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

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, HOUSE OF LORDS.—(IrEsTuDAT.) The LORD CHAIXCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. Lord DUNGANNON presented a petition from a place in Shropshire against the admission of Jews to Parliament. SLA - VERY. 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 horrors 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 tree ziegroes into the condition of slaves. A similar law had 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 whoa 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 of the subject into their consideration. Earl of MALMESBURY said since he had had the honour of 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 of the slave trade. THE MARQUIS OF CLANRICARDE'S EXPLANATION. The Marquis of CLANRICA.RDE gave notice that he should call the at!•ention of the house on Friday next to the state of education ja 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 o❑ the paper in his name. What he stated had no doubt been misunderstood, owing to the indistinctness with which he had 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 bad 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 withdraw the motion alto gether. TRUSTEES' RELIEF BILL. On the motion of Lord ST. LEONARDO, 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 neat. TRANSFER OF ESTATES SIMPLIFICATION BILL. Lord ST. LEONARDS, in moving that the house go into committee on this bill, said the object of the bid was to simplify and make less expensive the transfer of titles from a vendor to a purchaser. 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 tute 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. But that statute also saved the rights of persons who were labouring under disability, and gave them 10 years, and confined the whole period to 40 years, 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 00 years, in order to guard against a case which did not occur in 1 purchase in 5,000, the case of a tenant for life selling an estate as an estate in fee. Is 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 pet 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 li shorten the period f.,r which the abstract of title should be made out. He proposed that 20 years should be the common time applicable to all the world, within which 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 ab s t rac t s cf title need not go beyond 40 years. The danger to be guarded against was a person selling an 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 his death upon his children. It might be asked, would they bar children as against a purchaser 1 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 eases 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 trustees, 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 trest 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, 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 held to have committed a misdemeanour, and be fined and imprisoned, with or without hard labour. There was another question—that of judgments. He would provide that the records might be searched on pay ment of a small sum in order to discover whether there were any judgments. Bui - , there was no reason why judgment should be charges against a purchaser. He did not propose to take away the general effect of a judgment, but he proposal that if the person who has 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 importance, and in committee he should be happy to hear any suggestions by which the objects of the bill could be better carried out. Lord CRANWORTH 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 at it was, it was little likely to receive all the attention which it ought at the hands, not of those who were designated the law lords', 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 of property. He was not going to follow 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 title, knowing it to be false, should be made a crime punish able just in the same manner as was the crime of obtain ing goods by false pretences. And when Lis 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 providei for by the civil law and by the French code, and it oeght to be provided for by our law. He would simply call their lordships' attention to the main objrct of the. bill, in order th a t it m i g ht b e di st i nct l y un d erstoo d in what way the bill would affect property. By law as it now stood there was a limitation of 20 years within which any person mu- , t assert an adverse title to the land in possession of another, or ever hold his peace. Tne law had drawn a line of twenty years, and that had been found a convenient rule. But his noble and learned friend proposed that the adverse party should bring his suit within 20 years of the time to which the property might be sold to a purchaser. That would be no ad vantage to the purchaser, but 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 operate enormous injustice. As a means of remedying the inconvenience which might arise, his noble and learned friend proposed that during the 20 years any person whose interest was reversionary might file a bill in Chaneere for the purpose of having his right declared. n o , ts t 'os .i.t h aetzr Gired/.w.eteld that be for those who were not kllear, hear) he aware of their rights? would heir lordships, and particu lie:tt'ruett'.4lt larl/ . ttie lay lords , i,to,l,tzsei,llf „consider the Proposal, and whether in giving they were reogp'erty which not snaking the stability of the tirtlieTtch at ma. distant day they might have the g re atest cause to reg, l ,l9t ; Afteirs few words from Lord Si. Litotsanna in repl e The '"LORD CHANCELLOR said h e thought would ba quite impossible. to discuss the i mportant pro. visions oi the bi ll fully in the house. The qu es ti ons which it involved were not only of great importance, but many of t ec hnical nature, requiring great care andof thateteni were n tiooand at some future time he should , props° to refer the ; bill to a committee o mmit up tee stairsF. a fo (g r ear. ma The bill then passed tbrough c and was orderei to be reported. LAW OF PROPERTY AM END MENT Lord ST. LEONARDS move d the se r c E ond T re ß ad n ing L of this bill, and was about to explain its provisions, when Lord CRANWORTH interposed, and expressed a hope that his noble and learned friend would give fur ther time for the consideration of so important a bill, which had only been placed in their lords)43' hands that day. (Hear.) Lord ST. LEONARDS acceded to the suggestion, and the second reading was postponed until Monday next. 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 arise* 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 of 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 734,0001. ; in Exchequer-bills and bonds, 1,800,0001., besides 285,0001. from other sources, making a total of 2,819,0001. 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 300,0001., making together about 951,000/. Against the amount in hand there was an actual debt 0fi9,837,0001. On looking at the receipts for the list year, he found considerable sums which could not arise during the present year. To meet the expenditure of next year, which would amount to 5,670,000/., the com pany had not more than 1,000,0001. ; and it was there fore absolutely necessary to increase their harrowing powers. At present they had an unexhauated 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 late Government had acquiesced in the suggestion for limiting the bor rowing powers in the bill to 8,000,0001. Although the East India Company had some difficulty in meeting their present 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 under which no man could live. (Hear.) After the commencement of April in hie 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 predatory movements, and great necessity would - exist for strenuous exertions to put them down and restore that country to a state of tranquillity. Bat he trusted that by the beginning of April our troops would he found in the palaces of Lucknow, and that no ' large bodies of mutineers would be found acting to gether. (Elear.) Lord MONTEAGLE 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 sat4faction 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 REDESDA.LE 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 Cbarity 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 thii house with amendments, these orders should not appy to any new bill sent up from the House of Com mons, which the chairman cf comosittees 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 ♦ote 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 ♦ote 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 tne utmost satisfaction to all persons with whom he had to deal in the great pro vince of Bengal. The day before yesterday: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 Eogli.h man, on landing in India, was seldom satisfied with the preparations for his reception. Quite the contrary. But in the paper to which he had referred the arrangements made by Mr. Halliday were described as " all good,"— "everything good,"—"everything was arranged to our entire satisfaction,"—" all in good condition,"—" suffi cient quantity,"—''good quality,"— "arrangements quite perfect,"—t o 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 muoh difficulty, and it was nothing but justice to make a proper acknowledgment of such services. (Hear.) He wished to take that opportunity of stating to their lord ships that her Majesty had been graciously pleased to declare her intention of conferring a baronetcy on the son of the late Sir H. Lawrence, and that it was the in tention of the Court of Directors to propose to the Couit of Proprietors the grant of an annuity of 1,0001. a-year. (Cheers.) Lord . PANNIURE, 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 cf 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. He was sure the country would rejoice in the payment of such a tribute to the memory of one of the best servants of the country, and one of the most loyal and eminent of her Majesty's subjects. (Cheers.) The motion was then put and agreed to, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YE4TERDAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following private bills were read a second time : —Portamna Bridge (Ireland), and Halifax Park and Improvements. PETITIONS. Numerous petitions were presented against the admix• sion of Jews to Parliament, and the legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister ; against the toll on Chelsea New Bridge ; for Parliamentary Reform, Christianity in India, &c. kc. CASHEL ELECTION. The SPEAKER announced that he had received a letter from the agent of Mr. I. G. Scully, intimating that he did not intend to proceed with the petition charging him with bribery and corruption at the late election for the borough of Cashel, and he applied for the discharge of the order. Mr. WALPOLE moved that the application should be referred to the General Committee on Election, 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 hon. gentleman the Home Secretary. After some remarks from Col. FRENIII, Sir F. BARING suggested the debate should be adjourned to give the Government an opportunity of examining the law on the subject. Mr. Secretary WALPOLE said he thought it would be better to adjourn the debate. In the meantime the facts of the case could be ascertained, and the state of the law in reference to it. Mr. BAGWELL suggested that the petition should be discharged at once. It would not affect the sitting member if that course were adopted. This was the fourth petition that had been presented, and three of them had been withdrawn. He thought it looked some thing like persecution to compel the prosecution of this petition. After some remarks from Mr. Va.Nes and Sir G. GREY, the debate was adjourned till Tuesday next. SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND. Mr. BAXTER gave notice that, shortly after the Easter recess, he should move that it was the opinion of this house that an Under-Secretary of State for Scot'and should be appointed for the discharge of the political duties at present attached to the office of Lord Advocate. INDIAN ARMY REGULATIONS. Mr. FAGAN gave notice that on Friday next he should call the attention of the Secretary for War to the Indian army regulations relative to the children of soldiers under four years of age, and its effect with refe rence to Roman Catholic children. TURNPIKE TRUSTS. Col. WESTON gave notice that on Thursday next he should put a question to her Majesty's Government rela tive to the abolition Af turnpike trusts , . MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. Mr. COWPER gave notice that he should, on the 23d, move to inrroduce a bill for the regulation and classification of practitioners in medicine and surgery. PERSECUTION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC SOLDIERS. Captain O'CONNELL asked the Secretary fur War whether he bad heard a statetnent that Brevet-Maj .r Ward, commanding her Majesty's 60th Rifles at Arcot, ordered two Roman Catholic soldiers to the guard room for refusing to attend the service of the Estab lished Church on Christmas•day last ? IlGeneral PEEL said he had made inquiries at the ii h a z o: 7: ll, l :L o d ff s obr r um el av ti ve to the question put to him, and he convoit&TioN cil 7 cli p Tu o ur r r t eEn h e a ce d iT b y een o r F ec L ei o ve N d p b o y N th . e Mr. lIRA.DY a:nnel wta.eZee!etary for the Rome De partment whether it ifnotention of the Govern ment to proceed with the bill better regulation of the Corporatio n of the City of I t o l 1 e Mr. WALPOLE aaid it waa I,Z I In '1 that the bill should be referred to the c'retention to move mr atttee to wh om tha late Government proposed to refer it. THE CASE OF MR. HODGE. r H ORSMAN put a question to th e Ch ancellor at thegEach( quer re give to the apprehension of Mr. Hodge in'Sardinia, and asked if her Majesty's Govern. raent had any objection to his stating the circumstances connected with the apprehension of Mr. Hodge ; and next, what 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 demand 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 ♦ery 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• mended from the Sardinian Government that Mr. Hodge's imprisonment should cease as soon as their fermi, of law would permit. (Cheers.) Mr. HO RSMAN asked if the correspondence between the respective Governments was concluded ; and, if so, if the right hon. gentleman would lay it on the table of the house I The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the correspondence was very slight, having been chiefly carried o❑ by telegraph, and he thought it better to de cline laying it on the table of the house. (Hear, hear.) The subject then dropped. THE SUN, LOND 7 ONI WEDNESDAY I VEN NG, MARCH 17, 1858 notice, but he 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 wail a time whelk votes of thanks were reserved for ge neral officers of high command, and the line had been gradually extended to other ranks in the arm y. How ever, he would leave the matter is the bands of the right bon. 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 great abilities of that officer, whose success be thought Afforded the best proof of his merit. (Hear, hear.) Lord PALMERSTON—I entirely concur with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the daty of selecting the officers whose names should be proposed to Parlia ment in the motion conferring on them the high honour of a vote of thanks is best vested in the Executive Government, who are the most frilly aware of the rela tive claims of all those who may come under their con sideration, and who also are the best judges whether it would be expedient to depart in any case from those general rules which have hitherto guided Parliament in the expression of their thanks. I think that on the pre sent occasion it would be best for my gallant friend not to press the vote of which he has given notice. With respect to the question about Mr. Halliday, my hon• friend the member for Guildford has correctly stated the circumstances of the case. The vote of thanks was com municated beforehand by the President of the Board of Centrol to the two Chairs. It did not contain the name of Mr. Halliday because it did not appear to us that ac cording to the words in which the resolution was put his peculiar position brought him within the scope of the vote. The draught of the motion was returned by the Chairs without any suggestion that Mr. Halliday's name should be inserted. Some time afterwards my hon. friend the member for Guildford (Mr. Mangles) stated to me what he has just represented to the house—that there were certain circumstances con nected with the peculiar duties which Mr. Halliday had performed relative to military arrangements Bengal which, in his opinion, and in the opinion of the Directors of the East India Company, entitled that gen tleman to the thanks of this house. I pointed out to the hon. gentleman —as also did my light non. friend (Mr. V. Smitb)—the difficulty and inconvenience which arose from revising a vote that had been adopted by Parliament ; but I stated that if the Chairs would offici ally communicate their view of the matter to the Board of Control, and would recommend that a proposition for a vote of thanks should be submitted to Parliament, we shoald be ready to give due consideration to such a re commendation. It appears that a recommendation on the subject has been made to the present Government, and as they have thought fit to adopt it, I certainly am not going to object to the vote now proposed. General CODRINGTON thought the rule laid down with the apparent consent of the leaders of both sides of the house, that the executive Government ought on their responsibility to determine to what persons the thanks of Parliament should be proposed, was one which it was most desirable to observe ; and he would not have said a word had not the hon. and gallant member for Westminster (Sir D. L. Evans) given notice of his intention to move the thanks of the house to several officers who were named in his motion. He (General Codrington) did not wish to enter into any discussion with regard to those names, but, as several brigadiers were mentioned in the hon. and gallant member's mo tion, he thought it right to remind the house that there were other brigadiers who had led assaults at Delhi ; that there was a general officer whose name, as he was dead, be might mention—General Barnard, who had for some time commanded the forces before Delhi, and in several actions ; and that there was also Major-General Windham, under whose command one of the brigadiers mentioned in the gallant officer's motion served, to whom the thanks of Parliament had not been proposed. (Hear, hear.) He had merely rises to say that if the proposal of the hon, and gallant member for West minster had been brought forward he (General Codring ton) would have moved the addition of other names to the resolution. He agreed, however, in the pro priety of the principle that the Government should upon their responsibility, submit to the house the names of the officers to whom they considered thanks ought to be voted. Colonel SYKES said that, had the hon. and gallant member for Westminster persevered with his motion, he should have felt it his duty to move the addition of an• other officer's name. (A. laugh.) He alluded to Maj General Lester, commanding the Bombay army it , the Southern Mahratta State, who, with 100 European troops had contrived to preserve that province in tran quility and security amid the symptoms of conspiracy and mutiny which were manifested around him. Capt. VIVIAN found, on reference to a book which recorded the votes of thanks passed to the army •n va rious occasions that in some instance as many as 14, 15, 16, and even 24 officershad been included in the votes, and that all officers in command of brigades had invariably been thanked. It appeared that when a ♦ote of thanks was passed in 1812 to officers who had commanded at Salamanca, the names of seven officers were omitted, and among them, singularly enough, was that of Marshal Beresford ; but ' iu February, 1813, an amendment, ir.cluding the seven omitted names, was proposed and adopted. He did not wish to say anything in the sbghteet degree disparaging with regard to the gentleman who was the subject of the vote before the house, but he thought if it was a slur to omit the name of that gentleman from the vote lately adopted by the house, the omission of the names of offi cers who had commanded brigades before Delhi, and in other parts of India, was quite as much a slur upon them. In his opinion this was especially the case with regard to General Barnard, who had commanded the army before Delhi for some time, and to other officers who had lost their lives in the struggle. He hoped her Majesty's Government would take this subject into their consideration, and that, acting upon the precedents to which he had referred, they would include in the votes of thanks the names of brigadiers and of officers holding independent commands. 111 . r. ELLIOT observed that, in his opinion, Lord Elphinsts e.had deserved the thanks of Parliament, not merely f.)r his civil services, but also for the admirable military azrangements which he had made at Bombay, and he believed it was on that ground that his name had been included in the former vote. The motion was then agreed to. SUPPLY. The report of the committee of supply was then brought up by Mr. Fi The first vote, 500,0001. for the militia, having been read, Sir G. C. LEWIS said—l wish to ask for some ex planation from the Government in addition to that which has already been given with reference to this vote. The house will remember that last year the army esti mates were voted before the news of the Indian mutiny arrived, and the votes of men, and for pay and pro visions, were taken on the suppositi on t h at the ordinary number an sent to India n us u during l u number ring the year. tes had been voted e mutinyestimates unusual received, and it Afterof transfer a be ne ssf r bonfe7fmineen of thene t c o India, ia essalnrydton tie effect of this proceeding being that the pay and provisions of the regiments sent to India were provided by the East India Company, in stead of being defrayed from the army estimates. It also became necessary fur the Government to bring in a bill to enable them to embody the militia, and a vote of 200,41001. was taken for this purpose. At the same time a statement was furnished to the Treasury by the War Department, that, although the estimated expense of the embodied militia would exceed 200,0001., there would neverethelese be a saving upon other branches of the army estimates, in consequence of the great number of men who would be transferred to India, and the re payment of whose expenses was to be expected from the company, and that therefore the sum which had been voted for the arm,- estimates would probably suffice for the service of the army during the year. Now, I had not heard before I left office whether that anticipation was likely to be fulfilled. I had DC; ben informed that any supplementary vote would be required for the army estimates. The right honourable gentleman the secretary for War proposed yesterday, however, in committee of supply, an additional vote of 500,0001. for the expenses of the embodied militia. That vete was agreed to, and it was explained en the part of the Government that there was a deficiency in the army estimates to the extent of 500,0001., and that consequently 500,000/. more than the sum voted iast year would be required for the ser vice of the present year. I don't doubt that that state ment was ourrect, but before the report is agreed to I am desirous of knowing what will be done with the large saving which must necessarily accrue from the number of regiments transferred to India, and whether the esti mates furnished by the War Department in the last ses sion, and which the Treasury at that time were led to believe correct, have proved incorrect. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER —After the army estimates were voted last year the house will recollect that a bi:l for empowering the embodiment of the militia was passed as late as the 22d of August. The consequence of that bill being passed is that the provi sion which was made in the estimates for the embodi menthead hoafvtirig hemanailoituia:tecrilamely, 200,0001., WAS exceeded by to 7 00 0 , 1. There the sum of 500,0001., the whole expenditure under this a clear deficie nc y that we wer e on l y taleing a Parliamentary course i n of SGo, 0 0001.0, and w e was hav e therefore, thought asking the house to vote that sum without seeing whe ther we eou'd under the Appropriation Act, by availing ourselves of surpluses is other items in order to meet ieficie,:cies, find other means for obtaining that supply. (Hear, hear.) It is our opinion that, although under the Appropriation Act th ere is a power to apply surpluses to meet deficienc:es, that is a power which ouoht only to be exercised by a Minister at a moment of emergency and certainly ought notto be xercised when Parliament is sitting—(hear, hear)—and when, therefore, you can apply to Parliament in a straightforward manner. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the other so urces to which the right hon. gentleman has referred as pro bably supplyi ng means equa l i n a mount to this I . 500,0001., or more, from other military voted , shall be very gl a d i f eventually t h a t turns out to f be b the case ; but it i s i mpoosible t h a t the account this expenditure present be as towhat may be b concluded i n t for te ust amounto fo of r any opinion at the saving which may be effected under that head. If, how ever, the amount of that saving be equal to the 500,0001., or even greater, we Should not be able to avail ourselves VOTE OF THANKS TO MR. TIA.LLIDAY. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I now rise to move that the resolution of thanks which this house arrived at on the Bth of Feb. last be read. My object in making 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 Bombay, 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 for public services—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 opposition to the proposition that I am now going to make—that the resolution of the Bth of Feb. be read, and that in his due position in that resolution, which would be immediately after Lord Elphinstone, 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 melt 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, Brigadier-General Chamberlain, B:i -gadier-General Hope Grant, and Brigadier-General Wal pole, and, in addition to the fourth resolution of the Bch of February, the hon. and gallant gentleman requests Els 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 ments 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. But 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 them come not less distinguished. Why should the name of Greathod, for example, or of Adrian Hope, be omitted I (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 acer 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 . o. s, but I think with less consideration than so important a question would require. (Hear, hear.) I hope 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 of their respect and sympathy with the distinguished persons whose names they have proposed, will not insist upon going to a division, but will allow the motion which I now make to be passed unanimously. (Hear, hear.) The right hon. gentleman then moved, " that the first reso lution of the house of the Bth of February be read," which having been done, he proposed, "that the name of the Hon. Frederick James Halliday, Lieut.-Governor of Bengal, be inserted after that of Lord Elphinstone." Mr. DRUMMOND observed that, when the noble lord the member for Tiverton moved the vote of thanks on the sth February to the distinguished officers who had done such good service in India, the name of Lord' Canning was objected ag hl groundtt t o hb by ee pa thesupp o sed pi iptc t h at as pre drat! the heo e a n dt i mplyC i ns e rt i on pursued a a n n c e uo ft l s o r thatou c o a o f . noble the ifie d Exchequer approbationname o n the o m f he had been in India. 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 nentine contradieente. Now, as it would be impos s ibl e , when the Indian 8.11 came to be debated, an d w h en the causes which led to the insurrection came to be consi dered, not to bring forward some of the conduct of Mr. Halliday, he only protested now, as the Chan cellor of the Exchequer formerly did, against being supposed that, by assenting to the present motion, he was precluded from making whatever observations he should feel to be ncesesary when the Indian Bill came before the house. Mr. MANGLES hoped the house would not think him guilty of presumption if he stated very briefly the circumstances under which the name of Mr. Halliday was unfortunately omitted in the vote of thanks. That Mr. Halliday was most certainly entitled to the thanks of the house he could bear the strongest testimony, on account of his energetic exertions to further to the ut• most extent the military operations. Though Mr. Hal liday only bore the title of Lieutenant Governor, Le was as much a Governor of the districts under his authority as were the Governors of Bombay and Madras ; the only dikerence being that the latter had military autho rity over the armies in their provinces. The thanks cf the house, however, were nut voted to the Governors of Madras and Bombay for any military operation-, but for the civil services they had rendered in furthering the operations of the army ; and in that respect he believed that the exertions and success of Mr. Halliday were in no wise inferior to those of the Governers of the other pro vinces. Mr. Halliday had most di.igently, energetically, and with all the zeal which distinguished him, furtlaerei the operations of the Government, especially i❑ regard to; l the movement of troops along the great Trunk-road, and the excellent arrangements he made for provisioning and for the carriage of the troops de-erved the gratitude r 4 the country. Not only was food provided for the troops at the different stations, but it was cooked for every detachment as it came up, and never was any operation conducted with greater rapidity than the movement of the troops from Calcutta along the main Trunk-road. (Hear.) In consequence of their habits and character the population, happily, did not require troops to keep them in cr !er. The labourer in Bengal war a peaceful and timid person ; but still there were bad characters there as elsewhere. Nevertheless the arrangements Mr. Halliday made for the preservation of the peace were so succes ful as to prevent eineute or insurrection in any of the stations under Mr. Hal liday's jurisdiction where no Sepoys mutinied. He t , ok a liitle bare of blame for the non-insertion of Mr. Hid 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 officers whom it was proposed to thank, was sent to him byitbe President of the Board of Control, and he blamed t l a h r imself for Inot noticing the omission of Mr. Halliday's name, and, if the hon. member for West Surrey had any charge to make against Mr. Halliday, he had so high an opinion of the Lieutenant-Governor's to the ~.n c f c me n „ e t rd y u t e h t a a t o d he th s e ia g o o n o id d service r t en ra d a e d r y ed to hy m h e i e rn t ,„,_ „ . g!).. (Hear, hear.) ti i ;% o ' - ' ll4O - 1 -. On EV t AN'S said, he did not propose to divide he proposition of which be bad giyon of it, because it would now range under the head of acknowledged savings, And as such would form part of t the consolidated fund. [Sir G. C. Lewie expressed his dissent.] The right hon. gentleman shakes hie head, but I have the highest authority for believing that he is in error—the authority of a gentleman who occupied the position which I now fill, and which was recently so worthily cecupied by the right hon. gentleman. I can not, therefore, relinquish the opinion which I have ez• 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 500,00 V., 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 saved upon the other votes shall not be trans felled I have not the smallest objection to the course that is being taken, but what I objeot to is that there should unnecessarily be an increase of 500,0001. in the vote for the army, because, if a saving equivalent to that sum is made upon pay and provisions, then, notwith standing what the right hon. gentleman says, I appre hend it will be quite competent to the Government, under the Appropriation Act, to transfer that sum to other items. For example, they may spend that sum in barracks or fortification,. Mr. HAMILTON said that if there was any surplus it would be put forward as a saving in the ordinary ways and means. Sir F. BIRING expressed his perfect concurrence in the (Dowse the Government were pursuing. They had laid down the rule strictly, and he hoped the house would hold them t , it. (Hear, hear.) Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said that the late Govern ment had taken a large surplus of above half a million voted for one service, and applied it to another, but the present Government had pursued a more constitu tional course. (Hear, hear.) He thought it was the duty of this house to limit the power of Government, under the 27th clause of the Appropriation Act, which gave them in general terms the power to apply surpluses without naming to what amount. They might take a million under that clause and se apply it. He (Sir H. Willoughby) thought there ought to be some limit to this power. He thought the limit should be 50,0001., or at all events some specified amount. Mr. CARDWELL said the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli) deserved great credit for the course he had pursued on this occasion. He hoped it would be a precedent for future Governments. The report was received. WAYS AND MEANS. The house then resolved itself into Committee of Ways and Means—Mr. FITZROY in the chair. On the vote of 500.0001. for the deficiencies in the militia estimates of last year, Sir H. WILLOUGHBY wished to call the atten tion of the right hon. gentleman opposite (Sir C. Lewis) to the clause in the Appropriation Act, under which power wag given to apply surplus money voted for one purpose to other purposes, it might be entirely different, for instance, under it Government might take army money and apply it for navy purposes. He had no doubt such was not the intention of the framers of the clause, but he wished the right hon. gentleman to state the cir cumstances under which that clause was introduced, and whether it was take❑ from any previous act ? Sir C. LEWIS said that the explanation was an ex tremely simple one. There was a dissolution of Parlia ment last year in the middle of the session, which of ne cessity disturbed the continuity of the estimates and the ordinary course of proceeding. They had then referred back to 1341, when a similar dissolution took place, and had followed exactly the precedent set them by the Go vernment of that day, and the clause to which the hon. baronet referred was taken from the act then passed. It should, however, be remembered that this clause 'did not enable Government to apply surpluses to any other object than those enumerated in the 27th section of the act. The vote was then agreed to, and also a vote of 10,000,0001. towards making good the supplies out of the consolidated fund. The house then resumed. MARINE MUTINY BILL. This bill was read a third time. MUTINY BILL. On the order of the day for the second reading of the Mutiny Bill, Mr. BAXTER called the attention of the house to a most injurious alteration, so far as Scotland was con cerned, which had been made in this act at the end of last session, when most of the Scotch members had re turned to their homes. Before that time almost every householder iu Scotland was subject to the billeting sys tem, which was a grievance almost intolerable, and in• stead of devising► a proper remedy for this, the Governs meat, in August last, assimilated the law in Scotland to that in England, and threw the whole system of billet ing upon innkeepers, although there was really nothing in common between the two countries in this respect. It was his (Mr. Baxter's) intention to have taken the sense of the house on this motion. (Hear.) He did not, however, wish to give any ground for a charge of fac. tious opposition, and therefore, under present circum stances, he 'should not divide the house, but he hoped the subject would be fully investigated. In Montrose, there was a population of 15,000 per sons, and of that number 33 were publican., and for two months last autumn a whole regiment of militia, consisting of about 800 men, were billeted on these unfortunate innkeepers. No less than 35,963 billets were issued during the months of October .sad November. being equivalent to a tax of 2241. 134. upon each innkeeper. One man paying a rent of 1701. a-year was paying at the rate of 1331. 11.. 6.21. for the accommodation of militia, and some of these poor pub- Fcans had actually to sell off their effects to avoid this cruel infliction, and wore entirely ruined. (Hear, hear.) In Edinburgh, the state of things was worse. Some of the publicans there had thousands of bidets issued to them. This was a matter which demanded the serious consideration and prompt interference of the Govern ment. tHear, hear.) He would put it to the Govern ment, whether this whole system of billeting was not a remnant of barbarism, injurious to military discipline, and destructive of domestic peace. These were solid grievances which ought to be immediately redressed -- (hear, hear)—and if no remedy was granted it would be his duty, in the coerseof the session, to bring the matter before the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.) Mr. A. KINNAIRD said he wished to add his en treaty to that of the hon. member for Montrose, that this subject might be taken into the early consideration of the Government. There was in Scotland every desire to afford facilities to pass troops, but the mode in which this was done at present amounted to a great grievance, which by a little inquiry and consideration might, he thought, easily be removed. He concluded by suggest ing teat a committee should be appointed to investigate the subject. Mr. BUCHANAN said that the injustice of the pre- sent billeting system was so obvious that it hardly required any furthei notice to prove that it was a grievance which ought to be remedied. If it costa certain sum per night to maintain the soldier, be did not see why that expense should be saddled upon one particular class of the com munity. It was a gross injustice. (Hear, hear.) Why should this particular class of tradesmen be exposed to be plundered by a lawless soldiery ? (Hear, hear.) It was a very great annoyance to have these men coming wrangling about the money which they were to receive. (Hear.) He noticed that in the report of the sanatory state of the army the mortality was stated to be greater in the army than it was iu other classes of the com munity, and no wonder, for these soldiers having wrangled till they got as much money as they could, went and spent it in low haunts, and thus got into a state of health from which they never fully recovered. If this 4d. per night were devoted to the purpose, a very good place might be provided in E linburgh, and justice would be done to all parties ; but he could not conceive of a greater injustice than that some four or five hundred out of a large population should be victimised. (Rear.) Mr. RIDLEY complained that the publicans were out of pocket by complying with the act. When troops were marching through the country, billeting perhaps could not be alt3gether done away with, but he would be satisfied if the present Government would give the same assurance as the late Government, viz., that it should be resorted to as little as possible. Mr. E WART supported the proposition to refer this subject to a select committee, because he was sure that such a step would give very great satisfaction. At Liverpool they had good barrack accommodation, and therefore the town was exonerated from this burden. General CODRINGTON said it was settled by the late G tvernment that the laws of England and Scotland should be assimilated on this point. There was not in Scotland the same means of accommodating the soldier that there was in England, especially in the more popu lous parts of England. It was no doubt very much better for the soldier that he should be in barracks ; and it was certainly not fair that the sum allowed should not be proportionate to the expense incurred ; but they could not in the present state of things give up the power of quartering soldiers where they could be lodged and fed when moving about the country. Colonel NORTH said that it was as bard for Ireland as it was for England ; but there must be some provision far troops when marching about the country. Mr. ELLIOT said there was not a Scotch member in the house who would not agree with the objec%ions which bad been made against the present system ; for it was a grievance which was felt severely throughout the whole of Scotland, and it would be a great boon to that country if the Government would carefully consider the ,natter and take some steps to ascertain the real state of the case, and what was the best mode of remedying the admitted evil. Mr. BLACKBURN said, as a Scotch member, he felt bound to say that he did not see how the billeting system could be done without. He did not see that there c iuld be a better plin than to quarter the soldiers at the public-houses, which were open at all hours for the purposes of trade. It was by no means so great a grievance to have soldiers billeted on public•houses as 013 private houses, Mr. COLEBROOK said that many of the Scotch publicans had not the means of lodging the- s iren billeted upon them, an d h a d t o p rov id e l o dgings • Mst-- where, which pressed particularly hard upon them. The Government could readily meet the evil, either by pro viding proper barracks for the troops, or else by taking the simply course of paying these persons certain 811(11 , 4 on account of the expenses to which they are put. He suggested that the hen. ..ad gallant member the Minis ter fur War should take the subject into his careful con sideration. General PEEL said he would do so, but the only pledge he could give them was, that the subject should receive his earnest attention. He bad agreed on Thurs day next to receive a deputation on the sajec , from Etlinbur,,h. He admitted the hardships of the billeting system. The hardship varied from year to year, for, with all the fluctuations in the price of provisions, the sum allowed had remained the same since 1830. What was the best mode of dealing with the difficulty it was im possible for him at the present moment to say, Ile could only repeat that he would carefully consider the matter The bill .was...tban read a second time.. COMMONS ENCLOSURE BILL. This bill was read a second time. GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH BILL. T1:118 bill was read a second time. MILITIA ACT CONTINUANCE BILL. This bill was read a second time. EUROPEAN COLONISATION IN INDIA. Mr. E WART moved for 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 formation of military stations, especi ally in the hill districts and healthier climates of that country, as well as for tise extension of our commerce with Central Asia. Hie object, he said, was to hear fully what could be said on both sides of this important question. He owed an apology to the house for bring 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 he thought was useful to the state. Committees which had sat had slightly touched on this subject; but it had not, to any great extent, engrossed the attention of any committee ; and now, therefore, be proposed a committee for this single question. No one could read the evidence ou 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 was urged as an objection; but in some districts the climate so 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 Com 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 thick), who were strongly in favour of the European colonisation of India. Of late years the East India Company itself bad 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 objection to any person holding the fie simple of land. The hon. gentleman then went at con siderable length into the reasons why he thought that the bill 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 settlement and colonisation. Armies could conquer a country, but it was only by settlers and colo nists that it could be retained. He would now advert to what might be called the Indian view of the question, or the effect on the natives. It could nct be denied that it would be a vast boon to India, if English gold could be made to flow freely into it, and that could only happen by facilitating the admission of colonists. The couutry was rich in the varied products that did not invite else where the attention of the cultivator. In the hill coun try there was abundance of Indigo and cotton, and in Assam there had been a great increase in the cultivation of tea. It appeared that in 1854.5 the weight of the Assam tea crop was 538,0001b5., in 1855-6 it had in creased to 638,0001 be., and in 1856-7 to 700,0001b5. Until now the inhabitants of the Himalayas had been supplied with tea from Thibet, but a supply of it from Assam 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 daily augmenting. Dr. Harker said that Darjeeling 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 quarter., and these state ments were amply confirmed by Mr. Wellby Jackson. And now he would turn from the Indian to the English view of the question. They heard it said on all sides that these hill stations, having an European climate, could be rendered great centres t f European civilisation, by the establishment of colleges and schools of law, and it bad been seriously 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 Rosrians attached to the influence of language in their colonising efforte, 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 frontiers of Gaul, and which were still to be met with in the south of France, were still to be found the last lingering beams of their civili• sation, and their example was well worthy of imitation in India. Another view of the question was the great value f opening up their trade with Central Asia. As long ago as the year 1783, under Warren Hastings, we leatra trade with Central Asia, across the Himalayas, but Russia now supplied a large extent of that region, poor indeed, but well worthy of attention, and of some effort to roue their dormant energies. (Hear.) Capt. Turner, who was sent to Thibet by Warren Has , ings, and whose statements had been confirmed by those of the .A.bbst Hue, 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. E vvart) were mistaken, Thibet was the California of Asia. The Abbe Hue said the finding of gold 'A as so common that the shepherds amused themselves by purl. Eying the gold which they found while watching their flocks. He thought, therefore, the possibility of opening up an extensive trade with Central Asia was a fair All , - j4let 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 bad suggested a new era would dawn upon that country 1 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, he asked the house to assent to his motion. Mr. H. BAILLIE said that the motion of the hon. member for Dumfries was, doubtless, oneof 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 cared on to legislate for India, and to form a government for that country, and he thought he would have done better to have waited, in order to s'2B what f rm of government it might please that bo'ase to determine upon.. He must express his surprise, too, at the sanguine views as to the colonisation of India which the hon. gentleman had announced, since all authorities were said to be agreed that, even in the hill stations of India, Earopeane could not live beyond the third gene ration. But the hon. gentleman did not appear to anti• cipate that those colonies would be self-supporting, for be proposed that the Indian Government should apply the revenues 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 for 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 adopted, it would turn out most ii.ju dowdy 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 unserviceable. Further than that, they should wile whether it would be just to the people cf India to make them pay for thwee colonies. India was a highly peopled country, and did not want colonists, and, therefore, the coutitry that sent them out ought to pay for them. If he could not convince the hon. gentleman of that, he hoped he could at least show him that, if the attempt were made, it would prove impracticable. The 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, without having some reasonable pros pect ofa return sit cultivatecap italorhithe p a l t a id ins eve a n nd the n ti nt h t e ne would and that h hills. w El a ig s h t o ü b p e o m n watellaanssured. hills, and the expenditure of no a mount of ca p ital would ren etthwe whereooutry t w he n s r European d c h l a r I t :, , d r e h r e t h h n e n s n o n il ra p b ro le d g uc en ti t v l e e , m o a f n t h t a a i t k h e e d bad s i b tn e e l a n , 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 enough for invalids, and there was a large population there, but that population was constantly fluctuating, and it was not such a one as was likely to realise the views which the hon. gentl eman had explained to the house. He was told that the Go vernment of India was opposed to colonisation and against Europeans acquiring land. But he believed that of late years land had been offered to Europeans on very fair terms. So much delusion existed on this subject that he would remind them that the laud of India did not belong to the Government. It was private pr )- pee ty, subject to a land tax, and some of the titles of the natives were very old. Whatever belonged to Govern meat was offered to colonists, but offieirs and pen sioners could not be induced by such offers to accept it. Neither in New Zealand nor in Australia c , u'd land be offered on more liberal terms. A complaint had been made against the operation of the 'and-tax by hon. gen t!emen connected with Manchester who were interested in the cultivation of cotton ; but in Bombay the land tsx 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 icquiries, and if his hon. friend would be satisfied at present with getting all the information on the subject which could be afforded, he could next year, when the government of India was remodelled, renew his motion ; but if he persisted in moving for ti e committee of inquiry at present, Government would not , brow any obstructions in his way. Mr. W. E WART, in reply, intimated his intention of proceeding with his motion. Colonel SYKES said the East India Company had anticipated the wishes of the hon. member byeending out orders in 1856 for an inquiry to be instituted such as the bon, member now moved for. The information collected by the authorities in India he had put into the hands of the hon. member for Dutufris, and had 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 they could hardly get 100 square yards that was fitted for cultivation, and they had faited 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 on 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 p ar t o f t h e East India Company to the colonisation and culture of land in India. Whatever might have been the case for merly, since 1834 the company 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 very discourag ing to the hon, member who brought forward the pe• sent motion. In the Punjab it was stated by the secre tary of Sir John Lawrence tba•. there was scarcely any land fitted for European cultivation. In the North western provinces the report was equally unfa vourab'e. 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 prese rv e th e health of the troops. With regard to the cultivation of cotton 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. Mr. KINNAIRD thought the matter should not be deferred until the promised bill for India was introduced. The motion of his hon. friend (Mr. Swart) 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 the question. He hoped the intro duction of railways in that country would tend greatly to induce Europeans to settle there, and promote civilisa tion in and improve our commercial relations with India. He thought his hon, friend would act wisely in persever ing in his motion. Mr. D. SE YMOUR said he regarded the motion as an important one. Coffee bad been cultivated with great success on the Cheveroy hill , but there was a difficulty in procuring the land on advantageous terms. The tenure proposed was such that the tenant could not derive suffi cient remuneration for his outlay of capital. He was glad of the appointment of the committee, because he thought investigation would show that a low assessment, such as one rupee an acre, and the land itself a pound 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 reduced the country increased in wealth. Why should not the same results be expected in India from a similar process ! He believed the true reason that cotton was not cultivated in India was the low state of cultivation which existed among the people in general. He believed a committee of that house would bring out these facts. The planters, too, were also die sathfied 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 Hills, signed by many of the com pany's servants, praying for a reform of the judicial sye. tem. He, like his friend the bon. member for Dumfries, wished for the introduction of more lawyers into India. (A. laugb.) It was true that plain common sense would do in a newly-settled district, but in highly cultivated districts, like Delhi, Agra, or Benares, it was highly desirable to have trained lawyers. He considered the latter portion of the resolution was important, because the more they endeavoured to develope the resources of India, the more would we extend our political influence in that country. He rejoiced that the committee wa g granted, as he anticipated good results to India from It. Mr. TURNER said the cotton manufacturers Lad 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. since 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 had not moved in this directiuu before 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 his hon. friend (Hr. Tuner) 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 •f India had lost all confidence in the company. After a few words from Mr. NISBET, Mr. EWART agreed to withdraw the wt,rde referred to 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 name effect before the house would be discussed at the same time. Loid ELCHO replied that he would do so. The house then adjourned at a quarter to nine o'clock. Country Markets. LIVERPOOL, MARCII 16. A very good attendance to-day, and wheat met a slow sale at the rates of ri iday last. Flour was difficult to quit, without any change in value. Oats and oatmeal i❑ improved request, and rather dearer. Beans and peas firm. India❑ corn neglected, and prices scarcely main• tained late rates. Mixed American and yellow, 3ls 6d to 355; white 31s to 34s Ga. NE WCASTLE—AI[Ancit 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 quito so brisk, but unaltered in value. White boiling peas in request. Oats steady. NORWICH-MARCH 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. Not much other grain offer- White wheat, 48s to 50s ; red, 42s to 4Gs ; barley, 39e te 41s. ; flour, 3is 6d per sack ; beans, 40s to 44s ; peas, 42s to 435; oats, 28s to 30a. NORWICH CATTLE—MARCH 13. There was a good show of stora cattle today, but buyers were not numerous, and only a limited business was done. Fat beasts, 7s to 7e 6tl ; prime, 8e Od per stone ; being about same as last week. Sh eep , 36 5 t o 40 s p e r head, an d good storo pigs 155 to 2.55. F a t pork, Gs to 6e Gd ; prune, 8s 6d per stone of 141bs. COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—YEsninar. MgterdaM„ •• •• •• .. 11 15 Gibraltar...... •••• Ditto, three months .. 11 17 Leghorn .. • • ••• •• Rotterdam •• .• •• •• •• •• 11 17 i 4 Genoa eeeee ••••••• •• •• 25 b 5 Antwerp ...............25 524 Mi1an................ — Brussels •• •• •••••• 25 32 ,E Venice •••••• • • •• •• • aamburgh 13 6 Napier. .• •••• •••••• ••• 42 Altona •••••••••• •• •• • • • • Palermo •• • • Paris • • • • 25 15 Messina Do. three mouths .... 25 37L4 Marseilles •• •• .• •• •• •• 25 40 Oporto •• . ''''''' •• .• •• 51% Bourdeaux •• •• •• •• Rio Janeiro ...... •• •••• Frankfort-on-Maine .• 118% Buenos Ayres..•• •• •• •• Berlin •• •• •• •• •• .• •• •• •• Now York,6o da;s' sight •-••• Vienria.• •• •• •• ...• 10 32 Philadelphia rrioste•• •• 10 33 PRICES or suiLloia. PEA 01: Petersburg 35 Foreign Gold in Bars X 3 17 9 Nfadriil ........ • . 48• X i rortugal Gold Coln .. 00 0 Cadiz • •• • • • • •• • •• •••• •• •• •49 'Mexican Dollars •••• 0 0 0 Barcelona . .• New Dollars •••••• 0 0 0 •• Silver in bars 0 5 1% BIRTHS. BERKELEY—On the 140 h inst., at Overbury Court, Wor cestershire, the Lady Catherine Berkeley, of a daugbter, BLAIR —On the 14th inst., at 4, Randolph-crescent, Edin burgh, the wife of Sir Edward Hunter Blair, Bart., of a son. CHALLIS—On the 15th inst., at Hampstead, the wife of Alfred W. Challis, Esq., of a son. MAItRIAGES. HILL— CRUTIVELL- On the 16th inst* al-terrace , Widcom b e Old Church, James Hill, Esq., of Roy to Fanny Mary, second d a ughter of Robert ' Adelphi, C r ntwell, Esq., of Widcombe-hill, Bath. M`LEAN —BROWN—On the 13th inst., John M`Lean, M.D., Upper Montagu-street, Montagu-square, London, to Jane Ann, youngest daughter of Alexander Brown. Esq., of Marshall-place, Perth. BEAT AcKLAND —On the 14th inst., at Killerton, Devon, Lydia Dorothea, eldest daughter of Sir Thos. Dyke Ackland, Burt., aged 43. BItODER —On the 15th inst., at St. James's-terrace, Re* gent's-park, Wm. Broder, Esq. 13TcilEn—On the 14th inst., at Victoria Cottage, East Cowes, Isle of Wigh t, George Ken-Butcher, Esq., lat• Captain 11th Light Dragoons, aged 73. GAY— On the 14th inst., at Totnes, Devon, James Gaye of Ifor nsey-lane, Hig'r~gate, Middlesex, f__62,d ------7 — ._ '_ ----=-- _ _ _ LONDON: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNC; of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Moe, No. u 2, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the cotU2 l l Of Alia Ileaex, Wedno3clny, Alarch 17, 1858. .