances which he adduces. Indeed we may ed with this district; and if I have asserted say with all respect, and without fear of conaught incorrect, or falsely, he will be able to tradiction, that their are some circumstances put me right. This is the simple fact, which in Mr. Dick's own position, which tend to I have considered myself bound to make pub-make his court above the average, in its lic. I leave the public to deduce from it the natural inference. Midnapoor, Dec. 1, 1838. ABER. DICK. [Englishman, December 6. native officers, and others which disqualify him from knowing exactly what is going on. As the oldest Zillah Judge, of the greatest experience, it is not likely that he should be easily imposed upon, and as he is uninfluenced in the smallest degree by the aumlah of his We beg to assure our respected correspon court. But a civil servant in the high office dent, Mr. Dick, (whose letter will be found of a judge, doing his duty impartially and in a preceding column,) that he does us no faithfully, is in the worst possible position for more than justice in the belief he expresses, understanding the native character. Nay, he is that we are always ready to publish whatever even cut off from any intercourse with the namay be fairly urged on each side of a question. tives, and we greatly mistake, if a native officer of court, with whose proceedings our that Mr. Dick is not well qualified to trace out the numerous hidden springs of action that are at work all round him, and that in arguing that no bribery or corruption exists because no complaints are made, he proves himself but little acquainted with the native character. On that particnlar one, which is the sub-correspondent is acquainted, was not removed ject of his letter, we have not taken up our on a complaint that he had been appointed opinions hastily, nor have we written upon it through the judge's favour. We say, therefore, in the sprit of partizans. It is a question of such great importance, involving such immense interest, that no public journalist would be excusible if he were to treat it otherwise than with the utmost impartialty and with the most attentive consideration. If it be true, indeed, that the whole apparatus of King, Lords and Commons is only constructed to secure the putting of twelve men into a box, which has been asserted by one of the greatest of our living statesmen, then, indeed, every thing connected with the due administration of justice, must be considered as of the utmost national importance. adduced of the assertions made at the public Our correspondent asks, what proofs can be meeting by Baboo Dwarkanauth Tagore and Mr. L. Clarke; and he justly alleges, that in thing. It is hardly fair, however, to expect argument general assertions are worth noproofs in public speeches; they are estimated according to the reputation of the speakers, and the public will agree, that no two men in mation than the two gentlemen above named. Calcutta can have more ample means of infor There is however another circumstance to be in any court of justice, where it could be judicially proved. Many persons may be willing to give the most common proof of come under their own facts, which have visited on the briber as well on the bribed With regard to the native character, we wish to say once for all, that we are neither its panegyrises nor detractors. We look upon all national, and a very large portion of indi vidual character, as the result of positive taken into consideration, which is, that men institutions, political or religious. It we did not, we should hold that Government, instead do not willingly admit facts that constitute of being an object of our anxious solicitude, criminal charges against themselves. Bribery would be comparatively a subject of indiffer is a punishable offence, and would be severely ence, and that so long as men had the permis sion to eat and drink and enjoy themselves, it would matter but little whether it was under the yoke of the Czar, and of the Sultan, or under the free institutions of England and America. Holding this opinion, it is impossible for us to believe, that a people who have been brutalized by centuries of systematic oppression, who are under the influence of the most degrading and senseless superstitions, who are without any practically useful education, and wholly exempt from the control of an Our correspondent cannot surely expect enlightened public opinion, can all at once that those who have gained their causes by be made fit, by a stroke of power, for the im-bribery, will" make complaint to the superinportant office of administering public justice tending judge." A man who has to get his knowledge, to their professional adviser Mr. Clarke, or to their agent, Baboo Dwarka. And we have reason to know, that both those nauth, who would not say a word in public. gentlemen spoke of facts within their own knowledge. |