Remarks on the Speech of the Earl of Ellenborough

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858. Excerpt: ... Sudra can be impressed to do servile duty. Now the vast majority of the Hindus are Sudras. Whosoever is not a Brahmin is a Sudra; for there are but few Kshetriya, and perhaps no Vaishya families now in existence. The noble earl's friend Lalla Joteeprosaud is a Sudra. Is then his Lordship prepared to leave the mass of the native population a prey to the rapacity of the Brahmins agreeably to their " ancient laws"? That will be killing kindness to the great body of his clients, who will thereby find themselves in the same predicament in which Apollo's fabulous son found himself on successfully petitioning his father to allow him the honor of guiding his steeds for a day. In fine, the position of the Sudra, according to the ancient institutes of the Hindus, is in some respects worse than that of the black population of America. In that republic a Negro, emancipated by his master, is secure in respect of his life and property. The Sudra according to Menu can never be emancipated. If one Brahmin lets him off, he is liable to fall into the clutches of another. The text last quoted shows that it is not necessary for the Brahmin even to obtain a bill of sale, as in the United States, in order to be entitled to his services. He can impress him with the same impunity with which he can impress an ox or an ass that belongs to no one. " A Sudra, though emancipated by his master, is not released from a state of servitude; for of a state, which is natural to him, by whom can he be divested?" Will the Menu, viii. 413. noble earl advise the repeal or modification of the British statute against slavery, or demand that though the slave is free the moment he stands on ground included in Queen Victoria's territory, yet an exception must be made in the case of the Sudra impres...