THE LAW AND CUSTOM OF SLAVERY IN BRITISH IN A SERIES OF LETTERS TO THOMAS FOWELL BUXTON, ESQ. BY WILLIAM ADAM. "A vis inertia, hostile to all change, seems inherent in the local governments of India."-" Respon- LONDON: SMITH, ELDER AND CO., CORNHILL. 1840. 416. NOTICE. THE Introduction to the first of the following Letters will LETTER I. TO THOMAS FOWELL BUXTON, ESQ. Introduction-Hindu Law of Slavery-Muhammadan Law of Slavery -British Law of Slavery. SIR,-Having been requested by a benevolent institution in Boston to deliver a public lecture on some subject connected with India, I thought of presenting a view of the state of slavery in that country, a subject to which I had paid some attention while resident there; but on preparing a memorandum of the materials I possessed for such a purpose, I found that they far exceeded the limits of a single discourse. I therefore selected another topic, and resolved, as my leisure might permit, to bring under full review the whole subject of slavery in British India, and to take some other mode or occasion of drawing public attention to its details. I now propose to submit to you the results of my inquiries, observations, and reflections. My primary design is to co-operate with a society which has lately been established in England, called the British. India Society, the objects of which are to collect and communicate information respecting India, to excite an interest in the welfare of its people, and to promote measures for their protection and improvement. By the force of circumstances I have been separated both from India and England, but my thoughts are constantly reverting to both countries, and I shall be in some measure satisfying equally the affec |