1 divided into three classes, the offi- miny, they very often find it concial, the middle, and the servile.venient to remove without the conPrinciples which regard the gene-currence of their proprietors, leav ral good, are so seldom found in ing them to contemplate their slavestrong operation, that the state of bonds with some such feelings as a society is unfavorable to the promo-creditor views the bills of a banktion of public happiness. The first rupt debtor. They are not disposclass, or those who share in the able property at the will of their government, receive no salary; masters, but they may be called they depend for their subsistence upon by them at any time to pay and the continuation of their hon- their debt, on which account, if ours, upon the emoluments arising they do not prefer running away, from bribery, extortion, and the vi- they are under the necessity of ces or misfortunes of the people. making another self-disposition This continually renders them ob- wherever they can find a purchaser. jects of suspicion to the lower clas-It need scarcely be said, that this ses. The middling class is com- class of individuals are exempted posed of tradesmen and mechanics, from taxation, and from many vexor those who supply the natural and ations to which the other classes artificial wants of the public. The are subjected. If they commit any servile class is that unfortunate act which exposes them to the noportion of the community, who, hav-tice of the government, their owning contracted debts, from necessi-ers must deliver them up, if they ty or from some other cause, to an have not escaped beyond their amount beyond their means of li- reach; or else adjust the matter quidation, dispose of their personal themselves, in the best manner they service and often of that of their are able. families, for the required amount The lower classes, when in the to any person who will be respon- presence of those exercising official sible for the sum. This is done authority, discover symptoms of the either with or without security. most abject servility; fear, rather They receive their support from than esteem or respect, being the their proprietors, and serve them predominating principle of their as they may be required. They minds. The officers of government are voluntary bond-slaves, the ju- however, dare not, in a flagitious dicial system of the country allow- and public manner, commit acts of ing individuals to answer the de- violent spoliation; yet, when they mands of their creditors by a sur- can make an individual a subject of render of person and personal ser- official notice, they never fail to vice, and that of their wives and harass him to the utmost of their children. They are subject to the power; and in this case his proper discipline of their proprietors, but ty and person become insecure. they may complain to the magis-Those daring attacks of robbers, trate, when they are punished to an which frequently happen, and that immoderate extent. They have disposition to thievery which greatthe liberty of taking up their slave-ly prevails, undermine the confibond, should they ever have the means of doing so, and of changing their masters according to their pleasure if such an opportunity of transfer occur as they think will produce comfort or advantage to themselves. As they are not under personal restraint, nor guarded, nor subject to any mark of igno dence regarding security of person and property, which would otherwise be enjoyed. These acts of nocturnal depredation are frequently committed by those, who, under an equitable government, would be the protectors of the defenceless. These are the peons, or emissaries of government, who, as they are the most insolent and rude in their manners, are also the most violent and outrageous in their attempts upon the property of others. All elicit evidence in the case. persons, therefore, who are personally acquainted with any fact that may render its perpetrator crimiBut the insecurity of person and nal, withhold their knowledge of it, property is greatly augmented by and endeavour to make it appear the equivocal nature of judicial that they are wholly ignorant of the proceedings. In these the love of subject. When they witness any lucre and the influence of bribery, circumstances which they think so generally predominate, that it is may be cognizable by government, a most dangerous thing to fall into they will even forbear to see their the hands of a man in power. When issue, and convey themselves away parties are engaged in any litiga-that they may remain ignorant, and tion, they can form no idea how that it may be said they were not and when it will terminate; and present. When not only the acwhen an individual is so unfortu-cused is held guilty, but the witnate as to find himself in the hands nesses of his offence are in a measof government on any account what-ure implicated therein, it must ever, he has no standard of justice, needs follow, as the case really is no rule of equity, to which he can in Burmah, that all judicial proappeal, with the certainty of main-ceedings are loaded with embarasstaining his cause. At all events, ment, and that their issue, whether he is sure to come off a loser. The just or unjust, is extremely doubtBurmese governors, not consider- ful. ing themselves under any civil or A witness, in giving his testimomoral obligation to protect the in-ny, does it orally with or without nocent, and finding it to be their an oath, according to the will of gain to punish the guilty, as their the magistrate; and his evidence support depends almost entirely is written by a scribe of the court. upon judicial business, make it An oath is administered before a their principal endeavour to find pagoda, and consists in imprecaout guilt, or to create materials on ting on himself curses of the most which to institute trials. In all horrid description, in case of false trials, those who are implicated are testimony. Sometimes parties in always considered guilty till they law are under the necessity of decan prove themselves innocent, in- ciding the matter in controversy by stead of being regarded innocent, ordeal, the usual form of which is till they are proved guilty. An by water. The disputants are, innocent person, therefore, can with much ceremony, conducted to never lay claim to justice, but must a tank, and by the proper officers prepare to meet the issue of his led into it: their heads are then cause, with as little expense as immersed and held beneath the surpossible. face of the water, until one or othVeracity of evidence, and facili-er of the parties struggle to be rety in summoning witnesses, which lieved. He who has not the power render the administration of jus- of retaining his breath any longer, tice easy, and, when they consti- is cast, and suffers to a consideratute the basis of legal decisions, able extent both in person and propblessing to society, are here want- erty. Burning candles is another ing in a lamentable degree. Eve-species of ordeal; he whose candle ry witness is obliged to pay the is first consumed, has the sentence expense of being summoned, and pronounced against him. with the prisoner at the bar, is sometimes made to undergo the infliction of corporal chastisement to JUNE, 1826. Trials are often protracted to a great length, by various intrigues of the magistrates. Not being reg 24 ulated by any written laws in their || down successively through the va proceedings or decisions, their own will and pleasure are made the rule of their official duties. There are written laws in the country, but they are not generally known, arbitrary power having rendered them in a measure obsolete. All judges, and other officers of government, obtain their appointments by purchase. There are few instances in which merit is rewarded by civil honours. When an office becomes vacant, there are applicants with their offers and promises, ready at the source from whence the vacancy is supplied, whether it be the King, the Imperial Court, or a Vice-royalty. Presents are made according to the probable emoluments of the office, and the patronage of the high dignitaries is never bestowed without a proper pecuniary consideration. All orders, and intelligence of national concern, are conveyed by dispatch to the various authorities whom they may concern. Private communications of individuals are made as occasional opportunities may present, the advantages of posts and post-offices not yet being known. rious ranks of office, despotism, with all its horrors, descends to the lower classes of the community, restraining the perpetration of flagitious crimes, not by the encouragement of virtue and morality, but by the terrors with which it is armed. The system of taxation is irregular and arbitrary. The High Court, and the Vice-roys, levy taxes to any amount at pleasure, and enforce their payment in the most rigorous manner. The revenue of the country arises from three sources; customs on imports and exports, land duties, and taxes on householders. Of all imports the King takes the tenth of the article itself; and two or three per cent. besides is generally subtracted by the collectors. Land duties are altogether uncertain, not being regulated by the quantity of land under improvement, but by the quantity of produce. Household taxation is the most irregular, arbitrary, and oppressive. In this branch of revenue or rather of taxation, bullion only is required. The payment of this the people are ever anxious to avoid, and when it becomes excessive, they will change their place of abode to avoid payment, and to which it is exacted. It is a fact, that during the last Vice-roy's administration in Rangoon, particularly when at the commencement of 1824, the government were engaged in making preparations for war, taxation was so insupportable, that multitudes left the province, and took up their abodes elsewhere. From the foregoing remarks it will be easily perceived, that there is an entire absence of every pater-escape the rigorous method by nal trait in the character of the government. The King is the great feudal lord of the empire. His subjects exist for him and for his pleasure, their persons and all their acquisitions being subject to his control. He bears the sword of death, and can order it to fall upon the necks of men without the form of a trial. He has power, like the With the advantages of coining ancient monarch of Babylon, to give money, the Burmese are wholly both law and religion to his people.unacquainted. Gold, silver, and The members of his court know lead, are the current medium, and that their honours, and even their pass by weight. The standard existence, depend upon their con- weight is a tickal, which is about tributing to his pleasure, whatever one-fourth heavier than a Sicca the passion be which is to be grati-Rupee. The latter metal is used fied. From the King, therefore, only in the daily bazar purchases. through his ministers of state, and The silver currency is of various alloy, and prices of articles are regulated by the quality of the bullion in which payment is to be made. Previously to the present war, pure gold was worth eighteen times its weight in silver of probably about five per cent. alloy, which was the best then current. false conceptions on these subjects which their own system of religion inculcates. Where there is no regular system of taxation, and no public treasury from which officers of government receive regular remittances as a compensation for the performance There ever has been a standing of their official functions, where the regulation prohibiting the exporta-most important offices are virtually tion of gold and silver. This pre-put up to sale, it must be expected sents a strong probability that there must be much of both in the country. The common use of gold in personal ornaments, and the quantity of gold leaf employed in gilding pagodas and images, is an indication that there is no scarcity of this precious metal. It is stated as a fact, and on grounds not to be lightly discredited, that his present Majesty has an immense number of bars of pure gold and silver in the royal warehouses at the capital, the fruit of many years income. that the vicious propensities of the human heart will find scope for exercise in an extraordinary degree. This is the case in the Burmese empire. The higher orders are not animated by a spirit of honesty or benevolence, integrity seldom imparts any of its virtue to their proceedings, falsehood and duplicity are imprinted upon their engagements, and the common people are agonized under the severities inflicted upon them. As the scale of morality is depressed among the higher orders, and honesty meets with little encouragement, there are few inducements presented of a temporal nature to incline the common people to be virtuous beyond what is merely necessary to keep beyond the reach of the arm of power. The Burmese, in their general character, exhibit many features appalling to those feelings to which a Christian education has given a tone. The high regard which they entertain towards themselves, their religious institutions, and their own manners and customs, engenders a species of pride and vanity per.. While an opinion so unfavouraceptible in every class of society. ble to the general moral character As an apology for this, it may be of the Burmese must, however, be observed, that the limits of their entertained, the circumstances in own empire have circumscribed the which that character has been formextent of their observations and ed should be taken into considertravels. Few Burmese of respect-ation, although not as a palliation ability have penetrated into other of vice. They have evidently la Countries, or begun in any way an boured under very great moral and acquaintance with the manners and civil disadvantages. They have a customs of other nations. The few natural disposition capable of beforeigners who have visited them, ing improved even under common: have not been viewed in an advan-means; and when the impediments tageous light, and therefore, have been incapable of producing any deep impression in their favour; hence they have not been much re spected. They are wholly unac-of other principles shall have been quainted with the world, its notions, and its institutions; geography and astronomy are to them really unknown, and they are left to those and restrictions which tyranny now imposes shall have been removed, and the means for becoming acquainted with the salutary effects introduced among them, there is reason to expect that the best hopes which may be entertained of them, will be fully realized. MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. BURMAH. lament our unfaithfulness and unprofitableness in the service of our Redeemer, we hope we have had, at times, some suitable sense of divine things. To say the least, we have had great pleasure, Chitpore, (four miles above Calcutta,) and, I trust, we have found great advan EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. GEO. Rev. and very dear Sir, Dec. 13, 1825. It gives me much pleasure to write to you from the shores of India. Through the goodness of an ever kind and gracious God, we arrived at the Sand Heads on the 23d ultimo, after a voyage of 127|| days. As the N. W. monsoon had set in, we were slow in our passage up the Hoogly, and did not arrive at Calcutta till the 2d inst. And here we desire to raise our Ebenezer and to say, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us, and henceforth may we be entirely devoted to his service." tage, in studying the word of God. To this we have directed our chief attention during the voyage. As I intend writing to you at some length on several subjects, relating to the Mission, you will excuse me if I leave the further particulars of the voyage to be mentioned in my journal, and in letters to my friends. I shall endeavour to forward the journal very soon, if not by the first ship. The report of our being at Sand Heads, reached Calcutta several days before we did, and our friends had made a kind We had a very agreeable voyage from preparation to receive us. Soon after Philadelphia, where you left us. The coming in sight of the city, we had the captain, officers, supercargoes, and phy-pleasure of welcoming on board the Asia, sician of the ship were very kind and our Missionary brother, the Rev. Mr. obliging. We feel much indebted to them || Hough. He informed us, that the Burall, particularly to captain Sheed for his man war was renewed after an armistice indulgence and politeness, and to Mr. of several weeks, and that no well authenBlaikie, for his constant friendship, his ticated accounts had been received from interesting company, and pious example. our dear friends Judson and Price at Ava. We sincerely wish that all our Missiona- | It is generally supposed that they are imries might be favoured as we have been, || prisoned with other foreigners, and have with a pious supercargo. not the means of sending round to Bengal. It is painful to add, that our justly esteemed friend, the Rev. John Lawson, is no more. He died on the 22d of October, after an illness of several months, which he endured with much Christian resignation. His death was very tranquil and happy. His eldest daughter, aged 14, died since our arrival. Mr. Hough also informed us, that he expected to sail for Rangoon in a day or two, that his passage was engaged and paid, his furniture on board, and his family ready and waiting at Bow Bazar for orders to embark. We had a religious service at meals, evening prayers in the cabin, and, when the weather allowed, we had public worship in the steerage, on Lord's day morning. These services were attended with a very pleasing degree of propriety, and sometimes, with an encouraging solemnity. Allow me to add, that we entertain a hope that one of the sailors was converted on the voyage. We had nothing in all our passage of an unpleasant nature, to interrupt the constancy, friendliness or familiarity of our intercourse with the gentlemen on board, and even all the crew seemed fond of shewing us kindness. And although we have great reason to At noon, Dec. 2, we came on shore, and were accompanied by our dear Mr. |