A STRANGE STORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 194, 26 December 1868, Page 3

A STRANGE STORY.

•» (From Indian Public Opinion, Oct. 13.) We publish a very extraordinary letter from a young Englishwoman to an Indian Maharajah. The letter is a bona fide one, and it was in the presence of a European officer on a visit to the native nobleman that the mail brought it in, and that it was made over to him to translate, to the evident consternation of the native hearers. The letter is accompanied by a testimonial from a minister of religion testifying to the lady's qualifications for the position of a wife. It would te charitable to assume, as indeed is not improbable, that both the young woman and her spiritual adviser were lunatics, for as long as native society is not reformed, there can be no doubt that the wife of the lowest and poorest English peasant enjoys a life of greater freedom, happiness, and esteem than the partner of the most exalted Oriental prince. We should have avoided the subject, but we ieel that it is necessary to protest against the " nigger worship " which exists among so many of the admirers of "Exeter Hall." In spite of these days of railways and national education, many in England continue to be the slaves of stereotyped ideas, and one of these ideas is, that every adventurer with a black skin is a hero, a genius, and an apostle. Of course this letter is an extreme instance of that notion acting on a feeble and deranged mind. But we have another reason for publishing this letter. Many native gentlemen have been victimised by European swindlers and demimondaines, and we should not be surprised that this letter, too, is one of those traps at which it is unnecessary to more than hint. But that the letters from both the young woman and her clerical patron are genuine, we have, we regret to say, not the slightest doubt whatever : — «* His Majesty the Maharajah of , " Southern India. *• May it please Your Majesty, — I am a young lady of highly respectable connexions; my papa and mamma are both dead, and I am now residing with a Wesleyan minister, whose name is Rev . lam twentyone years of age, and have some property, and am anxious to be married to some one very high and rich. A king is what I want, and as you have been so highly spoken of in the newspapers [a few words here are almost illegible, but they look like ' there inform'] tbat you are a very rich, noble, good gentle-

man, you will pardon me, I hope, for writing to ask whether you have any matrimonial engagement, and', -if not, whether you would be willing to correspond with me with a -view to marriage. If we can agree,; l should not object to come out to India and reside in your palace with you as rfty husband, where we could have plenty of servants to wait on üb, and plenty of money to live upon. " Wiii 'you be kind enough to let tne know by the return of post what you think of this, my proposal, Whether it exactly meets your views, and, if so, when we could be married. " I should wish to know, in time to have all ready for the voyage to India and for my marriage when I arrived there, unless you would be pleased to come to England for me, and then we could go out together. " This would be very nice indeed,, but I shall not make any further arrangements till such time as I hear from you. " Hoping to hear from you when the mail returns from India, I am yours most truly, . «J. M , " , Cornwall, England, 25th August, " 1868." To this ia attached the letter of the Wesleyan minister : — '■ I hereby state that I have known Miss M intimately for four years past, and have always found her to be a very nice, amiable, kind, and excellent young lady. She has lived with us for more than twelve montha, so we know what an excellent wife she would be to any gentleman who could have her. She is well educated, having studied music and several languages. She is piously disposed, and a member of our church, which she has been for several years. Her parents were very highly respectable, and as they are now dead she has control over, all the property belonging to her. Should any more information be required, I shall be glad to supply it. ."