The Bishop of Londonrose to call their Lordships' attention for a few minutes to a subject which he had some time ago brought before their Lordships. The subject to which he alluded was the connexion of the Government of India with idolatrous processions and practices in that country. When he formerly brought this matter forward, and inquired what steps had been taken, or were about to be taken, for carrying into effect the instructions sent out by the Court of Directors in 1833, he had received an assurance from the noble Viscount that every disposition existed on the part of her Majesty's Government to render those instructions effectual; and he now learned with great satisfaction, that the pilgrim-tax had been abolished at Gyah, Allahabad, and Juggernaut. It appeared, however, that with respect to the last named temple, the sum of 50,000 rupees, or 5,000l. sterling, had been a warded by the Indian Government to the Rajah of Khoonduh, who was connected with the temple—a transaction with respect to which he conceived some explanation was required, as to the ground on which the award was made. With respect to the attendance of European troops at idolatrous ceremonies, it was a Subject on which the public mind, both in this country and in India, was consider 1399 ably excited. The despatch of 1833 directed that that custom should be wholly abolished; and all that the petitioners who had come before their Lordships required was, that the instructions contained in that despatch should be fully and fairly carried out. Till a very late period, however, nothing had been done in accordance with those instructions. In Bengal the system had now been put an end to, but in the presidency of Madras nothing had yet been done. Christian troops were not only obliged to attend the idolatrous ceremonies of the Hindoos, but to appear also at Mahometan festivals. He then had in his possession a letter from an officer in the Company's service, complaining that on a recent occasion he bad been obliged, on the requisition of the collector of the district, to attend at one of those idolatrous exhibitions. Many Mahometan soldiers had refused, he understood, to attend at these Hindoo idolatrous ceremonies, as being contrary to their religious feelings. Why should not the same freedom of refusal be allowed to Christians? All he and the petitioners asked was, that our Government should forbear from any interference on these occasions; that, on the one hand, they should not suffer the natives to be interrupted in the performance of their religious ceremonies; but that, on the other hand, they should not compel those who were of a different religion to pay homage at the ceremonies of a religion which they condemned. He had not the least doubt that the Government at home were desirous to carry into effect the instructions sent out in 1833; but those who were anxious to see the custom complained of entirely abolished, and who knew that until last year nothing at all had been done to reform it, had a right to demand what were the reasons which prevented the Government from carrying those instructions (which it was admitted had been neglected) into full effect? The right rev. Prelate concluded by moving for a copy of the order of the Governor-general of India for the abolition of the pilgrim tax; for a copy of the papers laid before the Indian Government relative to the grant of 50,000 rupees per annum, on account of the temple at Juggernaut; and for several other papers bearing on the same subject.
§ Viscount Melbournehad no objection to the production of the papers in ques- 1400 tion. Government were most anxious to put an end to the customs of which the petitioners complained; and, so far as related to the pilgrim-tax, that object had been effected. As to the attendance of the Company's troops at these ceremonies, it was not meant to do honour to the idol, but to the individual prince who proceeded to the worship. The respect, he repeated, was entirely paid to the prince, or Rajah, about to attend the ceremony, and not to the ceremony itself. The troops paid no attention to the ceremony which was in the course of being performed; they bore no share whatsoever in it, and could not therefore be considered as in any degree paying respect to the idol, but merely and solely to the native prince. And it was evident, having a due regard to the situation of those individuals, that whenever they appeared in public a certain degree of respect and attention should be paid to them. With respect to the care of the pagodas, it was to observed that they were in many instances connected with large and extensive property; that they were in fact charitable endowments, granted for religious purposes, and, had those trusts been handed over to the natives, there was great danger that they would have been dilapidated, and perverted from their original purposes. Therefore it was that the Indian Government had taken charge of the funds, without the smallest idea that they were thereby encouraging idolatry. As to the delay which had taken place at Madras in carrying those reforms into effect it was impossible, in consequence of the peculiar circumstances of that presidency, that they could be so immediately and so speedily introduced there as in Bengal. He was certain, however, that his noble Friend the Governor of Madras would endeavour to carry into effect, with as much expedition as possible, the instructions which had been sent out on this subject. He understood that letters had lately been received from the Governor of Madras, stating that he was about to proceed to carry the instructions of 1833 into effect. There was no indisposition; on the contrary, there was every anxiety to act upon them, and it only arose from the peculiar circumstances of the two presidencies that as much progress had not been made in the one as in the other.
The Bishop of Londonadmitted that there were circumstances of difference between the two presidencies, but did not 1401 think them such as to justify the distinction which had been made with reference to the execution of the orders sent out by the Board of Directors. However, after the explanation which had been given by the noble Viscount, he should not think it necessary to carry the matter further at present,
§ Papers ordered to be laid on the table.