The Sun. — London, England, 1858-05-22 00:00:00

gentleman, I received notice of his intention to put his question, I thought it right to communicate with my late colleague, Lord Ellenborough, and he has autho rised me to say that at no time, to the best of his recol lection, had any such intimation been made to him. (Hear, hear.) I beg to move that this house at its rising do adjourn to Friday, the 28th inst. Mr. CLAY said if the house would indulge him for a few minutes he was anxious to make a few observations, which, in point of fact, would be an appeal to the right hon. gentleman the member for Oxford on the subject of the motion which had engaged the attention of the house for the last few nights. He might be permitted to state that from the moment of the retirement of Lord Ellenborongh he considered the motion to be inexpe dient, not that the merits of the case were altered, but after the resignation of Lord Ellenborough he saw that events must take one of two courses. Previous to that resignation the motion was one which was due to the dignity of the house with reference to an act of rashness unparalleled in the history of statesmanship. But after the resignation of Lard Ellenborough one of two courses must be pursued—either the motion would be one of mere party spirit, and that motion was one with which many others besides gentlemen opposite and the majo rity of the country did not sympathise. If that was not the course taken, the discussion must tura on the policy of the despatch and the proclamation, as to which, as was confessed by the hon. gentleman himself, the house had not sufficient information on which to form an *pi nion. The important papers which had been received that morning had made him more confident with regard to the inexpediency of the motion. He was not anxious to intrude on the house his own opinions, but as he should conclude with an appeal to the right h e n. gentleman to withdraw his motion, he thought 1 right to state that the perusal of those papers bad confirmed him in the opinion that Lord Canning's policy was right. He wished, however, for more time to consider them ; but he thought that the reasons given by Lord Canning were sufficient. It was not, therefore, that he differed from the policy of Lord Canning that he made these observations. But it was obvious that everybody in this country and in India would consider these debates as aErming or condemning that policy, while there were, in fact, many more issues of a different nature to be decided. Many gentlemen 'opposite, if asked whether the policy of Lord Canning was rght or wrong, would hesitate to give an opinion, anti many of those who shared his opinion, that he was right , would vote with the Government they supported. On the other hand a great number of members on these benches believe it is right to vote with the Government. Why ! Because they think Lord Canning wrong. Be cause they disapprove of the proclamation. Because they conceive the despatch and its publication justified. No ; but because they have no wish to see the Govern ment which lately sat on these benches moved from the position they now occupy. (Hear.) Although the coun try and the people of India may believe that we are de ciding the policy or impolicy of the proclamation, we uttall, in fact,. be deciding on nothing of the kind. (Hear.) I appeal to the right hon. gentleman, not in any party spirit, not to save a party from a victory which may be so small as to be almost a defeat—(hear) —but I appeal to him as the friend of Lord Canning not to place rd Canning's reputation on an issue which unfairly repre sents the opinion of the country. (Cheers.) In what way this may be done, consistently with the forms of the house, I know not. There may be some difficulty in withdrawing the motion. Hon. gentlemen opposite may be unwilling that it shoeld be withdrawn. (Partial cheering from the Ministerial side of the house.) I con perfectly feel that it should be withdrawn. But I cannot help thinking that my appeal is fair and honourable, and that we should not send forth a judgment of the conduct of Lord Canning which is influenced by many motives beyond a belief whether his conduct is right or wrong. I cannot think that bon. gentlemen, either on this or ore the other side of the house, will throw any obstacle in the way of the withdrawal of the motion. (Cheers.) Air. BOWYER—I am anxious to add my voice to that of the hon. gentleman, and to appeal to the right bon. gentleman not to persevere with his motion. (Oh, oh, and cheers.) I think we might be mach mere use fully employed than in discussing this motion. I may perhaps be told with reference to these papers, which appear to me to have an important bearing on the ques tion—l may be told that there is the opinion of Sir J. Outram on the one side and that of Lord Canning on the other. But I ask the honse to remember who is Sir J. Oatram. He is on the epot, and is responsible for that part of the country. That being the case, a strong opinion expressed by Sir J. Outram on the impolicy of the proclamation ought, at least for the purpose of in „ a UC LUUL,Uat I ‘L - and I think the right hon. gentleman will show great wisdom in not persevering with his motion in the face of the opinion of Sir J. Outram, who is the person chiefly concerned, and who must know more ae to the effect cf the proclamation than any other individual whatever. For this reason I join my voice with that of the bon. member for Hull, and request the right hon. gentle- man to withdraw his motion. (Cheers.) Mr. CARDWELL—AIthough there is, in point of form, a motion before the house, I do not think it would be right in me to do more than to avail myself of it, simply for the purpose of answering the appeal which has been made to me. No information has reached me which informs me that any change has taken place in the state of affairs. I seo nothing in the despatches to in duce me to change my opinion, and I cannot think that it would be wise, or that it would be regarded as a fair and straightforward course on my part, if I would do more than say that I think it right my motion should go on. Sir DE L. EVANS—I entirely concur in the first part of the proposition of the hon. member for Hull, that the issue of the motion now before the house will entirely mislead the country and the people of India. (Hear.) I think also that it will be most unsatisfactory to Lord Canning. (Hear, hear.) It will be still more unsatisfac tory as regards the great interests of this country. (Cheers.) As the right hon. gentleman does not think fit to withdraw his motion, and as I consider this is a question strongly affecting our Indian empire, and even the stability of the British empire, I think the matter ought not to be left in doubt in any way whatever, and I therefore beg to give notice of a motion which I think will meet the case. (Cheers.) Immediately after the recess I purpose to submit to the house the following re solution :—" That in the opinion of this house the pro clamation of the Governor General of India, pronouncing the confiscation to the British Government of the pro prietary rights in the soil of the numerous population of the province of Oude, is not equitable, nor calculated to promote the pacification of that country, and ought not to be carried into effect." (Cheers.) Mr. DRUMMOND—Whenever hon. gentlemen on this side of the house brought forward factious motions in order by a sidewind to weaken the late Government, I invariably voted with them and against the factious motion, and shall do so on the present occasion. I should not have risen on the present occasion but for some words which have dropped from the right hon. gentleman the member for Oxford. He has a perfect right to give me an answer or not, just as he pisses,,, and I admit the folly of putting questions upon re• ports ; but I certainly was much surprised at the in dignation with which the proposal to withdraw the motion was received, because I had heard that he bad previously manifested an intention of withdrawing it. I wish to ask the right hon. gentleman if that report is correct? (Cheers and laughter.) Mr. CARDWELL—The hon. member has been en tirely misinformed. (Hear, hear.) Mr. CON YNGHAM—I understand the motion before the house to be a vote of censure on the Government. , That censure I am prepared to vote for. (Cheers and laughter.) Ido not think the Government ought to be carried on on the principle of limited liability. (Oh, oh, and laughter.) In reply to questions by Mr. GROWTH' and Mr. LIGON, relative to the letters of the 6::11 of March and the 20th of February. Lord PALMERSTON said—l can only repeat what I stated before, that when my right hon. friend showed me the passages in the letters referred to, it did not occur to rue to suggest to him that there was anything in them requiring transmission to the Government, but I now regret having given my opinion. (Cheers.) Mr. T. DUNCOMBE —A great number of members vsllo int en d e d t o su p p rt the motion now wish the right bon, i gentl eman t o w ithd raw it . B ut h e re f uses to d o I : ) , : u tt lie nd the Chanc.ll or o f th e E xc h equer presses th e and Rays that a division must take place this evening. (Cries of "No, no.") I don't know whether it is competent for me to do so , but if I am not out of order I will move that the debate be resumed on the 28A1, when the h on „ re (Oh, oh.) Why not I The motion pronounces-"mbsnoaeeiasul the Govern t re t it. e n . p ki on on the pr, - But re cia m w at e i° :a . nt l a t om g( e 'e t s hin o g n to more c than censure. To al, e the motion an honest vote of censure .tou h te t tioeactyon,s clad@ in this ma n n er :—" A nd rendering her m present Government unworthy of the con fi dence of this house." I would put it to you whether you can con clude the debate to-night ? (" Yes, yes," No, n 0.,,) I believe that if the right hon. gentleman had been in possession of the information which is now before the house he would never have moved the resolution—. (hear, hear)—and would have made use of totally dif. THE ferent arguments from those which he used last Friday. The case of last Friday is not the case of this Friday. (Laughter.) New information has arrived, and we have materials for a new debate altogether. (Hear.) You might as well divide on some defunct motion made during the last session as on the motion now before the house. (Laughter and cheers.) The right honourable gentleman considers himself pledged to it, and that he must go on. But there is no occasion for him to go on at all. (Loud cheers.) It is said that honourable gen• tlemen opposite will not allow him to withdraw it. Surely that cannot be the case. They complain that it is a party move. But will not their refusal to withdraw it make it a party move ! (Cheers.) The late First Lord of the Admiralty, the other night, said that he never felt so olear from party motives in his life. (Loud laughter.) Therefore this is no party movement, and therefore he cannot object to its being withdrawn or postponed until we get a little more information. (Laughter.) I should say withdraw it altogether. (Loud cheers.) I had intended to vote for the motion. Ido not disguise my opinion. If the right hon. gentleman holds me to that pledge, perhaps I ought to vote for it; but as it is I must take my hat and wish him good night. (Laughter and cheers.) Ido say that it is for the cha racter, the dignity, the honour of this house, and for the interests of our Indian empire, that the motion should he withdrawn. (Loud cheers.) Sir D. NORREYS—I gave notice of a motion last night, but understand it cannot be put on account of the forms of the house. lam convinced that a large por tion of those who hear me would be very glad to get out of the dilemma in which they are placed. (Cheers.) I have a decided objection to the resolution of the right hon. 'gentleman being proceeded with at the present time. I think we have sufficient information before us to satisfy us that we ought to take a more decided course than the one now proposed. The question of confisca tion is a decided fact. (Ministerial cheers.) Can anybon. member on this side of the house conscientiously say that there are any grounds on which the landbolders of Oude ought to be subjected to this penalty. I confess, for my own part, that I an totally ignora❑t of the ei tent to which these landholders harerendered themselves liable to the. universal punishment inflicted upon them. All that I know is that Lord Canning, in his last de- spatcb, describes them in this manner:—" The Gove►- nor-General entirely agrees with you i❑ viewing the ta lookdars and landholders of Oude i❑ a very different light from that in which rebels in our old provinces are to be regarded. The people of °tide had bees subjects of the British government for little more than one year when the I mutinies broke out ;.they had become so by no act of their own." Those who were prepared to vote for the right hon. gentleman's motion were evidently supporting the policy of confiscation, and yet th ey were not in possession of any information by which to justify this extraordinary act. (Cheers.) Mr. 0. STANLEY—I agree with the hon. member far Finsbury, and should regret the house being forced to a division on this unfortunate motion. (Cheers.) From the moment the additional papers were placed on the table of the house, I felt that a complete alteration had taken place in the aspect cf the question. (Cheers.) It w 66 3 evident to me that the first three lines of the right hon. gentleman's motion ceased to be of value, because we now have Lord Canning's reasons for the proclama tion which he issued. I wish to ask a question of the hon. member for Swansea, because the house will recol. lect that the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Go vernment have declared their determination to suppoi t the amendment of that hon. member. I wish to know whether in the altered state of circumstances he means to move his amendment ? (Hear.) It seems to me that having in our hauls the papers which have just been produced, we cannot agree to the following words, that "this house declines to give any opinion upon the °tide proclamation until it has had further information on the state of Oude when the proclamation was issued, and also Lord Canning's reasons for issuing it." I wish to ask the hon. gentleman if he still means to put his amend. men t ? (Cheers.) Mr. DILLWYN—In reply to the question of the hon. gentleman, I beg to say that if the right hon. gentleman presses his motion, I shall certainly press my amend ment. I cannot but think that the papers which have this morning reached us in no way take away the neces sity of my amendment. They appear to me to show that Lord Canning's policy is an impracticable policy ; and looking at the opinion of Sir J. Outram, I do not think we shall be able to adopt that policy unless we !save a greater force in India than we have at present. (Hear, hear.) Colonel SYKES—I rise to express to the Ist u e n viction of the nature of the papers which have been put ":- Tho house will recollect that we have been discussing—what? A proclaosat.ion supposed to have been issued in °sue. IV nen I When Lucknow was taken. That proclamation issaid to embody a phrase confiscating the proprietary rights of the soil, implying that the proprietary rights of five millions of people are to be confiscated. In England the word "confiscation" has a fearful signification. But I, as a linguist, say—•(laughter)—l, as a linguist, say that the term used does not signify confication—(laughter)—but it means "sequestration"—(continued laughter)—se questration. It means appropriation and sequestration, leaving a complete opening for the consideration of any claim that may arise. That is my full and firm belief of the meaning of the term originally used in the proclama tion. But when was it used ? The proclamation was to be issued when Lucknow was taken. Before Lucknor,v was taken. Sir J. Outram communicates with Lord Can• fling, and says, ," Your proclamation will prevent the talookdars from coming in, and your lordship bad better make some alteration." What did Lord Canning do? Lord Canning, in reply, says—" To those amongst them who shall promptly come forward, and give to the Chief Commissioner their support in the restoration of peace, this indulgence will be large, and the Governor-General will be ready to view liberally the claims which they may thus acquire to a restitution of their former rights." Then what becomes of the charge against Lord Canning's policy when anybody choosing to come in will have his rights considered in a liberal spirit, and his property may be restored? What becomes of the charge of confiscation! (Cheers.) Up to this moment, for anything we know, the proclamation has not been issued, and the house has been arguing on a system of policy that probably has no existence at all. (Cheers.) Mr. DUNLOP—I wish to put a question to the sight hon. gentleman the member for Oxford with regard to what has taken place to-night. It should be understood whether he agrees to receive my amendment in the form in which I put it—that is to say, as an addition to his motion, or whether he merely means that after his mo tion shall have been adopted, he will then support my amendment as a substantive resolution. Mr. LOCKE—I do not think it very convenient to the house to have a double discussion, and will confine my remarks to a request to the right h on . gen tl eman not entirely to reject the appeal which has been made to him. (Cheers.) I think that circumstacceo have been occurring from day to day since the motion wAs put on the table, which will fully justify not only this appeal, but the feeling that we have been discussing upon a very narrow issue the complicated and changing state of things in a distant country. (Cheers.) I think the papers which we have received this day will fully justify any one in an appeal, however strong it may be, to waive the further discussion of the question until we have better materials for that purpose. (Cheers.) The hon. member for Fins bury has suggested the adjournment of the discussion until after the recess. But I think that would be only adding one difficulty to another (Hear.) Considering the narrow limits of the motion, totally irrespective of any party object, I think the debate may be fairly .con. eluded to-night, and I trust if we are to be limited to the resolution we shall at once c)me to a decision. In con stquence of the change of circums•ances which has oc curred, and my not being able to agree to one part of the resolution, I shall certainly not give it my support. (Cheers.) Major WORTLEY—I wish to ask a question of the hon, member for Inverness-shire. In one of the papers laid on the table this morning I find the following para graph :—The Chief Commissioner deems this matt r of such vital importance that, at the risk of being deemed importunate, he ventures to submit his views once more, in the hope that the Right Hon. the Governor-General may yet be induced to re - consider the subject." I think it is important that the house should see the previous letters of Sir J. Outram. It is perfectly evident from the words and Outran utheaexhparea previously io ‘ u ` re ly -co w n i s i i t d t_ e t o r i ths iay to h u l i l ':i‘ neoct'e"te ruor h e atSei'rJ. Governor-General " on th e su b jec t o f t h e proclamation. As no date ie mentioned in the letter of Sir J. Outram I am not able to judge whether it was written previously to the publication of the P rocla.na ti al or since. I therefore ask the h on. member whether he can procure the previous papers, and if he cannel', I would a4t the same question of the hon. member fur Northampton. (Cheers.) Mr. BAILLIE—It would certainly appear fro.n the wording oft'te para g r aph to which th e bon, mere], r has referred that some previous communication bad been s been r d e e c r e s i t7ri d d b t e h r e i g ß h o t a h r d o n o f . C rn e , e t i n t made,iNir. WYLD—lfbut Done has ber for Oxford correctly, he still iotende to proceed with hi, motion. I wish to ask whether it is possible at this period of the debate to move the previous question, because to continue the debate under present C rcumstancee is per fectly useless. (bear.) Major WORTLEY—At the risk of being thought . ii - trusive—(cries of " Order, order')—l wish to 71 ask the right hon. gentleman opposite—(order, order.) IN l any one ask the question for me ? (Hear, and a laugh.) Mr. B. CARTER—No one feels inure than I do tear the house is in a false position, and for this reason. The right hon. member fur Oxford has raised a question which is still before the house, and which is not at all altered by the facts which have recently come before it. What ever the result of the division may be, the real question will not be brought before the country. I look upon the eubj,ct under discussion as divisible into two heads— that which the motion has raised and that to which the Government are directi ng our a tt en ti on. Th e quest i on which the right hon. gentleman has raised is simply this —whether the existing Government shall be held justified SUN, in sending out a despatch of the tenor, and couched in language, of that which was sent out by Lord Ellen b orough, to any person, be he who he may, the gover nen- of a small island, or the governor of a great depen de 'icy—which is calculated, in the words of the resolu tico], " to produce the most prejudicial effect, by weak enii sg the authority of the Governor General." (Cheers.) The it is one of the questions. The subsequent question is, whether the publication of such a despatch is justi fiable. Now, the general tenor of the debate has been to lose sight of this very important and imperial ques tion, in order to divert it to the ground of the success or failure of the proclamation itself. As regards that proclamation, I still think we are not in a position to discuss and decide the question of the policy adopted by Lord Canning. (Elear.) I am not prepared to give an unhesitating vote in favour of that policy, but I con fess that the antecedents of Lord Canning lead me to be lieve that his policy is right. (Cheers.) But that is not the question before us. (Hear.) Are we go to the country upon a false issue ? (Ministerial cheers.) The gallant general who has given notice of a motion which will fairly raise the question, which is now unfairly raised, has taken a course which will meet the approval of the country. He is severing the question into two parte. We shall have to decide whether the despatch and the publication were right, and whether the policy of Lord Canning is right. (Cheers) Although we ate not in a condition to page an opinion upon the merits of the proclamation, I still think we may vote upon the simple question whether such a despatch ought to have been sent, and whether it ought to have been published. Mr. ROEBUCK—I wish to repeat the question put by the hon. member for Honiton (Major Wortley), which I conclude the right hon. member for Northamp ton did not hoar. The paragraph which the hon. mem ber read clearly shows that the Chief C immissioner (Sir J. Outran]) had stated to the Governor-General his ob jections to the proclamation. What I want to know is, whether the right hon. gentleman is in any way in pos session of any papers or documents which will throw any light upon the subject, or whether he has been in possession of any papers or documents which will thro any light upon the objections which at some former time Sir J. Ou ratn may have urged against the procla entice', or whether he knows that such previous remon strances have been made by Sir J. Outram. Mr. V. small:I—I did not answer the question, be- cause I thought it had been sufficiently answered by the Secretary to the Board of Control. That hon. gentleman Is in possession of, or has access to, all the documents which I received while in office—(hear, hear)—and my noble friend (Lord Palmerston) last night stated the whole of the information regarding the proclamation contained in the private letters which I had received. I am not in possession of any remonstrance from Sir J. Outrun. Mr. SPOONER—The right bon. gentleman has not answered one important question. My hon. friend has asked whether the right hon. gentleman was in pos session of the fact that remonstrances had been ad dressed by the Chief Commissioner to the Governor- General upon the subject of the proclamation. (Cheers.) Mr. V. know nothing but from the despatch of what may have passed between Sir J. Outrain and the Governor-General. (Hear.) Mr. L. KING—I cannot but express my r?gret at the decision of the right hon. member for Oxford, and can only express my hope that in the course of the debate he may see something which will altogether change his opinion, and lead him to withdraw his motion. (Cheers.) Mr. KER SEYMER—I think tee amendment of the hon. member fur Swansea is uncertain in its mean ing. Ido not understand what he means by generally approving of Lord Canning's policy up to the time of the proclamation. I am one of those who are inclined to think that the proclamation has never been issued. I understand—it is true, on second-hand authority—that Sir Archdale Wilson says that up to the time of his leaving India on the 18th April, no proclama ine bad ever been issued, but that it had been sent to Sir Colin Campbell and the other military chiefs. Well, sir, as Lord Canning has shown himself willing to listen to the advice of the military chiefs, as he has made other alter ations, he may have withdrawn it altogether. Lord H. VANE—I join in the general feeling, and appeal to my right hon. friend to take into his conside ration—(Ministerial cheers)—to take into his seriou consideration whether, in the new circumstances, con sidering the opinions that have been expressed, and the doubt that has been just suggested by my hon. friend whether this proclamation has been issued at all, it would be well to persevere in the motion. I should have afforded my right bon. friend my support, but I do think he would exercise a sound discretion were he to defer to that which, as far as I can judge, is the general opinion of the house, that in the pr e sent circumstances he should withdraw his motio which certainly in its w cling seems hardly applic tie to the present state of thing;. (Ministerial LL sere) Captain VIVIAN—We are hers now not only to im peach her elsjesty's Government for the deep etch but we are here ti clear the character of the Governor- General of India from the charges of unworthy conduct made against him in that despatch. (Hear, hear.) We know quite well from the appearance of the benches on both sides that there has been what, in the phraseo logy of this house, is called a very strong whip, and we know quite well, however much we may talk of discuss ing this matter apart from party feeling, that there is a very strong infusion of party feeling in this question. It wuuld be tieyond doubt a party triumph to the opposite +ide if my right hon. friend the member for Oxford were to withdraw has resolution. Mare than that, it would Co out to India that an attempt to clear the character of Lord Canning in this house, by impeaching the minist_r house. I say, therefore, that I trust the hou,e will feel that it should di justice to Lord Canning in his absence, and I trust that my right hon. friend will take the sense of the house on this question. Mr. P. O'BRIEN—I think if the right bon. gentle man the member fa. Oxford intends to withdraw his notion, or if he is induced to withdraw it, I can only state, intending as I do to vote in a c2rtain manner on this occasion —(loud laughter)—that on the occasion of , he last debate on the subject of the annexation of °Lyle there were many members who advocated a clement policy who now look at it in a diff rent point of view. I trust that the house will not allow the motion to be withdrawn. Mr. HORSNIAN—I do not rise to take part in this discussion, but to express a doubt as to the regularity of our proceedings. As I understand the motion before the house is to adjourn to Friday next, and one of the orders of the day is the motion of my right boo, friend the member for Oxford. Now on the motion for ad - j 'urnment it appears that we are discussing one of the orders of the day. I put it to you, sir, whether that is not irregular ? Mr. WHITE—As I am not in the category of those gentleman who if a division is forced will divide against the right honourable gentleman the member for Ox ford, I may perhaps renew the appeal to him to with draw his motion. I cannot be surprised that my hon. friend who preceded me, with that traditional love of his nation for a fight, should be reluctant to have the motion withdrawn, but a large number of those gentlemen who will be compelled by previous promises to vote for the resolution will not be reluctant. (Lcud Ministerial cheers.) I say this in a spirit of frankness which I am sure the house will appreciate. (Cheers.) I cannot but believe that the avowal that so many of his friends will be placed in such an unenviable position, and that there is a larger number who will feel that they will be placed in such unpl e asa n t ci r cumstances that they will separat e on that occasion from many with whom they have long acted, and with whom they will be too glad coact again, will influence the right hon. gentleman. And I may also add the large and overpowering consideration to many of us of the bad effect of a dissolution. (Loud cries of "hear, hear," and laughter.) I shall nut shrink from saying thus much, though I know that I am speat ing in the presence of large-acred squires and of persons who respect the majesty of the Three per Cents. ; but I am also addressing a large number of persons who well know that in every commercial centre of this ccuntry a dissolution at this time, when the commercial world is recovering from the late collapse which has been so dis astross, would be looked upon as a national calamity. Having said thus much, I must renew my appeal on pri vate grounds to the right hon gentleman to withdraw the motion. Mr. JACKSON--An hon. member has said that if the right hon. gentleman withdrew his motion he would be twitted by members o❑ the other aids of the house, This is not a question of twitting—it is a question of the happiness of 150 millions of God's creatures ; and I do say that, after the informatio❑ we have received this morning, and iu the absence of all certainty of Lord Canning having i,sued the proclamation, this question is not ripe for judgment.. I have made up my mind, and will adhere to the resolution ; but I app al to the right gectleinan not to press the motion, and I am sure I speak the opinion of thousands of her Majesty's sub jects. (Loud cries for CArd well.) Lord PALNIERSTON—I have listened with great attention to this conversation. (ft gars of laughter, the noble lord having at that moment entered the house froth behind the Speaker's chair.) The motive which led my right hon. friend to make the 'notion which Mande in the order of the day has, I think, been much misrepresented. It was conceived that a very preju- dicial effect would ba produced in India by tho despatch of the home Government on the su' ject of the procla mation ; and it was necessary —not only with that view tut also to establish the opinion of Parliament on that despatch, but more especially with a view to our in ttrest in India—that the prejudicial effect should be counteracted by a . reso!ution of the house to the eff ct of that which my right hon. friend has moved. Well, ir, papers• have been laid on the table this evening bleb have a very important bearing upon the tenor of the debate which has now lasted several days. Those who have spoken again-t the resolution have concurred in the opinion expressed in the de-patch—that the Fahey which Lord Canning indicated in his proclaina tmn was a policy of sweeping and general confiscation affecting the whole r,f the people of Oude—that it was, in short, a policy cf cruel severity, whereas the home Government and those who supported it, thought tba- a policy clemency and di scr i m i nat i ng mercy ought tr , ha pursued. No man who has rend the papers which have been received, conta i ning an authentic record and exposition of tho views with which Lord Canning intended to publish that proclamation —a proclama tion, by-the-bye, which we have no later informa tion Las even 3et been issued— I say no man can have read that exposition of Lord Canning', IT:ew without seeing that his intention was, in the filir; place, that the proclamation should not affect the bulk of the people of Oude, and that proclamation, natn w e - h ly e , :h 4, 7r or , wrong,_ tro wa o\ sc — onfinet, one ta.ook oars n ai2d that with regard to them Lie principle was this, that, instead , r 3 LONDON, SATURDAY of saying, "I will punish the guilty by retrospective inquiry, and inflict punishment upon those who shall be proved to have been guilty," he took the other course and said, "I will not punish the past, I will only take a security for the future, and all those who give me that security by te»dering their submission shall be restored to their rights." I admit, therefore, that those papers establish conclusively the fact that the policy of Lord Canning with regard to this proclamation was the policy which he pursued from the commencement, and which has been characterised, in the course of these debates, as the clemency of Lord Canning. Well, that being the case, it appeared to me that these papers going out to India will counteract the bad effect of the secret de spatch publi-lied by the Government, and that being the case, and the conduct of the Governoreneral hav ing been, I do not Fay sufficiently, vindicated by,those who have taken part in the debate, which has now been carried on for several days, I would submit that if it is the wish of the house— (loud Ministerial cheers)--that no further proceedings should take place, I would recom mend to my right hon. friend to bow to the wishes and feelings of the house. I might undoubtedly, in accord ance with the spirit with which the motion is made, put it to the Government whether they would not be dis posed to view that letter in the same light in which it strikes me, and to sanction by their concurrence Lord Canning's policy. lam not in a condition to ask any thing of them, but, stating the ground on which it ap pears to me that those papers goirg out to India will materially and powerfully counteract the prejudicial effect of the secret despatch, I submit to my hon. friend that if it be the wish of the house that he should with draw the resolution, he might pe r haps act more pro perly in withdrawing it. Mr. CARDWELL—Sir, I conceive that I am in this position—(loud laughter)—that the motion is in your hands, and except with the general concurrence of the house I have not the power to withdraw it. I did not feel that it was open to me in an earlier part of the even ing to express my desire to withdraw the resolution, but after the numerous appeals that have bean made to me, I shall certainly desire to act in concurrence with the general feeling of the house, and if I understand that it is the gei.eral feeling of the house that I should withdraw it, I will not stand in the way. Mr. GLADSTONE—My impression is that my right hon. friend has not misunderstood what he believes to be the prevailing sentiment of the house. There can be no doubt, whatever toe motive of this proceeding, that in every proceeding where the house is divided on mat ters of deep interest that much of the bitterness of party strif:3 mu-t mingle in the contest, and that if it did not appear in the beginning it must always grow up during the course of the discussion. At the same time I think we are all deeply sensible that there is something involved in the discussion of this great Indian question far above party interests. (Cheers.) lam certain that there is no man who hears me, whatever result he may have antici pated to the motion of my right hon. friend, and I be lieve that result to have been very doubtful—there is no man who hears me who is not willing readily to surren der the paltry advantage that he might have gained fi cm the issue of Vie conflict, for the sake of the happy rtilec tion that even in the hour of excitement, so far from acting detrimentally to the public interest, we have stayed our hand, that we have retire.' from the battl-!- .. field, and even at the risk of criticism on the proceed ings of the house, which we cannot escape from, we have declined to carry this matte to the issue. But, sir, concurring as I do in the spirit of the recommendations I' hat have been made, and regarding the decision to which my right hon. friend—if permitted by the house —is ready to come, asa decision eminently advantageous under the circumstances of the hour to the public inte rests, I still would venture to say one word on the subject of the person to whom my noble friend the member for Tiverton has alluded, whose interest and feelings are bound up in our proceeding, and whoso interest and feelings are, allow me to saya closely connected with public interest. My noble friend has put a construe ti in to which I am able to give, not an entire, but a partial assent upon the papers that ale before us to. day. I am convinced that Lord Canning did not intend, in issuing the proclamation with regard to Oude, in any point or in any degree to compromise those principles of equity and humanity by which, I beg leave to say, ha has made it name illustrious in the history of the country. If Lord Canning's judgment has erred—a question on which it is not necessary for me to give an opinion, aid I frankly own that now I do not think we are in a position to pass a judgment on the conduct of Lord Cant ing in issuing the proclamation— I am deeply convinced that be has erred simply through a tnisca2culation as to the object be had in view, and as to the efficacy of his moans. And I concur with the noble lord the member for Tiverton, in the belief that it was the intention of Lord Canning to effect no gene ral displacement of proprietary rights in Oude, but he resorted to that proclamation as, what we thought, the best means in his power under the circumstances of Oude for the purpose of settling all the controversies that had arises in the province with regard to pro prietary rights since the annexation of it by the Eig- Lab. At the same time lam free to say that I think those who hays bad, like myself, the honour and privilege of kno vino' Lord Canning from his boyhood, are not; only entitled but bound to put that construc tion on his intentions, and, for one, I have no choice but to put that construction. lam as much convinced of that both from general knowledge of him and from alt the information I have been able to obtain, as if I had the statement from hire t t h.i tnnrn..... Wifk vg at u so Lord U inning, and with regard to the judgment of the honse at large, I have been one of those who, lamenting the original proposal of my right hon. friend, felt thankful to the hon, gentleman the member for Swansea for the amendment which he submitted. Ido not think, convinced as I am of the motives and irtenti )ns of Lord Canning, that it would be fair to ask the hau , e, or that it would be fair to ask of her Maje,:ty's Government at this moment to put any partieular interpretation even upon the papers that have heee receives to-day. It appears to me that the safest ground upon which we can take our stand is that up to this moment we do not absolutely know that the procla mation is a public document, and that although it is true that we aro in possession cf so much of his views and policy as Lord Canning thought fit to state in answer to the letter if Sir J. Outram, yet we are not at all entitled to say that we are in possession of the whele case which Lord Canaing may have thought fit to submit to her Majesty's Government at home. That being so, I hope we way lave from her Majesty's Government a state ment the.; they do not recede from the intention they have exp..eased in this house to support the declaration of the hsn. member for S Nausea, which refers to the past pen ,d of Lord Canning's government, that they c incur iii the sentiments expressed by the amendment, that they are sati,fied with the judgment and firmness which le has shown in difficalt circumstances, and that they approve generally of the policy which he has pur sued. I confess it appears to me tbat so much we may Gov ernmen t did spec ifi ca lly reasombly ask, and I beli eve I a w n r i g h t i n say i ng t h a t place se n ti men t s w i t h regar d to t h e d th e e ci li ar e i td iß of Majesty'sahneorther pelicyand conduct of Lord Canning as Governor-General of India, which precisely correspond with all that the amenonent of the hon. member for Swansea says with roger: to Lord Canning's proceediugs up to the issuing of the Oude proclamation. Sir, I feel a deep interest in Lied Canning, not only on public grounds, but on the ground that the country has a deep interest in the charseter of its public men, and that Interest becomes deep .r when a person has been chosen by the favour of his eavereign to discharge the high duties of Governor (:eroral of India under circumstances of unparalleled diffiealty. When the late Government made choice of Ler( Canning in concert with the Court of Directors, I c efees it had Appeared to me that they had made en adwrablo selection, dictated only by a motive of public duti, which was likely to result in great advantage to thoc over whom ho was called to rule. I had sufficient knea ledge of Lord Canning to form a most favourable oriiion of what be would do in India, and, I am bound to ny, although the trial to which he has been sub mitted has been severe beyond all precedent, that no one, I think, can look back upon the proceedings of last sunnier without feeling that we owe it to Lord Can ting that we have escaped—if indeed we have escaped —he charge of cruelty in India. And now I call upon thi house to observe that there is no one who has stated mire el atly and distinctly the mitigating peculiarity of ties position of the landholders of Oude than Lord Can ting himself, both in his priva'e letter to the right hen. member for Northampton, and like Aim , in the public di. 5;3* - 1 is ued by Mr. Edmonstone, to the Commission, r for Oude, and which has this morning been placed on tie table. Sr, I thick it not too much to express the live that the house will generally cuncur iu the pro pie y and wisdom of the course which my right hon. fiend the member for Oxford is absut to take, and while he is permitted by the general assent of the house to !rum° that course, her I\lejasty's Government will %pen the other hand not refu-e, in the hour when pres sure is relieved, the pledge which they gave—and I trust Lonnirahly gave—in the hour when pressure was seroig upo them, but will declare in this house, as they hare declared in the other, that the policy of Lord Can non in the general conduct of the affairs of India, under circumstances of unparalleled difficulty, is deserving ace has received the r approbation. (Cheers.) give any opinion 1, )rd uonun-I am not going to wbither the right hon. gentleman the member for Os ord should or should not be permitted to withdraw his motion ; but inasmuch as I conceive that in the event of the house consenting to the withdrawal I shall be leeiived of the opportunity of presenting a petition relating to_the motion lions a portion of my constituents roseliog in 13everley, aide') has been placed in my hand=, I via pow state tee purport of it. The petitioners state they have seen with regret the pr mlamation of the Go:ei no -General o` India, o nfis eating the whole of the Landed property of Oude ; th,y state their belief teat the tire of that prec'ainatioa will be to exasperate the whole Of the people of that country, and their prayer is that if t house should come to a resolution condernnro e tety of the despatch of Lord Kleobotough, the constitu en:n:B thrauehout Vie country may hav an opportunity of pronotieeino tbt.ir opinion on the matter. (Hear.) Sir E. PERRY—An appeal has been made that Coins txpression c f opinion sheaill be made by the Gloyer, - ,n)Lt on the conduct of L rd CAnuitig. I wish to point ett, as an act t.f jestice, that the question which w lo:ve been debating for the last week has been whether L)rd Caemirg intended, to c o nfiscate the lands of a province. NV° c i.puted that in this hello, because, from a knowledge of Lord Canning's antecedents, we believed t was impossible to suppose he would do that. Now, f see from the papers which w e have received this day, that the question which has arisen between Lord Canning and Sir James Ou ram has not been a question of justice or injustice, but simply a question of policy. These papers disclose the fact that the talookdars had been , dispossessed by Lerd Dalhousie, and that that dispos session had caused great turbulence. (Murmurs.) These I papers bow that all Lord Canning intended to do was - - - EVE-NfNG, MAY - 4 22-, 1858.- to dispossess the military proprietors, and to allow the talookdars on snbmitting to re-enter their lands. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—Sir, in exercising the privilege which every gentlemen in this house possesses, namely, to agree to or to refuse the per mission which the right hon. gentleman the member for Oxford asks to withdraw his motion, 1 am obliged to consider the proposition in two lights. I must not merely consider those general interests which affect, naturally, the opinions of all, but I must remember, that, so far as regards myself and my right hon. friends on this bench, the motion of the right hon, gentleman had a peculiar character and object. (Hear.) That motion was brought forward avowedly by the right:hon. gentleman as a censure upon the conduct of her Aide,- Ws Government. The indictment only last night was elaborately amplified by the learned knight the member for Aylet-bury, not merely with a vote or censure for some casual passage of our conduct, but undoubtedly one of general want of confidence in our policy and beha viour. And therefore, sir, when lam asked to agree to the withdrawal of the motion, I say, in the first place, that that is a proposition wh►ch I myself could under no circumstances originate ; and that when the right hon. gentleman asks me to assent to it, I beg to say it is not because we shrink from the consequences of the motion. (Loud Ministerial cheers.) We should havo looked at hat result without apprehension, and the consequences of that division we are even now ready to encounter. (Ministerial cheers.) But there are undoubtedly higher considerations than those with respect to the convenience of a Government. (dear.) And I wish that those higher considerations had throughout this debate in fluenced more of the views and arguments of our oppo nents. (Cheers.) So far as this debate is concerned, even though its existence is brought to an untimely close, I think no Ministry that ever was on its trial could look back to a discu,sWe of this importance with more satis faction. (Cheers.) For the opposition to the motion in the debate has not been sustained by members of the Administration—who I think have very wisely and pro perly withdrawn from it as much as possible—but by members opposed to us in many respects, and members inferior to none in this house for the power of their intel lect or the weight of their authority; ariti by the power of their arguments and the force of their eloquence the opinion of this house ha, been so m uc h worked upon that we at last witnessed theetrange result which we have seen to-night. (Leughter and cheers.) But, air, ii I am asked if I can consent to the withdrawal of this motion on other grounds than those which concern the convenience of a ministry, I am bound to say that I think there are grave and weighty reasons why we should take that course. (Cheers.) I confess I did look for ward with some appre hension to what might be the rouse quences in India of a division—a near division—upon a theme of the imperial importance which this discussion has assumed. (Cheers.) If, indeed, it had been narrowed withinn the petty issue whica we had at first presented to our notice—if it could have been strippedof those which are its necessary incl. divots, it might have been of light importance; but no sooner did it break the bonds which it was idly attempted to place upon it, no sooner was the question launceed into the house, than with an instinct worthy of a great public assembly it felt the importance of the appeal which was made upon it. (Cheers) The country has also felt the force of that appeal, and our debate have reached and agitated every nook in her Majesty's dominions. (Hear.) Well, sir, if lam asked whether, without any consideration of par y, I think it is best for the interests of the country and for the emp re, for England and India, that no division should take place, I have a deep con viction that it would be for the puelic welfare that this debate should terminate in the manner now proposed ; and therefore I do not feel authorised to resist the pro position which has been made by the right hon. gentle man the member for Oxford. (Cheers.) The house may perhaps, however, permit me to observe that with the exception of the memorable despatch which has been critioised so much iu the course of this discussion, and which was intended for the eye of the Governor-General alone, the Government have in every opinion they have expressed given the Governor-General their sincere aad hesrty and cordial support. (Hear.) It was our very first duty when we acceded to office, atter dealing with the immediate peril connected with continental politics, and the urgency of which could not be exaggerated—it WAS our first duty to consider what should be our course with respect to ludia, and what the character of the policy that we should recommend. After great deliberation we arrived at a result which was embodied in a secret despatch to the Governor-General, which now lies upon the table of the house. I may ob serve that in that despatch the Government of her Ma ley), gave to the GovernmoGeneral at that time the as surance of their most cordial support. I wish the house would look at the significant description of that despatch Its title at once explains the important character of its contents. It is a ".Letter from the Secret Committee to the Governor-Gereral relative to the Policy to be pur sued towards the Natives of Provinces lately in a state of hostility." (Hear.) Now, sir, there is not one word in that despatch, there is no statement which it contains, to which I hope the great majority of this house and the country are not prepared to give their adhesion. (Cheers) It contains to my mind a wise and great policy which is alone calculated to rebuild our Indian empire in a man ner satisfactory to the people of this country. (Cheers.) But when we arrived at this result we believed that in Lord Canning we had a willing and cordial agent ; and I believe that tnis despatch expresses the policy of Lerd Canning. It concludes in these words In carrying law execution you may meet with obstruc tion from those who, maddened by the scenes they have witnessed, may desire to substitute their own policy for teat of the Government ; but persevere firmly in doing what you may think right; make those who would coun teract you feel that you are resolved to rule, and that you will be served by none who will not obey. Acting in this spirit, you may rely upon our unqualified sup• port." (Cheers.) Looking at this policy, and remember ing the cliaractr and career of the Govern or-Ger eral, no one could doubt the sincerity of our determination to support Lot Warming. (fl. a s ) Aber what has occurred I will not touch upon the despatch of April 19th, or the unfortunate circumstar ces connected with it. After the turn which the debate has taken I feel that I should err against taste if I were to obtrude upon this house a vindication of my personal conduct. There is a much greater matter at stake than the vindica tion of my conduct. I will only state to the house, if it will permit tne, that at the very beginning, when the question of our policy was introduced into the house by the hon. member fur Devonport, I expressed, without hesitation or reluctance, the policy which the Govern ment intended to pursue before the despatch of the 24th March was laid upon the table. (Hear.) That policy was, to quote the words of Sir J. Lawrence, a policy of "dis criminating amnesty," respect for private property, reli gious toleration, and a decent regard to rights and usages of the people. (Cheers.) When, therefore, I was asked whether I approved of the proclamation which sanctioned confiscation, I could give but one answer after the ex pression of opinion contained in the despatch of the 24th March. (Hear.) But now with respect to the conduct of Lord Canning, what is the beat course to pursue under these circumstances I As soon as these unfortunate oc currences took place, we communicated by telegraph with Lord Canning, and we assured him that in the dif ficult position in which both he and the Government were placed he might rely upon our support. (Cheers.) We are now asked to agree to the withdrawal of this motion, and I do not wish to make any personal difficulty about it. It is not, therefore, from any feeling of exulta tion or from any desire to trimph that I suggest to the right hon. gentleman that the most convenient course would be to negative his motion, because I don't other wise see how we can consider the amendment which we are asked to adopt by the right hon, gentleman the mem ber for the University. (Cheers.) At the same time I have no objection to the withdrawal of the motion, be cause I have not the slightest doubt that we can commu nicate with the Governor-General in a much more satis factory manner than by a vote of the House of Commons, adopted without any very great consideration, and with reference to a motion which no longer exists. I think, therefore, the simplest course would be that this motion and all the adjuncts of it should be withdrawn. (Loud ch , ore.) I beg the house to believe that in making this suggestion I have no ill. feeling towards the Governor- General. The Governor-General of India is a servant of the Queen ; we are also her Majesty's responsible ser vants, and it is of the utmost importance that we should cordially act together. (Cheers.) We never anticipated he publication of this despatch which has produced all this discussion ; but permit me to say, that if the revela tions between her Majesty's Government and the Governor- General of India should be cordial they should also be sin cere. (Hear.) If the house supposes for a moment that I and those with whom I act are prepared in any way to re tract the opinions which we have expressed respecting that policy oft confiscation which we believe Lord Canning under some evil influence has unhappily adopted—(no no) —the house will indeed have misinterpreted all that I have said. (Hear.) I trust that Lord Canning will be distin guished by those sentiments which marked his career up to the time that these sad disturbances first broke out. (Cheers,) This is not the time, nor ate I in the mood to enter into any great controversy, but still I may perhaps here be allowed a few observations in self-defence and in vindication of those who are placed by their official posi tion in confidential communication with Lord Canning. I must say I was surprised that the noble lard (Lord John Russell) should the other night have intimated to the house, as a matter of astonishment, that we, who sit on the Treasury bench, profess d the policy of mercy. The noble lord expressed surprise at finding us criticising Lord Canning, as if we were adopting a different policy from that which wo had previously professed. But I should like to know what has been said or done by her Majesty's ser vants in this house which would justify, I will not say such an insinuation, but such a charge? (Cheers.) When it was made I looked round with some amazement, for I remem bered that a year ago, when the news first came of this great disaster, I ventured to call the attention of the house to the great importance of considering the whole state of India. I told the house that what it looked upon as a mere fleetinguailitary mutiny was probably the commencement of great disasters, that might call upon them to exert their utmost energies. I said that this mutiny, if you called it so, might be put down, but it would require a great effort, even for England. I remarked that if, through supplying it a itil cient means, you allowed the revolt to enter upon a third campaign, the consequences might be most perilous. I told you th ct while you did net neglect your military pre paratiens, you ought lot to overlook the social condition of India, for unless we discovered the causes of this dis order and appiie,l an adequate remedy we should be landed in dangers and difficulties which the most sagacious would be unable at the moment to perceive. (Cheers.) But was the policy I then recommended a ruthless one ? Did I not rather entreat and-- implore the house to respect the reli gion of the natives acid not to disturb the tenure of the laud ? (Cheers.) -Did I not press it to consider and accu rately ascertain the considerable causes of this disorder, and not to be led away by the belief that it was only a transient calamity.? Bet the house was then in a mood for nothing but violent action, though nothing is more peril ous then violent action which is founded upon ignorance. (Hear, hear.): But.whit have I and my colleagues done since to give the noble lord the idea that we were ever op. ponents of Lord Canning's benevolent policy? (Hear.) It is true that when the vote of thanks was proposed to Lord Canning we agreed to it only on certain conditions ; but the conduct of Lord Canning was impugned on other grounds than his humanity. He was charged with having interfered with the liberty of the press, and with other circumstances that we consider ought to be inquired into, but I must protest against the idea that her Majesty's Go vernment ever professed a different policy from that they would now pursue, namely, a policy of discriminating am nesty. (Hear, hear.) If, instead of that, you substitute a policy of confiscatioh, it will lead to a military occupation to increased taxation, and to a weakening of the resources of the country. (Cheers.) By adopting the contrary course, by a wise toleration, and by respecting the tenure of the land, your power in India may yet again be built up, supported as it is by the most valiant soldiers that over flourished in a country. and I shall be proud and gra tified if it shall be recorded in tho page of our history that the Governor-General by his wisdom, contributed to that noble conclusion. (Loud cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL.—As the right hon. gentleman has twice alluded to me in the course of his address, I am sure the house will allow me to make a few observations in re ply. In the first place, with regard to what he stated last year, the right hon. gentleman made a most able speech, reviewing the whole course of our Indian policy, with re gard to some portions of which he recommended a course which I need not now' recall to the recollection of the house. What I said was, that at the commencement of a mutiny the proper step for the house to take was to assure her Majesty that it would support her "in any efforts that might be necessary for the suppression of disturbances, and in any measures that might be required for the perma nent establishment of tranquillity and contentment in that important portion of her Majesty's dominions." Those were the closing words of an amendment which I moved ; for I thought, and I still think, that that was not the mo ment to inaugurate a new policy, but that it was the mo ment to put down the insurrection. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the vote of thanks, when the vote was moved, the right hon. gentleman and several other members who were of his opinion demurred to it on the ground that the policy of Lord Canning was vacillating. Sir, it appeared to me that Lord Canning was justified in those acts of cle mency for which he bad been visited with so much ani madversion ; and, though I will not say that the right hon. gentleman attacked him for his clemency, still he refused him that support which he then so much required. (Hear.) With regard to the correspondence which has just been placed in our hands, I own that it appears to me to show the difficulties in which the Governor-General is placed in a stronger light than I had ever supposed. (Cheers.) It is evident that on the one side there is Sir Jas. Outram, who says that unless the landowners are restored to their ancient possessions, you will have a guerilla war in Oude that will cost thousands of European lives, and he states that such a war in such a climate ought not to be incurred. (Loud cheers.) No doubt the authority of Sir James Outram in support of that view is very great ; but, on the other side, Lord Canning puts this ,difficulty. He says that these per sons were in the possession of large territories and certain rights which have been established in Oude; and that they have joined in rebellion against us, under the influence of temptations which Lord Canning allows to have been almost irresistable. Still it seems to Lord Canning to be a very serious example to put before the people of India, that those who have taken up arms against the British authority shall be placed in a better position than they were in before. This consideration seems to have had a preponderating weight in the mind of Lord Canning; and it does appear to me to be one deserving of serious attention. For if you say to those persons who have rebelled that they shall be treated with even greater favour than those who have not, that appear's to me to be like holding out a premium to re bellion throughout India. Well, that is the opinion of Lord Canning on the one side and of Sir J. Outram on the other, and I must say I am very glad to be relieved from the necessity of having to give my opinion on the subject. (Hear.) I own that after all that has appeared, after the way in hon. gentleman to withdraw his motion, and especially after what the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said, I think we may rest satisfied as to the treatment which the Governor General will receive from the Executive Government. (Loud cheers.) I certainly could not leave this house with any satisfaction, setting aside all other considerations, if we had not heard from the right hon. gentleman the man ner in which the Government are prepared to treat Lord Canning; but it is evident that he will be treated with that forbearance which I think is due fr om any Government of this country to ens Minisier who is placed in a situation of such unparalleled difficulty. (Cheers.) I therefore trust we shall have no further discussion, and that my right hon. friend the member for the city of Oxford will not insist upon the amendment as a substitute for the motion, but that the motion will be altogether withdrawn. I feel that the situation of the British army in India at the prasent moment is one that requires the highest civil ability as well as the highest military skill, and I trust that the Government will take every means to supply that want. (Cheers.) Mr. BRlGHT=Although, after the animated debate for the last few nights, we seem to have arrived at a conclusion which will excite some amusement —(no, no)—perhaps ridi cule—(hear, hear)—l am unwilling to abstain from saying that the more members on both sides of the house look at the real position they are in and the course they are now permitted to take, the more they will be satisfied that this debate is going no further, and that they are not pushed into the necessity of giving a party vote, as they had last night reason to expect. (Hear, hear.) I believe that through out the country there has been a lively interest excited in this question. I believe the course we have taken will be ra tified by the solid judgment of the country, and that the house will stand better in the consideration of its constitu encies than it would have done if the Government had suc ceeded by a small majority, or if it had been overthrown as the result of the right bon. gentleman's motion. (Cheers.) I wish to say to the noble lord and to the right hon. gentle men who, sit on the ex-Treasu r y b enc h th at I hope this affair will riot i:es without instruction to them. (Cheers.) Don't let them suppose —for if they do they will make as great a mistake as ever they did in their lives—don't let them sup pose that my right hon. friend. the member ror Ashton aria myself have any personal hostility to any one upon that bench. (Loud cries of " Oh," and cheers.) I hope that our conduct in this house during the last fifteen years---(oh, oh) —has been sufficiently consistent and sufficiently intelligible both to the house and to the country, to save us f rom any imputations of that kind. (Cheers.) But when gentlemen on either side of the house are expected to act together on great public questions, and when great principles are to be advanced by the action of a united party, I think it is not becoming, and it cannot be advantageous that a small por tion of that party—a mere handful —some halfalozen gentlemen perhaps, shall determine upon a course to be pursued, without consulting or ascertaining the feelings of the great body of those by whom th e y h ope t o b e sup ported. (Cheers.) There is nothing more certain than this, that there are more than a hundred gentlemen on this side of the house who would have voted for the motion of the right hon, gentleman the member for Oxford, would have voted for it with extreme reluctance —who have over and over again, many of them in my hearing, declared that the motion was not a wise one—that the subject was too solemn to be treated in this manner, and that the c on d uct of those eminent members on this side the house who had proposed this motion was leading their party into a difficulty, and that it could have no favourable result upon the principles by which we understand that we aro bound together. (Loud cheers.) lam not at all unwilling to act with the party on this side of the house, but I expected to bs con sulted on questions of this kind. (Derisive cheers.) If I might give a little friendly advice to the hundred gentle men who have been reluctantly dragged into the proceed ings of the past week, I would venture to tell them, that if, when they disagree with those who affect to be their leaders, they would not from day to day discuss the ques tion, change their minds, set up imaginary obstacles, and then run away from them ; adopting one course to-day and another to-morrow ; but if they would take the course their own sound judgment at once points out to them— or they rarely make a naistakeat first, or until a thousand ingenious artifices have been brought to bear upon them if, in short, they would take the course which a few men do take, all these arts would cease to be practised upon them. (Cheers.) More than that, these gentlemen would no longer bring them into the dilemma they are in to night. (Cheers.) I hope that this occurrence may also afford some instruction.to the house. For my own part, I never anticipated anything from the motion, but dis credit to parliament and peril to the great interests of Eng land connected with India. (Cheers.) I will now ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his intention to propose the adjournment of the house till Friday next, or till the Monday following ? (" Hear, hear," and cries of " Monday.") I have heard it said by gentlemen who go down into the country that there always seems this objec tion till the course of adjourning till Friday, name y, that it brings them to town three days sooner than is necessary, and all for one night's sitting, Hear, hear.) I don't wish to press th a t, b u t I thi n k the adjourn ment till Monday is better. (Hear, hears) Another ques tion I wish to ask is, whether it is the intention of the Government, immediately after the re-assembling of the house, to proceed to the Indian resolutions ? Because un less the right hon. gentleman has changed his view with regard to the necessity of legislation I think the sooner we proceed with the resolutions the better. (Cheers.) I hope that a general feeling now prevails in this house that India shell be the subject of no more party tricks. (Loud cheers.) I hope that after what we have heard from the Chancellor of the Exchequer atrto the condition of things in India, and also what the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) has said with regard to the difficulties in which the Governor-Ge neral is involved, and with regard to those perilous cir cumstances with which we are all partially, and, I am afraid, very partially acquainted—l hope we shall come to the consideration of those resolutions if we had all the most solemn individual interests in doing the best we can. (Cheers.) I hope that every man in the house, vshoever aosnt resolutionsthe T re asur y a n b d e nt the h e , bweeitll billdo h w i s n i u e t h - Mr. NEWDEGATE said he regretted the factious die t ml i oa e sy i t n ht t oa e l l p l p i ae g sn e s n tt c oh e eb o b3 f the house can devise. (Loud cheers ) suasion into which the house had been dragged on the ques tion of India. He wished to pay the tribute of his admira tion to the noble conduct of Lord Ellen borough on this question. (Hear, hear.) The feeling of the cou n t ry was entirely in accordance with the spirit of his despatch. When it was written Lord Ellenborough was in ignorance of the information we now possessed, as to the non-publi cation of the proclamation ; and if he had erred, he had erred in ignorance. (Hear, hear.) The house, by the course it had taken, had pail a tribute to the Wise policy of that despatch. Me hoped the house would exercise great c tution before they broke up the existing form of govern ment for India. (Hear.) Mr. GLADSTONE—I wish to offer one word of explana tion. It is possible that it might be supposed—l am told that it was so supposed by some hon. members —:hat I intended to suggest to the house the expediency of affirm ing the amendment after the withdrawal of the motion. I had no such intention; but only to appeal to the Govern• men t for an expression of opinion ire approval of Lord Can ning's policy. (Hear, hear.) mei A ,bh f ye te ts r hp t e t EfheAownK.wEtonire,alissabife: i i o .— m foTr Al wßo r oq, C iunci l.A e i isltii W oe I an B F d O wt I re D , r m e s e s m e d b t e o r n fo , r w S t a r n o s u w d , , , r i e n d , t h i se owing earlypatiot of no e e np r ig ee , p w ee h t ich fe , r if tb n e o se t the wt want hon. members, but because the occasion to which those questions rderred has gone by. The question before the house is—" That this house at its rising do adjourn until"— The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The pre sent state of public business renders it absolutely necessary that we should meet again on Friday ; therefore I am sorry that I cannot assent to the suggestion of the right hen. member for Birmingham. (Hear, hear.) But the business is so very urg - ent that we propose to go on with supply both on Friday and Monday,. and then to proceed with the In dian resolutions. (Hear, hear ) Mr. H. HERBERT said he hoped no Irish business would be called on before Monday. Lord NAAS promised that an arrangement to thateg i ect should be made. The motion. f or th e a dj ournmen t o f the house' mai - day next was then agreed to. - Mr. BENTINCK asked what business would be brought on on Friday ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—SupPIY• ROMAN CATHOLIC CHARITIES. Mr. MONSELL asked what course the Government meant to pursue with reference to the exemption of Roma Catholic charities from the operation of the Cbaritable Trusts Bill ? Mr. ADDERLEY said the Government had not felt it. necessary to propose a bill t o con ti nue th e e xemption f 4 Roman Catholic charities from the Charitable Trusts Billen the hope that, by further conference with Roman Catholic' members, a bill might be prepared this session to deal per manently with Roman Catholic charities. It appear."' however, that at that late period of the session there were no hopes of any such bill being passed this year, though be hoped it would do so in the next seession. Therefore thel Government had no objection to the introduction of a b 1 for the continuance of the exemption for one y ea r longer' GOLD IN OREGON. In answer to Mr. CHRISTY, Lord STANLEY sa id th a t w ithi n th e l as t t wo months there had been a cons id era bl e quan tit y o f go ld di sco vered in the district lying b e t ween F razer ' s an d Th ompson ' a Rivera in British Oregon. T wo y ears ago th ere were some disco' veries of gold in Vancouver's Island ; but tkere had been no recent information concerning those. discoveries. The SPEAKER then proceeded to call over the order. , of the day, the first of which was— GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA—ADJOURNED DEBATE. Mr. DILLIVYN lose, su I moved for leave to withdreW his amendment. The SPEAKER put the question, it was agreed to, and the amendment was withdrawn. Mr. CARDWELL not being present,— The SPEAKER pat the question, " That the motion W also withdrawn." This was agreed to, amidst loud cheers from the terial benches, the few members left on the opposition side giving no expression of feeling. And thus quietly ended the most exciting debate of the present session. CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTORS, &c., BILL. This bill was read a second time. PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND LOAN BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this bill, Mr. J. FITZGERALD said they had been taken by PIP prise ill the discussion of this bill being now forced upon them • and as it contained sever a l p ecu li ar p rov i s i on s, he hoped Government would not now pursue it. Mr. WHITESIDE said he was not aware that there srss any opposition to the principle of the bill, bUt he was quit* willing that the order should be,postponed. (Hear.) SALE AND TRANSFER OF LAND (IRELAND) • BILL. This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be ooW. witted. • ECCLESIASTICAL CORPORATIONS LEASING • BILL. This bill passed through committee. OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITIES, 4160. t ESTATES BILL. This bill passed through committee, a few verbal amend ments being introduced into the bill on the motion of Sir W. HE ATHCOTE. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA. The committee on the Government of India was post` poned to Friday the 4th of June. MARRIAGE LAW AMENDMENT BILL. „„, The committee on the Ma rr i age L aw Amendment D'a was posponed to Wednesday the 2d of June. The Proseiption (Irel a nd) Bill (N o. 2) wag read a secola time and ordered to be committed. WAR DEPARTMENT. Mr. MACARTNEY moved for 9, return of the name ] age, dates of appointment, and 89.1aries of all persons, nava l or military, now holding office in the War Departmen t} of all pe rs o ns remove d from same since the Ist delr°f April, 1856, by reaso p . o f a b olition of office or . length °f service, with amount of compensation or superannuati°2 3 _ award : and, like retu rn o f a ll t emporary or qua rteril clerks in the several branches of the War Departmen" and the amount of salaries or special allowances of same. Agreed to. The house then adjourned at eight o'clook, to Ri ds / next the 28th inst. Country Markets. LIVERPOOL, MAT 21. At our corn market to-day there was a poor atteudi ance'of the trade, and ve r y littl e b us i ness d one . Whea t and flour difficult to move, and rather lower priobs tha on last Tuesday. Oats and oatmeal firm at late rates, be ° inferior kinds easier to buy. Beans declined 6d per but barley and peas were nominally unaltered. India corn—yellow and mixed, 343 to 34s 6d ; white, 31s 6d '- 35s per qr. WAKEFIELD—MAT 21. - fo r The arrivals hat e b een l arge . Wh ea t genera ll y hel d _,. about last week's prices, but millers restricted their P chases. Beans were steady. Barley was without chang e ' Oats and shelling as before. AVERAGES FOR THE WERE =DING Her 17, 1858. ' Wheat 1514 quarters, at 44s 104 Barley 7l SI 36s 110 - Oats — Beans pp — s " 50 ~ . 425. 4id • Peas _ „ —s 04 , . EXETER—Mir 21. .1 ! CORN.—Wheat, 5s 6d to 5s 9d ; barley, 4s to 4s 0" 94 : grinding do., N Od to Os Od. Oats , 2s 6d to 2 3 Beans, Os Oto 0 Od. Peas; 00a Od to dOsi Od. adIA FLOUR. —Fine, 31s Od to 32a 0d; second; 29a Od t o Od per per sack. . - t CATTLE. —There was a fair supply of oc b o u p l uep l r oe lelo k .b s e : 74. ; beef, from 9s Od to I.os Od per score ; inferior, 7a to 45 ° rim score; fat calves, 5d to 5d per lb ; barrenners, Os Od tt°_,d , O tsli d e . : p ra e: score ; cows and calves, 12/. to 181. us ; butch° s ,7. calve; Od to 7d per lb., rearing calves —5 to —5 esti . 7:L a on! , lambs, 2 4 s lambs, t o 2 1 7 rd per large size, —s to —s; second size, —s to —s; 81 11"' lb ' to —s ; sucker s , — 5 t o — a. R oug h fat, 44d•Per - d Pork carcases from 7s 6d to 8s 6d per score. • • BRISTOL SUGAR—MAT 21. The recent arrivals not being yet ready for the Ma ric ee ic e‘ scarcely any business has been transacted here this on the spot, but three fl oa ti ng cargoes — v i z., two 01,„tii vannah and one of B raz il—h ave f oun d b uyers a t evs • former prices. The refined market is very firm, 1 1 0 111 large amou n t o f b us i ness h as aga i n b een transacte d e t late rates. Rum steady, but very little offering. [+;T.-MAY 21. t the close of the market Wallsend, go. ili O. 6 Acorn Close l6 0 - Benson 14 6 Eden losforth l4 0 llraddyll . 16 6 15 0 Eden Main 'lamell .. 11 9 . , Cowpon Hartley ...... 16 9 1 Gambton , 6 9 Keiper Grainge ........ :I 9 south Hetton •is 9 Russell's Hetton I 0 iCelloe ileNvArv. l6 lieugh Hall l6 6 ... 14 Hunwiek COAL MARK: Prices of Coals per ton at s. d. Bell's Primrose l2 3 Bebside W. Hartley] 15 9 Lanabert'sW. Hartley 15 9 Longridge's Wst Hartley 15 9 Canfield Moor l2 3 'Canfield Moor Butes 12 t, North Percy Hartley l4 C Morpeth West Hartley 15 3 Wylaan Wantland. Sio 1 Powell's Duffryn Steam 20 0 1 South Kelloe 16 6 Hartlepool Hetton l6 6 South Hartlepool l5 9 Thorp l6 3 West Kelloe 15 0 Ships at market, 94; sold, 70. COURSE OF EXCRA.NGE.—YranEDAL msterdam .......... 11 15 g Gibraltar ..•• •-•••••• " -* 6 0 Ditto, three months .. 11' 17 fi Leghorn .. • • ••••••• 9 •• 55, Rotterdam ............ 11 17% G enoa ...... ..•••••••• JS AMverp -- .............. 25 35 Milan ...............• • Brussels 25 35 Venice ---• • •• •• •• •••• . 4** 4* 42 - a anibUr gh • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 13 7% Naples •• •• ...., •*4 0614 ' Altura .. •• ........... • • Palermo .••• •• •••• •-• .• l og Par 15......... ....... 25 10 Messina ... •" sl* .. Do. three months .. 25 3214 Li s b on ,• •• •• ok Marseilles .• •• •• •• •• .• 25 32% Oporto •• •• •• .• •• •• •• ••• ~..„,.. . Bourdeamk .. ........ .. Rio Janeiro • ....• Frankfort-on-Maine.... 118 3 6 Buenos Ares.. •• •• ••_•.,. 4, Berlin ................ .. New York,6o d a ys ' sight, ...• Vienna •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •k• 10 30 'Philadelphia •• •• •••• •. c o Trie5te................ 10 33 1 PRICES or skrialorc, il, 9 • Madrid ............... 4 . 9 . % Petersburg ............ 35% IForeign Gold In Bars 4 3 `i, 0 Cadiz ..• .• •• •• •• •• ... • • 49% /Mexican Dollars •• ••• 0 0 0 Barcelona .• •• •• •• •• ... • • : New Dollars •• •• ao. ' 0 0 Portugal in Seville... • •••• ••bars C .. oth .. ...., ~ 0 0 : 0 4 , LOCAL, SHARE MARKET& LIVERPOOL—MAY 21. ' a ufst, STOCK EXCHANGE—The market to-day has 10e " c i" 711 prices remain nominally. the same. Birkenli e LL a n ii — Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 384 $- 91 to North Western, 93 —Lancashire and Yorkshire. e • Dr. --Midlands, 93 4—Eastern Counties, 12 i—Caldona N: i—Blackburn, 94 10—South Eastern iZern British, 12i 4—Dutch Rh en i s h, 4s 44 4,— G r eat—G r eat ",; i of Canada, 194 19I—Yo r k an d North' Midland, 31:),± Chester and Holyhead, 18 to 184—Bar/ricks, 234 --East Lancashire, 90 to 9J4—Grand Trunk of Can 121 to 121. MANCHESTER, MAY 21. STOCK EXCHANGIL—The market opened with onV r t i ; moderate business, but p r i ces were firm. Leediaoft e di, Pref. Qrs., 151, all paid —Eastern ,Counties, 12i- - A 1 73 . 911 —Dovers, 20 15 - 16—T run k s , 12 5-16—Midlandk —Sbeffields, 3 Sl — Londons, 941—Leeds Northern, 46 BIRTHS. WO AIIRARAME—On the 21st inst., a t 13, W es tb our n e -par—it • ' M. Abrahams, of a daughter. MITRPIIY—On the 20th inst., at 21, S u ssex-square, 11/d e ' park, tho wife of P. E. Murphy, Esq., of a son. goy. SHAND —On the 20th inst., at 13, Leinster-terrace, park, the wife of Morton Shand, Esq., of a son.. 14 TIIACXERAY—On the 18th inst at Hunsdon Rectory, th e of the Rev. R. W. Thackeray, of a daught.r. MARRIAGES. T• HUDSON—ZVERETT—On the 20th inst., at Westacref M. Hudson . of Castleacre, to Jane Eliza, youngest dal', ter of Mr. Robt. Everett, of Westacre. UW O I LANCE —BELINAYE —OR the 20th i ns t., a t St. Mall f th Thomas Lance, Esq., to Evelin e An ne , daughter 0 f Vicomte de la Bonney°. DEATHS. • AUSTIN—On the 20th inst., at Meadow House, Sout h fi•,L. ,.r i a_ bath, Sarah Shensto u e, e ld es t d aug ht er o f Mr. 0. " --1 5: 52, Parliament-street, Westminster. BRETON—On tile 2d inst., at 64, Lower Mount-street , D ub o : Emma, wife of George Webber Breton, of Spring-lia?"dr , Longford, Esq., and daughter of the late William Esq., of the noble family of Ormond. CROSSE—On the 3d April last, Harry Latymer, infant 11°- Major J. G. Crosse, 88th Regt. 10 'of GRAVES-0a the 21st iust., Susannah, the beloved 0' Mr. G. C. Graves, of 11, Rood-lane, city, and Rainvlle Lodge, Lower Tulse-hill, aged 43. KEOGH—On the 13th inst., at Ki bride Maryanne, relict of the late eorge Rous Keogh, Esq., 1) : L , and daug hter the lateGenendSir T. Moly. ems, Lq. Of LONDON Printed and Published by MURDO YOU —4O of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Son Oftioe. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in Ow app of Middlesex, Saturday, May 22, los. ' ‘JI