In the body of the Address, we find the following facts, which must excite a melancholy interest in the minds of our readers: they relate to the singular, unnatural, and murderous practice of Female Infanticide, as existing in the provinces of Guzerat and Cutch, in Western India.

The origin, nature, and extent of Female Infanticide among the Jahrajahs in those provinces, the degree of success attending the efforts adopted for its suppression, and the measures requisite for its abolition, appear worthy of consideration and investigation.

The attention of J. Duncan, Esq. late Governor of Bombay, was directed to the existence of Infanticide in 1789, and he observed: "It is thought to be founded among the Rájkumár tribe, in the inherent, extravagant desire of independence entertained by this race of men, joined perhaps to the necessity of procuring a suitable settlement in marriage for these devoted females, were they allowed to grow up ;-and the disgrace which would ensue from any omission in that respect." A confidential servant of the Rájá of Cutch, in 1806, stated to the Bombay Government, that daughters were not reared in his master's family; and being asked the reason, he answered, "Where have they an equal on whom to be bestowed in marriage?” The late Colonel Walker, who exerted himself with great assiduity, in 1808, to suppress this singular custom, did not consider it to have existed among the Jahrajahs more than five hundred years. Descriptions of the nature of this rite are very appalling. "To render this deed,” says Colonel Walker, "if possible, more horrible, the mother is commonly the execu tioner of her own offspring! Women of rank may have their slaves and attendants, who perform this office; but the far greater number execute it with their own hands! They appear to have several methods of destroying the infant, but two are prevalent. Immediately after the birth of a female, they put into its mouth some opium, or draw the umbilical cord over its face, which prevents respiration. The natural weakness and debility of the infant, when neglected and left uncleaned some time, causes its death, without the necessity of actual violence; and sometimes it is laid on the ground, or on a plank, and left to expire. The infant is invariably put to death immediately on its birth; and it would be considered a cruel and barbarous action to deprive it of life, after it had been allowed to live a day or two." Of the number that fall a sacrifice to this sanguinary practice, no correct information can be procured. It is supposed that the annual number of Infanticides in the Peninsula of Guzerát amount to 5,000. One estimate gives the number of deaths by Infanticide in Cutch at 3,000; another says, "the number of Infanticides, annually, in Hallar and Muchú Khanta, are between 1,000 and 1,100; and in Cutch, about 2,000." "The lowest estimate of these murders (observes Col. W.) although its moderation may appear in favour of its truth, I am disposed to think is as short of the number destroyed, as the preceding is probably an exaggeration."-Par. Papers on Infanticide, 1824, pp. 36-38.

It is grateful to humanity, and honourable to our country, to state, that considerable success has attended the early efforts of the British Government in India to abolish Female Infanticide. It was formerly renounced by the Rájkumárs in the Province of Banáras, in 1789, and by the Jahrajahs of Western India, in 1808. "A deed," says Col. W., "of the most solemn, effectual, and binding nature, was executed, renouncing for ever the practice of Infanticide."

The evident revival of the custom, after a few years, and its prevalence at the present period, are deeply to be lamented, and call for enlightened and energetic measures for its entire annihilation. A register of the Tá

luks of all the Jahrajahs in Cattywár, with the age and number of their female offspring, was made in 1817, and the whole number of female children in these Talooks, in eighty-one towns and villages, was sixty-three !— (Par. Papers on Infanticide, p. 108.) In 1824, was presented to the Bombay Government, "A statement of the number of Jahrajah females in the Western Peninsula of Guzerát, amounting to 266." The Resident in Cutch also forwarded a list of the female children in January, 1826, amounting to 143!-(Par. Papers, 1828, p. 25.) These valuable data, while they shew the success of the efforts to abolish Infanticide, demonstrate the prevalence of the practice, and the necessity of more efficient means for its speedy abolition.

The address proceeds :

We cannot presume, Right Hon. Sir, to state the nature of the requi site measures for the suppression of this anomalous practice. They will, doubtless, appear, upon serious investigation of the subject. Permit us merely to direct your attention to the judicious observations of Colonel Todd:-" Many virtuous and humane Princes have endeavoured to check or mitigate the evil of Infanticide. Sumptuary edicts can alone control it. The great Jay Singh submitted to the Prince of every Rajput State, a decree, which regulated the Daejár (or dower) and other marriage expenditure, limiting it to one year's income of his estate. Were bonds taken from all the feudal chiefs, and a penal clause inserted of forfeiture of their fief, by all who exceeded a fixed impartial expenditure, the axe would be laid at the root; the evil would be checked, and the heart of many a mother and father would be gladdened, by preserving the point of honour and their child."-Pegg's India's Cries, pp. 61-65.

The object of our benevolent correspondent is, to induce the friends of humanity in Calcutta to unite in a pressing memorial, upon the subject of Infanticide, to Sir Robert Grant, urging him to take such steps for its immediate and total abolition as may appear necessary.

If our readers will turn to our work for February last, they will there find a most painfully interesting paper on Female Infanticide, written by "an Officer in political Employ in Malwá, and late in Rajputána," from which they will perceive, that independent of Cutch and Guzerát, in the Bombay Presidency, the dreadful practice is lamentably common in the far more extensive provinces of Malwá and Rajputána, which are under the direct political control of the Supreme Government. For instance, in a few villages, inhabited by Purihár Mínas, situated in the independent kingdom of Udaipur, and containing about 500 families, there were at least 350 boys, while there were not above 90 girls; so that in that single parganá there must have been above 250 girls murdered: and in four villages of another parganá, in the kingdom of Bundi, consisting of 144 families, there were found to be above 90 boys under 12 years of age, and only 10 girls; while in one village, where there were 22 boys, the inhabitants confessed that they had destroyed every girl born there!

With regard to Infanticide generally, we fear, as our English correspondent remarks, that its turpitude is not sufficiently felt,

even by Christian nations. Mark the following striking passages respecting Manasseh, in 2nd Kings, xxiv. 4, "And also for the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon ;" and in Jer. xv. 4, where the Lord says, "I will cause them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem." The practice of such a horrid sin, especially in those provinces where it is so extensive, ought therefore to draw forth the exertions of every Christian who wishes well to his country, as well as of every friend of humanity, to secure by all just and prudent means its total cessation.

We fully agree in opinion with the benevolent "Officer in political Employ" before referred to, that the mere order of the British Government, peremptorily demanding the suppression of the practice, (even if it could with justice be enforced on princes whose proceedings we have by treaty no right to control,) is not sufficient. The minds of chiefs and ministers, of priests and people, require to be enlightened, that all may see the enormity of the practice, and cordially unite with our Government in suppressing it. But still much more may be done (can there be a doubt whether it ought to be attempted?) by a humane Government, for the immediate abolition of infanticide in many states, and its total, though gradual abolition in the remainder, throughout India.

The enormity still exists-and our hope even of checking, not to say abolishing it, must rest on our active interference in some way or other. We ought, therefore, at once to bestir ourselves, and act up to the duty which Providence devolves upon us as the protectors of the helpless. In those states which, during the minority of their rulers, are committed to our guardianship, immediate and final abolition might with ease be effected. But even in independent principalities, British influence may surely be most beneficially exerted, and ought to be so without delay. In these states we have now greater facilities for influencing both princes and subjects than before. Both are beginning to see the heinousness of the practice. The abolition of the Suttee must have excited their attention, and secured their approbation. Numerous copies of an excellent tract against the practice, written by a Malwá Bráhman, and proving that it is opposed to the Hindu Shastras, have been printed and distributed at the expence of Mr. Trevelyan, Mr. Wilkinson, the Hon. Mr. Cavendish, and others, among the influential people in Malwa, Rajputána, and other districts, and have already shaken the credit of the practice. The Supreme Government might present copies of this, or of some other more complete treatise which might be compiled for the occasion, to every prince with whom

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it is connected by treaty, accompanied with the expression of the earnest hope of the Governor General, that a practice so revolting to humanity and to all religions, would be no longer tolerated in his territory; and assuring him, that by abolishing it he would highly gratify the Supreme Government. Those who, in obedience to the voice of mercy, should preserve alive their own daughters, and deter others from the horrible practice within the sphere of their influence, might be presented with a medal, and complimented by a letter from the Governor General, expressive of satisfaction with their conduct. The officers of Government stationed in the districts where the practice prevails, might be instructed, as part of their official duty on the one hand to bring to the notice of Government, in periodical statements, the numbers of female children preserved or destroyed; and on the other hand, to express, in all interviews with natives of influence in these districts, the disapprobation with which the British Government, and indeed every civilized Government throughout the globe, regard so atrocious an act.

In order to prevent the destruction of their daughters by any of the chiefs through feelings of pride, in consequence of their inability to give the enormous dowry sometimes demanded, some regulation might be proposed to all the parties concerned, and with their consent universally established, declaring that a certain sum, to be proportioned to his annual rental, should be given as dowry with the daughter of each Rajput chief, and that this amount should be regarded as honorable and handsome.

These and many other expedients, which will occur to a humane Government and its intelligent officers, and which we need not advert to, might and would be adopted, were but their attention excited and kept alive to the object. To secure this, therefore, is the great duty of the friends of humanity in India.

We wish not our readers to do the East India Company or its officers the injustice to suppose, that they have made no efforts, such as we have above recommended, for the suppression of this abominable rite. The voluminous papers on the subject, printed by order of Parliament, and other documents, afford us abundant evidence to the contrary. Treaties have been entered into with the Máharájá of Cutch, the Jahrajah chiefs, &c. for this express object; British officers, by authority, have repeatedly explained the horror and disapprobation with which Government views the practice; letters were written by the late Governor General to the Rájá of Bundí and the Ránájí of Udaipur, expressive of his approbation of their conduct in abolishing the practice in their dominons; and Governor Duncan, Col. Walker, Mr. Wilkinson, and other officers of Government, have most zealously exerted their individual influence in the preservation of the life of helpless innocents.

So far all is well: but this is not enough. The fact, that soon after any of the modes referred to had been made use of, the practice of Infanticide was very materially checked; and yet that it again gradually revived, when through change of public officers, or the attention of Government being directed to other objects, the beneficial influence, which restrained the practice, was withdrawn, shews that something else is needed. When we find that in one pargana in Udaipur, and another in Bundí, the general practice was to preserve only one-fourth of their girls, and in one village, to destroy every one; and that even so late as 1833, this took place "without attracting the notice or reprobation, in the least degree, of the public or local Governments*" we must perceive, that it is the bounden duty of every friend of his species, to solicit to this subject the earnest, constant, and protracted attention of the public authorities, both supreme and subordinate, assured that by such means only, this unnatural practice, which now destroys far more lives than ever were sacrificed by the Satí, is likely to cease for ever.

With these views, we earnestly call the attention of all friends of humanity, whether European or native, to the propriety of an immediate petition to the Supreme Government, and the Government of Bombay, laying before them the painful facts above referred to, and soliciting, that in wisdom they will devise, and with persevering energy will carry into effect, the most effectual means for the early and complete abolition of infanticide throughout the whole of India.

ВЕТА.

[For giving publicity to the preceding paper, or to any information from other sources on which such an appeal to Government as proposed may be grounded, we rely with confidence on the willing aid of the periodical press of India.-ED.]

VI.-Important Question in Hindustání Grammar. 1.-OBJECTIONS TO THE SOLUTION OF Y. Z. IN THE DECEMBER No. To the Editors of the Christian Observer.

SIRS,

Your having admitted the letter of Y. Z. into your valuable journal, is proof that the point he discusses is of consequence, perhaps sufficient to procure a similar honor for the following on the other side of the question. Your's faithfully,

Q?

I have been a good deal amused with an elaborate botherment in your last December's number, in the shape of an endeavour to prove that the particle "ne" in Hindustání, is not an expletive, but the sign of the "instrumental case:" that is, that the true meaning of " Myn ne mara" is not, as all the world has hitherto supposed, "I beat," but "by me beaten was,' "hai" or " tha" being understood; by the addition of which, says your correspondent Y. Z., " mara," beaten, becomes "mara hai," beaten is;

*Calcutta Christian Observer, Feb. 1835. p. 61.

"" mara