only one's general ignorance of the character | petrated by English soldiers; so many other of the latter prevents one being aware of the instances might be mentioned to the credit of fact. the natives whilst others would be the reverse.

Is there a man in India who has not known several of his servants transmit their respective savings, amounting in the whole to a considerable sum, to their homes, by an individual of whom they know little or nothing, except that he was from their own part of the country? Nothing is more common, and it must be familiar to every one: the distance that money is sent in this way varies from two to twelve hundred miles, yet for the money to be embezzled is an occurrence almost unknown. Would such confidence and such faithfulness to trust, be found in England, in Europe, or in any other part of the world? Again, we are in the constant habit of sending money in sums of greater or less value, even as much as four or five hundred rupees at a time, by the hands of a common servant without taking the slightest precaution either of sealing the packet, delivering it in the presence of wit ness, or any of those securities which would be considered necessary in England. There very few people would trust a servant even with a few shillings to convey from house to another" it would be putting temp: tation in their way"-and money letters sent by the post are by almost all prudent people consigned to the post office with their own

hands.

one

But what have we done to promote the increase of morality or any other good quality among the people of India? With few exceptions to a trilling extent. It is but lately that either Government or individuals have attempted even the primary step-Education. While in a variety of instances, by our ignorance of the native customs, and the enactment of absurd laws, totally unsuited to the country, we have promoted immorality to an immense extent. In the first place, look at our debtor and creditor laws. As long as a poor labourer or menial servant of the lower class remains honest, he is obliged to work hard for his subsistence; only let him turn rogue; borrow money under false pretences, which he has no reasonable prospect of ever being able to pay; and he is immediately rewarded, by being placed in a comfortable building where he has plenty of company, and where he is fed in idleness, receiving nearly as much as he could earn when hard-working. Such at least is the utmost penalty which his creditor is allowed to inflict upon him; for as to the seizure of his property, this consists but of a few coarse cloths, a half torn blanket, and two or three earthen cooking pots, which might realise, if sold, a few shillings; but as it is not the custom to strip a debtor naked, his chothes are left in his possession; his residence was in a hut belonging to some relation or to his master. If his debt do not exceed sixty-four rupees, he cannot be confined more then six months; nor can he be again arrested on that debt alIt may also be observed that their ideas of though his property, if he ever obtain any, is morality differ in many points from ours; in liable in satisfaction. Few creditors, however, some respects the advantage is on their side, ever keep men in jail above a short time till in others upon ours. I have not leisure to they have ascertained whether there be any enter upon this subject at length; and indeed property forth coming, because they are obliged in discussing the character of the people in to pay for their subsistence, and no sooner is the mode here adopted, I had no intention of the man released, than, finding the profit so treating on every point, but merely to offer a great, and the penalty in reality nothing, he few general observations to induce the Eng-plays the same game over again with the next lish, instead of taking it for granted that all person who will trust him. the natives of India are indiscriminately or radically bad, or of forming their opinion of the whole nation from a few menials, to mix money to such people as are above described, deserve to lose it and even propose that their with the people, i. e. the farmers, merchants suits should not be heard. This is just as and peasantry, not forgetting the upper classes wise an idea as it would be to refuse to punish and the old native gentry when they have op- a bandit or a thief, on the principle that every portunities of being introduced to them ;-to man ought to keep so good a watch over his lay prejudice aside, and see and judge for house and property as not to allow himself to themselves; and to adduce sufficient instances be robbed. The grand secret of establishing and proofs that if the natives have many bad qualities, they also possess a considerable number of good ones. There is yet an ample field for discussion on this head for any one who will take the trouble to occupy it.

It remains for me to offer a few remarks in conclusion on the morality of the natives, or rather to make a short inquiry as to what has been the effect of our intercourse with them, in lowering their standard.

Some persons argue that men who lend their

credit and preventing the careless contracting of debts, is to give every facility to the creditor to realize his due, and to allow a discretion with the judge to sentence men who have contracted debts without any visible means of payI have remarked that their standard differs ing them (which is no better than swindling) to from ours. A native gentleman would not hard labour. The improvidence of most of the cheat a friend in the sale of a horse: an Eng-lower classes of natives is such, that presentenlishman in the rank of a gentleman would joyment is all in all: they never think of the not only do so, but often boast of it. The enor- consequence: besides many of these act as mities committed by native troops at the storm- nefariously as regular windlers. ing of a town are not perhaps one hundredth are not in the receipt of above three or four part so great as those which are usually per- rupees a month will sometimes be in debt sixty

Men who

or seventy rupees; but not all to the same draw their pay themselves, and laugh at their person; there will be ten rupees due to one, creditors. The soldiers might certainly be twelve to another, &c. Each sum has been bor- arrested and thrown into jail, on which the crerowed under some real or pretended particu-ditor is obliged to pay them a comfortable allar circumstance. The fraudulent debtor lowance.

obtains twelve rupees worth of cloth from one Drunkenness and the use of intoxicating pretence of a marriage in the family, ten ru- drugs have increased in an extraordinary depees in cash, on pretence of having an oppor-gree under the English rule. I have heard tunity of remitting it to his friends, &c. all many men declare that thirty or forty years ago, of which is spent in debauchery. To each even at Calcutta, a drunken native was a perhe declares that he is his sole creditor; men- fect rarity. Now they may be seen in numtions his service and his pay; and shews that bers, lying drunk about the streets of that city, in six or eight months he shall be able to dis- and more or less, in every town in the interior, charge the debt by instalments. Are people and not unfrequently in the villages also. to blame in lending a man a moderate What is the cause of this?-Simply, that in sum of money or trusting him with goods to a order to raise the revenue almost every collecsmall amount under such circumstances? It tor is trying to increase the number of his liis only, when one of the creditors whose pati- quor, spirit and drug shops; to establish ence is exhausted after being repeatedly put them in every hole and corner of his district; off prefers a complaint that the whole is dis- and to promote drunkenness to the utmost; covered. If such rogues were sentenced to often giving underhand, summary and illegal hard labour, which they deserve fully as much assistance to the proprietors of shops to enable as a thief, these sort of proceedings would soon them to recover money for liquor sold upon be stopped: and if the judge had a discretion in credit. And for this, provided the revenue inother cases, it would check the improvidence crease, they receive the approbation of Governof the lower orders, and make them cautious ment." Nay, I once knew a collector who how they borrow money. A man whose va- retained at the head of this department a man nity now induces him to spend forty or fifty ru- who had, when a pubic officer, not long before, pees on a marriage would be content to dis- embezzled a considerable sum of money and burse ten or fifteen. This would ultimately absconded; who was notoriously guilty of teach them forethought, and cause the intro- forgery, although from the ineficiency of the duction of a considerabla portion of moral judge he escaped conviction; solely because feelings; but no! our system is that the ho- he was a good hand at promoting drunkenness, nest poor man must work hard for his bread, and thereby producing an increase of the reand that the rogue shall be well lodged and venue. In contrast I will mention the confed in idleness; but I refer for observations at duct of a native chief, related to me by an old large on this subject to No. 38. gentleman who came to India more than sixty years ago. Shortly after his arrival, on be

What an enormous amount of fraud, per. jury, bribery, and roguery of every discrip-ing sent to reside at Kishnagur, he was obligtion has been introduced by our system of internal customs and transit duties; not one of which existed under the native rule. The attempt to enforce the usury laws which cannot be effected, has been only productive of perjury, forgery, and the demoralization of the people, to an extent which is scarcely credible. The universal administration of oaths, and several other points connected with our Courts of Justice, have had a tendency to encrease perjury very considerably, while the law for the punishment of this crime displays great ignorance of the native character as explained in No. 42.

ed to ask the Rajah's permission to have a man to procure toddy for his friend: the Rajah consented on the condition that a centry of his own should accompany the man to see that he brought just no more than suflicient for his master's use, for fear he should ferment and sell it, and thereby introduce drunkenness among the people. The native Rajah did not want a revenue obtained at the expense of the morality of his subjects: the British Indian Government encourage as much drunkenness as possible, provided they reap the profit from it. It has been allowed as general truth, that the more connection the natives have had with the English, the more immoral and the worse cha

The absurd mode in which a general law isracters in every respect they become. No inpassed for which there was no occasion, has considerable number of reasons have been adalso tended to foster dishonesty. Probably a duced in support of the correctness of such solitary case of hardship was brought to the assertions, and it is probable that little diffinotice of Government where an invalid native culty would be found in finding many more. soldier had been induced for a small consi-On the other hand scarcely an attempt has deration to mortgage his pension for several been made to introduce better feelings months in advance. Immediately a regulation among them or to improve their character. was passed XII. of 1814, declaring such trans- Nay, individually, in order to save ourselves actions invalid. Now with the exception of a little trouble, we often, in reality, sanction a few poor unfortunates who have suffered by it, and the invalids themselves, the law is utterly unknown to the whole population. Songs are really greatly to be pitied; when we consider the injus that those invalids who are roguishly inclined often get money equal to several months' pay, mortgaging the same as security, and then

* Those collectors who have not contrived to stifle all good feeltice they are obliged to commit, and the dirty work they are obli

ged to perform, in doing what Government consider their duty. the trunk of the palmira, used instead of yeast for making bread. when fermented it makes a strong spirit.

Toddy, properly taree, a juice extracted from an incision in

great misconduct. Yet masters might all and | driven to dishonest practices, and that finally severally do much. You may see men to his own property would be insecure. This whom as they are leaving a station complaints person encouraged them to save; and if any are made by different shop-keepers against one had accumulated a sum of money, and their servants for considerable debts. The were about to have a marriage or other occamaster refuses to take notice of it, and as sion for expense in the family, the master suing the debtors would for the reasons above would advance a similar sum to be repaid by mentioned be only adding loss to loss, credi- instalments. He was equally on the alert to tors are obliged to put up with what they have watch every deviation from truth, and to check ulready sustained, and the servants are en- immorality, profligacy and other faults. The couraged to pursue the same conduct at the result was highly satisfactory; and I am connext station. On the other hand I have vinced that much more might be done in this known a master look carefully after the con- way to improve the character of our immedicerns of the servants; if he found a man habi- ate attendants than is generally supposed. tually living beyond his income, he would A FRIEND TO INDIA. discharge him, on the principle that if he were hard pressed by his creditors, he would be

July 8, 1835.

LAW LECTURES DELIVERED AT THE HINDU COLLEGE.

While Dr. Wilson was the visitor of the Hin- beneficial effects of the Law of Primogeniture du College he obtained the sanction of Go- as to its being conducive to the strengthvernment to appoint a competent professor to ening of the kingdom with a number of instruct the pupils attached to the first class wealthy and influential persons, the merits of of that institution in the elements of juris- the English constitution, and the salutary prudence. This task would have devolved consequence of the Revolution in France at on Mr. Derozio who was known among the the time of Louis XVI. Scarcely had this enlightened protion of the native community worthy gentleman began with the second voas the first person who inspired the present lume of Blackstone, but he was appointed to generation with maxims abounding in splen succeed Mr. Hogg as the Registrar of the Sadid charms of truth and virture, had some of preme Court. His attention being thus turned his scholars, in the development of whose to a varirty of things with respect to his situamental energies he had a principal hand, con- tion, he could not spare any time to finish ducted themselves with moderation and calm- what he had undertaken to do. Shortly after ness towards their illiterate and prejudiced this the Honorable Sir John Peter Grant, who countrymen. The impetuosity and rashness, was then a barrister of the Supreme Court, with which they endeavoured for some time filled his place, and if there was any professor to introduce into this long benighted land all at the Hindu College who could really show the desired changes of Reformation, aggravat- attention to his pupils and convey instruction ed the malignity of some of the members of in the shape of entertainment, it was this tathe Committee of Management of the Hindu lented gentleman. His views of the science of College, and it was chiefly owing to this cir- Jurisprudence were comprehensive, for he did cumstance, that that most distinguished As-not begin to burthen the memory of the stusistant teacher was obliged to tender his re-dent with the perplexing technicalities. After signation to them. A long time after this ir- having delivered an introductory lecture emreparable loss Mr. T. Dickens was appointed bodied in the mild sentiments of a philosopher, the professor of Law. This worthy gentleman he showed the tendency of scientific expresdelivered lectures from Justice Blackstone. sions, to duplicity and equivocation in these He devided Law into three codes, viz., the ci- cases where they are used from analogy, and vil code, the penal code and the code of pro- reading a passage from Hume as an illustracedure. All his lectures were confined to tion of this truth, he concluded that the defiEnglish Law, enumerating the revenues and nition of law in its common acceptation was the prerogatives of the king, the respec- philosophically wrong. Instead of confining tive rights and the privileges of both the himself at first to any particular law, he conHouses of Parliament, the duties and the lia-sidered the science in a general point of view. bilities of the principal and subordinate ma- He divided law into human laws and laws of gistrates, the exemptions of the clergy from nature or moral laws, the former being a gensecular affairs, the rights of the people whe-eral system of plans intended to ascertain, to ther aliens or denizens, together with con- define, and to protect men's rights which are siderations respecting their several ranks in founded upon a sense of justice-" that steady civil, the military, and the maritime estates, and perpetual desire to render and to cause to and the immunities of corporations or "arti- be rendered to every individual his right." ficial persons called bodies politic." He now and then dwelt a little upon the nature and the disadvantages of the Feudal System, the

The laws of nature, he observed, were implicitly obeyed by every one more or less, and the sense of justice formed a part of our

66

Our no

constitution. Convinced that the science of Thus when a body falls from a high place or a Jurisprudence was like every other science ray of light passing from a rarer to a denser dependent upon the science of the mind, medium is refracted, it is commonly said that he commenced delivering a series of lec-it does so in order to obey the laws of Provitures upon moral and intellectual Philoso- deuce. That the term Law, which in its genephy. He made Cecero's DeFinibus his text ral acceptatation means, a prescribed rule book, and though this work is written in Latin of conduct," is unphilosophically applied here, he read passages out of it in English with the will be proved from the subsequent observasame facility as if he were reading from an tions. Strictly speaking we are perfectly English edition. He enumerated all the falla- ignorant what matter and mind are. cious and fanciful theories of Thales, Avan- tions regarding them are merely relative. All mander, Pythagoras, Avanamenes, Avanago- that we know of them is that the one is exras, Archilaes, Plato, Aristotle, Zeno, Epicurus, tended, moveable, coloured, &c. &c. &c. and Diogenes, and other philosophers, remarking the other thinks, wills, and feels. If then the that they had all endeavoured to know what former be devoid of volition which the latter could never be known, and showing the influ- possesses, with what propriety can we say ence their writings had on the improvement of that it obeys the laws of its creator when we the mind. He compared their hypothetical see it act in accordance to certain properties notions with the Philosophy of Socrates, and innate in it! When a solid body is placed maintained that the latter had struck out a upon water it will displace a quantity of true path to the enlightenment of the human that fluid equal to its bulk, and because it species. In whatever he advanced he always does so, are we then to say that that solid resorted to high authorities and to legiti- body is a pure agent and the acting in the manmate modes of argumentation to substan-ner it does is entirely left at its option. If such tiate it. The moral lessons which he in- be our language, we shall no doubt come to stilled into the minds of his pupils were a most sweeping and unwarrantable concluexceedingly beautiful and sublime; he al- sion: so that there is a philosophical error in ways observed that morality needed no using the word according to its strictest degorgeous drapery of expression to heighten finition in the expression" Laws of Physical her fascinations. Let her be in her native Nature." Further, we know, that there are garb, and she will appear as enchanting as some properties existing in, and coeval to possible. He now and then spoke a little as matter, and it cannot resist acting conformto the line of conduct, his pupils ought to ably to them. Air is elastic and it will pursue in the future course of their lives, and always be so. Shall we then say that air in bealways advised them to examine every thing ing elastic obeys a law of God. How equivocal accurately before they believed in it. His is this phrase and how absurd is it to say that lectures on the whole were very communica- our maker has prescribed a rule of conduct tive and would have produced much good if and all the inanimate objects obey it! Hence he had remained at the College. The method it is most likely that by the "Laws of Physiwhich he adopted in teaching the students was cal Nature" it is meant those innate propercertainly efficacious in promoting the object ties of matter to which it cannot but nehe had in view. He used to say that if" we cessarily act up. The next object of were to perplex the memory of the young men our enquiry is how we obtain a knowwith the minutiae of any science before teach-ledge of what is often losely called ing them a general outline of it, it would be" Laws of Physical Nature"? As for instance making them read Dictionary." This is cer- the laws of gravitation, cohesion, chemical tainly an excellent observation, and those who affinity, dynamics, &c. &c. &c. It is a princiare well versed in the business of education, ple of our constitution (no less strong in leadcannot but admit, that, of all the departments of education, morality is the most important. It should therefore be the bounden duty of every teacher to pay to it as much attention as he can, for he must know that in neglecting to do so he cannot but be instrumental in giving birth to mischiefs of the most disastrous nature. All the sciences have a close connexion with each other. Intellectual and moral education should therefore go hand in hand. The following remark upon the first two or three lectures of Sir J. P. Grant made in September, 1833, will give an idea how he proceeded to discharge the duties wich were entrusted to bim.

"The material world exhibits wonderful phenomena, calculated to strike every rational creature with awe and admiration. All the objects around us always act in conformity to some principles inherent in them, and it is these principles that have been called by some philosophers "Laws of Physical Nature."

ing us to truth than the evidences of reason, consciousness or Perception,) to believe that when a thing has frequently occurred and repeatedly produced the same effect it shall occur and produce that effect in future if it be placed in similar circumstances. The sun has constantly risen and when he has risen he has often spread his effulgence over the whole face of the globe. This is a truth, our experience made us confirmed in its belief, and we have therefore every reason to suppose that the sun will rise again and produce the same effect he has hitherto done. Two balls struck against each other, a degree of attraction has always been perceived to exist between them and a noise of their concussion has often been heard. And because such has generally been the case, we are irresistably led to believe that if two balls be similarly circumstanced, they will attract each other and produce the same noise. Why we draw such an inference, is beyond the reach of our facul

ties to account for. That the frequent oecur- minds against every temptation, to deviate from rence of a thing makes us believe in its future it by maintaining a lively sense of the beauty of occurrence is a fact, and hence the whole know- right conduct : by having always in our eye the ledge we possess of the "Laws of Physical noblest example, by the habit of subjecting Nature" is grounded upon a belief arising our passions to the government of reason by from an intuitive principle of our constitution firm purpose and resolutions with regard which no reasoning of a mathematician can to our conduct, by avoiding occasions of tempdemonstrate or the cavils of a sceptic can tations when we can, by employing the aid deny. Having spoken so much of the "laws of him who made us in every hour of temptaof Phisical Nature," let us now proceed to tion." These, together with a regard of truth, treat of moral laws, and to point out the gene- a love of justice, and a constant desire to do ral distinction between these two. By moral good to our species, constitute all the grand laws it is generally meant those rules of our sources of moral law. The general distincconduct enjoined by the author of our being tion between these and the physical laws is which are immutable and universal. In the that the one is liable to be violated and the practice of them "consists" all the honor, dig- other is not. Man is a free being and he is nity and worth of a man, “and in the infringe- at liberty to follow or reject those laws as he ment all vice, corruption and depravity". pleases, whereas the inanimate objects must As the chief doctrines which morality recom- necessarily act conformably to those princimends are expressed in the concise languge ples or properties with which they have of that great philsopher Dr. Reed, I cannot been endowed from the very moment of but do myself the pleasure of quoting him their creation by that omnipotent being whom here. It ought to be our serious concern to do every world should love, praise and adore.— our duty so far as we know it, and to fortify our Reformer.

STAMP REGULATION.

When the people of any country are subject has been felt by every class of men. Aware to various propensities, and their usages, ha- as our rulers are of the despotism of the bits, notions and opinions, all savour of bar-zemindars over the ryuts, the tyranny of barism, none can imagine in how many ways the rich over the poor, the might of the they manage their affairs with chicanery, dis- strong over week, and the aristocracy of honesty and fraud. Self-interest becomes the the haughty over the timid, does it not beprominent feature in all their actions, and they hove them as governors to remove every rubturn even the best things to the foulest pur- bish from the path of justice, and make its disposes. Fond of injustice and imposition, pensation as cheap as possible for the peace they attempt to abase the very ordinances and and the prosperity of the subject? In such a statutes, which are enacted for the regulation country as this, where the rage of ignorance of their conduct, and to make them, if possi- and immorality is virulent, and the march of ble, the instruments of oppression and deceit. knowledge is resisted by the peculiarities of Confirmed as this melancholy truth has been, the circumstances in which it is placed, is it in many places, it is a painful reflection that this not expected that disorder and anarchy should should also be the case with Bengal If we prevail with ten-fold fury, if the tribunal of cast an attentive eye on the practices and the justice be not accessible to all? Consider the transactions of our countrymen, we shall find present state of India, and see whether it does that they are all of a mysterious nature. Com- not demonstrate the necessity of administering merce, which is calculated to shed a benign justice in a cheap and speedy manner. But influence on the happiness of mankind, when what are the effects to which the Stamp Reguit conisists in fair dealings of truth, has been lation has been conducive? Does it only perverted by wicked and sordid minds in this stand in the way to justice like a formidable benighted land. Demoralization runs thorugh monster to terrify those who go to ask her inesthe veins of the Hindoos, and with whatever timable boon? No, its baneful influence does they meet they grasp at it, and generally not rest here. Look to what it has contributmake it subservient to mischief. It is in this ed. By virtue of this Regulation certain permanner that pernicous consequences have arisen sons are selected" for the purpose of vending from many of the enactments of this country, and distributing Stamps on the part of Goand have thus frustrated the objects for which vernment." These venders get their respecthey were made. The 12th Regulation of tive licences from the Collector of Stamps, 1826, about levying stamp duties has met after having subscribed to all the conditions with very ill success, notwithstanding the pre-of a bond" with one or more responsible suricautions taken by its framers. When the ties" to the Board of Revenue for the faithful members of the Legislative Council passed this regulation I conceive it was done for no other end than to replenish the coffers of the East India Company. Its tendency to impede the progress of justice in the Mufussil

discharge of the duties prescribed in the Act. When they sell any piece of stamp they are bound to endorse on the back of it, the date of its sale, the delivery, and the sale of it by themselves. And it is here that this regulation