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Monday 25 February 1828
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Police Reports.
SYDNEY.
Ann Jackson, an assigned servant to a per- son named Howell, was charged by her master with absconding from his service on the preceeding evening, and remaining ab- sent all night -a piece of misbehaviour which was stated to be of very frequent oc- currence. Ann, said her master, is a very hard working servant when she keeps sober, and though I allow her three glasses of grog every day, she is not satisfied, but will have more whenever she can lay hold of it. The Magistrate expressed himself in strong terms of reprobation at such an actual encourage- ment of drunkenness as the complainant's own admission proved, and stated his inten- tion to make a representation of the case in the proper quarter, so that he should not be allowed the indulgence of an assigned ser- vant, if it ever came to his knowledge that so improper a line of conduct was continued. Sentenced for three months to the third class
in the factory, and to be returned to her ser-
vice.
John Ward, free, was charged with being found drunk and disorderly in the public street. The constable, in this case, seemed to have some doubts as to whether the pri- soner was drunk within the meaning of the law, inasmuch as it was particularly de- posed that he could walk. The prisoner, however, admitted that he had got a little grog, and the Bench being of opinion that he had got a little too-much, sentenced him to pay the usual fine, or in default, to be elevated for four hours in the market place.
Two men, named Turner and H usley were brought forward on a charge of stealing soap from the Government Stores, in the Dock-yard, but the evidence not being suf- ficient to substantiate the charge, the case
was dismissed.
Levi Simcox alias Williams, a prisoner of the Crown, was charged with stealing a piece of nankeen from a stall, in the Marke -place. John Stafford the proprietor of the stall, stated, that on last market-day, the prisoner came under presence of purchasing some ar- ticles, and whilst he was engaged with some other customers, slipped a piece of nankeen under his coat and walked off. The prisoner, on being pursued, dropped the property, and was immediately taken into custody. Sen- tenced for two yeras to an iron-gang.
Samuel Astley, free, found lying drunk in the street, and almost naked, was sentenced to meditate for four hours in the stocks.
David Lyster, a seaman belonging to the Pandora, came on shore the previous even- ing for a cruise, but becoming damaged in his upper works, was obliged to lie-to, and would to all probability have foundered, had he not been towed into the receiving watch- house by a brace of constables. David paid his five shillings aud was permitted to de- part on board.
Edward Stock, a watchman at the Car- ters' Barrack, for quitting his post whilst on
duty, was sentenced to solitary confinement
for 24 hours.
George Butterworth, a prisoner of the Crown, was charged with absconding from
his daily occupation in the Government gar- den, and sentenced seven days to the tread- mill.
Thomas Oliver, free, was9 charged by an honorary constable, on the Parramatta-road, named Roche, with a robbery. It appeared from the evidence of Roche, that the prisoner who lived in the same house with him, had possession of certain working tools, which were lent to him by the prosecutor, but which suddenly and unaccountably disap- peared. The prisoner was charged with having improperly appropriated them, and accord- ing to Roche's evidence, admitted the fact, but promised either to restore them, or pro- duce others in their place. This was on Sunday last, and the prosecutor took no fur- ther notice of the affair until Friday, when the prisoner, notwithstanding he had actually performed his promise in providing other tools for the prosecutor, was brought for- ward under the present charge. The Bench dismissed the case against the prisoner, and the prosecutor from his office of constable.
The Burmese.-Mr. Fox, late Mission- ary at Ceylon, has communicated the follow- ing particulars concerning Burmah and
Budhuism : -
I shall endeavour to give you a few particulars respecting the Burman Empire, which I learned from native Indians, confining myself to those, for which I think there are considerable degrees of probability.
The Burman Empire is, in its original extent, one of the oldest Empires in Asia. That it was in ex istence as an Empire about seventeen centuries ago, I think they have histories that cannot well be ques- tioned; and other Indian histories, in their enumera- tion of the cities in the known world, particularly mention Ava. According to their own account, and the accounts of the Singhalese, the Burman Emperor was the first distinguished character, who counte- nanced the doctrines of Budhu ; and at Ava the principal relics of Budhu, (so supposed,) are inclosed in a magnificent mausoleum, near which stands the principal Temple, dedicated to Budhu. From the policy of the Budhuist Monarch, strangers have generally been prevented from passing into the in- terior of these countries; and from this cause, little
has been known of the Burman Empire for centuries, except from Budhuist Priests of other countries, who have received their education there, and authority to perform the highest offices of the Budhuist Priest-
hood. It is supposed, that a century ago the Empire was still confined within its ancient limits and that the first effort to enlarge it, was by attacking the Siamese: all other conquests fall within the present century. It is hard to conceive, from what principle they could make so many unprovoked attacks on the Company's territories. I have been told that the Emperor's Prime Ministers flatter his "Omnipotence,"
(for this is one of his titles,) in high terms, telling him that such is his power, that he has only to will it, and Fort. St. George and Fort William, ( Madras and Calcutta,) will be overturned at once. But since these insults, which have been borne with unusual
patience, have all fallen out since the English sub- dued the Budhuist kingdom of Kandy ; and there was, to my knowledge, been much communication between them since, I much question if the conduct
of the Burman Emperor has not been the result of revenge and fanaticism ; since any failure in Budhuism
at this time must be considered ominous, as the reign
of their present Budhu, according to their own ac- ounts, is drawing near to a close. Their system is a system of pure Atheism-virtue and vice, from a necessity of nature, produce their own reward. They
admit no God the Creator, no God the Judge,no God the righteous Rewarder. From anecdotes which I have heard from Mr. Chater, the Baptist Missionary, who resided some years at Rangoon, and from George Nadoris, and Benjamin Parks, our converts in Ceylon, who resided at Ava, the character of Budhuism in the Burman Empire, and in Ceylon, is the same :-it palliates every vice, and feeds a prin- ciple of selfishness to a degree unknown in the worst parts of the least favoured Christian Country : it cherishes no social feeling, it has no bond but the ties of self-interest ; it inculcates, at least produces, no higher humanity than that practised by the Priest and Levite, (Luke v. 31,32.) The will of the King
is law. The cruelties of the Burman Monarch ex- ercised on his subjects, are similar to those formerly practised by the Monster of Kandy. The King of Kandy impaled alive ; his Burnan Majesty crucifies. The ancient language of the country is the Magudha, or Pali; a language confessedly so ancient, that among the Indian Literati, there are as strong con- troversies on the claim of the Sangscrit, and Pali, to antiquity, as there have heen in Europe, for the an- tiquity of the Hebrew and Arabic languages : and though it is a controversy which can never be termi- nated, the arguments for the Magudha are very strong. The Singhalese profess to have come origi- nally from the country a little south-east of the Bur- man Empire, viz. from Sincapore, or Singha-poora, the Lion's City, and they call themselves Singha-le, from the Lion's Blood ; some say, because one of their Kings sprung from a Lion, perhaps a famous warrior, but more probably because the emblem of their Monarch was a Lion.
Mayor of Colchester.-In an old Magazine there is a provincial anecdote that seems to merit repetition.-James II. was eager to obtain if possible, some popularity before he attempted his grand scheme against English liberty.-With this view he went on a progress through various counties, where the Magistrates of the towns were, by the etiquette of the times, obliged to ha- rangue the King. At Colchester the Mayor was not a little embarrassed, being a plain
man, unaccustomed to speak in public.
To remedy this inconvenience, the Town clerk was appointed to accompany him as prompter, and to whisper in his ear, sen- tence by sentence, the harangue proper for the occasion. It must also be noticed, that James II. tall and thin, had an ungraceful stoop of the shoulders. Upon their entry into the chamber of audience, the prompter, to embolden the mayor, whispered, " Hold up your head, and look like a man." The mayor, supposing this sentence to be the
beginning of his speech, roared it loud to the King. The Town-clerk vexed at the mis- take, whispered for the mayor alone, "what the devil do you mean ?" This was instant- ly echoed to the astonished Monarch. The poor prompter, in despair, exclaimed, "By heaven, you will ruin us all?" This the Mayor repeated with equal emphasis; but no longer hearing his prompter, he turned round and perceived that he had plunk away ; an example which the Magis- trate followed, without staying for knight-
hood.
Wonderful Peculiarity in the En- glish Character !-The French, how- ever wretched may be their condition, are attached to life, whilst the English frequently detest life in the midst of affluence and splendour. English criminals are not drug- ged, but run to the place of execution, where they laugh, sing, crack jokes, insult the spec- tators ; and if no hangman happens to be present, frequently hang themselves;-Me- moirs of Lewis Holberg.