The Express. — London, England, 1853-03-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PA RLIAMENT HOUSE OF LOIWS.-FRID‘T, MARCH 11. he LOLD CstANCELL took hi.... at at 5 o'clo..a. PET! noss PILE.; EN f 11). ATMISOION OW THIL JILITA TO PARLIAIIENT.—By Lord BROVU GAM, from British born Jews of Great Yarm.oth, in twist Tof ; and the Doke of NOM 111: LAN 1.), _ . teem a pineal* &Wand, against. COUNTY COUNT lee iliesteme.—By lewd BROUGHAM, from a place in Montgomeryshire, and the Ear td CAlt• LI SLV. frets a piece in Yorkshire, in Lonna of. L3nl Laiteutes, Earl eVALUltoickeit, end Lord Moo t- Y.ei.L t i i. pit ...r... il Ix:Attalla, the netuto of which ad Lot reach the gallery. INDIA. The 1 . .arl of ELLE:\ 1101101.:fill, pursuant to notice, rose to present a petition from the British and usher eerie tam ialtsb teem et Calcutta mid the b neiehsuring petts, en the lower province of &meld, "lieu rePp. et to the . re- 1 newel of the act tor the government of the Indi in tertet^-1 lies. Tete petition was ..fined by 3ei eerie reiesentiney different from that of the petition which be presented & short time 'Mee ics the house, me& Batibey. That petition was extensively 'hosed by natives of ludic of the full b.ood ; wilds' the preeent was eigniet by Obeid:ens, Edrepenne, send native Indium of the It di blood. Of the penuosers -128 were either hold:re of lend or mirk i totem!. its of indigo rectum+, or engaged in cotton or silk naval:Wong in the luxe.: pat of the Wept proetnee t . al»eit 131 were connected with commerciel hr tree., proiepelty at Calcutta, several of which were the most considereble commercial houses in Calcutte ; 181 were tr eteep...sp!c .t wealth ; 268 wen, attleefenanteLl servents in the government offices ; and tee were clerks in private effaces. There were other, n hose avecations were not specifically stated ; and, altoge ther, the petition e .neeyed a fair Tclariwr.tatioll of the opinions of those who ent.rtaineel English ideas as to the government of India. The petitioneze very truly com plained of the bad stave of the law, and the Inefficiency of the jailers and the other secretive officer. ; awl, as fur as he could see, there was good cause for their complaints. (Hear, hear.) They %aid that in the Supreme Coon there were three did' rent modes of law —the English law for British subjects—the Hindoo or Mohammedan law for IT indooe. and the English criminal low fur all Masan; and far nearly eielity years these dilf• foreat codes hail been administered by thie one court, genera'ly with satiefection to the petitioners. There was this great practical inconeenienee, however, as to this court, that when the charter fur the foundation of the court was granted, all the Engliab statute and common law were im ported into that court ; but since that in r nets of pediment pmeed in this country bail been eatended to India, unless by epeeial provision. Ihe procedure of the mutt was directed like that of the teeing of Westminster Hall ; but a judge proceeding to India to offiel rte in the Supreme Court hart to learn the Ilindon end etohair.eilen law, of which he knew 31 ething. and to forget a large portion of the English law, with which he wee acquainted. The petitioners further complained, end, as it lippeaerel to him, with great justice, of the enormous amount of stamp duties on all legal proceednes. (Beer, bear.) They , omit observed upon the appellate jurisdiction, which 1 rested wholly with the civil service judge. They seid 1 there was one of %hoe- judges in each Zino, that being a county containing about • se :ion of lahabitants, who I was mildly a crimatal judge, hot woe also a civil judge ie 1 emits up to 5001 , beyond which an appeal would lie to a i court composed of five civil service judge*. The petitioners aeltn.tmol the geaeral absence from corruetion of tl.t tills j u dge., out their a tmenistratien of judieo was the sueject of universal complaint cauued by their went of peeper qua lification. They next referred to the elate of the police, which, they said, had totally fated to prevent crime, to apprehend offenders, ant to protect life and property. More aver, they said it had breams an engine of oppre wean. The petitioners then proceeded to make some obser vations with regard to the civil service. They said that the regulatios ma le in 1837 with regard to the apeoiet mut of civil servants from the college of llaileybury had prevented persons of eminence from obtaieine situations, and that the monopoly VFW highly pr. judicial to the public interest. With regard to sa:alies, the, stated that a me giants of the greatest experience received little more than one who bud but just arrived in the country; and with re spect to the practice of peon .lion by sena , rity, they said that one Const - quenCe of it st as that civili..ns were constantly found It the head of nepartments, office., cr courts of the business of which they km ei little or nothing. They then referred to the education which was received by East In diens ; and they prayed for such ceamers in the arrange ment, impeding the teed departments as to their lordehips might appear mdse.**, and that with that view there might lee an enquiry into the nature of the public employ ments en India, the galaxies and ens laments attending them, and the principles on wnicb, if at ell, the peak service ought to be supplied teem England. Ntw that preyer w.O coo which uedoubtedly deserved their lordships serious cantideration. lie had always held that the beet form of goverement was that which afforded the greatest facilities fir the Age...en:Ty of superior ability, end for its employment in the public service ; and that every state ought to bo at liberty to select the individuals most competent to fill ail situations of itnportaoce. But there was in the special and anomalous situation of India another trommendieg principle, whe.h in his opinion overruled all others. It was absolutely eseeutial, if they desired to pre heir dominion over that country, that every person who filled a high employment should have a nearer and deeper interest iu England than he had in ludia—(hear, hear)—it was absolutely necessary to prevent anything that appreaehed colonisetian, fur coloniistiou was separation ; and, Lituated as we were in India, it was incumbent on us to pursue the Mine CJIIIIO in preserving the country as we hail done in acquizi.g it. (Hear, heir.) But he was by nu means sure toot they might not make an arrange ment by which they would COLeiliutJ bath these apparently conflicting interests, std to a certain extent gratify the petitienets while doing what would be for the advantage of UM country. lie should certainly object to giving to the Governor-feenerai awl to the governors the power of select ing any person whom they might think competent, and placing him at epee in high Mace. Such an arreugentent might lead to much intrieue and improper conduct; and above all it would contlict with the great principle of making all persona who held high situations to depend more upon Euglend than open India. (Hear, hear.) But he could see 11J objection to the Governor-General's being allowed to make so appointment in any case of peculiar fitness", with the previous consent of the authorities at home. The primary evil of the whole civil service wu the state of the police. The laws on paper were molts more severe, increased judiciary powers were given to the megia trates, but the real evil remained uoremedied. The peti tioners complained of the sale of spirit licenses, as contrary to the spirit and habits of the people, and as tending to de moraiiae them, foe the sake of are. They also com plained of the melt denies, as being exceedingly onerotti to the tams of the natives. Sines he (the Earl of Eden borough) west oat to India there bad been several reductions of the duty. Such reductions were reposed to him when he wet there; but the government was then in financial difficulties, and Le was of opinion that no redue. tins which might be mode was likely to go into the poeket of the consumer. Subeequeatly, there bad been three reductions, amounting together to one-sixth of the aggregate of the entire tax, and they had been fol lowed, au by any increase of reveals., but by a loss of Ool,ooul. a year, or mu-eighth of the whole eminent. He had very great doubts whether the diminution had been felt by the people, and he Nought it would have been bet ter had the 100,001(. been expended in making roads and improving the communications generally. (Hear, hear.) Willi toped to the Supreme Government, the petitioners complained with some velem of the paucity of the members of the legislative council, and prayed for a considerable addition, especially from the mercantile class. Then, with respect to the home authorities, the peti tioners had come to a conclusion different from that which was arrived at by the committee of the Ileums of Commons, and from that adumbrated rather than expressed by the committee in their lordships' how.; a conclusion unfavourable to the double authority of the Board of Control and the Court of Directors. They geld that the Court of Directors, being elected by a proprietary body, consisted of persons who looked solely to a return for the capital which they had invested, and that the system of osavusing was such os to prevent highly qualified persons from proffering their services ; and he was very much in clined to agree with the petitioners in this expression of their opinion. 'fiery further stated that there was insets rity of property and very limited employment ; that indigo wee aimed in the nature of a monopoly; and that ver little Capital was employed in India; and, adverting to the inadequate manner in which the objects of the last Charter Act nod been carried out, and to the several facts pre viously alleged, they suggeoted the expediency of making the new arrangement fora shorter term of years, end in con-1 clusioo they prayed that the several matters contained in the petition might be taken into coceideratiou. N.w ho really believed, not merely from his own observation in India, but from the result of inquiries which ho had made subsequently, that the statements in the petition were sub stantially correct. Whenever all these anomalies, all thou absurdities, all these monstrosities, had been objected to, the answer had invariably been, "The system works well." It might work well for those who were employei in the ad ministration; it might work well fur the Court of l) rectors, their friends, and relations; it might work well for all those gentlemen, with their relations, who, through the Court of I.hrectors, obtained appointnionta in laths; but the question was, did it work well fur the people of India ? (hear) —did it possess any apeeerance of permanence, or was it poosible that they could permanently maintain such • government i (Hear, hear.) There were two thiuga which were often coufounded by thou who looked at the prospe rity of India. and the extent of its trade. They omitted to cooaider that all the peat benefits which had been cos ferred upon India—and greatly benefited it—had been In the extinction of the hithratta authority, in the destrue ties of the Vindareee, in the establishment of internal peace from one end of the country to the other—they forgot that all those great benefits had arisen from our malt try auemesies, and that in these the civil government had no part; that the courage of our troops, the daring of our officers, the enterprise of oar generals, and the genius which they had on many oceisions distil .) el—that all these circumstance had given us immortal fame as a Brett militat y power, and hadwciared fir ladia the benefits of internal peace. Peace alone was • great blessing since it led to prosperity. The natural state of mankind was a state of progress. There meet be extraordinary circumstances ariritie out of the existence of all possible governments to arrest the progress of mutktud when in a state of peace. But what had they ldato look to in the conduct of the civil government ? What id they owe to it ? Ile really believed that if they were to quire what had been the distribution of pr o perty occa sion :d by the thoughtless and tocenviderate adeetiea of cer. tail measures for the collection of revenue, nil the adop tion of mammies in reference to the sale of land., they would find :bat the situation of property thus Meted to India was much greater than that effected iu Eagland by the Norman eungusst, greater even than that effected by then:any con fiscations which bed taken place in Ireland. (Hear, hear.) Ile contessed that when he marched through the upper 1610TiuGel, and saw tne vestiges ef ancient palaces, toads, temples, and mosques, and the records of the great govern ments of the past, he felt humiliated at the thought of what had been dine by his owa countrymen; he felt that they were exhibiting thenisAvea under circumstances of dispa ragement, uud as great:, inferior to the noble race of men whom they had succeeded in the government of India. (Hear, bear.) What they had now to endeavour to do was to form • government by which a good admi nistration might be secured. (Beer, hear.) Ile reverted now to bis original idea that their great object should be to obtain here the assistance for the go v e rnment of India of the mist able and trustworthy personu in presidencies ; and, havin g their assistance, under the three ' lion of a minister of the Crown, he did hope that the orden sent out from this country would be dictated by wisdom— by ienowledae they certainty se , old be dictated; and that they would be received in Inaia whit satisfaction. Its eared nut in what manner the couaeil of Ind:a was ;armed ; he cared, not whether it wis the result of election, or the result of what ho believed to be the best men:l.ot effecting the object, namely, the adoption of the principle of jxdiciel selection. Beat a: any rate, let them endeavour so to farm the cannel as he justity • hope that they were imp:attics good government to India. (Hear.) Let them as far as they cuu:il exel tele ordinary men, and men of mediocrity from the courted; ab!ve all, let tucm exclude jobbers from it—(hear, hear)—let tam eadensour, as far as they could, to forth • government for India seal& would be conducted with knowledge, with, abili.y, with probity, and with a se asird for the interest of the people, and not merely of their rulers. (Cheers.) Lord BROUGHAM said he had listened with great atteutien, as he was sore all their lordships hail, to the lee- PrVIATO address of the noble earl ; and he felt that the sub. ject was one to which it was imperative that they should apply all the resources of their talents, their Ithowlidge, met their wisdom, solely with the desire of doing what the nuble earl had inculcated with his wonted eloquence, namely, consulting for the good of the people of Luna, and thereby promoting the honour of this country. (Hear.) Ito must Tete (era moment to oat pint embraced in the noble earl's address, namely, the rue de of nelministt ring tustiee. lie had been called upou to viudicate tee lace' ad ministratien of justice from charges made ageinet it in pe titions presented to that Inoue, and s ith reseect to which he had moved resoiutiong which were adopted by their lordships. As regarded the appeals made during a certain period (rain the I ndien courts to the Judicial Committee in this country, the result of a comparison was that while in those which came from the native court: there were two reversals and two ithirmancee, in those which come from the English Court , there were seven reiterateh fur one ettirmance. This, however, by no means proved that tho administration of ju-ace woo better in the native comas than in the Euglieh courts. The appeals teem the native courts rested generally on question'', not of law, but of fact; end as those courts were well atquahated with the maneers, habits, and language of the people, they were not likely to be in error. The scanty nuinber of CI or G 2 appeals in the coarse of ten years from so large a territory as India. showed that the appellate jurldictiou as now established "Herded a veil in sufficient remedy to the natives of that country. (Hear.) The law tax which existed there was one the existence of which would appear utterly incredible ii it did not rest on the most positive dernonstratieu. It was way to be ex ,' plaint d—it could not be justified, and hardly palliated—by the embarrassed state of the finances of India. When Mr. Bentham gave to the world his immortal work on jurispru dence tied legislation—the greatest monument of even his great fame—he proved the evils of a law tax with a dem el- I aeration which was not to be equalled except in the maths ' tactical ecienees: and in reply to the persons who said that those who 'plies against a tax were bound to find n substi tute, he said —" I accept the condition., and in plate of a law tax give me any other that the wit of man can devise." Lord MONTEAGLE said that the importanze of this subject was nut greater than the ability with which it had been opened by the nuble carl. The petite a which he pro *elated to the house comprehended heads of inquiry into which they had no opportunity of inquiring. It W.Le cut only necessary to inquire into, but to exhaust the subject before they could krow into whose heads they were to entrust the permanent government of belie. He hoped that they would nut pasa a permanent act in the course of the present year fir the government of India. (Cheers.) Lord BROUOIITON said he had hitherto en:shied from taking any part in the discussion on India, because he might be compelled, on more adequate au! com plete information being obtained, to give at a fu ture time a different opinion from that which he expressed in their lordships' home. It appeared to him that there was no reason why parliament should pass a bel for twenty years, or for ten yuar+. Tito bid for the government of India ought to be like any other act of parliament, that is to say, to last till parliameut saw fit to alter or repeal it. turd GLENELO said it was true that the first proposi tion which had been made when they were legislating on this subject in 1832 was that no limit should be fixed for the duration of the act. But that act proceeded oa the principle of a compromise, mutual concessions being made by the government on the one side, and the Eaat India Company on Use other. With regard to the remarks of the noble earl on giving education to the people of India, ho thought that all their lordships were agreed that it was the duty of thislgovernment to give the best education in their power to the people of India. (Hear, beer.) That was their duty—the mission—the vocation to which they were called, and from it they were bound not to shriek. (Hear, hear.) His noble and learned friend said that there wan one law for Ilindoos, another for Mohammedans, and no law at all for Europeans. The With of the matter was, that the Supreme Court of Calcutta was the court for Europeans, and therefore as against Intopeans the natives of India had no legal protection whatever. (Ilea.) If a European committed an assault on a native at the distance of 1,100 miles from the Supreme Overt, he could net be tried unless he was brought all that illetance, which was in fact tantamount to a denial of jus doe. (Hear.) It was a greet misfortune for the people of LEI that the views of the British government were not carried out, for at that moment the natives of India were without justice or law. He trusted that this state of things, which reflected so much on the cha racter of the country. would soon ba remedied. (Hear.) The Earl of DERBY said that everything which fell from the noble earl who had presented the petition was en titled to the greatest deference, from the vast information which he possessed. With his (Lord Derby's) limited in lermation, he could not acquiesce in the conclusions at which that noble carl had arrived ; still he listened with gespect to what he had urged with regard to the evils and beestiveniences prevailing in India. (Hear.) lie earnestly Need that the government would re-consider the de termination which he understood they had expressed, of legislating permanently on the affairs of India in the pre sume session. lie would suggest that there should be intro duced in the present session a continuing act, without modi fication, for a term not exceeding four or five years, but sufficiently long to enable them fully to complete the in thstigetion, and maturely to weigh the recommendations of the committees—including in the act a provision that par liament should be at liberty, if it saw fit, to legislate previously to the expiration of that term, but that it should not be necessary, year after year, to pan an annual bill, which would have greatly the effect of sicsettling the salads of people both in India and at home. This would be the best guide to the solution of the groat and difficult prob lem of legislating for the welfare of our Indian fellow sub jects. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of ABERDEEN hoped that there was but ens opinion amongst their lordship' as to the necessity of legis hting in such a way as should be most beneficial to the ho habitants of our great empire in India. (Hear, hear.) He could not agree in tae wisdom of the proposal to legislate for four or fire years. (Hear, hear.) Of all the suggestions he had yet heard, this ape peered the least likely to answer the end which they all had in view. (Hear, hear.) On certain leading prin ciples the osnaraittees of both houses had arrived at a clear opinion ; their inquiry was so far completed as to deal with the whole question of government ; and though the com mittee of that house had not pronounced so decided an opinion, still their inquiry was closed, so far as related to IM government of India. The legislature was, therefore, is a position, founded on the report of the committee of the Hems of Commons, and supported by that of their lord ships, to deal with that part of the subject. He could not admit that they were incompetent to do this without em bracing the whole of the heads into which the cam. udters had divided their inquiry, or that it was necessary to consider the whole of these before they touched any part of the question. The petitions recently presented from India no doubt suggested v,ry important grounds of in quiry awl alleged matters very fit to engage their lordships' attention. He doubted not that their lurdships would be fully disposed to attead to those petitions, includieg the one now presented by the noble lord. But the cummittee was now sitting; and if he mistook not, the most important topics contained in that petition at this moment eugege I their attention. The judicial system, in particular, which the noble lord had especially dwelt on, woe now under their consideration. HT confessed it 'appeared to him somewhat inconvenient—ho might say irregular—to enter into • detailed discussion of those different points of in quiry, which were in feet the special objects that had been referred to the committee, and to inquire into which the committee had been appointed. (Hear, hear.) They had heard much of the lamentable government of India, and of the deploraole state of that country. The noble earl (Ellenbwough) had given a very forcible description of what ho had there witnessed, and had stated that, on contemplating the splendid palaces and other great works of past generations in that country, ho felt humiliated at the reflection of how little we had done. He (herd Aberdeen) did not think this inference was warranted. He should as soon think of drawing the inference, from the sight of the pyramids of Egypt, that their builders were superior to us in moral or political attainments. lie believed that the government of this country in India had been attended with immense and extensive blessings. (Hear, hear.) It had greatly improved the con dition of the people ; and we need have no fear of put ting ourselves in comparison with any former government. (Hear, hear.) Our desire was to carry still further the blessings which the people of that country had derived from our government; and he trusted that it might be possible, with tho result of the inquiries now in progress, to produce such a measure as would tend materially to the improvement of the people of that country. (Hear, hear.) Ile certainly was of opinion that the present system, essen ' (icily, should form the feuthlatit a 01 any future govern ment of India. He said nothing of the modification and tmproverneut of which it might be susceptible; but be thought it ought to be founded upon the existing system. THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 12, 1853. He must protest against the suggestion now made as un reasonable. (Hear, hear.) The Marquis of SALISBURY expressed his doubts whether the system of double government, at present existing, ought to be continued. If any measure• were brought in before the witnesses from India were examined, they would run the ri-k of introducing provisiondiame trically opposed to what was most needed. He hoped the govt.:num:lit would rec,usider their determination. COUNTY ELECTION POLLS BILL, The Earl of CARLISLE moved the second reeding of this bill. The Earl of DERBY soi:!, though he feared the bill would be produftive of some inconvenience, yet as the House of Commons had declared in its favour by • largo majority, he would out offer soy opposition to it. The bill was their read a second time. S.v.•ral other bill, woe read a second time, including the O:tice of Elorniners (Court of Chancery) Bill, and the firm ral Board el Ile den Bill. The Mutiny Bill and the Mariam Mutiny Bill soverolly passed through committee ; and the house adjourucd at a quarter to 8 o'cloek. quite naked while they were washed with a mop and pad, and then sent shivering to their wretched cells la the month of March. It appeared that this institution possessed pro. perty to the automat of somewhere about 20,0001. a year, chiefly under the management of the Corporation of London. Certain proceedings had taken place in the common council respecting this hospittl, which made him deem it necessary to ask this question. It appeared that the common council had met on the preceding day, and having despatched the question of the Jews, proceeded to Bedlam. (Laughter.) Mr. Gilpin brought forward a motion for the appointment of a committee to make stringent enquiries, and report on the recent management of Bedlam and the trgatmeat of patients, but after a disunion this motion was withdrawn. Now what he (Sir B. Hall) wanted to ask woo whether any steps had been taken to prevent the re •urrcnce of such abuses as ha: been described in the report of the lunacy commissioners, whether that report would be Idd on the table, and whether, for the future, Bethlehem llotpital would ho exempt from the supervision to which all other lunatic asylums were subject. (hear, hear.) Mr. PI IZIIOY was not aware that any report was likely to be laid on the table, but a bill had been lately in , roduzed into the other house of parliament by the ex-Lori Chan cellor, in which was a clause rem°. ing the exemption row enjoyed by Bethlehem. If the bill putted, es no doubt it would, Bethlehem would be pot on the moo tooting as every attics e►tablishment of that description. (lieu, hen.) PASSING TOLLS. committee, and speak, therefore, merely from hearsay ; but I understand that branch has already been pretty much gone into, though I think the house will agree with me that that is precisely the branch that was the least impor tant to make inquiry upon. For there is no oac iu the house, I believe, who a not already fully acquainted with the position of the home government, of its theory, and its method of action. We all know the constant underground wrangle which is kept up between Leadenhall-street and Cannon-row, and of the ingeniuns schemes which are re sorted to to prevent open squabbling, and inquiry into that part of the case was therefore the least important. Yet that was put first en the list,and the inquiry was pressed on that point, and I am told it is concluded, so far as it was necessary to inquire for the purposes of legislation. I Now I venture to say that that which most of all will describe or iadieate the true character of • the government is to be found in tho condition of the people who are governed. (Hear.) And yet, so t tr as the inquiry goes, the whole case of the condition of the native population of India is left untouched. If there be any truth in rum star, el far as the o n:uittee has gone this session, and judging from the evidence that has Iran: Aired, there has been nothing in the shape of wlverso evideuca I produced. There is, however, adverse testifu+ny to be oh mined, and adverse witnesses to be examined, and whether the East India Company or the Board of Control may be in their constitution good or bad, it is at hest essential that unbiassed and iupartial witnesses shot.ll be examirrd, and that the evidence should not be confined to iwrsons con had read petitions asking for inquiry in this country, and also that some inquiry should take place in Indio, with the view and for the purpose of forming a totally new govern. meet at the end of two or three yeses. lie (Lard .1. Russell) thought that there could be nothin; 160 dangerous to the Peace and welfare of India as to be for two or three years inquiring what kind of government she should have. (Cheers.) The hon. gentlemen said that it potpie were attached to their institutions nothing could shake that at tachment. The people of this country were emu:lied to t t h h a ei t r if it a tst a i a t as ulo it n a s zu b t u ha t d h y e w (l. ,, o f r a d ral d i;d lt , ussaaedllw)hwi t dni,cot,lrde whether monarchy was a good thing, or a House of Lords was a good thine, or whether a National Assembly was not • good thing, and thit for two or three years—he was not sure whether the ott teliment of the people to their in stitutions would not be A...:eett. (Hear, het.r.) It was On I opinion of the gourmet:: that such a measure should be brought forward this uaien as they think Lest for the welfare of India. They hoped to time such a measure, and introduce it so as to gi V.! ample time for its discussion, He sinned depart from what he conceived to be his duty if he sai I anything with regard to the nature of C:ot measure, or the terms in "obit% it would be eu..cted. It would be unwise and dangerous if he were to state tit.. outlines of the measure without giving any reasons fur its provisions, and asking the house to decide on its merits. And that course had this savant age to recommend it, that those who opposed that measure would be ob::ged themselves to pro pose some definite plan. So long as you went on for two - - HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Fammr, MARCII 11. The Smoak took the chair at the usual hour. ADMISSION OF JEWS INTO PAIILIAMENT. T he s her irf, 4 is 1,31:C1011 and Middlesex appeared at the bar in their rob.m of QUIN: and preatnteil the pctitien of the Corporation of Landan, iu favour of the admisaiun tit Jews into parliament. WIGTON BURGHS ELECTION PETITION. • In answer to a question from Mr. 111'030N, Mr. CARDWELL said that inquiries were being prose cuted with a view to ascertain whether the L abours at pre sent maintained by passing tolls might nut be made self suppoeting. A successful result had elready been attained with regard to Ramsgate; but until the inquiry was coin pieced he could not state whit would be the course of the government. MAILS TO TILE NORTH. Mr. HUDSON asked the Secretary of the Treasury whether the attention of the Pestmaster-General has been called to several memorials presented to the late Post master-General by a large deputation from the North of England, canine upon his lordship to expedite the mails to the boriuglis of Sunderland, Ne ocanle-upon-Tyue, North and South Shields, and all the places north of York ; and ,vl.ether he can inform the house what course the Post master• General is about to adopt to give those populous dis tricts the advantage of an improved postal communication ; especially as letters, if forwarded by the Great Northern Railway, could he delivered three hours earlier in the im portant towns before referred to. Mr. WILSON said that the Postmaster-General had had under his consideration various memorials on the subject. The matter was one requiring some arrangement of details, but he hoped to be able considerably to accelerate the mails to the north by June next. CRIME IN IRELAND- Mr. WHITESIDE asked Caief Secretary for Ireland whether a bill has been prepared, or is in course of prepa bon, to carry out the recommendation of the committee which sat last session to inquire into the causes of crime and outrage in certain districts in Ireland, to amend the law re lating to the formation of tile jurors' lists in that country. Sir J. YOUNG was understood to say that the question was under consideration. SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION.—CASE OF BOWER. Mr. LI. HERBERT presented a petition it nil a person named Bower, now in the custody of the Scrjeant-at-Arms, for refusing to take an (nth or make a legal affirmation be fore the Southampton Election Committee. The petition having been read by the clerk at the table, Mr. H. HERBERT said that the petitioner stated he had for the last seven or eight years entertained the conviction thot oaths were contrary to the teaching of the New Tests merit, but he was willing to take such au affirmation as should be biudiug on his conscience. He (Mr. Herbert) now moved that the prisoner be discharged without pay ment of the fees. (near, hear.) His reason fur doing so was the belief of the committee that Bower had been actu wed solely by conscientious motives. lie might add that -•-• - nected with the government of India, or who - have been the greater part of their lives in the serviee of the Last India Company. (near, hear.) Toe hon. gentleman referred shortly to the petitians which had been presented to the house from various parties in India—some from Eure,teas and Christian inhabitant', and some from the native inhabi tauta,to show what the feeling of the mittple of 11.dia is in the matter. Ile said—they all ask for inquiry, and join is cowl:taming anything like permanent legislation on the sys tem that has hitherto existed. (near.) It may be said that every thing is open in India—that we have as Cie in formation on the subject etready in our wssetsion ;sin i that inquiry there is uuneccesary. I Lave ' here a copy of the 13outbay Chgette of the 24th November, it.d2, in which there is a letter from Surat, describing the measures taken by the ollieers of the government to prevent their native servant* from giving any information t the British public. And, trim other circumstances that have come to my know ledge' I believe the truth of the statement lure made. Thdt letter states that ',nay attempt mane to communicate information as to the actual condition of the ryots on the part of the native servants of the com pany was met by threats of instant dismis.al. 1 his shows that there is reason fur the government using great caution when, seeing thi.t they are proceeding on the evidence of one side only, for I should he sorry to sec Lord Aberdeen's government in the position of ithe celebrated Welsh judge who always thought it convenient to decide when he had heard one side only, kuowtng that he was unable to grapple with the difficulties of the cast when he hexed both sides. (t. blear, bear," and laughter.) I have stated that the condition of the people snag be always 1 inked upon as a true index of the character of the govern ment, and upon that point I will read tat et:tract from the Ltwebay Times of the 14th April, 1352. If it be said that this's are but newspaper statements, I ask if we had such statements made by any neuspapers of credit with regard to the condition of every county in England, they would not be reg sided as substantially true, or if not, whether in stant means would not he taken to obtain such au expuetue as should prevent the repetition of such statements for the future. The article described the misery and degradation in welch the ryots lived, adding that matters were growing worse every day, and concluded by remarking that when the revenue felled, and the government betame crippled in consequence, then possibly some attention might be paid to the condition of these people, but it might then ne found too late. Ile (Mr. Bright) went ioa to say that he bad not got the returns of the revenue for the last two or three years, but only those as late as 1810; but he believed that tke returns of the period since that _ . . • of the reve- Or three year,' in doubt and dareuess as to whet eovernment you intended to give to India, one set of persons might franc one measure, and a self-elected committee might frame another, and all of them Media t e to the dispa ragement of the plan which had hitherto mama, end that without setting up a new scheme. But if a new plan were proposed in contradistinctinn to the plan of the gavernineut, parliament would have au opportunity of cliscueeing which of them was the best. To that test the government were willing to come, and by that test they were willing to aside. No person was more c.p.tb!e from his great talents and his experience as President of the Board of Como: and Go vernor-General of India, of framing e scheme f ir the con stitution of India. Let that noble lord or any one bring forward a scheme which they think a better ore than the present and it would be discussed. The hon. member fir Maue.heste r said that it was in order to give ease to the government and to Pic Preiideut of the Beard of Cowie) that they proposed to regulate the government of lathe this session. A government which WAS seeking power might rather be inelined to ?Turin that the crown should have more power and patronag: given to it by some measure. In his (Lord J. Russell's) opieion nothing would be mere ilea geroue than to give to tie , crown such powers. (Hear hear.) The government had endeavoured to avoid that danger. and to frame a government for India more con formable to the constitution of this country. With regard to that government which had existed for 70 years. mottling was more likely to have failed than a theory of government which consi,ted of the Bard of Directors of the East India Cora e any and the Beard of Control, whose authority wee remitted to the Governor-Geueral. But the experience of 70 years was not to be despised, and an experience ranging from 1784 to Bat would be a mate rial element in the considerations of the resent govern ment, IV he war sure it would have been in the ceusidera tions of the late government, and which must be a material element in the consideratien of any one worthy to If ar a pert in any government. Ho would say nothing more than that it was proposed to legislate on this important eutiject in the present parliament. All the information which the sleet committee may have obtained would be in the bends of parlinurot soon enough to enable a measure to he brought forward, and the government deprteated as a great evil a postponement for two or three years, for the pUrpOit:i of agitation, ul the settlemeat of this queetion. Mr. Blechett, Mr. Phillimore, and Mr. 1). Seymeur, were dissatisfied with the answer of Lord J. Russell, -end gave various reasons for believing the condition of India to call for a strong and decisive remedy. Lord JOCELYN, as a member of the Indian Committee, denied that the committee objected to the reception of Mr. W. MILES repotted from the committtc on tne above petition that Sir John M'Taggut had been duly elected. WIN DSOICILECTION. The Windsor Elec:ion Committee were sworn at the tab:e. CV. THEROE ELEC I lON. Oa t':e motion t f Mr. OASKILL, the evidence before the Clithcroe Election Commlttee wee ordered to be printed. PRIVATE BUSINESS. Tho Imperial Continental Gss and St. Geage's Harbour Bib were severally real a second tiiae. RAILWAYS. Mr. SOTHERON moved, that sa much of standing order No. IGO, as requirea that there shall be uo mare than ten data; between the first and second reading of any private bill, be suspended, as to all railway and canal bills ; but that no such bill be read a second time later than Monday next, except by special order of the house. Agreed to. SCOTCH RAILWAYS. On the motion of Mr. BlttallZWluN, it was ordered that the order fur the second reading of the Oheigow and South Western Railway Bill be read—That the order be ' discharged—That the petition fur the bill be read:—That leave be given to bring in a bill to manic the Gtgsgow and South Western Railway Company to make car'-tin railways In the county of Ayr, and for ether purposes ; aLd that Mr. Alexander Hestia and Mr. Bouverie should prepare and bring it iu. BLIC BUSINESS. PETITIONS PRLSEN CEO. JEWISH Cul. NOILTLL, from South Newington, count) Oxford, and from the town of Whitney; Mr. M. SMITII, Irma the parish of Cranbrook, West Kest; Mr. COLVILE, from places in Dorhyshi , e; Cul. DUN COMBE, from Fenton, Acklam, Salton, Thornton, Kirk leatharn, and Boston Spa, in the North Riding of York shire; Mr. NE WDEGATE, from Maystoke, St. Peter's, Coventry, Nomrator, Cotton, and Ashley; Lord EMLYN, from Rhoeerowthee, at St. lehmaelt, in Pembrokeshire; Sir J. DUCKWORTH, from the parish of St.Stophen, in Exeter ; Lord LEWISHAM, from inhabitants of the parish of St. James's, WelltlrabEry, Stiff,HJSltitli ; Visa ant SEA HAM, from Castle Eden, in the county of Durham, and from the incumbent and parishioners of Christ Church, Chelsea; Mr. BOOKER, from Weston-under•Penyard, Herefordshire; Mr. M. SMITH, from the vicar, church - . wardens, overseers, and inhabitants of the parish of North feet, in West Kent; Mr. GWYN, from I'enryo, Cornwall; Mr. K. KING, from the parishes of Bolstooe, SellsA, and King's Caide, in the (minty of Hereford; Captain SOMERSET, from the pa rishes of Lardosso, Betws ' Newgot, Sirsoreys, and Wolvesnowton (2), in the county of Monmouth ; Mr. PACKE, front Thuruley, Bashley, Staughton,Oadicy, Tugby, East Norton, and Alleston, in the county of Leicester ; Mr. NOEL, from parishes of Morket Overton and Sicheseate, in the county of Itutlasol ; Sic G. TYLER, from the archdeacon and clergy of the dioceso of Llandaff, from the parish of Liantrithyd and the working men of the same parish. Also from the following patishes: St. Bride's Super, Ely, Michaelstown, Peemark, St. Mary Hill, Dlansannor, Whitechurch ; Mr. FLOYER (3), from Dor setshire; Sir J. Y. BULLEIi, from Shr owleigh, South Sydonham, Torquay, Seigngmee, Clyat Si. Lawrence, Halnett, Wirldicoruhe in the Moor, Cotleigh, Egg Buchland, Bnekfarthleigh, against the remival of. Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, front Birmingham ; Mr. BAINES (2), from Hull; the Slot riffs of London and Middlesex, from the Corporation of the City of Loudon ; for the re moval of. OPENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE ON SUNDAY.— By Mr. COLVILE, loom plaices in Duly.‘dre ; Mr. FLOYEIt, from Strapleton, Bonet; Mr. M. SMITH, from the inhabitants of the borough of Chatham; Mr. CASK ELL, from the parish of Madeley, Salop ; Lord EMLYN, front Gunfreston, Pembrokeshire ; Mr. KN IG lIT LEY, from Daveutry, Bramston, and Ecton ; aesinst. CONSOLIDATED ANNI.TITIF.S.—By Mr. TURNER, from merchants, tradesmen, and other inhabitants of Liverpool; Mr. MA.STERMAN, from the Britannia Lite Asiurance Company, and from the Albion Fire and Life Insurance Company; Mr. GRACE, from the Guardians of Boyle Union, county Roscommon ; Mr. P. O'BRIEN, from the Tullamore Board of Guardians; fur the abolition of. OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE.—By Mr. FERGUSON, from inhabitants of the city of Carlisle, _in favour of. TENANT RIGHT DILL.—By Mr. LUCAS, from the united parishes of Oldcsstle, Loughcrea, and Moylough, in the county of ?death; also from the inhabitants of Kil leaugh, county Meath, and Kilbride, county Cavan; also from the inhabitants of Devitt Creal, in the county of Ty rone; also from the aldermen, town councillors, burgesses, and ratepayers of the North City Ward, Dublin, in fa vour of. Tux Law OF RATING MINES.—By Mr. BAINES, from Il_parishes in Cornwall, fur an improvement of. THE TAM UPON STAMPS ADVERTISEMENTS, ADVERTISEMENTS AND PAPER. —By Mr. C. TURNER, I rons merchants, tr adesmen, and others, inhabitants of Liverpool, for repeal of. the petitiiiner'e case was closed, and that counsel made no objection to the discharge of the prisoner. (Cheers.) Mr. S. WORTLEY did nut rise to offer any opposition to the motion, but to call attention to the unsatisfactory state of the law in regard to catfish If a witucos declared himself to be a Walter, a Moravian, or a Separatist, ho might give tad& nee on his affirmation without taking an oath ; but if he belonged to neither of those Deets, and yet entertained a conscientious obj..etion to the taking •f en oath—and there were many such—the judge had no alternative on his refusing to be sworn but to eumaiit him for contempt. He thought the court should have a power in such cases to allow the witness to substitute the affirmatiou fur the oath in such cases. (Rear, hear.) The question was then put and agreed to, sad the order for discharging Mr. Bower, without payment of fees, was made. BRIDGNORTII ELECTION INQUIRY. Sir J. SHELLEY gave notice that on the motion for issuing a new writ for the borough of Bridgeuurth he would move as an amendment that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the allegatiens of certain (lectors of that borough, complaining of the corrupt practices that pre vailed at the last and previuus elections. Ife would now move, in accordance with his notice, that the petition from the electors of Bridgnortb, pr..senteid on the lOth of March, be priuted with the votes. After some conversation, the motion was egreed to. On the motion that the house at its rising do adjourn till Monday next, AFFAIRS OF INDIA. Mr. BRIGHT rose, and said, I gave notice the other day of my intention to put a question to the noble lord at the head of the govern ment is this house as to the course ministers pro posed to take in reference to the future government of India; and in doing so, while speaking to the motion of the adjournment of the house till Monday, I am quite aware that it is not desirable to occupy any . long time even on s stiliect so important, the more especially as another clue tion, also of great importance, is to be brought before us to night; and I will endeavour, therefore, to confine my oh 'creations within the smallest possible comp :A. I believe the house will feel with me, that at this particular juncture there is scarcely • question of greater importance can come before it ; and I feel fully justified in alluding to it u one of the representatives of that cunstituency,which of all the constituencies in the kingdom is probably the most deeply interested in circumstances connected with the question of the future government of India. Another ground why I feel myself justified in calling attewion to this subject is that, in the year 1848, I obtained and presided over a com mittee to inquire into the obstacle) which existed to the year afforded no relief to the gloomy prospect __ _ nue He fuund that the deficiencies of the revenue had been in round numbers in 1840, 2,400,000/. ; in 1841,1,700,0001.; in 1842, 1,700,0001 ; in 1843, 1,300,0001.; in 1844, 770,0001. ; in 1845, 740,0001. • in 1546, 1,600,00 U/. • in 1847, 970,000!. ; in 1848, 1.9J0,0001. ; and in 1849, ; making a deficiency of 15 millions for 1810 to 1849 inclusive; and ex cept in ono year, when there was a balance, there had been a deficiency every year, and circumstances were now occur ring in India which held out no prospect of an abundant revenue or any surplus in the present year. For yearn it had been promised by the Indian government that they could and would supply a large amount of cotton to this email • but would the house believe that, during the years 13'17,1818, and 1819, or 35 yeses ago, there was im ported from India on an average a far greater number of bales of cotton than in the three years nom 1849 to 1832 The ge number of bales imported In the three years, 1817, 1818, and 1819, was 184,000, while the ave rage number in the three years Irons 1819 to 18e2 was only 142,000 bales, being a decreese of 50,000 bales. The hen. member for Guildford made some observation with regard to the price, but was not tLe price of cotton in India and America subject to the same fluctu ations ; and yet, in 1818, there was imported from India a muck larger number of bilee of cotton than from the Crated States; but since that time there had been a great diminu tion in the quantity imoerted from India, while the quen tity imported from the United States had increased from 200,000 bales in that year to 1,719,000 bales at the present time. He wished to call the attention of the noble lord especially to the manufacture of that article of cotton, on the importation of which an enormous sum was annually expended, besides not less than forty-five millions in wages, and other accompaniments of that ma nufacture ; and was he not, therefore, justified in asking that the question of the government of India should not be summarily disposed of to suit the convenience of some of those whew were connected with India, or the convenience of the President of the Board of Control, or the members of a cabinet which did not yet sufficiently under stand each other ; where there might be a scandalous sacri fice of the interests of the district in this country with which he (Mr. Plight) was connected, or even of the interests of India herself, if this question was settled on any other principle than this, having conquered ludia, it was the duty of this country to give the best form of government to her 100,000,000 of inhabitants. (Hear, hear.) Ho would read a letter he had received front a gentleman of the highest character in India, and which was dated 4th October. Ile said, " In India we were all expecting a sweeping altera tion in the Charter, when, to our horror and dismay, we find that the act of 1833 is to be renewed without any alteration. Whigs, Derbyites, c. and Rus onJ evidence, or procured interested witnesses. Ho considered that much remained to be done for India, but deprecated rash measures, and any interference with the vital principle of the present system. Mr. °TWAY was altogether of en opposite opinion. Mr. COBDEN, as a meinher of the Indian committee, differed fro:n Lord Jocelyn as to the character of the wit nesses examined, declaring that with scarcely an exception they had been servants of the government. He was of opi nion that unbiassed witnesses should be brought over at the public expense, and that at the present time—when scarcely a quarter of the evidence now available had been gone through—there should be no legislation on the ,ulsject. Sir It. 11. INGLIS called the attentim of the house to the irregular nature of the discussion. Mr. DISRAELI regretted that the government had not taken the earliest opportunity of aunouncing their inten tions on the subject, instead of postponing the consideration of a policy of which the house was utterly ignorant, until what must neeesrarily be the fag end of the session. He hoped that the government would enable the house to form 531110 opinion upon the policy to be pursued before the period arrived for its discussion. Mr. II ISME deprecated legislation upon the subject be fore the conclusion of the inquiry, and thought that two 3 ears might be allowed fur that purpose. Sir J. FITZGERALD was understood to express a hope that the government would not attempt a permanent mea sure this amnion. Sir T. 11. MADDOCK (who was nearly inaudible in the gallery) was understood to suggest the expediency of pass ing a temporary act this session, and urged that natives of India should be allowed to give evidence before the parlia mentary committee. The question (that the house adjourn to Monday) was then agreed to. JEWISH DISABILITIES. Several petitions for and against having been presented, The order of the day for the second reading of the Jewish Dimbilities Bill was read, and Sir F. TRESIGER rose to move tho amendment of which he had given notice. The subject, he said, was quite exhausted ; and it would be impossible for him to introduce any new feature of interest into this nevertheless inevitable discussion. Having pail a compliment to the noble lerd (Lord J. Russell) for the perfect fairness with which he had presented this question to parliament, having consistently and honourably refused to have the diilieulty got over by the side-wind attempted by Mr. Alderman Sabimees, whose ecnduct he (Sir F. Thesiger) thought had done great mischief to the cause which that gentleman represented, the hon. and learned gentleman proceeded to say that the great impedi ment in this controversy was the fact that the supporters the •_..„,, SIIRLITT'S COURT (SCOTLAND 2, B I L L . — B y M r . RAWL LETT, from the procuraton of umbarton, against.-11 Ir. COWAN, from the chairman and office bearers of the Soot tish Trade Protection Society, in favour of. POWER "IN FACTORIES.—By Sir O. STRICKLAND, Burnley, for restoration of. cultivation and growth of cotton in India, and that subse quently I brought before the house a proposition to send a litiyal commission out to that country, to investigate' on the spot what were the obstacles which existed to the extensive cultivation in India of the raw material of the chief article of the manufactures of this country. (Hear, .ay Jo _ s'eelites, _ seltites seem all of opinion that India is n bore, and the sooner her affairs are dismissed the better." What he (Mr. Bright) wanted of the government was to tell the house if they had made up their minds on this ques tion. Ile hoped ther had not, and that that would bo the _ rd. and the opponents of the - bill could not meet on any oilmen ground. The noble lord and his friends rested their claim on civil and social grounas, to the complete exclusige of religious considerations; while he (Sir F. Thesiger) and those who voted with him, believed that the religious lucetion involved was of vital i, rtance ; and there was from RAILWAY COMMUNICATION TO TILE WEST OF ENGi- LAND.—By Sir J. DUCKWOI.TII, from merchants and traders of Upton, complaining of the monopoly of. REPRESENTATION OF THE LONDON UNIVERSITY.—B y Mr. SCIIOLEFIELD, from Church of the Saviour, Bir mingham, in favour of. ATTOUNISS . CERTIFICATE DUTY.—By Colonel NORTH, from Bicester, county Oxford, from the littoral** aorl soli citors; from; the borough of Banbury; Mr. COLVILE, from places in Derbyshire ; for the repeal of. MAYNOOTIL GRANT.—By Colonel NORTH, from South Newington, county Oxford, for repeal of. PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.—By Mr. COLVILE, from places in 'Derbyshire ; Mr. F L YER, front the Dorset Count distribution _ _ hear.) That commission was famed by the government of tho day, though it was approved by many distinguished men in the house. It was approved strongly by the late Sir IL. Peel, who spoke to me on the subject before the mo tion was brought on, and again afterwards. It was ap proved also by the right hon. gentleman the present First Lord of the Admiralty. It was approved by the late Lord George Bentiock, and I believe I may say that the noble lard now at the head of the government in this house was not unfavourable to it, but it was opposed by the then Pre sident of tho Board of Control and the representatives of the India Company. Having made these various efforts to obtain inquiry, I feel justified in asking the government not to be precipitate in any legislation on this important qua . B-- . • ',eh the inquiry was then three -newer of the noble lle . took the liberty of asking the noble lord (not with the view of embarrassing the govern- ment, although he candidly stated that any proposition verging on a permanent renewal of the present system would meet with his opposition to the utmost), but he would ask the noble lord if the government had come to any decision, and, if they had, whether it was proposed that the measure they intended to bring forward would be of a temporary or • permanent nature ? If it was of a temporary nature, for how many years it was proposed to renew the present government of India, and when the measure which was to be brought forward would be laid before the house ? (Cheers.) Lord J. ItUSSELLsaid, that in spite of the appeal made to him by the hon. gentleman, he could not help complain - .. ,fleas . epaestion this disadvantage from which the opponents of the bill sof fcred—that they regarded the House of Commons as hardly the arena for the ilibate of re . .igious points, and were consequently withheld to some extent from using the high and sacred arguments which were open ti them from fear of being deemed bigots or enthu-iiists. The hon. and learned gentleman then went on to dilate upon the now-familiar question with respect to the or.gin of the words in the oath, on the true faith of a Christian," and how far these words had implied an intention to exclude Jews from parliament ; and lie con tended that although those words had not been aimed at the Jews, still the various laws in force against the Jews up to a very rvent period, and the various disabilities to wnieh - had . . t the ..taty Muaraii, for s of. Bauxut, rcv BILL.—By Mr. COBDEN, from bankers, solicitors, and others of Settle, in favour of. NEOOCIATIONS WITH FRANCE FOIL REDUCTION OF Anasainfirs.—By Mr. COBDEN, from a public meeting at Canterbury, signed by the Ma o r, in favour of. BILLETTINO SOLDIEME ON PRIVATe HOU4E3.—By Mr. A. HASTIE, from the Lord Provost, magistrates, and council of the City of Glasgow, praying that the system be done away with. TESTS IN THE SCOTCH UNITERSITIBB.-137 Mr. A. HASTIE, from the Cathedral•street United Presbyterian Church, Glasgow, against imposition of. LAW or SarrmixEsr.—By the Marquis of GRANBY, from Ashby do la Zouch,MeltonMowbray, Barkson, Plunger, Leicestershire ; Scams, Andrews, Balsam, County of Cam bridge; and from the Leacurn Agricultural Society; for alteration of. ATTORNIES' CERTIFICATE BILL. Lord It. GROSVENOR brought up this hill amid load and general cheering. While laying the bill on the table the noble lord said, that it was not his intention to fix the second reading of the bill until the government had made Unit. financial statement, feeling confident that his right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer after the de cided opinion expressed by the house on time previous even ing, would take this question into his serious consideration, with the view of remedying the evil complained of. (Cheers.) He begged, therefore, to fix the second reading for the 13th of April next. THE IRISH COURT. Mr. F. FRENCH gave notice that on Monday next alb would ask the Secretary of the Treasury whether any in structions had been sent from head quarters to Ireland for bidding the announcement of the vice-regal levees and drawing-rooms in any journal except the London Gazette. (Loud laughter.) THE DOCKYARDS. Mr. HUTCHINS gave notice of his intention to move for tion. (Hear, hear.) But thougi ri fused it has since been thought aecessary,by _- several governments, that some inquiry should take place. Two years ago, the government of the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) proposed that a:committee should be appointed ; but afterwards, when the committee was about to be nomi nated, the noble lord's government went out of office, and on the accession of Lord Derby it was nominated by his government in the course of the last session, and sat. And again, in the present par liament this session, the ministry of Lord Aberdeen, considering that the inquiry was necessary,re-appointed the committee, and its labours have been resumed. (liver, hear.) Now, it is an unfortunate thing for Indis, that the Indian government, as represented in this house, is always of a fluctuating, uncertain, and, I fear, incapable character —(hear, hear)—is incapable, nut from the character of the individuals composing it, but from the peculiar circum stances of its constitution. (Hear, hear.) The house may not have observed, that within the ten months ,ince the early part of the year 1852, the supreme governor of India ((or it is almitted, that the Pre sident of the Board of Control is the absolute ruler of India, so far as any individual in this country can be so)—has been changed no less than four times. At the beginning of last year, in February . , the Pr sident of the Board of Control was Lord Broughton, formerly Sir John llabhouse. I will say nothing of his government, or of the manner in which he administe.red Indian affairs, except that he was one of the most contented and somnolent of statesmen that ever filled that or any other office. (Loud laughter, and " Hear, hear.") After Sir John Hobheuse we hid sir . Fox Maule, in February also, as President of the Board of Control, and he remained in office about three weeks, 1 believe. (" Hear, hear." and a laugh.) On the abolition of tho governeceut of the noble lord (J. Russell) the right hon. gentleman, the member for Stamford (Mr. 11erries), was appointed President of the Board of Control, and he remained in office until the change of - at took place about Christmu, . . ing of the course the hon. gentleman hrd taken. (._ hear.) The hon. gentleman had taken the opportunity of a formal motion that the house at its rising should adjourn to Monday, not for the purpose of asking a question of which he bad given notice, not for the purpose of stating facts, or making explanations in introducing his question, but for the purpose of making a speech of an hour's duration in condemnation of a government that for tke last 70 years had ruled over India. (Hear, hear.) He (Lord J. Russell) begged to say that the desire of the government was to do that which they sincerely believed was most fitting for the welfare of 100 millions of subjects under the sway of England. (Hear, hear.) Among those who had held office in India, the Earl of Ellenborough entertaiacd an opinion adverse to the constitution of the government as it at pre sent exists, and consisting of the Beard of Control, the East India Company, and the Governor-General, and be proposed a mode of government of a different kind. He (Lord J. Russell) believed he was correct in thinking that the balance of opinion coincided with that of Lord Har dinge. who had also been Governor-General, rather than with that of Lord Ellenborough. In the course of the pre sent session the select committee was again appointed, and the hon. gentleman the member for Stamford ex pressed a hope that they would go into the other subjects of the inquiry, and stated it to be his opinion that it was indispensable that the house should legislate for the government of India in the present session. Since then the committee had proceeded with the inquiry, and although there were many objects of inquiry which were of importance, there was only ono point which was of the first importance. If the committee was to find that the government of India was not totally different to what it had been represented by the hon. member for Manchester—if they were to find that it was a government like some of which we had read, a government whose proceedings were characterised by rapacity, and that the people were suffering under its infliction—then it would be a question for the of that iv they been subjected, sufficiently , demonstrated that national feeling had always been that persons holding the Jewish faith were necessarily, in consequence of their faith, excluded from eats in parliament. He replied to the noble ►ord's minim that all subjects of this country were entitled to an equality of civil rights by saying that the noble lord confounded civil with political rights ; and he pointed out that although certainly all sub jects of this country were entitled to and did possess equa lity in civil rights—vie., as defined by Blackstone, personal seeurity, and the right of private property,—there was the very greatest inequality in the possession of what were termed political rights, but what should be called p•ivi• leges. Our whole political system was &system of qualifica tions and disqualifications ; and that religion entered :iito the question of qu►lification was proved, he thought, even in the Roman Catholic Relief Bill, whereby Romeo catholics, not for political reasons, but as he believed for reasons arising out of their religious faith, were still ex• eluded from certain great offices. The argument, tb it be cause Jews voted for members of parliament, therefore they might consistently be permitted to be elected as members of parliament, was, in his opinion, a most absurd one. A voter excreted an infiniv,irnal ence : it member receded a direct and tangible influence. It tied been argued that Jews ought to be admitted into parliament because they were already allowed to rote for representatives. But it was quite a different thing to per• mit a Jew to vote for a Christian legislator and to be a legislator himself. Nor was there any more force M the view that had also been urged—namely, that they ought to admit Jewish members because there were Jewish magis trates. A magistrate wa, compelled to administer the laws; but a legislator was above all law. (Great laughter.) There could be no question that that was the case ; in 55 far as a man was a legislator he was above the law, and was amen able to nothing but those moral restraints which must idle , ence the acts of the highest as well as the meanest person is the realm. (Hear, hear.) Besides, the Jews were a race ' eatirel- - and distinct from all other nations. They copies of any correspondence that had taken place between the Admiraty an Sir B. Walker respecting the with drawal from the latter of the appointments of master smiths and other artificers. MORALITY OF THE TOWNS. Mr, HUME moved for returns of the number of drunk and disorderly persona apprehended luring the last year in the towns of England and scotl-- ' •• • " • the Kov..ritaten when that right hon. gentleman was succeeded by another right bon. gentleman the member for Halifax. (Hear, hear.) Now, I have no doubt all these were well meaning men, bat nobody will believe that they knew more about Indian affairs than their neighbours—nobody ever disco vered that they had paid any particular attmtten to Indian questions, yet whether a man has been Secretary -at-War tor several or Chancellor of the Exchequer, or an, house whether they would not alter the nature v. go vernment. But he (Lard J. Russell) believed that there was not the least possibility that the evidence would be of such character. There was, however, no reason why the committee should not proceed to consider all the points of inquiry into which they had divided the suhjict ; and with respect to the revenue, the judicial system, the naval and military Tomatoes of the government of India, ob . were amongst them, but net of them ; and their peculiar custom, habits, institutions, and religion. must sl it prevent them from forming an alliance with the nations by which they were surrounded. (licar, besel A writer on Palestine had observed that there was every where a restless desire amongst the Jews to emigrate to that country. There all their religious feelings and hopes were. ntered. The home of their -- ition was in Assyria; . eau • __ __ __ ________ ____ Scotland. dieinguishing , , ___ __ ___ years, ... _ • , towns having under inhabitants, from these having a thing else, if he be of the official end routine party, he is taro all the evidence that was necessary. The committee , centerCel. The home of theii net population _ population above that amount. quite fit fur the government of India, or any other office to sow sat twice a week for three hours each time, or six l were they but protected, there was no doubt thal - wiilija ‘ ,li Agreed to. which it may suit the views of those who form cabinets to hours a week. if it was necessary to hear further evidence, I very short time. at least 100,000 of them would Clock CRIME IN IRELAND. appoint him. (Hear, bear.) But not only have we had without asking them to emulate the diligence of Lord I thither. (Hear, hear.) But to descend to the minor 4 1 1 1 Mr. FOX moved for an address for tabular returns of four different President' of the Board of Control within 10 George Bentiock in the West India inquiry; vet, if they ' conveniences of passing the measure. Suppose the.,.. the number of committals for crime in Ireland during each months, but we have also had as many as six different se- were to set for 12 beers a week, it would perhaps not be should become law, and suppose the hon. member for •w"'"" of the years from 1841 to I8; 2 . inclusive ; of the number of cretaries, most of them, I believe, members of this house. thought to be asking too much of their attention. 110 was ; trose should think the state of their business should rt oire committals in England and Wales for each year of the same (Hoar, hear.) The house will see then that the re is nothing sure that although it was desirable to consult the conve- I the attention and attendance of hon. ef,illbeff, and should period ; and, in each case, of the number of seemed per- like a continuous government in the Board of Control, and I nicnco of the members of the committee, when their • move for another call of the house. Now, sons unable to read or write, and their centesimal Proper- there is naturally a great indisposition on the part of ally 1 convenience was put into the balance with the wel- ' that call were tiled for a Friday evening, would the house bon to the whole. Jewish person coming casually end fur a short period into the office fare of India, it would he considered better be prepared to say that respect for the faith of the i Ordered. to attempt to grapple with a great question like the govern- that they should suffer some inconvenience, than that the ! mem b ers ought to induce it to accept that a BETHLEHEM HOSPITAL. I ment of India. (Hear, hear.) But we havo some inquiry welfare of India should be endangered. But after all the i excuse for their absence ? Hear, hear.) Or, agate o gir B. HALL had a question to ask of the Luder-Seere• of SUMO kited—we have a committee—with many eminent question arose was, whether it was or was not for the : suppose a Jew were nominated on an election cammittr, hmy for the Home Department, previous to which he men sitting as members upon it—and he understood that benefit of India , that in accordance with the proposition of I There was an act of pa,li..ment which comee•lled elee! on wished to remind the house that the Lunacy Commissioners the right hon. gentleman the member for Stamford at the the hen. member fur Manchester, the renewal of the committees to moot day by day, with the exc. ption of Tut' had made a report with reference to the treatment of hum- conuneneerumt of the proceedings of that committee present or the formation of a permanent government of day, Christmas.clay, aid Ooed Fridays —days, braes ties in Bethlehem Hospital, and that in that report it was divided the subject of tbo inquiry iota eight branches or In !in, should ho delayed for too or three years, which Jews utterly scorned and disregarded. New; "p a ; suppose further, stated that the female lunatics were suljected to treatment , heads, and placed at the beginning of them—as that to be and that al; that time India should be kept in total uncer- I pose the S, s hha,th should occ u r while such a eon:tilts! was of the most cruel and disgraceful character . Among other I taken flat—the circumstances and method of the home triuty, as to the nature of the government which it was I sitting, would the house be prepared to pas: au act el pe a it was stated that young girls were made to stand government. (Hear.) Now lam not a member of that proposed to give her. The hon. member fcr notzbeAer ll:mtent for the purpose of releasing Jews from ' , Aline , on