ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, March 30, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 382, 31 March 1849, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, March 30, 1849.

Sir, — I beg to inclose for publication tbe following extract from the, work of an esteemed author on the principles of morality, which ably supports the 'common sense' view of the

practise of duelling taken by a correspondent in the last number of your Journal : — " We are shocked and disgusted at the immolation of women amongst the Hindoos, and think that, if such a sacrifice were attempted in England, it would excite feelings of the utmost repulsion and abhorrence. Of the custom of immolation, duelling is the sister. Their parents are the same, and like other sisters, their lineaments are similar. Why does a tHindoo mount the funeral pile? To vindicate and maintain her honour. Why does an Englishman go to the heath with his pistols? To vindicate and maintain h ; .s honour. What is the nature and character of the Hindoo's honour? Quite factitious. Of the duellist's? Quite factitious. How is the motive applied to the Hindoo? To her fears of reproach. To the duellist? To his fears of reproach. What, then, is the difference between the two customs? This,— That one is practised in the midst of pagan darkness, and the other in the midst of Christian Light. And yet these very men give their guineas to the Missionary Society, lament the degradation of the Hindoos, and expatiate upon the sacred duty of enlightening them with Christianity. — 'Physician! heal thyself.' " I am, Sir, "Your obedient servant, An Admirer of Common Sense.