former Governor of Bengal—a Magistrate of the country, a planter, or his English wife.
This is the production which Rev. Mr. Long, a clergyman of the Church of England, has vouched for the truth of, has revised, superintended, and paid for the printing of, and has furnished a list for its distribution in England, to influential men, thus stabbing his countrymen in the dark, in such a manner that they might not know of the blow until they felt the effect in what might be, to them, irreparable injury. This is the work the whole edition of which Mr. Long sent to the head official and representative of the Government of Bengal, Mr. Seton-Karr, the President of the late Indigo Commission, and the writer of its report; and who has stated in that report "that there are considerations which are paramount to all mercantile interests and political expediency, and to all material advantage—the simple consideration of justice and truth."
Yet Mr. Seton-Karr, as Secretary to the Government of Bengal, is found to have used his official authority, and the public means to circulate on Her Majesty's service this gross and malicious slander on his countrymen, giving it the weight and sanction of Government. Mr. Seton-Karr has been since appointed Member of the Legislative Council of India.
The Association beg a reference to the evidence given in the trial; to the judgement of Sir Mordaunt Wells, who presided at it; and to the judgement of Sir Barnes Peacock, the the Chief Justice, who heard the motion for arrest; to shew that they have here stated nothing that was not proved; and that all the Judges concurred in opinion that the libel was a gross and malicious one, aggravated by the manner of its distribution.
The Association leave it to you and to the public to judge how far such proceedings can be reconciled by Mr. Long with his mission of peace and goodwill to all men, or with the profession; by the Government, of its desire to smooth over animosities of race and to encourage British settlers and European capital in India.
They would desire to put you and all their fellow-countrymen in England, and especially to those who are Legislators, or Members of the Government, this case. It is yet but a few years since much excitement prevailed in England on the question of the repeal of the Corn Laws. Men's minds were greatly divided on this question, and many pamphlets and tracts were written and published on both sides. Had some one
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