The Sun. — London, England, 1858-03-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CHINCRLLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. Lord DUNGANNON presented a petition from a place in Shropshire against the admision of Jews to Parliament. SLAVERY. Lord BROUGHAM, in presenting a petition from the Anti -slavery Association against the revival of the traffic in the West Indies and the West Coast of Africa, called the attention of the house to the proceedings that had lately taken place in the island of Guadaloupe. The noble and learned lord said he could not believe that the French Government had any intention of reviving the hcrrors of the slave trade, though the system of immigration of free negroes into their colonies would, in his opinion, lead to such a result. It was true that the authorities at Guadaloupe had passed what they called a vagrant law, it would reduce the free negroes into the condi , ion of A similar law bad been passed in Jamaica, but it would be absurd to charge Her Majesty's Govern ment with a desire to revive slavery, so it would be unjust to blame the French Government for what had occurred at Guadaloupe, and he had the highest authority when he stated no blame whatever attached to the French Government. The noble lord concluded by urging her Majesty's Government to the necessity of taking the whole f the subject into their consideration. Earl of MA.LMESBURY said since he had had the konour 4 occupying the position he at present held, no intimation had come to his knowledge relative to what had taken place at Guadaloupe. He assured the noble lord that the Government would give their best atten tion to the subject . , and that they' would do all in their power to put down anything calculated to a revival ( the slave trade. THE MARQUIS OF CL ANRICARDE'S EXPLANATION. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE gave notice that he should call the attention of the house on Friday next to the state of education in Ireland. The noble marquis said, while he was on his legs he felt he ought to give a further explanation of a circumstance that took place last night with respect to a motion that stood on the paper in his name. What he stated had no doubt been misunderstood, owing to the indistinctness with which he bad spoken. It had been stated that he had post poned his motion till Friday next. What he said was, thathaving received numerous representations from learned and noble friends of his that the motion he had given, and the statement he had proposed to make, were quite at variance with Parliamentary practice, and might on a future occasion be drawn into a precedent, he felt it right, on those representations, with the per mission of their lordships, to withdra-v the motion alto gether. TRUSTEES' RELIEF BILL. Oa the motien of Lord ST. LEONARDS, the house went into committee on this bill. The •whole of the clauses were agreed to with a few verbal amendments, and the report was ordered to be received on Friday next. TRANSFER OF ESTATES SIMPLIFICATION BILL. Lard ST. LEONARDS, in moving that the house go into committee on this bill, said the object of the bill was to simplify and make less expensive the transfer of titles from a vendor to a parchaeer. In order to create a limitation against the claims of persons on estates, it had been the custom to levy a fine, as it was called, a mere form, a kind of suit in which all the parties concurred, and that suit being concluded was considered to consti tote a title. But if a person had an interest in remainder he was allowed five years from the time at which he had a right to make entry, in which to take proceedings. In dependent of that there was a statute of Henry VIII., which made 60 years a bar to all actions for the recovery of real estate, and by a later statute of James 1., 20 years was fixed. And so the law continued till William IV., and then a new statute was passed, which took 30 years as the common law to everybody from the time the right accrued. Bat that statute also saved the rights of persons who werelabouring under disability, and gave them 10 years, and confined the whole period to 40 yeare, giving them a title as against all the world at the end of 40 years. It would have been a great boon to owners of property and purchasers if abstracts of title had been limited to 40 years ; but it was the custom to extend them to 60 years, in order to guard against a case which did not occur in I purchase in 5,000, the case of a tenant for life selling an estate as an estate in fee. Ia order to guard against that particular case, all the owners of landed property in England were subject as effecting a sale to an additional charge for the abstract of title, and the purchaser was also put to great expense in having to investigate the title so far back. The object of this bill was to shorten the time within which actions might be brought for the recovery of real estate, and also to shorten the period f )r which the abstract of title should be made out. He pLopeeed. that 20 years should be the common time applicable to all the world, within whin actions might be brought. But then there might be same persons labouring under debility. He proposed, as under the statute of fines, to give them five years to prosecute their rights after their disability ceased. And, with regard to the remainder man, whose right did not accrue till after the death of the tenant for life, and he could not tell when that would happen—to meet this he proposed that any person having an estate in re mainder might go to Chancery and obtain a decree giving him the right of entry, when he would properly fall into possession. He believed that would be found to meet every possible case, and would be a very great boon to purchasers. Then, by this bill, in future abstracts of title need not go beyond 40 years. The danger to be guarded against was a person sellingan estate which was under settlement, suppressing the fact of the settlement. It might be feared that a person would sell an estate which was settled on himself, for life, and after big death upon his children. It might be asked, would they bar children as against a purchaser '• And he an swered, yes. In the first place, he had never known a single instance of a tenant for life having sold an estate as an estate in fee. Lord WENSLEYDALE was understood to remark that such cases had occurred. Lord ST. LEONARDS did not say it had never hap pened, but it had never happened within his experience, and he had had more experience than any member of that house. It was very improbable that it should hap pen. The wife, or the children, or the tru,tees, would in all probability hear of the intended sale, and prevent it. But there were two provisions in the bill to prevent such cases from occurring. The one was, that if a tenant for life should sell an estate as an estate in fee, the pur chase-money in his hands should be trust money for those who would be entitled in remainder, and he should lose all interest in it for his life. But there was another and a better provision, which was f that if a tenant for life, or his solicitors, should sell an estate, and should suppress a settlement or deed, or alter a pedigree, he should be hell to have committed a misdemeanour, and be fined and imprisoned, with or without hard latiour. There was another question—that of judgments. He would provide that therec iris might be searched on ply. ment of a small sum in order to discover whether there were any julgrneete. But there was no reason why judgment should be charges againet a purchaser. lie did not propose to take away the general effect of a judgment, but he proposed that if the person who lavi obtained a judgment does not issue execution within a certain time, the judgment shall be void as against the purchaser who has paid his purchase-money. There were several other provisions of imroitance, and in epmmittee he slinuld be happy to bear any sueegestione ny which the objects of the bill could be better carried out. Lord CRANWORTEI said he thought there could be no objection to the course which his noble friend pro posed. His noble and learned friend had truly said this was a most important measure, and his fear was that, important as it wa-, it Was little likely to receive all the attention which it ought at the hands, not of those who were designated the law lurch, but of the lay lords, be cause it to a great degree affected the interest of every landholder in the country. This was a bill which went not merely to the technicality of the law, but to the very root of that which constituted the enjoyment ( f property. He was not going to fallow his noble and learned friend into the details of the bill, but he would at once say that several of the alterations it made were extremely desirable. He thought nothing could be better than the provision that selling land under a false titl,, knowing it to be false, should be made a crime puni,h able just in the same manner as was the crime of obtain ing goods by false pretences. And when his noble and learned friend mentioned it to him, he would do him the justice to say that he suggested that the imprisonment might be with or without hard labour. This crime was Pr"idei for by the civil law and by the French code, and it ought to be provided for by our law. He would simply call their lordships' attention to the main ohj - ct of the bill, i n order that it might be distinctly understood in what way the bill would affect property. By law as it now stood there was a limitation aadv o e t rs 2o years within which any person rnu,t assert an title to the land i n possession of another, or ever hold his e ti peace. The law had drawn a line o f twenty years, and that had been found a convenient rule. But his noble and learned friend proposed that the adverse party should bring his snit within 20 years of th e ti me to which the property might be sold to a purchaser. That would be no ad vantage to the purchaser, hut it would be monstrously unjust to persons whose rights were not in existence at the time of the sale. A person might have a contingent interest of which he knew nothing. Such cases might not ordinarily occur, but legislation of that kind might t „ e ate enormous injustice.a means of re me d y i ng per As inconvenience which mi g ht ar i se, hi s no b le and learned friend proposed that during the 20 years any personlanise:ra; interest was reversionary might file a bill But what remedy .„P o ' l t z, , T,. of havin g his right declared. in existence or mi g h t , n r t at ,Z s 1,, r those who were not of their rights'? kHear, hear) Ile trustee their r are would we e rd ebiPe. and particu larly the lay lords, and whether in giving facilities a r,, e d psi hr the Proposal, Pru 1 r" n ot shaking the stability of the titl es cc, they Were at no distant day they might have the pt E Z t , t 4 t wlaich to regret. words from Lord ST. LEONAIIDFi in r After a few RD CHANCELLOR said he thoughtYi' The LORD wou ld be quite impossible in the house.todiscuesthe important t pr n o s which it involved were pro. visions of th e bill fully not only of great importance, but man y of them were sp a technical n.atere, r ti e m q e uir b i e ng sh g o r o e i a d t care and attention ; propose u c g o h m o i in t t e m e i u t t p e s e t a p i rs r . o J. ( r e m a a . , ) to refer the bill t h o ro a The bill then passed t and was ordered to be reported . LAW OF PROPERTY AMENDMENT BILL. Lord ST. LEONARDS moved the second readi ng of this bill, and was about to explain its provisions, when Lord CRANVY ORTH interposed, and expressed a hope that his noble and learned friend would give fur- THE SUN, LONDON' WEDNESDAY EVENT NO, MARCH 17, 1858 ther time for the consideration of so important a bill, which had only been placed in their lordships' hands that day. (Hear.) Lord ST. LEONARDS acceded to the suggestion, and the second reading was postponed until Monday next. Hodge in Sardinia, and asked if her Majesty's Govern• t hobjection p t r o e h h e i s n io a n t i n of g t l‘ h i e r. circumstances innconnectedeexnt had w what a n was the nature of the correspondence that had passed between the Sardinian and English Govern ments in reference to it The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said There is a treaty and extradition between the French and Sardinian Governments, under which Mr. Hodge had been arrested in Sardinia on some allegations connected with the late attempt on the life of the Emperor of the French. His person was demanded to be surrendered to the French Government ; but it appears that by the treaty Sardinia could not comply with that request with out previously obtaining the consent of the English Government. Under these circumstances a demani was made to her Majesty's Government that Mr. Hodge should be surrendered by the Sardinian Government to France. Her Majesty's Government, in consequence, requested that the papers seized on Mr. Hodge's person, which were the foundation of the demand, should be sent to England, which was accordingly done, and her Majesty's Government, after having examined them, and being of opinion they were not sufficient to warrant the com mittal of Mr. Hodge by a magistrate in England —(cheers)—we have declined to consent to the demand of the French Government. (Loud cheers.) There has been public statements made relative to the dangerous state of Mr. Hodge's health, and that he was subjected to very severe imprisonment. Her Majesty's Govern ment instructed our Minister at Turin to inquire into the matter, and place himself in communication with Mr. Hodge. That gentleman did so, and found Mr. Hodge was suffering from a pulmonary complaint, and he had de manded from the Sardinian Government that Mr. Hodge's imprisonment should cease as soon as their forms of law would permit. (Cheers.) Mr. HO RSMAN asked if the correspondence between the respective Governments was concluded ; and, if co, if the right hon. gentleman would lay it on the table of the house? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the correspondence was very slight, having been chiefly carried on by telegraph, and he thought it better to de • cline laying it on the table of the house. (Hear, hear.) The subject then dropped. VOTE OF THANKS TO MR. HALLIDAY. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER —I now rice to move that the resolution of thanks which this house arrived at on the Bth of Feb. last be read. My object in raking that motion is that we may insert in the resolution the name of a very distinguished gentle man—the Governor of Bengal, whose name by an un happy inadvertence was omitted on that occasion. The thanks of the house were offered to the Governor-Gene ral and to the Governors of Madras and B imbay, but the name of the Hon. F. J. Halliday, the Lieutenant- Governor of Bengal, was omitted. Now, lam sure the house will feel that that gentleman has been placed, in consequence of what may almost be termed a clerical error, in an extremely painful position. It is not merely that he has been deprived of the highest compliment that one of her Majesty's subjects can receive—the thanks of Parliament fur public cervices—but the omission of his name seems to cast a slur upon his name and reputation which never could have been intended. (Hear, hear.) I do not anticipate, therefore, the slightest opposi:ion to the proposition that I am now going to make—that the resolution of the Bth of Feb. be read, and that in his doe position in that resolution, which would be immediately after Lord Elphinstoue, the name of the Hon. F. J. Hal liday, the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, be inserted, so that he may receive in a proper manner the thanks of the House of Commons for his public services during the revolt in India. (Hear, hear.) But since I gave that al most formal n tice several amendments to which I must call the attention of the house have been placed upon the votes. There is one amendment by the hon. and gallant member for Westminster, to include the names of Major General Mansfield, Bri g adier-General Chamberlain, Bri gadier-General Hope Grant, and Brigadier-Gent ral Wal pole and, in addition to the fourth resolution of the 8-,h of iebruary, the hon. and gallant gentleman requests us to record the thanks of the house as eminently merited by those distinguished men who were com manding officers, and who lost their lives during the revolt in India. The hon. and gallant member for Southwark also proposes a vote of thanks to Sir William Peel for his services in India. I trust there will be no difference of opinion as to the course which we ought to take upon these propositions. I can assure the hon. and gallant gentleman who made them that there is no one in this house who more appreciates the services or more deplores the loss of these eminent men than my self. (Hear, hear.) Indeed, when I had the honour of addressing the house upon the original resolution, as proposed by the noble lord the member for Tiverton, I called upon the house not to forget at that moment of thanks and congratulation the names of the illustrious departed, and I even took the liberty of expressing my regret that rules, the wisdom of which experience has proved, prevented our inserting the name of Sir William Peel, whose romantic exploits recall the brilliant achieve inente of Sir Sidney Smith. (Cheers.) I, therefore, need not assure the hon. and gallant members that there is no want of respect or of sympathy on our part with the deeds and character of the eminent persons mentioned in their respective amendments. Bus there are certain rules which have always been observed in regulating our votes of thanks, and from which, I think, it would be most unwise for us to depart. Indeed, when we have passed the line, I do not exactly see where we are to stop. (Hear, hear.) On reading the names included in the amendments I am sure, brilliant as they are, I could add to theta EOM not less distinguished. Why should the name of Greathed, for example, or of Adrian Hope, be omitted ? (Hear, hear.) The truth is, however, that the services of these and other distinguished officers are acknowledged in that general resolution which thanks the rest of the officers of her Majesty's army for their gallant services. (Hear, hear.) Perhaps the house will permit me to add that I think the thanks of Parliament should not be proposed except after great deliberation, and then only by the existing Government. (Hear, hear.) They should be proposed in both houses, and with such a concurrence of opinion that there could be no doubt of their being unanimously passed. I hope, therefore, that the hon. and gallant gentlemen, feeling that the house appreciates equally with themselves the services of the eminent persons whom they have named, will not press to a division the propositions which they have placed upon the paper, I am certain with the best intent . ° s, but I think with less consideration than so important a question wou ld re quire. (Hear, hear.) 1 hops that nothing so painful may occur as that we should have a division upon a subject of this kind. The rules which have been laid down are the result of the experience of long years ; the practice that has been adopted has been sanctioned by the most eminent men who have attempted to control the business of Parlia ment ; and I trust, therefore, that the hon. and gallant gentlemen will be satisfied with an expression cif their respect and sthioeny, sympathy hbativt e withw will proposed,ati e e cc, dt will s ie t i ng n u o i ts motionbi e nte d fisih,airs vespers insist name of gwohinogsetonaamdeivs now lrwoightiii ioctnh m hho a o;f k : e t: ihgr t i eg o ° ob b bt o e i:ue p tnns a ea s s nd e oo s tf i nh u eet, n nh a eb n me i s m olt,vrh o eo u dp s :‘ l i s s • ,Fdt(e,,hHbai February t a i hat r r , ahyte h o olfihof f narmß i ai h te e rth(ni.hog H eDn, B,o,l,in;lnhsou. be ne : : ' bhi r iene e mgb: d reo e fotroi, Frederick i afterJaynesed 0 1 i f i d L a y o r , d L E i e u p t h o i G n m e + Lieut.-Governor e n r e n . yTd s D eitrv, o :ei b rett s eio e l observed inmeddil? India, the ,leh e when vdctoefa t the noble officers thanks the name of Lord Canning 773,1 objected to by the present Chancellor of the Exchequer on the ground that the insertion of that noble lo7d's name might be supposed to imply an unqua lified approl,ation of all the policy he had pursued since he bad been in ludic. Subsequently, when it was shown that the vote of thanks was confined to the exertions used to suppress the mutiny, the right hon. gentleman gave way, and consented that the resolution should pass nemine centradieente. Now, as it would be impssible, when the Indian B 11 came to be debated, and when the causes which led to the insurrection came to be consi dered, not to bring forward some of the conduct (if Mr. Hall day, he only protested now, as the Chan cellor of the Exchequer formerly did, against being supposed that, by aseert;ng to the present motion, he was precluded from making whatever observations be should feel to be neesesary when the Indian Bill came before the house. EAST INDIA. LOAN BILL. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH, in moving the second reading of this bill, said their lordships were well aware that many pecuniary difficulties had arisen from the present unfortunate state of affairs in India, and the object of the bill was to enable the East India Com pany to raise by bonds and debentures the sum of 8,000,000/., and to give the company power at a future period to raise other sums for paying off such bonds and debentures as might be thus raised. There was an ex tremely useful clause in the bill, requiring a full account of all the liabilities and debts, under different heads, of the East India Company to be laid before Parliament for the present and the next year. On the 31st January last the East India Company had in cash the sum of 734,000/. ; in Exchequer - bills and bonds, 1,809,0001., besides 285,000/. from other sources, making a total of 2,819,000/. Their premises in Leadenhall street and other places were stated to be worth 547,0001., and their unshipped stores, steamers, &c., were valued at more than 300,000/., making together about 951,000/. Against the amount in hand there was an actual debt 0f„.9,837,000/. On looking at the receipts for the l , st year, he found considerable sums which could not arise during the present year. To meet the expenditure of nex t year, which would amount to 5,670,0007., the corn oany bad not mere than 1,000,000/. ; ani it was there i,re absolutely necessary to increase their borrowing . _ powers. At present they had an unexhaneded borrowing power to the extent of 1,000,0001., so that after the passing of the present bill their borrowing powers would reach 9,000,000/. He regretted that the la' e Government had acquiesced in the suggestion for limiting the bor rowing powers in the bill t...) 8,000,0001. Although the Elst India Company had some difficulty in meeting their preser.t payments, there was not the smallest doubt as to their ability to meet every demand upon them. With regard to the state of affairs in India, he believed that by the end of the present month the commander-in-chief would have taken possession of Lucknow. (Hear.) He had no doubt that the bands of rebels who had congre gated there would by that time have bees driven out by a fire unthr which no man could live. (Hear.) After the commencement of April in his opinion there would be no considerable force of the rebels remaining in a body. No doubt for some time there would be de sultory and preda•ory movements, and great necessity would exist for strenuous exertions to pui - , them down and restore that country to a state of tranquillity. But he trusted that by the beginning of April our troops would be found in the palaces of Lucknow, and that no large bodies of mutineers would be found acting to gether. (Hear.) Lord MONTEIGLE said he intended to make some observations during the progress of the bill, but would defer them until after the production of the returns for which he had moved. Earl GRANVILLE expressed his satisfaction at the prospect which the noble earl held out as to the state of affairs in India. The bill was then read a second time. PRIVATE BILLS. Lord REDESDALE moved that no private bill should be read a second time after Tuesday, the 20th of July next ; that no bill confirming any provisional order of the Board of Health, or authorising any enclosure of lands under special report of the Enclosure Commis sioners of England and Wales, or for confirming any scheme of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales, should be read a second time after Tuesday, the 20,h day of July next; that when a bill should have passel this house with amendments, these orders should not apply to any new bill sent up from the House of Com mons, which the chairman cf committees should report to the house was substantially the same as the bill so amended. The motion was agreed to. OPERATIONS IN INDIA—(VOTE OF THANKS ) The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH moved that the first resolution of their lordships, giving a rote of thanks to Lord Canning and the other high official persons in India, on the Bth February, be read, for the purpose of including in that resolution a vote of thanks to the Hon. Frederick James Halliday, Lieut.- Governor of Bengal. He believed that the omission in the resolution proposed by the late Government was entirely accidental. (Hear.) Mr. Halliday, who was a civilian, had done extremely good service iu India, in the preparation of the commissariat supplies and dawk conveyances, and had given the utmost satisfaction to all persons with whom he had to deal in the great pro vince of Bengal. The day beforeyes►.erday`a paper came into his hands containing the representations of various officers as to the extremely satisfactory arrangements which had been made by Mr. Halliday. An Engli,-h -man, on landing in India, was seldom satisfied with the prepar'ations for his reception. Quite the contrary. But in the paper to which he had referred the arrangements wade by Mr. Halliday were described as "all good,"— •• everything g,,ud,"—" everything was arranged to our entire satisfaction,"—" a►ll in good condition,"—" suffi cient quantity,"—''good quality," "arrangements quite perfect,"—" rations excellent,"—" the men re ceived every possible attention." It was a very great merit on the part of a public officer to provide for the troops and give satisfaction under circumstances of so much difficulty, and it was nothing but justice to make a► proper ackoovilediiment of such services. (Hear.) He wished to take that opportunity of stating to their lord ships that her Majesty had been graciously please , ' to declare her intention of conferring a baronetcy o❑ the son of the late Sir IT. Lawrence, and that it was the in tention of the Court of Directors to propose to the Court of Proprietors the grant of an annuity of 1,0001. a-year. (Cheers.) Lord PANMURE, in cordially seconding the propo sition which had just been made, said that the reason of the omission of Mr. Halliday's name had been accu rately stated by the noble earl opposite. There could be no doubt that Mr. Halliday had done a great deal towards the success of the movement of the troops of India, but many of the acts for which he had received credit had been the consequence of the excellent arrange ments of Lord Canning. He had heard with great satis faction the announcement of her Majesty's intention to honour the son of Sir H. Lawrence, and of the vote in tended to be proposed by the Court of Directors. H e was sure the country would rej )ice in the payment of such a tribute to the memory of one of the best servants of the country, and one of the moat loyal and eminent of her Majesty's subjects. (Cheers.) The motion was then put and agreed to, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF CONINIONS.—(YESTERDAY.) The SPEAKER took the cl4air at 4 o'clock. notice, but be had expressed his opinion when the late Government was in office that the number of officers thanked was too limited, and that officers of lower rank than those who were thanked had performed very signal services. The right hon. gentleman had adverted to the difficulty, if the house went below a certain rank in naming officers in votes of thanks, of drawing the line where to stop, but he would remind the house that there WAS a time when votes of thanks were reserved for ge neral officers of high command, and the line had been gradually extended to other ranks in the army. How ever, he would leave the matter in the hands of the right hon. gentleman hoping that he would take it into his serious consideration. Mr. NISBET, as a personal friend of Mr. Halliday, who had been under his immediate direction in India, bore testimony to the gjeat abilities of that officer, whose success be thought afarded the best proof of his merit. (near, hear.) Lord PALMERSTON—I entirely concur with the of it, because it would now range under the head of acknowledged savings, and as such would form part of the consolidated fund. [Sir G. C. Lewie expressed his dissent.] The right hon. gentleman shakes his head, but I have the highest authority for believing that he is in error—the authority of a gentleman who occupied the position whioh I now fill, and which was recently so worthily occupied by the right hon. gentleman. I can not, therefore, relinquish the opinion which I have ex pressed, but whether it be correct or not, I hope the house will not disapprove the course we are taking— viz., that where there is a clear deficiency of 500,006/., we prefer to come to Parliament for a vote to supply that deficiency. (Hear, hear.) Sir G. C. LEWIS—If it is distinctly understood that what is awed upon the other votes shall not be trans ferred I have not the smallest objection to the course that is being taken, but what I object to is that there should uneeces , arily be an increase of 500,0001. in the veto for the army, because, if a saving equivalent to that 'urn is made upon pay and provisions, then, notwith Chancellor of the Exchequer that the duty of selecting -- etre _ - standing what the right hon. gentleman says, I appre the officers whose names should be proposed to Parl.a- hend it will be (elite competent to the Government, rnent in the motion conferring on them the high honour under the Appropriation Act, to transfer that sum to of a vote of thanks is best vested in the Executive other items. Ft r example, they may spend that sum Government, who are the most fully aware of the rela- in barracks or fortifications. Mr. HAMILTON said that if there was any surplus tive claims of all those who may come under their eon it would be put fur war las e saving in the ordinary ways sideration, and who also are the best judges whether it and mear et. would be expedient to depart in any case from those Sir F. B aRING expressed his perfect concurrence in general rules which have hitherto guided Parliament in the course the Government were pursuing. They had the expression of their thanks. I think th a t on the p r e- laid down the rule strictly, and be hoped the house sent occasion it would be best for my gallant friend not would hold them t i it. (Hear, hear.) Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said that the late Govern to press the vote of which he has given notice. Wit" , ment had taken a large surplus of above half a million respect to the question about Mr. Halliday, my hon• voted for one service, and applied it to another, but friend the member for Guildford has correctly stated the the present Government had pursued a more constitu circumstances of the case. The vote of thanks was cern- tional course. (Hear, hear.) He thought it was the duty municated beforehand by the President of the Board of of this house to limit the powerof Government, under the 27th clause of the Appropriation Act, which gave Control to the two Cha i r s. I t did not contain the name them in general terms the power to apply surpluses of Mr. Halliday because it did not appear to us that ac- without naming to what amount. They might take a cording to the words in which the resolution was put his million under that clause and so apply it. He (Sir H. peculiar position brought him within the scope of the Willoughby) thought there ought to be some limit to vote, The draught of t he m otion was returned by the this power. He thought the limit should be 50 , 0001 ., or at all events some specified amount. Chairs without any suggestion that Mr. Halliday's Mr. CARDWELL said the right hon. gentleman name should be inserted. Some time afterwards my (M r . Disraeli) deserved great credit for the course he hon. friend the membe r for Guildford (Mr. Mangles) had .. onthis occasion. He hoped it would be a stated to me what he has just represented to thepursued for future precedent Governments. house—that there were certain circumstances con- The report was received. nected with the peculiar duties which Mr. Halliday • WAYS AND into Committee NS. had per f wened relative to military arrangements The house then resolved itself Bengal which, in his opinion, and in the opinion of the ways and Means—Mr. FITZROY in the chair. Directors of the East India Company, entitled that gen tleman to the thanks of this house. I pointed out to On the vote of 500,0001. for the deficiencies in the the hon. gentleman—as also did my right hon. friend militia estimates of last year, (Mr. V. Smith)—the difficulty and inconvenience which Sir H. WILLOUGHBY wished to call the eaten from revising a vote that had been adopted by tion of the right hon. gentleman opposite (Sir C. Lewis) P a rliament ; but I stated that if the Chairs would offici- Control totne w e a la s u g s i e ve i n n to ppthaeAly p pt s w o o r pr l i o a s ti m on on A s c y n v u ot ri e d d er fo w r h o ic n h e of ally , and would recomme n d that a proposition for co mmunicate their view of the matter to the Board power purpose to other purposes, it might be entirely different, a vote of thanks should be submitted to Parliament, we for instance, under it Government might take army should be ready to give due consideration to such a re- money and apply it for navy purposes. He had no doubt commendation. It appear s that a recommendation on such was not the intention of the framers of the claute, the subject has been made to the present Government, hat he wished the right hon. gentleman to state the cir and as they have thought fit to adopt it, I certainly am cumstances under which that clause was introduced, and not going to object to the vote now proposed. whether it was taken from any previous act ? General CODRINGTON thought the rule laid down Sot C. LEWIS said that the explanation was an ex with the apparent consent of the leaders of both sides of tremely simple one. There was a dissolution of Parlia the house, that the executive Government ought on ment last year in the middle of the session, which of ne their responsibility to determine to what persons the cessity disturbed the continuity of the estimates and the thanks of Parliament should be proposed, was one which ordinary course of proceeding. They had then referred it was most desirable to observe ; and he would not back to 1841, when a similar dissolution took place, and have said a word had not the hon. and gallant member h ad follo wed exactly the p recedent set them b y the Go fer Westminster (Sir D. L. Evans) given notice of his vernment of that day, and the clause to which the hon. intention to move the thanks of the house to several baronet referred was taken from the act then passed. It should, however, be remembered that this clause '.did nd in his motion. He (General Codrington) did act w i s h to enter into any discussion not enable Government to a pp l y sur p luses to an y other object than those enumerated in the 27th section of the officersw we it r h e r mentioned regard were o named tin those the names, heon. and but, gallantas ev h act. sera member'sl brigadiers m o. tion, he thought it right to remind the house that there The vote was then agreed to, and also a vote of were other brig a di ers w h o h a d l e d a ssaults at Delhi ; 10,000,0001 . towards making g o o d the su pp lies out of that there w as dead, he might ment i on —G enera l Barnard, who had The house then resumed. a general officer whose name, as he was the consolidated fund. for some time commanded the forcer before Delhi, and MARINE MUTINY . BILL. in several actions ; and that there was also Major-General This bill was read a third time. Windham, under whose command one of the brigadiers MUTINY BILL. mentioned in the gallant officer's motion serve d, t o On the order of the day for the second reading of the whom the th an k s of Parliament had not been proposed. Mutiny Bill, (Hear, hear.) He had merely risen to say that if the Mr. BAXTER called the attention of the house to a proposal of the hon. and gallant member for West- most injurious alteration, so far as . Scotland was con minster had been brought forward he (General Codring- cerned, which had been made in this act at the end of ton) would have moved the addition of other names last session, when most of the Scotch members had re to the resolution. He agreed, however, in the pro- turned to their homes. Before that time almost every priety of the principle that the Government should householder in Scotland was subject to the billeting eye upon their responsibility, submit to the house the names tern, which was a grievance almost intolerable, and in• of the officers to whom they considered thanks ought to stead of devising a proper remedy for this, the Govern be voted. ment, in August last, assimilated the law in Scotland to Colonel SYKES said that, had the hon. and gallant that in England, and threw the whole system of billets member for Westminster persevered with his motion, he ing upon innkeepers, although there was really nothing should have felt it his duty to move the addition of an• in common between the two countries in this respect. other officer's name. (A laugh.) He alluded to Majer- It was his (Mr. Baxter's) intention to have taken the General Lester, commanding the Bombay army it the sense of the house on this motion. (Hear.) He did not, Southern Mahratta State, who, with 100 European however, wish to give any ground for a charge of fact troops bad contrived to preserve that province in tran- tious opposition, and therefore, under present eircum quility and security amid the symptoms of conspiracy stances, he (should not divide the house, but he and mutiny which were manifested around him. hoped the subject would be fully investigated. In Capt. VIVIAN found, on reference to a book which Montrose, there was a population of 15,000 per recorded the votes of thanks passed to the army en va- sons, and of that number 33 were publicans, and rious occasions that in some instance as many as 14, 15? for two months last autumn a whole regiment of 16, and even 24 officers had been included in the votes, and militia, consisting of about 800 men, were billeted on that all officers. in command of brigades had 'invariably been these unfortunate innkeepers. No less than 35,963 thanked. It appeared that when a vote of thanks woe passed billets were issued during the months of October and in 1312 to officers who had commanded at Salamanca, November, being equivalent to a tax of 2241. 13,. 4d.. the names of seven officers were omitted, and among them, u p on eac h innkeeper. One man paying a rent of 1701. singularly enough, was that of Marshal Beresford ; but a -year was paying at the rate of 1331. 11g. 63. for the in February, 1813, an amendment, iccludiug the seven accommodation of militia, and some of these poor pub omitted names, was proposed and adopted. He did not lfcans bad actually to sell off their effects to avoid this wish to say anything in the slightest degree disparaging cruel infliction, and were entirely ruined. (Hear, bear.) with regard to the gentleman who was the subject of the In Edinburgh, the state of things was worse. Some of vote before the house, but he thought if it was a slur to the publicans there had thousands of billets issued to omit the name of that gentleman from the vote lately them. This was a matter which demanded the serious adopted by the house, the omission of the names of offi- consideration and prompt interference of the Govern cars who had commanded brigades before Delhi, and in other parts of India, was quite as much a slur upon merit. (Hear, hear.) He would put it to the Govern them. In his opinion this was especially the case with ment ' whether this whole system of billeting was not a remnant of barbarism, injurious to military discipline, i regard to General Barnard, who had commanded the and destructive of domestic peace. These were solid army before Delhi for some time, and to other officers who had lost their lives in the struggle. He hoped her ought to be immediately redressed grievances which i -- (hear, hear)—and f no remedy was granted it would be Majesty's Government would take this subject into their his duty, in the conrseof the session, to bring the matter co n sid e ration, and that, acting upon the precedents to before the House of Commons. (Hear, which he had referred , they would include in the votes M r . A. KINNAIRD said he wished hear.) d to add his en of thanks the names of brigadiers and of offi cers holding treaty to that of the hon. member for Montrose , that independent commands• this subject might be taken into the early c onsideration Mr. ELLIOT observed that, in his opinion, Lord of the Government. There was in Scotland every desire Elphintleo e had deserved the thanks of Parliament, not to afford facilities to pass troop s, but the mode in which merely for his civil services, but also for the admirable i this was done at present amounted to a great grievance , military arrangeme nts whi ch he had made at Bombay, which by a little inquiry and consideration might, he and he believed it w as on that ground that his name had v thought, easily be removed. He concluded by suggest been included in the for mer vote. isg teat a committee should bo appointed to investigate The motion was then agreed to. the subject. SUPPLY. Mr. BUCHANAN raid that the injustice of the pre- The report of the committee of su pply was then sen t bill e ting system was so obviousi that it hardly required brought up by Mr. FITZROY. any further notice to prove that it was a grievance which The first vote, 500,0001. for the militia, having been ought to be remedied. If it costa certain soul per night read, Sir G. C. LEW IS said— l wish to ask for some should that planation from the Government in addition to that munity. It was a gross injustice. (Hear, hear.) Why which has already been given with reference to this vote. should this particular class of tradesmen be exposed to The house will remember that last year the army esti- be plundered by a lawless soldiery ? (Hear, hear.) It mates were voted before the news of the Indian mutiny was a very great annoyance to have these men coming arrived, and the votes of men, and for pay and pro- wrargling about the money welch they were to receive. visions, we re t a ken on the supposition that the ordinary (Hear.) He noticed that in the report of the sanatory number of troop would he sent to India during the state of the army the mortality was stated to be greater year. After the army estimates had been voted in th e army than it was in other classes of the corn news of the Indian mutiny was received, and it munity, and no wonder, for these soldiers having hecorne necessary to transfer an unusual number wrangled till they got as much money as they could, of men to India, tie effect of this proceeding went and spent it in low haunts, and thus got into a state being provisions o f th e reg i men t s se nt o f h ea lth from which they never fully recovered. If this to India thatwer edia h() providedpayand by the East India Compan y, in- 43. per night were devoted to the purpose, a very good defrayed from the army estimates. It place might he provided i n Edinbu r g h, and j ustice would becameiecessary for the Gov ernmen t t o b r i ng i n a b e d one t o all parties ; but he could not conceive of a also o ad of being bill to enable them to embody the militia, and a vote of g reater injustice than that some four or five hundred out 200,0001. was taken for this purpose. At the same time o f a l ar ge population should be victimised. (Rear.) a statement was furnished to the Treasury by the War Mr. RIDLEY complained that the publicans were Department, that, although the estimated expense of out of pocket by complying with the net. When troops the embodied militia would exceed 200,0001., , there were marching 'through the country, billeting perhaps would neveretheless be a saving upon other branches of could not be altogether done away with, but he would the army estimates, in consequence of the great number and that therefore the sum which bad -ei ter A P be satisfied if the present Government would give the of men who would be tran ferred to India, and the re- same assurance 1.8 the late Government, viz., that it y for the army estimates would probably Mr. '''' '' ''''''' . payment of whose expenses was to be expected from should be resorted to as little as possible. o sh th ue e ffieoc c e o v ro fo T supported the proposition to refer this i pt r ead t n he service of the army during the 1 subject to a select committee, because he was sure that Now, I had not heard before I left office whether Y ear ' 1 such a step would give very great satisfaction. At that anticipation was likely to be fulfilled. I had Liverpool e- had th v good barrack accommodation, and from this burden ' . therefore the town was excnerated not been informed that any supplementary vote General CODRINGTON said it was settled by the wou ld be required for the army estimates. The late Government that the lays of England and Scotland right honourable gentleman the Secretary for War in should be assimilated on this point. proposed yesterday, however, in committee of supply, Scotland the same means of accommodating h the soldier an a dditional vote of 500,0001. for the expenses of the that there was in England, especially in the more popub embodied militia. That vote was agreed to, and it was lons parts of England, It was no very muc 500,0001., and that explained en the part of the Government that there was better for the soldier that he should be in barracks ; and a deficiency in was certainly not fair that the sum allowed should not it the c o a n r s q u en estimates t l consequently 500,0001. to t h e more eaten: th a o o f be proportionate to the expense incurred ; but they the sum voted iast y ear wou ld be required for the see- could not h •it the present state of things give up the power v ice of the prese n t year. I don ' t d ou bt that that state- ment wan correct, of regiments transferred to of quartering . soldiers where they could be lodged and fed when moving about the country. am desirous of knowi gwhat will be done with the large but before the report is agreed to I saving which must e n- l accrue from the number Colonel NORTH said that it was as hard for Ireland 1 as it was for England ; but there must be some provision mates furnished by the W Department l the last sus tier. infor troops when marching about the country. believe Mr ELLIOT said there was not a Scotch member in sion, and which the Treasury that time were led to " at s o ar l l n y dia, and whether the esti the house who would not agree with the objections correct, have proved incorrect. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—After ; • which a had been made against the present system for it was grievance which was felt severely throughout the the army estimates were voted last year the house will whole of Scotland, and it would be a great boon to that recollect that a hill for empowering the embodiment of country if the Government would carefully consider the the militia was passed as late as the 22d of August. The sion which wa s the case, and mode of remedying the matter awl take some steps to ascertain the real state of consequence of that bill being passed is that the pious- . what was the best a-iinetted evil. Mr. BLACKBURN said, as a Scotch member, he felt merit of the railitia—namely, 200,0001., was exceeded by bound to say that he did not see how the billeting made in the estimates for the embodi the sum of 50 0,0001., the whole expenditure under this system could be don e without. He did not see that that we were only head having amounted to 700,0 001 . There was therefore, there c mild be a better plan than to quarter the sol s die fo ra r a clear deficiency of 500,0001., and we have thought at the public-houses, which were open at all hours a the purposes of trade. It was by no means . so g aar iamen ary course grievance to have soldiers billeted on public houses as on asking the house to vote that sum without seeing who- private houses. taking P I tin titer we could under the Appropriation Act, by availing Mr. COLEBROOK said that many of the Scotch ourselves of surpluses in other items in order te meet publicans had not the means of lodging . the men deficiencies, find other means for obtaining that supply. billeted upon them, and had to provide lodgings else (Hear, - (Hear, hear.) It is our opinion that, although under the where, which pressed particularly hard upon ) them h . e Appropriation Act th e re is a power to apply surpluses Government could readily meet the evil, either y p.ro to meet deficienc'es, that is a power which ought only viding proper barracks for the troops, or else by taking to be exercised by a Minister at a moment of emergency the simple course or paying these persons certain sums and certainly ought notto be t xercised when Parliament on account of the expenses to which they arc put. H e is sitting—(aear, hear)—and when, therefore, you can suggested that the hon. and gallant member the Minis apply to Parliament i n a straightforward manner. for for W ar s h ou ld t a k e the subject into his careful con (Hear, hear.) With regard to the other sources to sideratien. He dad the don Thure ' which the right hon. gentleman has referred ae pre- General PEEL said he. would do so, but the only Viably mnpplyirg means equal in amount to this pledge be could give them was, that the subject should 500,000/., or more, from other military votes, I receive hie earnest attention• shall be very glad if e ventually that turns out to be day next to receive a deputation on lo sus jec from the case ; lout it is impo.sible that the account of this Edinburgh. He admitted the hardships of the billeting price of provisions, 'he sum saving can be concluded in time for us to form any system. The hardship varied from year to year, fen with opinion at present as to what may be the amount of the all the fluctuations in the i the difficulty It was inn saving which may be effected under that head. If, how- allowed had remained the ;tri t e sinc_e . 1830. .Vhat wa a' s ever, the amount of that saving be equal to the 500,0001., the best mode of dealing wi or even greater, we should not be able to avail ourselves possible for him at the present moment to eay. He could only repeat that he would carefully consider the matter. The bill was then read a second time. COMMONS ENCLOSURE BILL. This bill was read a second time. GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH BILL. This bill was read a second time. MILITIA ACT CONTINUANCE BILL. This bill was read a second time. EUROPEAN COLONISATION IN INDIA. Mr. EWART moved for a select committee to inquire into the progress and prospects, and the best means to be adopted for the promotion cf European colonisation in India, and the fermation of military stations, especi ally in the hill districts and healthier climates cf that country, as well as for the extension of our commerce with Central Asia. His object, he said, was to hear fully what could be said on both sides of this imperta,nt question. He owed an apology to the house for ing forward the question, and the best defence he could offer, was the interest he felt in the subject, and the plea, which was as old as Demosthenes, that in a delibe rative assembly it was competent for any person, who honestly thought himself acting for the public good, to propose that which ho thought was ireful to the state. Committees which had sat bad :lightly touched on this subject ; but it had not, to any great extent, engrossed the attention of any committee ; and now, therefore, he proposed a committee for this single question. No one could read the evidence on this subject, without being struck with the difference between the colonisation of India and our other dependencies. In our other depen dencies, new British empires, as it were, might be seen rising up ; but in India, beyond the military and the executive, there were not more than 22,000 Europeans. (Hear.) The climate wan ure.ed as an objection ; bat in some districts the climate se far from being unfavourable was highly favourable to European constitutions. It might also be objected that the ground was occupied, but there were suitable districts where this was not the case. It might be objected that the East India Coro pany had made the experiment and failed; but railways and other facilities for inter-communication would bring about a totally different state of things. He quoted the opinions of two governors-general (Metcalfe and Ben tinck), who were strongly in favour cf the European colonisation of India. Of late years the East India Company itself had been favourable to it, though formerly it was not so. The tenure of land might be urged as an objection, but the company denied that there were grounds of complaint, and declared that there was no objectioa to any person holding the fte simple of land. The hon. gentleman then went at con siderable length into the reasons why he thought that the hill districts of the Himalayas, and some other parts of India, were suitable both with respect to soil and climate for European colonisation. But there was some thing more important than military occupation, and that was sett!ernent and ccbni-ation. Armies could conquer a country, but it was only by settlers and colo nists that it could he retained. He would now advert to what might be called the Indian view cf the question, i r the effect on the natives. It could not be denied that it would be a vast boon to India, if Eoglish gold could be made to flew freely into it, and that could only happen by facilitating the admission of colonists. The country was rich in the varied products that did not invite else where the attention of the cultivator. In the bill coun try there was abundance of Indigo and cotton, and in Assam there had been a great increase in the cu!tivation of tea. It appeared that in 1851.5 the weight of the Assam tea crop was 538,0001b5., in 1855-6 it had in creased to 638,0001b5., and in 1856-7 to 700.000110. Until now the inhabitants of the Himalayas had been supplied with tea from Thibet, but a supply of it from As-am would be of infinite benefit to them, while it would be of great importance to trade. The existence of the bill stations was of great importance to India, and that importance was daly augmenting. Dr. Harker said that Daijeelirg had doubled itself during the last two years, while trade had made immense progress. Dr. Campbell, too, stated that thousands of natives were attracted to them from all quarters, and these state ments were amply confirmed :ey Mr. Wellby Jackson. And now he would turn from the Indian to the English view cf the question. They heard it said on all sides that these hill stations, having an European climate, could be rendered great centres ef European civilisation, by the establishment of colleges and schools of law, and it had been eeriously proposed, in consequence of the advantages which arose from the extension of telegraphs, to establish the central government more in the northern part of India. If they had places of education in those regions one great use of them would be to extend the knowledge of the English language among the native tribes. In the 7th chapter of his first book, Gibbon pointed out the importance which the Romans attached to the influence of language in their colonising efforts, and the language of Virgil and Cicero, not in its purest form, perhaps, took root in Africa, Gaul, Pannonia, and Britain. Another important means of colonisation, which should be borne in mind, was in the establish ment of free municipalities. In the ancient cities which the Romans founded on the frantiers of Gaul, and which were still to be met with in the south of France, were still to be found the last lingerinr beams of their civili • sation, and their example was well ' worthy of imitation in India. Another view of the question was the great value of opening up their trade with Central Asia. As long ago as the year 1783, under Warren Hastings, we had a trade with Central Asia, across the Ilimalayae, but Russia now supplied a large extent of that region, poor indeed, but well worthy of attention, and of some effort to rouse their dormant energies. (Hear.) Capt. Turner, who was sent to Thibet by Warren Hastings, and whose statements had been confirmed by those of the Abbes flue, Thibet had rock salt, wool, and many other valuable products in great abundance. More over, there was a large quantity of gold, and unless he (Mr. Ewart) were mistaken, Thibet was the California of Asia. The Abbe Hue said the finding of gold was so common that the shepherds amused themselves by puri fying the gold which they found while watching their flocks. lie thought, therefore, the possibility of opening up an extensive trade with Central Asia was a fair me jeet for inquiry. There was, however, another question far more momentous, namely, the extension of Chris tianity in these regions. (Hear.) He could conceive no better means of promoting that object than the establish ment in districts where the climate was European a European population, which would from age to age teach the precepts and exhibit the example which distinguished a Christian community from every other. He trusted there was reason to hope that tranquillity would soon be restored to India. Might they not believe that through such means as he had suggested a now era would dean upon that country ? They won it—not always by the fairest means—by arts and arms ; but he hoped they would soon be able to say, in the words of Shakspere— " I won thee by the sword, And gain'd thy hand in doing thee injury; But I will wed thee in a softer key, With peace, with freedom, and with equity." In the name of commerce and civilisation, and in the name of Christianity itself, be asked the house to assent to his motion. Mr. H. BAILLIE said thet the motion of the hon. member for Dpmfries was, doubtless, oncof great import ance, but he would forgive him for saying he thought the time he had selected for bringing it forward was inoppor tune. The hon. gentleman was aware that in a few days they would be cal! ed on to legislate for India, and to form a government for that country, and ho thought he woul.l have done better to have waited, in order to see what f em of government it might please that house to determine upon. He must express hie surprise, too, at the sanguine views as to the colonisation of India which the hon. gentleman bad announced, since all authorities were said to be agreed that, even in the bill stations cf India, Europeans could not live beyond the third gene ration. But the lion. gewlernan did not appear to anti cipate that those colonies wou ld be self -su pp ortin g , for he proposed that the Indian Government should apply the revenue; of India to these three objects—the estab lishment of schools and colleges, the construction of rail ways to the districts where the colonies were to be located, and the establishment of military stations fur the benefit of the colonists. Now, first, with respect to military stations in the hills; that was a favourite theory with many gentlemen, but he was sure that if the plan were adopter], it would turn out most inju riously for the troops themselves ; for though whilst in the hills they would be in an agreeable climate, yet they would not become acclimatised, and, whenever re quired for service in the plains, they would soon become u nserviceable. Further than that, they should ask whether it would be just to the people of India to make them pay for tbo-e colonies. India was a highly peopled country, and did not want colonists, and, therefore, the country that sent them out ought to pay for them. If ho could not convince the lion. gentleman of that, he hoped he could at least show him that, if the attempt were made, it would prove impracticable. Tho hon. gentleman must, in the first place, expect the colonist to take out a certain amount of capital, for labour in India was cheap. But what Eeglishman would do so far from home, and invest his money in a comparatively unknown country, w i t h ou t having some reas onable pros pect of a return tor his capital and even then he would find that he mast cultivate the plains and not the hills. High upon the hills, where the European climate was to be met with, the country was rugged and barren, derth expenditure of no amount of capital would ren thee soil p r oductive, of that he had be n well assured. The honourable gentleman talked of Simla, at an eleva tion of 17,000 feet above the level of the sea, but Simla was situated en the f ce of a steep and rugged moun tain. Simla might do well ono . ugh for invalids, and there was a large p o p ulation there, but that population was constantly fluctuating, and it was not such a one as was likely to realise the views whiee the hon. gentle man had explained to the house. He was told that the Go vernment of India was opposed to colonisation and against Europeans acqu'ring land. Bet he believed that ' of late years land bad been offered to Europeans on very fair terms. So much delusion existed on this subject that he would remind them that the land of India did not belong to the Government. It was private pro perty, subject to a land tax, and some of the titles of the natives were very old. Whatever belonged to Govern went was offered to colonists, but officers and pen sioners could not be induced by such offers to accept it. Neither in New Zealand nor in Australia could land be offered on more liberal terms. A complaint bad been made against the operation of the 'and-tax by hon. gen eemen connected with Manchester who were interested in the cultivation of cotton ; but in Bombay the land tex was fixed at a rate for 30 years, and a change in the levying of that tax was going on in Madras. As to the motion of the hon. member, the Government did not wish to prevent inquiries, and if his hon. friend would be satisfied at present with getting all the ieformat'on on the subject which could be afforded, be could next year, when the gover nment of India was remodelled, renew his motion ; bet if he persisted in moving f r tt e committee of inquiry at preeent, Government would nut :iirew any o bstructions in his way. Mr. W. EWART, in reply, intimated his intention of proceeding with hie motion. Colonel SYKES said the East India Company bad anticipated the wishes of the hon. member by Eending out PRIVATE BUSINESS, The following private bill 4 were read a second time —Porturena. Bridge (Treland), and Halifax Park and Improvements. PETITIONS. Numerous petit ions were presented against the admis sion of Jews to Parliament, and the legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister ; against the toll on CI:1030a New Bridge ; for Parliamentary Ref ,rm, Christianity in India, &e. &c. CASIIEL ELECTION. The SPEAKER announced that he had received a letter from the agent cf Mr. J. G. Scully, intimating that he did not intend t r proceed with the petition charging hin with bribery and corruption at the late thction for the borough of Calbel, and he applied for the discharge of the order. Mr. WALPOLE moved that the application should be referred to the General Committee on Electione, to whom the petition had been referre I as to course of pro cedure. He doubted if the petition could now be dis charged in the manner proposed. Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD urged that the house was in a position to deal with the petition at once. He should not, however, oppose the motion of the right her., gentleman the Home Secretary. After eorne remarks from Col. FRF.NCEE, Sir F. BARING suggested the debate should be acij ,urrted t give the Government an opportunity of examining the law on the nubk.ct. Mr. Secretary WALPOLE said he thought it would be better to adjourn the debate. In the meantime the facts cf the case could be mcertained, and the state of the law in reference to it. Mr. MANGLES hoped the house would not think Mr. BAGWELL suggested that the petition should him guilty of presumption if he sated very briefly the be discharged at once. It wenn not affect the sitting circumstances under which the name of Mr. Halliday member if that course were adopted. This was the was unfortunately omitted in the vote of thanks. That fourth petition that had been presented, and three of Mr. Halliday was most certainly entitled to the thanks them had been withdrawn. He thought it looked some- of the house he could bear the strongest testimony, on thing like persecution to compel t h e prosecut i on of this account of his energetic exertions to further to the ut• petition. most extent the military operations. Though Mr. Hal- After some remarks from Mr. VANCE and Sir G. liday only bore the title of Lieutenant Governor, he was GE,EY, the debate was adjourned till Tuesday next. as much a Governor of the districts under his authority SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND. as were the Governors of Bombay and Madras ; the Mr. BAXTER gave notice that, shortly after the only difference being that the latter had military :lathe- Easter rgess, he should move that it was the opinion of rity over the armies in their provinces. The thanks cf this house that an Under-Secretary of State for Scot'and the house, however, were nut voted to the Governors of should be appointed for the discharge of the political Madras and Bombay for any military operation, but dates at present attached to the office of Lord Advocate. for the civil services they had rendered in furthering the INDIAN ARMY REGULATIONS. operations of the army ; and in that respect he believed Mr. FAGAN gave notice that on Friday next he ' that the exertions and success of Mr. Halliday werein no should call the attention of the Secretary for War to wi.e inferior to those of the Governers of the other pro the Indian army r egulations r e lative to the children of vincee. Mr. Halliday had most didgently, energetically, soldiers under four years of age, and its effect with refe- and with all the zeal which distinguished him, furthered rence to Roman Catholic children, the operations of the Governmeat, especially in regard TURNPIKE TRUSTS. to - the movement of trcops along the great Trunk-road, Col. WESTON gave notice that on Thursday next he and the excellent arrangements he made for provisioning should put a question to her Majesty's Government rt la- and for the carriage of the troops deserved the for gratitude tive to the abolition of turnpike trusts. o f the country. Not only wa s food provided the MEDICAL PR A.O FITIONE RS. troops at the diffe r e nt stations, but it was ccolsed for Mr. COWPER gave notice that he should, on the every detachment as it conic up, and ue never th w a a n s any 23d, move to introduce a bill for the regulation and operation conducted with greater rapidity classification of practitioners in medicine and surgery. movement of the troops from Calcutta along the main PERSECUTION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC Trunk-road. (Hear.) In consequence of their habits SOLDIERS. and character the population, happily, did not requir e Captain O'CONNELL asked the Secretary for War troops to keep them in crier. The labourer in Bengal whether he had heard a statement that Brevet-Major war a peaceful and timid person ; but still there were Ward, commanding Nevertheless the bad characters there as elsewhere. oo _ her Majesty's 60th Rifles at Arcot, ordered two Roman Catholic soldiers to the guard- arrangements Mr. Halliday made fer the preservation of room for refusing to attend the service ' of the .It'tialo lislace,eanC,,rl?.reXon Christmas-day last ? 110,,,,.., u ,,,%,, , 1 7 .,,,, y , , , , mi 5 v a e id tc, h e had made inquiries at the ha , C l o b i e t z ßA:rlcol o e th or e rrt g o u n e ee s e t .i i T on put to him,and he. authorities °f 2? " r" ao 0 CII had been - received by the ti;ecFetary for the Mr. BRADY asks th l e ri s E -- -Y or LONDON, partment whether it l'ii-oDON. the peace were so eucces•ful as to prevent emeute or insurrection in any of the stations under Mr. Hal liday'e jurisdiction where no Sepoys mutinied. He . t , ok a HAI° share cf blame for the non-insertion of Mr. Hal liday 's name in the original vote of thanks, and the re gret he had expressed privately he now expressed pub. licly for that omission. A paper, containing the list of - / - 4 officers whom it was proposed to thank, was sent to went to proceed with the hill intention °I the G n e e ---: him bylthe President of the Board of Control, and he of the Corporation (-4 the City of L t o he Mr. WALPOLE said it was hi nd " better re Govern- --- blamed hirnste!f for !not noticing the omission cf Mr. R,allide.Y's name, aA, if the hon. member for West that the bill should be referred to the cornm - ' m ". '-', "rey had any charge to make against Mr Halliday, ittee to wl a ~, uctee.oubt,:x4, ?csioch,,iig,dhuaent and d in t io h n e o g f no th d e 8 e ; vc e Lieutenantrendered -erGovernored Lim the late Government proposed to refer it. THE CASE OF MR. HODGE. t;h ,,. _, ;n.i. ntry that he should be most ready to meet Mr. LIORSMAN put a question to the Chancellor of '. l : l i, gt.. (Rear, hear. propose to divide the Exchequer re stove to the apprehension of Mr. the hou s zte L ; EV ..ANS said ,. he did not the propoilition of which he had given orders in 1850 for an inquiry to be instituted such as the hon. member now moved for. The information collected by the authorities in India he had put into the hands of the hon. member for Dumfries, and bad suggested that he should move for the papers, and, in the event of their not being satisfactory, then he could move for the in quiry he now sought. To colonise the plains of India was absolutely impossible. There were periods of the year when the natives would be glad to get rid of their ' skins, if they could, (Laughter.) In the hill districts j they could hardly get 100 square yards that was fitted for cultivation, and they had failed in their endeavours to induce officers and pensioners to go to the hills. (Hear.) Sir JAMES ELPHINSTONE hoped the hon. and gallant member would move for the papers to which he had alluded. There were places in India which were called within fever range, and it was as much as the life► of a European was worth to go to land within that range. If the papers alluded to by the hon. and gallant colonel were laid on the table, a large amount of information would be obtained cn the subject of the likelihood of the colonisation of India. Mr. MANGLES, having the papers alluded to before him, would say a very few words on the subject. He denied that there was any objection on the part of the East India Company to the colonisation and culture of land in India. Whatever might have been the case for rarrly, since 1834 the c Anpany had no power to prevent Europeans settling in India, but on the contrary, they gave every encouragement to them to do so. The papers alluded to he thought would be ♦ery discourag ing to the hon. member who brought forward the pre sent motion. In the Punjab it was stated by the secre tary of Sir John Lawrence that there was scarcely any land fitted for European cultivation. In the North western provinces the report was equally unfa vourable. In the Himalaya mountains a very small portion of the land was fitted for cultivation. Re ference had been made to the cultivation of tea in Assam. Mr. Fortune, a gentleman well acquainted with the subject, had been sent to Assam, to encourage in every way the cultivation of that article of commerce, and the plants had been given gratis to the cu tivators. A few months ago orders had been sent to India to select the best and most healthy sites for European troops. There was a certain height between the highest altitudes and the lowest levels in which dysentery did not prevail, and orders were given to construct railroads and tramways to convey troops to and from those favour able situations. The company, therefore, had not over looked anything calculated to preserve the health of the troops. With regard to the cultivation of cottcn in India, there was ample scope for speculation in that mat ter, and if Manchester gentlemen, instead of railing at the East India Company, would only bring their capital and enterprise to bear on the cultivation of the cotton plant in India, their industry would bejamply rewarded. It was quite as easy to grow cotton as indigo, sugar, or oil seeds in that country. fllr. KINNAIRD thought the matter should not be deferred until the promised bill for India was introduced. The motion of his hon. friend (Mr. Ewart) was as to the best mode of colonising India by Europeans, and the dissertation on the growth of cotton in that country had nothing to do with th question. He hoped the intro duction of railways in that country would tend greatly to iteluce Europeans to settle there, and promote civilisa tion in and improve our commercial relations with India. He thought his hon. friend would act wisely is persever ing in his motion. Mr. D. SE YMOUR said be regarded the motion as an importaut one. Coffee had been cultivated with great success on the Cheveroy hill, but there was a difficulty in procuring the laud on advantageous terms. The tenure proposed was such that the tenant could not derive suffi cient remuneration fur his outlay of capital. He was glad of the appointment of the committee, because he thought investigation would show tkat a low assessment, such as one rupee an acre, and the land itself a p iund an acre as rent, would enable parties to cultivate the land with profit to themselves and advantage to others. In Eng land, as the land-tax was reduved the country increased in wealth. Why should not the same results be expected in India from a similar precess F He believed the true reason that cotton was nut cultivated in India was the low state of cultivation which existed among the people in general. Ile believed a committee of that house would bring out these facts. The planters, too, were also dis sati,fied with the system, and had many of them emi grated to Ceylon, hopeless of a better state of things in India. The chairman of the East India Company might; say that all this complaint arose from the prejudices of the independent Europeans ; but look at the memorial from the Neilgherry Hill?, signed by many of the com pany's servants, praying for a reform of the judicial sys. tem. He, like his friend the hon. member for Dumfries, wished fur the introduction of more lawyers into India. (A. laugh,) It was true that plain common sense would do in a newly-set‘ led district, but in highly cultivated districts, like Delhi, Agra, or Benares, it was highly desirable to have trained lawyers. He co nsidered the latter portion of the resolution wa s important, because the more they endeavoured to develope the resources influence in India, the more would we extend our political in that country. He rejoiced that the committee was granted, as he anticipated good results to Iniia from it. Mr. TURNER said the cotton manufacturers had often been told that if they were to go to India and grow cotton there would be plenty for them ; but the Man chester manufacturers did not consider it was their pro vince to go to India, but they were of opinion that if that country was capable of supplying the raw material for which we were now almost wholly dependent on the United States, the Government were bound to procure it in a state for that purpose. The high price of cotton of late years had overcome the obstacles to its cultiva tion in India, and if this were so now, might it not be asked how it was that the East India Company bad not moved in this direction before I Mr. WALPOLE recommended that the words " for making of military stations" be left out of the resolution, as they might give rise to political considerations. Mr. CHEETHAM agreed in the views taken by hie hon. ft iend (Mr. Tamer) on this subject. He contended that India had been neglected and misruled, and that the want of roads and irrigation in India showed the way in which that country had been governed by the East India Company, and the result was that the people of India had lost all confidence in the cempany. After a few words from Mr. NISBET, Mr. EWART agreed to withdraw the words referred LO Mr. Walpole, and the motion was agreed to. MEDICAL REFORM. Lord ELCHO obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the medical profession. Mr. WALPOLE agreed that leave should be given to bring in a bill, but hoped he would appoint a day when another bill to the same effect before the house would be dicussed at the same time. Lot d ELCHO replied that he would do so. The house then adjourned at a quarter to nine o'clock. Country Markets. LIVERPOOL, MARCH IG. A very good attendance to - day, and wheat Met a slow sale at the rates of 1% iday last. Flour was difficult to quit, without any change in value. Oats and oatmeal iu improved request, and rather dearer. Beans and peas firm. Indian corn neglected, and prices scarcely main tamed late rates. Mixed American aivl yellow, 34s 6d. to ; white 31s to 31s Gd. NEWCASTLE—MA-nen 13. Farmers' wheat in fair supply, with a slow sale, and the prices of the last market day readily obtained. South country scarce, at former prices. Flour in retail demand at late rates. Barley not quite so brisk, but unaltered in value. White boiling peas in request. Oats steady. NORWICH—MARChI 13. At our corn market to-day there was a moderate show of wheat, which met a fair sale at last week's prices. Of malting barley there was some quantity offering ; but, as the farmers asked high rates, very little was doing at about last Saturday's prices. Nof much other grain offer. ing. White wheat, 48s to 50e ; red, 42s to 46s ; barley, 39s to 41e. ; flour, 3;:e 6d per sack; beans, 40s to 4.45; peas, 42s to 435; oats, 28s to 30e. NORWICH CATTLE—MARCH 13. There was a good show of store cattle to-day, but buyers were not numerous, and only a limited business was done. Fat beasts, 7s to 7s 6d ; prime, Ss Od p er stone being about same as last week. Sheep, 36i to 40s per head, and good store pigs 15s to 25 5. Fat p ork, 6s to 6s 6d ; prime, 8s Gil per stone of 141bs. COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—YESTRILLY. tmsterdam.. •• ...... II 15 Gibraltar .. •• •••• ..... —. Ditto, three months .. 11 17 1 , 4 Leghorn •• •• •••••• —.. „ Rotterdam ............ 11 17N Genoa .... 25 55 Antwerp •• .. •• •• •• •• •• 25 321( 2 Milan .• •• •• •••• •• •••• Brussels ........ ...... 25 3*4 !Venice ••.. •• •••• •• „„„ ...... Ilamburgh ............13 6 Naplep .......„ 42 Altona •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• • • Palermo •••• 000000 •• ~ 1 24% p u i,........ i ......... 25 15 Messina .. 125 Do. three months .. ••25 37 Lisbon .... ... 51% marsetuzs .• 41a •• •• •• •• 25 40 Oporto •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 51% Bourdeaux ..•• •• •• •• ••• •• Rio Janeiro ••••••• Frankfort-on-Maine .... 118 3 ii Buenos Ayres.. , . ..• •. -- Berlin ................ New York,6o days sight •• Vienna r• •• •• •• •• •• •• I,* 10 32 i Phil a delphia •••• • • •••• --. Trieste•• •..... •• •• "O. 10 33 I PRICES O S F lILLION, PEI Os: l'etorsburg .... rdadrid .........., .... 45% Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 z •••.• • 49% 'Mexican Dollars •• .. 0 0 0 Castle ..............,,, tt% Mexican Dollars .... 0 0 0 Barc ••• •• •• •• • Barcelona •• •• •• •.•• .. • • New Dollars ......0 0 0 5evi11e.......... „ .... „, Silver i n bars •••• •. 05 1% BIRTHS. BERKELEY—On the 14th inst., at Overbnry Court, 1 " r cestershire, the Lady Catherine Berkeley, of a daughter, BLAIR—On the 11th inst., at 4, Randolphcrescent, Edin burgh, the wife of Sir Edward Hunter-Blair, Bart., of a son. CHALLis—On the 15th inst., at Hampstead, the w ife Of Allred W. Challis, Esq., f a son. MAItRIAGES. HILL — ' TIN ELL— On the 16th inst., at Widcoutbe out Church, James Hill, Esq., of Loyal terrace, Adelphir to Fanny Mary, second daughter of Robert Cruticelle Esq., of Witicombo-hill, Bath. M'LEAN—BROWN—On the 13th inst., John ht`Lean, M.D., Upper Montagu-street, Itlontagu-square, London, to Jane Ann, youngest daughter of Alexander Brown , Esq., of AL,rsahall-place, Perth. DEATH S, ACKLAND—On the 11th inst., at Killerton. Devon, Lydia Dorothea, eldest daughter of Sir Thos. Dyke .Akland. Bart., aged 43. BRODER—On the 15th inst., at St. James's-terrace, Be'. gent,s_prk, Broder, Esq. BUTCHER— On the 14th inst., at Victoria Cottage, -E ast Cowes, Isle of Wight, George Kerr Butcher, Esq., Captain 11th Light Dragoons, aged 75. GAY— On the 14th inst., at Totnes, Devon, James Garr of Hornsey-lane, 1-11gogatv, Middlesex, age , t 66. late • LONDON Printed and Published by MIIRDO YOLrli 14 Ct " of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Offiee• 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the coon ti of DIU 1108 ex, Wednesr.lity, March 17, Mg:" I, l' h 1 . .il Ety. ~,... l'olt tak, Nit i ......... 183 1 84 Ict Ig4 •-•,,-, )itiv l h at en : r r teett t 'lie 1 ( / ) ' 4 ' , . t:: l ne, no,