A discussion took place y...
A discussion took place yesterday at the India House o-a the subject already so ofteii before the public-viz., the conduct bf the Bengal Government towards the late editors of a Calcutta newspaper, during the short presidency of Air. AiAmm. The form in which the question caine on was that of a motion for the papers published by the Govern- ment of India relative to the press. This wvas met by Mr. RANDLE J5wcasoN, who moved as an amendment, that the Court should adopt the resolution of the Directors, approv-. ing all that ivIr. ADAM had done in the case of the Calcutta Journal, and (leclaring their intention to give that gentle- man cvery support in their power. This amendment of Mr. JACKSON'S was carried by a show of hands. Few persons, we suppose, had ever doubted that an act of' high prerogative, under any circumstances, exhibited by a Governor-General of India, or a stretch of that preroga- tive, howvever light, or an abuse of it, however to the tastes, and habits, and principles of Englishmen revolting, would meet with less antipathy from those by whom the author of such an act had been delegatod than from the coun- try at large. The Court of 'Directors, oni a question be- tween their own officer on one side, anid free opinion on the other, -must be morally incapable of an impartial judgmeent. They are identified with their servant: every powver iwhich rears its head or voice, excerpt at the bidding of the GOVER K- N4O0-G ENERAL himself subject to the con`trol of the India House at homne, is of course regarded as the common ene- miy of principaa and agent; and any annoyance or loss in- flicted upon it is a public service, entitling him wlho ren- ders it te the encouragement of his masters. WTe are sen- sibly grieved to find that on this occasion the press has been the victim of despotic power. lVhat sort of control the press or people of England can exercise over the arbitrary proceedings of an Asiatic authority, is pretty well seen by yesterday's decision in Leadenhall-street, although the efficacy of such a superintendence has been stoutly contended for by Sir CHARLES FoRBas (himself 'what is called a liberal Indian) and others. 'I'he Oriental press must henceforth, it is manifest, be a dead letter. The Gazette of the lecal Government is to be the text-book whence all useful knowledge in politics and history, all improvements of intellect and feeling, are to be drawn by men of every caste and colour throughout the immense peninsula of Indlia. The monopoly of tea is to be extended to thought: the machine is to be screwed closer every day, to repair the effeets of daily friction between the'doers aol thesufferersofthis unnatural dominion. That pure deRpotism which forms the- very principle of the Asiatic empire is to be plealed against its adulteration by one drop of freedtomn: thus begin, makes stlong ' i Bad ibelyb ilL."