The Press. — London, England, 1858-03-20 00:00:00

272 adopted, which was the best undertaking the house could have that a similar course would be followed not only by the present but by future Governments. The report was then received. The house went into Committee of Ways, and, after a brief conversation, passed the formal resolu tion necessary for the introduction of a Ways and Means Bill. The Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were respectively read a second time. The Militia Act Continuance Bill was also read a second time. COLONISATION OF INDIA. Mr. EWART moved for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the progress and prospects, and the best means to be adopted for the promotion, of European colonisation in India, and the forma tion of military stations, especially in the hill dis tricts and healthier climates of that country, as well as for the extension of our commerce with Central Asia. He asked, he said, simply for inquiry. In our other colonial possessions there was a free de velopment of British industry, capital, and labour ; but if we turned to India we found only a few scattered Europeans, numbering, with indigo planters and military officers, only about 22,000 individuals. The climate was objected to, but there were parts of India, be observed, in which the climate was favour able to the constitution of Europeans. Then it was said that the land was already occupied; but in the parts to which his motion referred there were lands open to colonisation. The hon. member enlarged upon the opportunities for agriculture sad trade that were available in different parts of India, and which might he rapidly developed, if the emigration of free colonists from England were duly encouraged. The process would be fraught with advantages, some of which he described, alike to the European settlers, the India Government, and the native populatioc of Hindostan. The subject, he contended, was justly entitled to investigation by a select committee of that house. . Mr. BAILLIE believed that colonists were not wanted in India, and that if English emigrants settled in that country they would find it impossible to obtain any considerable profit on their capital. The only districts where cultivation could be rendered remunerative lay in the plains, where the climate was so destructive to Europeans. He denied that any obstacles were placed in the way of free colo nisation, or the occupation of land in Hindostan. If inquiry were however thought desirable, he would not oppose the appointment of the select committee. Colonel SYKES and Sir J. ELPIIINSTONE having spoken in opposition to the scheme of colonising India, Mr. MANGLES warned the house against any rash attempt to colonise India, and entered into some ex planations respecting the conditions of colonisation and the tenure of land in India. Adverting to the cotton cultivation, he confessed that much neglect had been exhibited in leaving that source of profit unimproved, but declared that an unlimited product of that important article could be grown in India by the proper application of skill and capital. Mr. KINNAIRD supported the motion. Mr. DANBY SEYMOUR was assured that vast oppor tunities existed for extensive colonisation in Hind°. stan, provided only a better system of land tenure was introduced in that country. Mr. TURNER supported the motion for a select committee. Mr. CHEETHAM believed that no country was fitter for the production of cotton than India, and none had suffered more from neglect and misrule. Mr. NISBET having said a few words, the motion was agreed to. Lord Eicuo obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the medical profession. The house adjourned at twenty minutes to nine o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS-WEDNESDAY. Lord J. RUSSELL, in moving that the house resolve itself into a committee upon the Oaths Bill, stated that it was his intention in the committee to move the omission of words in the seventh clause which seemed to confirm the oath to be taken by Roman Catholic members, and, on the report, to propose a change in the preamble of the bill, in order to make its object clearer. Mr. NEWDEOATE approved the course taken by Lord John. _ _ _ _ _ _ Mr. T. DUNCOMIIE asked whether Lord John could give an assurance, if the bill passed, it would meet with a better reception in another place than its predecessors on the same subject, and, if not, whether he adhered to his avowed intention to bring forward a resolution giving to Baron Rothschild his seat. The rules of the house preventing Lord J. Russell from replying to these questions, after some conver sation regarding a decision of the Petitions Committee touching a petition against the bill, Mr. Du LWYN moved that the debate be adjourned ; whereupon THE PRESS, MARCH 20, 1858. Lord J. RUSSELL was enabled to make a reply to the inquiry. With regard to the first question. whether he could count upon a majority in the other house in favour of the bill, he observed that it appeared very difficult to say who had the majority iu that (the Commons) house, and it would be very presumptuous in him to predict what would be its tate in the other house. As to the second question, his experience, be said, had taught him that any decision regarding parliamentary privileges which might come under the consideration of a court of law should be come to by the general consent of Par liament. The bill was framed in a most conciliatory manner, and he thought it was inexpedient then to discuss any ulterior measure. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE considered that Lord John had evaded the questions, which were perfectly legiti mate, and he reproached him with a change of opinion upon this subject, applying hard epithets to the bill, which denoted, he said, a retrogressive policy. Mr. HUGESSEN recommended that this bill should be passed by a large majority, and if their endeavours should fail it would be time enough to consider any other proceedings. After a few words from Mr. JOHN Loom the motion for adjourning the debate was withdrawn, and the house went into committee upon the bill, the clauses of which were agreed to, with the amendment proposed by Lord John Russell. The report of the Committee of Ways and Means was brought up and agreed to. The house adjourned at half-past one o'clock. HOUSE OF LORDS-TIIMISDAY. THE " CAGLIARI." Lord LYNDIIURST drew the attention of the Go vernment to the case of the engineers of the Cagliari ; he contended that it was now the duty of the Government to interfere to obtain their liberation, as the Neapolitan Government itself had made statement by which it appeared the Cagliari was not within the jurisdiction of Naples when she was captured. The Earl of llALmEssurtv reminded the house that the present Government was in no degree responsible for anything connected with this case up to the 26th of February. He admitted that some new facts bad been ascertained which would justify the Government in referring the whole matter again to the law officers of the Crown ; their opinion and all the papers would be laid before Par- liament ; and in the meantime every means would be taken to secure for the prisoners an alleviation of the cruelty of their confinement. Lord WENSLEYDALE suggested that the question should be referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for its opinion. The Earl of DERBY thought there was no precedent for that coarse. _ _ Lord REDESDALE believed, under the circumstances, that the Neapolitan Government was, to a certain extent, justified in what it had done. Earl GREY supported the suggestion of a refer ence to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Lord BROUGHAM objected to it that the com mittee was also the tribunal of appeal, and might have to decide judicially the question on which it was required to give an opinion. The subject then dropped. The Indian Loan Bill went through committee. _ _ Lord BROUGHAM moved for certain returns con nected with the County Courts, which were ordered. MEDICAL REFORM. The Earl of DEBBY, in answer to a qaestion from. Lord Talbot de Malahide, stated that the Govern. ment did not intend to introduce any Medical Reform Bill during the present session in addition to the three bills already before the House of Commons on the subject. But it would give its best consideration to those measures, with the hope of effecting some arrangement between the parties to them. The Government would, however, be prepared to take some steps to regulate the sale of poisons. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS-THURSDAY. NEW MEMBERS. ➢lr. Mownnwy, for the city of Durham, and Lord DUNICELLIN, for Galway, took the oaths and their seats. DELHI PRIZE MONEY. Mr. BAILLIE, in reply to Mr. Kinnaird, stated that the six months' hatta awarded by the Governor- General of India to the army before Delhi was the utmost sum fixed by law which be was entitled to grant ; but that the case of both the Delhi and Luck. now forces was under the consideration of the Go vernment. THE FRENCH DESPATCHES. Mr. CRATTURD asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the despatch of the 4th of March, addressed by the Earl of Malmesbury to Count Walewski, was submitted to the French autho rities in Paris, or to their representatives in England, for the pnreose of ascertaining the opinion of the French Government thereon, before the official pre sentation of that document to the French Govern. ment on behalf of the British nati on. (Cries of " Question !" and " Order !") The SPEAKER intimated that the hon. member had said as much as was permitted by the orders of the house, and requested him to put his question. Mr. CRAUFURD said that it was necessary that he should mention certain dates. On the 22nd of February it was announced in both Houses of Parlia ment that the Earl of Derby had undertaken to form an Administration. (Renewed cries of " Order!") The SPEAKER again interposed, and ➢lr. CRAUFURD asked the question of which he had given notice. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER : It was hardly fair of the hon. gentleman to address this question b my hon. friend the Under-Secretary of State, because he must know that if there were the slightest foundation for his gratuitous assumption on this matter it could not be within the cognisance of my hon. friend. (Hear, hear.) There is on the part of her Majesty's Go vernment the utmost inclination to deal frankly with the House of Commons with regard to this matter, but I put it to the house whether they think that questions of this kind ought to be sanctioned. (Loud cheers from both sides of the house.) I should not have said another wont in answer to the question of the hon. gentleman, had he not, though very irregularly, gone into some comparison or calculation of dates,• from which be would seem to infer that, from the interval which elapsed-, there must have been some unusual, I may say some surrertitious, communication with a foreign Government. (Hear, bear.) But if the hon. gentleman, before he asked questions of this great delicacy, would have taken a little trouble to in quire into the circurnstancee, he might have found some sufficiently valid to account for that apparent delay in the date of the Secretary of State's despatch. In the first place, it was of course necessary that before a despatch of that importance was transmitted he should have the advantage of deliberation with his colleagues. It was also necessary that it should be submitted complete and entire t her Majesty, and her Majesty was at Osborne. Then there was such a state of weather that for forty-eight hours no one could cross the Channel. Under these circumstances the apparent delay in the transmission of this despatch might easily have been accounted for by the hon. gentle. man; but having noticed these circumstances, which I hope will be satisfactory to the house, I must again protest against a class of questions which can produce no advan tage to the public. ( Hear, hear.) If we were to apply to misunderstandings and misconceptions in private life the spirit in which the hon. gentleman wishes to deal with public transactions I do not think that the peace of society would long be preserved. (Loud cheers.) L of the . pre- Govern- .; ries of fiber had of the that he of Parlia- to form ler !") he Lai ress this A* State, slightest matter it friend. Ity's Go- with the it I put of this nm both her word 1, had he parison seem to re must artitious, Li., hear.) stions of le to in- nd some ay in the rst place, h of that dvantage tecessary re t her en there lours no mstances despatch . gentle. which I n protest 0 Wigan- apply to life the sal with af society .eply to ention " govern- Monday itleman reply to the Go- •oduce a experi- when it )pose to ittee to vitb the o report same, ?on the the cir- aid that, ult from Lion was ted the :LL, Mr. mmittee, d report ely to be tat pre- !ffectual es were ad to be I taken urged Id offer working had not he pro- ve what r. The benevo- THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to Mr. V. Smith, said it was " the wish and intention " of the Government to introduce a bill for the govern ment of India before Easter. Probably on Monday he would be able to inform the right hon. gentleman on what day he would bring it forward. BRIBERY AT The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to Mr. H. Berkeley, said it was the opinion of the Go vernment that the best course was to introduce a new bill upon the subject, founded upon the experi ence of the last general election, and that when it was introduced the Government should propose to refer it to a select committee. GODREVY LIGHTHOUSE. Mr. A. SMITH moved fora committee to inquire into the circumstances connected with the erection of the Godrevy Lighthouse, and to report their opinion as to the proper position for the same, prefacing his motion with copious details upon the subject. The motion was seconded by Mr. Psur.L. Mr. HENLEY, after reviewing very fully all the cir cumstances connected with the lighthouse, said that, in his; opinion, no practical good could r2sult from an inquiry before a committee, and, if the motion was pressed, he should oppose it. Mr. WYLD and Mr. BENTINCY supported the motion, which was opposed by Mr. CARDWELL, Mr. LINDSAY, and Mr. LOWE, and ultimately negatived. THE WORKING CLASSES. Mr. SLANEY moved a resolution : That it is expedient to establish a standing committee, or unpaid board or commission, to consider and report from time to time on practical suggestions likely to be beneficial to the working classes. The ground of bis motion, he said, was that pre ceding inquiries had not worked out an effectual remedy for the evils to which these classes were exposed. He pointed out what be considered to be the main causes of the alteration which had taken place in their social circumstances, and he urged the advantage of having a tribunal, not fluctuating with every change of Governxient, which could oiler practical suggestions for the benefit of the working classes. Mr. ESTCOURT observed that Mr. Slaney bad not given any sketch of the plan of operations he pro posed to adopt, and he was at a loss to conceive what was the practical measure be had in view.' lie scheme proposed was one of mere vague benevo lence, destitute of practical applicability. The motion was withdrawn.