The Sun. — London, England, 1851-05-28 00:00:00

Jr M wurose .d to submit Iction from t every step overnment. ,hem, and it . Nlinisters of Irobation to irthermore, louse. He :o the ques is efforts to But if he ientious re misrepre- )o3 the per ed with by I for him A A course ice and he tes at least, is an d pro. ers.) The he resola- It was ,at tran proved? was is listricts, lon ac in those on why , that it passing ooke, it some ,0 the up to d 300/. )reover, neigh- Ike was e after n as he h Foot, Eistenee for the let with at first Colonel briefly It was ice die & that British d upon vas not mes of cessity 3olonol Lcurred asures. panic ttisfied armed ?tweet' 'as the miles king, rce to y en- Sub d that COM.. Aden- ly fol bused ver of .ebels. in the s out- ordi- en it o the hould y the THE SUN, ^ n' , 11.• 4 r^ '6; kJ how the t v. fence was I“..ken. tle watchett the pr)- eeedings from the opening., and the conclusion he came to was there could not exist the shadow of a doubt ai to the guilt of the prisoner. What then, he would ask, be came of the statements which had b , en made, when all the byestanders concurred in the justice of the finding? 11 , -xt referred to the statements of Mr. Selby, and Mr. South, the proctor, who said they dii nut believe the man to ho guilty. It so happened, however, that this Mr. Smith might have acted as the prisoner's advocate, but the ready money was not forthcominir. Would any member of the English bar have so acted in such a case? Mr. Selby, it appeared, afterwards met with Sir Anthony Oliphant, who said his nerves were so shaken that he could not go up to the Governor. He (Mr. Sergeant Murphy) would contend that Lord Tor rington, under the circumstances, did no more than his duty in not temporising with a priest, who was a leader la the insurrection, though it might be called cruelty after the event. It was well known that in this country the Home-office was beset with applications on behalf of prisoners who loudly asserted their innocence, and who, notwithstanding, confessed their guilt when they found themselves surrounded with the terrors of death. As to the charges which had been made about confiscation, the whole of the evidence showed that when the inhabi tants of the district go to war they go into the jungle. If their properties be of a perishable nature they are Sold by the Government, and their proceeds are handed over to the parties, if it be proved that they were not concerned in the rebellion. There was no proof of any single case being brought against the Government, in which it was not clear that it had acted from the hest motives.—(Hear, hear.) The Legislative Coun cil spoke of the exertions of the Government in the strongest terms of approbation. The Honourable and Learned Member then referred to the conduct of a Mr. Elliott, who was, he said the editor of a paper called the Colombo Observer. That gentleman was present at the meeting on the 26th of July, when the King was crowned, and it appeared he was the great mouthpiece of the people, and in a letter of his which was published, he said, if they paid these taxes imposed by the Go vernment without resistance he would not regard them as a race of good men. That letter was published in the Colombo Observer. It so happened that at the time of that outbreak the coffee crop was ungathered, and Mr. Elliott says if the Coolies were driven out of the country the crop would be lost. One of his statements was that if his Excellency did not give a favourable ear to their representations they would not pay any of the new taxes. The Hon- and Learned Member then re ferred to a letter, which ho said was a gem in its way, and would show how colonial discontent could foster home practice. The letter was addressed to Mr. M`Christie, and it commences by saying that if he (Mr. Wehristie), had not had his fee, Mrs. Elliot had not had her plate, alluding to a piece of plate which had been subscribed for to the writer. He then pro ceeded to say :—" You must have taken great pains to make the speakers well up to their parts, they made so few mistakes. It is quite evi dent you have been very successful in cramming members, because without it they could not have been so well up as they are in colonial matters.— (Laughter.) After referring at some length to these transactions the Hon. and Learned Member went on to say that, when Lord Torrington found himself so beset as he was, he acted in the spirit of a gentleman, and sent in his resignation. Everything was warped that Was written with reference to Lord Torrington. That Noble Lord, soon after he undertook the government of the colony, found himself placed in a position of great difficulty. He found himself placed in the midst of a rebellion, and he did everything that the position in which ho was placed imposed on him to preserve the colony. That was the position in which Lord Torring ton was placed, and he trusted that the vote of the House this night would tell that Noble Lord that, having acted to the best of his ability, that having acted under the advice of his council, and that having restored peace to the colony, and left it with a flourishing exchequer. he ought not to be visited with severity for any efforts Made under his sanction to put the rebellion down, and he would say, if he should be so visited, the sooner they gave up ther colonial government the better.—(Hear, hear.) If he was to be compromised by their vote the precedent would be a bad one. lie had a rebellion to deal with, in which sixty thousand men had turned out, and twenty thousand men were actually under arms, and he had no other course but to put it down by firm ness. Were they, then, to tell him, as governor, to fold his arms, while they sat in a private chamber, and with the ear of Dionysius listened to his slanderers whisper away his character;? He said that it was not fair, but he did not believe that a British House of Commons Would extend a different measure to a governor who acted on ;the best of his judgment to that which it would extend to any other subject, and act towards him as the Romans acted towards the noble Roman in bet time of danger, when they said—" Ne quid detrementi res publics capiat." Mr. SEYMER, with perfect sincerity, admired the spirit of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who had COlne forward as the advocate of an absent friend. For himself, he could only say that he never saw Lord Tor rington until he heard him in another place speak, and speak very well, in defence of his policy. He had, therefore, no personal feeling against the Noble Lord; neither in that vote which he should give should he be actuated by any party spirit. But they were invited to discuss the question of Lord Torrington's policy in Ceylon, and they could not possibly discuss a more im portant question; for he believed that there were con siderations connected with it which involvedithe pros perity, perhaps! the very existence of our colonial em pire.—(Hear, hear.) We had now abrogated the prin ciple of giving the colonies an advantage in the market of the mother country; at the same time we demanded their allegiance, and that they should contribute to the national exchequer. In return for this we could only give them good government and a good governor. He felt the inconvenience of speaking of Lord Tor rington in his absence, but colonial governors were sel dom Members of that House, neither was the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial -office, whom he thought much worse than Lord Torrington, a Member of that Rouse, and, if they were to refrain from speaking of them because they could not be present, the House of Commons must abrogate its functions with reference to colonial grievances. He admitted the difficulty of the position in which Lord Torrington had been placed, but he asked what reason had her Majesty's Government for believing that his Lordship would be able successfully to cope with the difficulties of that position?—(Hear.) Re had had the advantage of a certain amount of attend ance at Court—he had been a railway director, and had built several cow-sheds.—(A laugh.) He (Mr. Seymer) had done all these things likewise, but he by no means thought, therefore, that he was qualified to become Go vernoir of Ceylon.—(Hear, hear.) He did not think that the Ceylon Committee had been treated properly by the Colonial-office, the witnesses that they required being obtained only with very great difficulty, while the witnesses for the defence were readily forthcoming. With reference to the insurrection, his impression was that originally it was not considered a matter of great importance, but that after a certain number of confiscations and proclamations of martial law it as• sumod a somewhat more formidable shape than was at first anticipated. He had seen Lord Torrington's de fence!, and be admired the spirit of it. He spoke like an injured man and like a nobleman and a gentleman. He thou ght that Lord Torrington was an injured man in having been placed in so difficult a position, and then in being recalled for such a trumpery red-tape reason as that be did not preserve order among his subordinates. The Committee and the country intended something to tally different from that, however; but Earl Grey had chose n to say that he entirely approved his policy with regal d to the insurrection, and that he withdrew him beam Ise he did not keep order among his subordinates. surelly a rebuke would have been sufficient for suele an offen ce as that, especially when Earl Grey sent out again to th e colony a man whom he had himself designated as a sat aiderous calamniator—Mr. Selby.—(Hear, hear.) Witt t regard to Colonel Drought, he did not wish to say anything severe of a military man in his position; and the Governor said that he was a humane man. He would ask, however, what was the responsibility which attaotted to a man who proclaimed martial law and kept it in force one day longer than was necessary.— (Hear, hear.) Colonel Drought might be a humane man, but it must not be forgotten that Colonel Bray brook.e had expressed his abhorrence at he manner i n which the courts-martial had been conducted. W ith regard to the addresses which had been presented to the Governor on quitting Ceylon, he did not attach mu oh weight to them, because many people would say a kind thing to a person upon his departure, although they won ld be the very last in the world to ask him back again. At the same time, the worthlessness of the native addr e sses was clearly spoken to by Mr. Mitford, who stated, in page 201 of the Appendix, that the valueless nature of such addresses was well known there, and he pledged himself to obtain 30,000 signatures to any state ment that he wished to put forth. He certainly thought that the fear and alarm which might have prevailed among the ce ffee-planters and those persons possessing property in Ceylon ought not to have influenced the conduct of the Gover nor and other authorities, for he could not forget that the sanguinary code which once existed in this coun try was established for the protection of property, an d was a of abrogated by the wish of those who were posses sors; of property. He considered that the mode in which the Colonial-office and its supp orters had endeavoured to discs/ edit the testimony of adverse witnesses, and to attri bute to them bad motives, deserved strong condemnation. Mr. 'Wodehouse, for instance, gave important evidence again st the Government, and attempts were at once made to tits-ow discredit upon his character, and to destroy the erect of his testimony. Mr. Wodehouse felt bound to del 'end his character, and to disprove what was said again st him he alluded to the existence of a private let ter, vt hich it'was but justice to say he showed the greatest unwillingness to produce. Sir Emmerson Tennent also felt it necessary for his own justification to produce a private letter from Lord Torrington to the Committee, though he expressed great reluctance to do so, but the Under-Secretary for the Colonies said that Sir E. Ten nant was bound to set himself right with the Committee. Yet, in a dispatch signed by the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, the production of private letters by these gentlemen in their own defence was designated as a most objectionable proceeding. The only witness who had not been attacked seemed to be Sir A. Oliphant, whose ch %meter, however, stood so high that it could not be assailed. lie (Mr. Seymer) agreed with the Hon. Mi ?Aber for Inverness-shire that the punishments which had been inflicted during the disturbances in Ceylon were excessive and uncalled for; that the execution of eighteen persons, and the imprisonment, transpor tation, and corporal punishment of 140 others were at: variance with the merciful administration of the British penal laws ; and that th e con duct of Earl Grey in approving in her Majesty's name of the conduct of Lord Torrington was precipitate and injudicious; and he would therefore give his cordial sup po•r t to the motion. Th e Noble Sec retar y for Foreign At fairs, whom he saw in his place, was very fond of lec - • ) treated their teo.-litous suojacts; but'i e (Nir. Ssymei) would recommend the Noble Lord, when next he felt disposed to indulge in such lectures, to think of Ceylon and Cephalonia, ansl he would than probably hold his tongue, or—as it might be more correct to say—stay his pen.—(Hear, hear.) Earl GROSVENOR, who was almost wholly inau diblo in the gallery, was understood to say that during Lord Torrington'_; administration the revenue of Ceylon had improved, and the prospects of the colony had be come much more satisfactory than they had been pre viously. That Lord Torrington's measures were gene rally approved in the colony was shown, be thought, by the numerous addresses which had been presented to the Noble Lord by the European coffee planters, as well as by the natives. He considered that the policy pursued by Lord Torrington, and approved by Lord Grey, was ren dered necessary by circumstances, and he would there fore oppose the motion. Mr. ROEBUCK regretted to find himself opposed on this question to his Hon. Friend the Member for Mon trose (Mr. Hume), in whose company he had fought many battles in that House in support of what he con ceived to be the interests of the colonies. He (Mr. Roe• buck) must confess that there were circumstances con nected with the appointment of Lord Torrington as Go vernor of Ceylon which might almost induce any impar tial person to view this case with some suspicion. It seemed as if, in that appointment, the principle which bad influenced Governments in many other appointments had been acted upon—that the Noble Lord was ap pointed not so much because he was the most efficient person as because some persons regarded his ap pointment as one that pleased them best. This circum stance might have given his (Mr. Roebuck's) mind a bias rather:against the appointment of the Government, but on considering the whole case, he felt it his duty to express his opinion unreservedly in support of the Noble Lord's administration. Now, why did he do this? In the first place, he thought a great mistake had been made with reference to Ceylon in calling it a colony, for a colony it was not in any proper sense of the term. A colony, in his conception of the term, was a country peopled, or about to be peopled, by emigrants descended from, or going immediately from, this country, and carrying with them the habits, the manners, the laws, and the constitution of this country. But Ceylon was in a very different position. Ceylon was an outlying possession of England, obtained by the sword, and re tained by force, densely peopled with an old race, or rather with various races, having fixed habits, a religion differing very much from our own, and to which they were strongly attached, and speaking languages entirely different from ours. To a colony we applied the rules applicable to England or to our own views of govern ment; but he who, in judging of the government of an outlying possession like Ceylon, should stick to the inci dents of constitutional forms, would be forgetting the substance in a pedantic adherence to forms.—(Hear.) The Government of such a possession was to be tested by the result—was security attained at the least possible expense of suffering to the community ?—(Hear, hear.) It might be mischievous in the end to apply that rule to a constitutional Government like that of England. A beneficent despot would be a cruel infliction to England; but in a country like Hindostan or Ceylon, all that could be hoped for at present was an enlightened despot ism. It would be seen that he (Mr. Roebuck) was not blinking the question at all.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Now, when in 1815 the kingdom of Kandy was con ceded to us by treaty, we entered into all the obligations of the kings of that country with re spect to the priesthood as well as the people. The people, not aware of the force of our dominion, would consider it like their own Government, which they could only check and control by the force of insur rection. The influence we exercised destroyed the power of the chiefs and headmen, and also the power of the priesthood, or very much weakened it; but it was beneficial to the great body of the people, and they were, therefore, favourable to the British Government, so that it would require a concurrence of circumstances to en able the priesthood to bring them in masses against us.— (Hear.) What happened in 1818, when the priesthood ' had found themselves no longer supported by the Royal authority and their revenues were decreasing, and the headmen found their political influence diminished? The principle contended for by the Hon. Member (Mr. Bail lie) was acted upon—that of caution, prudence, mercy— (Hear, hear)—which might be the utmost imprudence and cruelty.—(Hear, hear.) Sir R. Brownrigg was un willing to declare martial law. What followed? A long war before the insurrection was put down, thou sands of lives lost, blood and treasure wasted and spent.—(Hear, hear.) From that time the smouldering fires of insurrection were there, but, the general mass of the people becoming attached to our rule, a favourable concurrence of circumstances was required to enable the priesthood to act upon them. How was it supplied? Mr. S. M`Kenzie thought we ought not to countenance Buddhism and its priests; Lord Stanley seemed to take a wiser view, and endea voured to make the religious feelings of the people con duce to their good government. If England chose to have provinces of this description she was bound to look to the religious feelings of the people upon whom she imposed her dominion.—(Hear, hear.) But the Secre tary for the Colonies determined to sever the connexion between royalty and the priesthood; and at length with the course pursued in regard to the relic to which so much value was attached, and certain financial measures, a great and dangerous conspiracy was got up—(Hear, hear)—a conspiracy which ought not now to be treated as a farce, because it was:easily put down by the bold and efficient measures of the Governor.—(Hear, hear.) It was not fair to bring his success against him, and make a charge out of that which was really merciful.— (Hear, hear.) If he had been vacillating and hesitating, we should have had insurrection spread from one end of the country to the other.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Roebuck) did not pretend to represent Lord Torrington —(A. laugh)—but he would defend what he believed a true policy with regard to a certain class of our posses sions. —(Hear, hear.) Lord Torrington came to the government in most difficult circumstances. He found an empty exchequer, and a hotbed of dissension. It was like a wasp's nest. There was a small " family com pact," and a new man would be obnoxious to those who calculated on making the place a sort of estate for them and their families.—(Hear, hear.) If he had been an angel of light there would have been a quarrel; he was Sir E. Tennent, and they soon got a hold upon him,—(A laugh.) There was a quarrel, and the unsuspicious Lord Torrington then appeared. The " blue books" showed from beginning to end a spirit of insubordination, discontent, intrigue.—(Hear, hear.) The Home Government, finding their Governor at tacked, did not make up their minds about his conduct; they vacillated, and they could not expect bold, firm, politic Governors if they so treated them.—(Hear, bear.) Lord Torrington was not properly supported. — (Hear, hear.) A Committee was appointed; and the proceedings disclosed to the House a strange medley of bitter hate, of most unfaithful conduct, of prying, pesti lent curiosity.—(Hear, hear.) Even a woman's letters, written in confidence, were dragged out before the pub lic eye.—(Hear, hear.) There were certain simple rules of ordinary morality which were never to be in fringed.—(Hear, hear.) The security of private life and confidential relations ought never to be broken through.—(Hear, hear.) It had been done, and the Committee were the instrument of it; they could have stopped ite—(Hear, hear.) What did this present mo tion mean? We must look to the resolutions; we had not to inquire,whether Lord Torrington was foolish in trusting to the honour of some one he thought to be a gentleman; we had to deal with these statements, that ho was cruel, that he unnecessarily proclaimed martial law, and continued it; that while it lasted he was cruel in the application of punishment, and that the trials were improperly conducted.—(Hear, hear.) Much was said about " martial law;" what was meant by the phrase was, that he abrogated all law and instituted force or despotism in its stead. Was the danger such as to justify him in doing this? His commission pro bably gave him the power; was he justified in exercis ing it? He appealed to his Executive Council. Every person to whom he appealed coincided in his opinion.— (Hear.) Mr. Wodehouse acknowledged that, though not present on the 29th of July, he by his conduct sanc tioned the proclamation of martial law. General Smelt also coincided is the necessity of it. Then came the 31st, when every member of the Executive Council was present, and coincided iu the necessity of proclaiming martial law.—(Bear.) Lord Torrington, the House were told, went to the colony wholly unprepared wile the requisite knowledge for its government. It might be easy to say so; but here was a position the most diffi cult in which any governor, young or old, experienced or inexperienced, could be placed. His own opinion was that, under the circumstances and with the advice he had received, it was better at once to have recourse to the power of proclaiming martial law. Every one of his proper advisers by whom he was surrounded, and who possessed peculiar knowledge of the country, coincided in saying the same thing.—(Hear, hear.) There was the first step; success made it appear not necessary; and the very wisdom of the proceeding was the cause of its being supposed imprudent.—(Hear.) Then came the intervening time when the country was under martial law, and the manner in which it was e m x i e gh r h c it is gs e h d ta . oked N o V hi ith respect to the statements drawn from the Mutiny Act, he was told certain forms were neces snaorty;nbut he denied it altogether. The Mutiny Act had whether the COst tribunal ll e t t r could. The not s hllaokne. the Member aru s w h il ead t , he but in h a argu ment.—(gear,) A j dge.a he ( w M a rs. constituted Roebuck) which, inquired u n w d a e s r , the c ircumstances, c ould b be constituted? Reference was would not now be in ut made to lawyers; ' they listened to lawyers they possessionf d , o c o tet thei r Govern ment. Lawyers were not statesmen.—(Hear, hear.) been an He did not think a ru Indianh ave additional protection. T here were, however, circum stances connected with these trials which could not be passed over, and which again touched • his brethren. But he was sure such circumstances could not have occurred in England; and, if the lawyers of Ceylon of, he would say he j ud ged of them b y their were spoken In the case of t he p riest, wh at was done by the conduct. men who sat in judg men t? They said to th military ac cused, " You may ask what questions you like , an get what witnesses y ou can, and be defended by w ii s t counsel you please," and the accused man turned round, as he might in an English court of justice, fixed his eye on one whom he looked on as his most natural defend s _ whom he had been acc ustomed to see defendin g others. What was the &use er he received from that civilian, that legal oracle, that wonderful defender of men's lives and liberties? It was this—(The Hon. and Learned Gentleman at the same time suggesting . by a significant gesture the idea of "an itching p alm ')—" Your money, first, and then I will de f e nd you. His gallant country men who sat in judgment, though soy outhful as they were repsesented to be, bad that high sentiment which would lead them to act in a very different spirit from that of the proctor.—(Bear, hear.) Under the circumstances the tribunal was a most efficient and safe tribunal; for, LONDON, -sia , to the pr - , ''in z ;s af the criminal court, r.o one pretended to spy that tuoso convicted by the criminal } court were not properly convicted; they convicted as many as the soldiers did; they convicted those who were taken before martial law was declared, and those against whom there was not more evidence than there was against those whom the military tribunals condemned. But it was Laid tbat the judge recominendeal them to mercy, and that he bore a high character. Without im pugning that character, it might confidently be asserted that a judge, however strong his opinion as to the deci sion and punialicaent, would do wisely to keep it to him self, and confide it only to his chief, not communicating it to the public, and, as it were, courting popularity by so doing.—(Hear, hear.) That was a great and serious error in judgment, and it behoved the Chief Justice not to have acted against the rules of his prof,assion, by giving vent to the opinion he entertained. But it was said that eighteen persons had been executed.: - .The par ties inculpated had every possible interest, however, not to inflict cruelties ; and ordinary common fairness to wards the Governor and his advisers ought to favour the presumption that he was right, because the mind revolted at the infliction of cruelties—the mind of an educated man especially. Oh, but, it was said, there were more than cruelties. There was contempt of the people, contempt of their prejudices. A priest was shot in his robes. The robe of a priest was a yellow calico vest; and if you took the priest out of the priestly garment you put him in nature's garment. But he (Mr. Roebuck) went further. If a priest were convicted of treason, he would have him executed as a priest. "It was thought a daring expression of Oliver Cromwell," said Horne Tooke, writing to Junius, " that if be found himself placed opposite the king in battle he would die charge his piece into his bosom as soon as into any other man's;" and Horne Tooke added, " Had I lived in those days I would not have waited for chance to give me an opportunity of doing my duty; I would have sought him through the ranks, and, without the least personal en mity, have discharged my piece into his bosom rather than into any other man's." If it was requisite to try a priest in a country like Ceylon, it was requisite to exe cute him as a priest, to make the people know that a priest could no more break the law than a poor man. And so with respect to chiefs. The onus lay on Hon. Gentlemen opposite to prove that what was done was not necessary, did not effect its purpose, and was cruel. Under the circumstances, the execution of the eighteen persons was a most merciful proceeding. Did the Noble Lord continue martial law too long? What was done under martial law was for security, which could not be got till the " King" was seized ; and so soon as he was captured martial law ceased. It was said martial law did not cease till the interposition of the Chief Justice. It was done in the proper way, with precaution, so as to raise no imputa tions of courting popularity. He gave advice which the head of the law might well give to the head of the Exe cutive. There seemed to have been a place in London where accusations were received—a sort of ear of Dio nysius, or like the lion's mouth at Venice. The Com mittee seemed to think they had a roving or fishing commission; and the result had been three blue books, which, he thought, would satisfy the public that, if all that were required to prove Lord Torrington guilty, Lord Torrington must be innocent—an inference similar to that which was drawn on an occosion when Sir John Scott made a six hours' speech. In reference to the pre sent charge, he could not help recollecting the dialogue in the celebrated romance of Voltaire, when, in answer to a question from the hero, his companion told him that " the English every now and then killed an admiral pour encourager les mitres." If they were thus to accuse and condemn those whom they sent to occupy the diffi cult position of colonial governors, their dominions would some day slip from their fingers, and they would have to lament that they did not maintain the position and vin dicate the character of a well-intentioned minister, against whom malice alone had furnished this formi dable accusation.—(Hear.) Mr. HUME thought it the House were to decide on the evidence before it, that it would arrive at a very different conclusion from the Hon. and Learned Gentle man. If they were to consider Ceylon not as a colony, but as a possession, to be maintained and governed with out any constitutional rights whatever, there might be something in the arguments of the Hon. and Learned Member who had just spoken; but he contended that, though they conquered Ceylon, they had stipulated for the continuance of certain rights to the inhabitants, which rights he was prepared to show had been grossly violated by Lord Torrington. The first question for the Rouse to consider was, what was the situation of Ceylon when Lord Torrington was appointed Governor? His belief from the first had been that the appointment was not a judicious one. The evidence taken before the Committee clearly showed the actual state of matters is Ceylon before Lord Torrington went there; but, as com plaints had been made of the great length of the inquiry before the Committee, he telt bound to say that it was en tirely the fault of the Government; for, though he had sat on many Committees, he never served on one where the Government took such mesns to prevent the elucidation of the truth.—(Hear, hear.) When the people of Ceylon, oppressed by the measures of Lord Torrington, first petitioned that House, and when the accounts of the executions and other enormities came over, be (Mr. Hume) asked whether there was any cause for the in surrection that had taken place; but he was answered, by the Under Secretary for the • Colonies, that it was a matter of no importance, and that the trifiling . affair, as he called it, was over. The Government, however, on learning that serious complaints were coming over, got statements to meet them, and evidence was cooked for that purpose. Lord Torrington appeared to take great offence at the evidence of Mr. Wodehouse; but he must do that witness the justice to say that he only answered the questions put to him, and never showed the slightest disposition to reveal the secrets of the Noble Lord. The admissions made by Sir E. Tennent completely proved that evidence was concocted, for he stated, in answer to questions put to him, that ho had been in communication with all the officers in order to obtain from them an ex pression of their opinions, that circulars were sent out for this purpose, and that he communicated with them as to what the tone of their answers ought to be. His words were, that "he did suggest that such and such points should not be omitted from their answers." They were told that Lord Torrington was entitled to confi dence for his financial policy after he went out—that he found the finances in disorder, and that he introduced a system of economy and retrenchment. He maintained, however, that it was the acts of the Noble Lord himself which raised the disturbances in Ceylon. Lord Torring ton himself said the object for which 3000 people assem bled at Kandy was avowedly to complain of the licensing of their guns, dogs, and other taxes; and it was erro neous to say that a t thi s t i me t h e discontent was fo mented by the priests, for hitherto the priests had been perfectly harmless. It was the application of these taxes and the taxation itself which had roused the people. The object of the meeting at Kandy, on the 6th of July, where the people were unarmed, was clearly, according to the statement of the Government officers, to protest and petition against those taxes. He was sorry to find the Honourable and Learned Member for Sheffield, who had fought by his side in former days, when they contended against the oppression of the colonies by their governors, now unexpectedly taking the part of an out-and-out Tory. He would now proceed to show the nature of the disturbances.—(oh !) Surely Honourable Gentlemen who had listened pa tiently to the purely imaginary case made out by the Hon. and Learned Members for Cork and Sheffield ought not to endeavour to prevent him from showing what really took place.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Buller in a letter dated the 27th of July, only two days before the proclama tion of martial law, said that Mr. Waring had written to say the people had assembled in great numbers at Dam bool; but that he (Mr. Buller) fancied from the reports he had heard that their real number was about 70. On the evening of the same day Mr. Buller wrote again as follows: " July 27, 1348. "My dear Bernard,—ln writing yesterday evening I forgot to mention that I did so at Locko Bandit's express desire, as otherwise I should net have thought it worth while troubling you with it, for my own impression is, that it is nothing more than:a few villagers, with a small crowd of about 60 fools, who might have collected, and, as far as I can learn, they take very good care not to commit any offence which would bring them under the law. I understand they are going on a pilgrimage to Anaradgapoora. I have not heard from Locko Banda yet, but expect a line to-night. If I do I will add in a P.S. " P.S. I enclose Locko Banda's report. It is such as I expected; the thousands are reduced to hundreds, and before to-morrow they will be reduced, I dare say, to decimals—perhaps to the 70 I fancied the real number. " Very truly yours, "Note,—Subsequent informationbe correct, and th a t at t hi s tm only about B7ou per s a o . na has proved this to mpw peace, oe Dr. ear oewca collected wrote Sir,t Banda, at atthe —Several following D h a ee i n r a o ° rffi o e l. cpl e " y t , hi J s ul m y o 2 r s n , in l g B4 s B e . nt to Kandy, both to me as well as the Government agent, stating that a great number of people are assembled officer t,t,esci.hwoaaennr were eit e h d e with 2sth o t lace July:— "Kandy, publicy: with swords and firearms: at Matelle, between Dambool and Nalande, for the purpose of creating alarm. That after some consultation with the Government agent and the district judge just now, we have come to the resolution of keeping quite quiet about it, until they (the mob assembled) should commit some disturbance, so us to enable the authorities to bring them to jus tice. As I have already observed in my former corre spondence, it is now my humble opinion that one-half of these reports are unfounded; however, it would be ad visable that we be always on the look•out, as I have reason to believe that some prisoners, who were either Cingalese he a nd d es p era t e Public gaols, are, by j a o c i q u u ing e d w i o t r h a s b o s m c o e n l d o e w d f r countryom Kandyans, now disturbing the villagers.—l remain, &c., "W. D. Bernard, Esq., Colombo." "D. L. BANDA. This was the outbreak which the Hen. and Learned Gentleman spoke of as threatening the overthrow of the British rule in Ceylon !—(Hear, hear.) It appeared that the mob spoken of by Mr. Buller proceeded to Matelle, which was protected only by a few police officers, who fled, and the mob then destroyed the fort. The mob, in creased in numbers, was then proceeding towards Kandy to demand a redress of their grievances, when they were met by Captain Lillie and his soldiers. A magistrate, with the commanding officer, went up to the crowd, spoke to them, and immediately took 60 of their ring -leaders prisoners. The affair, unfortunately, did not end there. The troop fired on the mob, and killed nearly 200 of them. This happened on the morning of the 29th of July. From the morning of the 29th, when these disturbances were pnt down, and the people were scattered by C a pt a i n Lilli e , all resistance ceased. The trifling nature of the rebellion altogether was amply proved by the evidence which had been given before the Committee by Anstrutber, Sir A. Oliphant, Mr. Colpepper, and other (extracts from which he read), and he asked the House how far they were warranted, in these circumstances, in approving of the violent mea sures which were adopted in putting it down?; Lie corn-. WEDNESDAY • , plained of the (Jo!.,uiril hs.ving sanction ed all these executions, confiscations, and robberies, without ha , ,ing one iota of evidence before him as to whether the usual forms and the customary humane precautions were observed at the courts-mratial; and he contended that the House was in a cundieion to all - ill/I.oe whole of the resolutions noW subittcd to it. lere was proof from' the officials of Government itself that the dlsturbances were caused by th,, , injudicious conduct, of Lord Torrinir ton, and that they sci,rll:, have beers put down by the civil power. aided by the military. The Hoe. and' Learned Member for Sheffield argued, that by censuring Lord Torrington they would shake - the authority of governors in all our distant colonies; but, if. the House did not agree to the resolutions now proposed, what se curity would there be that any governor of a colony would be deterred from setting aside the law, and acting according to his own will and pleasure?—(Hear.) Several Hon. Members here rose to move the adjourn ment of the debate. Mr. HAWES begged to ask the indulgence of the House for a moment, not in order to enter upon the ge neral subject, upon which he should have to speak more at length upon some future occasion —(Order) —but upon a personal ground. A charge had been publicly made against him by the Hon. Member (Mr. Baillie), that he had been guilty of a falsification of documents which he had been the means of laying before the Com mittee or upon the table of the House .—(Hear.) Mr. BAILLIE begged the Hon. Gentleman's pardon, but he had not referred to him in particular. He had referred to some documents which the Colonial-office had presented to the House, but whether they were made up by the Noble Lord at the head of the Colonial office (Earl Grey), or by the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Hawes), or by one of the clerks of the office, he had no means of knowing. Mr. HAWES—The Hon. Gentleman now said he charged the department, or some one in it. Now, he (Mr. Hawes) represented that department, and he would refute that charge.—(Hear.) In order to sustain it, the Hon. Gentleman bad referred to page 270 in the ap pendix and index of documents. He said it was repre sented in that document that the Deputy: Queen's Advocate, Mr. Stewart, had attended 14 courts-martial, when he had only appeared before four. He admitted that the statement was contrary to the evidence, and that Mr. Stewart bad attended four courts-martial only. Now since the Hon. Gentleman had groundlessly made this charge, he had fortunately obtained the original docu ment, which, be it remembered, was not put in by him, or produced from the Colonial-office, but which was placed before the Committee by the Colonial Secretary of Ceylon, which had never been through the Colonial office, and for which he therefore was not responsible.— (Hear, hear.) Now, the document, as printed, showed, in the shape of a table, that Mr. Stewart had attended fourteen courts-martial, while he held in his hand the original document, which was perfectly correct, and which gave the number of courts-martial as four only. In printing the table the word " ditto" was printed under the four attendances, and this was the error of the printer of the House of Commons.—(" Oh!" and cheers.) Why, what further explanation could he give? —(Hear, hear.) He held the original document in his hand, and he was ready to place it in the hands of the Chairman of the Committee. The error was not in the document handed in by the Colonial Secretary for Ceylon, but in the blue-book, and it was the error of the printer. The Hon. Gentleman ought not to have hazarded so lightly such a charge, and was bound to have given him some intimation of his intention, in order that DI he might be able to meat it.—(Hear.)bin. Mr. as w k ith th t e he N d o ete b ba? leLord on what day While he was upon his legs he must say that it was satisfac torye R proposedAEriito rose go to on to find a public office vindicated, but at the same time, without going into a discussion, it was evident that his Hon. Friend, as far as the merits of the case were concerned, was justified in making the statement alluded to. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the acij , ,urnei debate would be taken on Friday. Mr. BAILLIE said, the explanation given by the Under. Secretary for the Colonies might be satisfactory so far as he was concerned, but the blue-book bad now been published nearly two months, and :oast have been seen by all the officers of the Colonial Department; and yet the House now heard, for the first time, that this extraordinary error had been found to be the error of the printer.—(Hear, hear.) Sir G. GREY said the Hon. Member bad at first made a charge of falsification against his Hon. Friend or some clerk in the Colonial Department ; and he said, ,‘ What a department that must be to allow the falsifi cation of the return !" The Hon. Member (Mr. Balilie) admitted that his attention had long been di rected to the subject; but, instead of undertaking the trouble to inquire, he had reserved this charge until now, in order to make an impression upon the House. He blushed for the House that it contained a gentleman who could'attempt, after the explanation that had been given, to justify the remarks ho had made.—(Cheers and Oh.) Mr. BAILLIE (addressing the Speaker)—l wish to know, Sir, whether you think the Right Hon. Gentleman in order? If you do, Ido not; and if he is in order in this House he is not—(The rest of the sentence was in audible in a cry of " Order, order!") The SPEAKER was understood to say that he had no doubt the Right Hon. Gentleman would explain that he had not used the words in any offensive sense. Sir G. GREY said he did not intend his remark to be personal—(A cry of "Oh")—but he bad no objection to repeat it if it were desired.—(oh.) He did regret that any Gentleman, after the explanation given by his Honourable Friend, could repeat the charge by saying he had been fully vindicated in the statement he had made.—(Cheers.) Mr. BAILLIE asked how he could have had recourse to the original document when that was with the Colo nial-office?—(Nc, no.) He admitted that the Hon. Member had vindicated his own character and that of the Colonial-office by his explanation, but he must also maintain that he (Mr. Baillie) was justified in what he had said, because, when documents were printed and left in the hands of the House, it was only natural to conclude that they were correct.—(Hear.) Mr. HAWES repeated that this was not a paper that was ever in the Colonial-office.—(Hear.) It had been put in by the Colonial Secretary to the Committee, and been by them transferred to the evidence. He had only that evening obtained it from the archives of the House of Commons. IMF. MILES wished to know whether a l vhether the Colonial office the was ßight g n h o t t , ll h o o n u . n d G Colonial-office. He was astonis hed the servant of the acts dat of th its servants? efeeliagdis Secretary - b entleman (Sir G. Grey).— p offi lay ee ed w b a y s, —(Oh!) The Colonial y (Cheers)—because he generally adopted so conciliatory a tone in that House. Lord PALMERSTON thoug ht had not attended su ffi ciently to whatthe Hon. Gentleman Honourable Friend (Mr. Hawes ) had passed. His had shown that the Colonial-o ffi ce was entirely bl amel ess, and had had nothing to do with the document in question from be ginning to end. It was clear there was a difference in the paper given in and th e p r i nted copy in the minutes. Now, if that paper had been given y the Colonial office, no blame would have attache d to it, because the paper was quite correct. But it had not been given in by the Colonial-office, so that if the paper had.sbeen wrong the Colonial.office would not have w been responsible for it. Now, the Colonial Secreta ry in fact, the Colo nial Secretary at Ceylon, not was, in but both be and the Colonial-011143 e were t right, inasmuch as the written statement was corr ec t. blame attached anywhere in consequence of an error being made in printing a paper contained in a report o f a Committee of the House, it would be with the chairma n of that Com mittee—(Great laughter) —a n d be thou gh t that if the Hon. Gentleman int e nded to make a ch arge Colonial-office , h e mi g ht i n candour haveasceaftaalnesetdthe previous inquiry wh ether the mistake realty or by not rested there. Lord C. HAMILTON asked the House to contrast the tone of the N oble L ord , so true to his high eb a miter, with the angry , irritated, and person a l expres sions of the Righ t Ho n . G entlansan.—(llear, hear) He considered that the Right Hon. Gentleman might have his mind peculiarly sensitive upon this subject, but he bad assailed the Hon. Member for -Inverness in terms— (Cries of " No, non—he Would not say in terms, but in a tone which he was sure the Right Voi. Gentleman would on reflection regret.—(Hear, hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman 'it'd deviated from his usual high and honourable course by the expression which he had un wittingly allewed to escape from him. The A.TTORNEY-GENERAL would ask the House to remember when the Noble Lord charged that (the Ministerial) side with having exhibited undue warmth, how that warmth of feeling arose? A charge was deli berately made by the Hon. Member for Inverness against the Colonial-office, represented by his Hon. Friend, of having deliberately and wilfully falsified do cuments.—(Hear.) That was no light charge—it was one which affected the character of men of honour as well as public men and servants of the Crown. Hi s Hon. Friend had received no notice of this charge, but he thought that in common fairness as between man and man, not to say as between gentleman and gentle man, when a man's character was about to be assailed, some intimations would be given to him; for, mark the position in which his Hon. Friend would have been placed if he had not, by singular good fortune and dili gence, been able to produce the document before the House—(An Hon, MEMBER--" TO-Light")—that even ing. It would have gone forth to the country on the statement of the ion. Gentleman, as verified, by the document, that there had been that falsification of the document. That was a state of things calculated to ax cite warmth in any man's mind. It turned out to be un error of the printer, and he should have expected the Hon. Member for Inverness, on hearing that, would rise at once and express his regret, his deep, his profound regret, at having., unwittingly and unconsciously, been the means of attacking th© personal honour of his Hon. Friend; and when the House hoard the retractation and the singular hesitation and want of candour and frank ness on the part of the Honourable Gentleman, could any one wonder at the warm expression of the Right Hon. Gentleman, looking at the circumstances of the charge, the explanation afforded, and the hesitation of the Hon. Gentleman? But then up jumped the Hon. Member for the county of Somerset, and said it was the business of the Cdonial-office to watch every document that passed through that office—that was to say, his Honourable Friend was to be held responsible for every " ditto" which the printer, by mistake, inserted through out the mass oP documents then before the House. And then up got the Noble Lord the Member for Tyrone, and complained of the warmth of that side of the House. The Noble Lord ought to be the last man in that House to make such a complaint.—(Hear and laughter.) The warmth had arisen under the circum stances he had stated, and it was a warmth upon which no man need be ashamed. Mr. HERRIFS said that after the display of warmth on both sides, he expected that so grave a personage as the Attorney• General would have said something to as suage it, rather than vindicate all tho warmth that had been exhibited oa his own side. The Lion. and Learned a; ~ u :~:,.;,. EVENING MAY 28, 1851. Goocienian 114 d poketi of notice, but no pereon a Mouse aware of the character of their proceedings would suppose it was iiwurnbent on his Hon. Friend to have given notice that in the course of the debate he might poasibly introduce a eharg, of this n a ture. He 'lx inented, however, that his Hon. Friend was mietaken, a 3 indeed ho was mistaken, in tbn statement he had made. Linclonlitidly there icste , l no blame on the Colonial-ofliee. If any, it was in the corrector of the res 4. He thought the Right Hon. Gentleman haci . deviated from his usual course of forbearance, and to that he attributed much of the warmth that had beet; displayed, Sir U. GREY said, that alter the statetnent of the Right Hon. Gentleman, that no charge was made against the Colonial-office, that that charge was without founds t ion, and that the Hon. Gentleman was wholly mistaken in preferring that charge, he had no hesitation whatever in expressing his regret at having used an expression that could be in the lea>t degree personally offensive to the Hon. Gentleman.—(Hear, hear.) The debate was then adjourned.. COURT OF CHANCERY. Mr. J. STUART moved an address to the Crown, praying for the addition to the Court of Chancery Com mission of two or more non-professional persons, to aid as meu of business the labours of the Commissioners; and also, that the Commissioners be directed to apply their immediate attention to the course of business before the Masters in Chancery. Sir J. TROLLOPE, in seconding the motion, sug gested that a great amount of relief might be given to the Court of Chancery by transferring the winding-up business to the Courts of Bankruptcy, where at present much leisure prevailed. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL did not see that there was anything objectionable in the motion itself, but he wished it had been brought forward at an earlier hour, and when more gentlemen connected with the Court of Chancery were present. He objected in their absence to proceed with the motion. Mr. STUART consented not to press his motion at present, and the debate was adjourned till Monday neat. The other business upon the paper was then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter to Two o'clock. TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION. (EVE)RY MONDAY AND AVEDNB6DAY.) Sir,—On Monday the 26th, was a continuation of the discussion on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. There was little to be noted in it, except the irrelevancy of some of the efforts made by the Catholic leaders to distract at tention by scattering blame upon the Government. One, for example, charged the Government with the short coming of having done nothing to relieve the work ing classes from indirect taxation, and life-incomes from the income-tax. As if the Government was not at this moment in hot water, through its avowed efforts to lay taxation on the rich as tho,means of relieving the poor from taxes on consumptioh, and as if the outcry about life-incomes was not a blunder, a fallacy, or a fraud, dependent on concealing the fact that the unfair nesi arises solely out of not making the income-tax as it ought to be, perpetual. The struggle for making the rich pay their share of taxes, will be as hard as ever were the Roman struggles for the Agrarian Law, or the more promising, though by no means conclusive, effort for the abolition of the Corn Laws. But it w ill succee d in time, notwithstanding the ignorance or the violence of the interested on the two opposing sides. After this, no less than six divisions wore expended in a contest to prevent a proceeding in Committee; a little Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, you will suppose, or at all events a pro aril et Jocis struggle for somebody. Not withstanding the chivalrous resistance, it was finally carried "That the Commissioners of her Msjesty's Treasury be authorised to pay the salaries of the Com missioners, and the other expenses which may be in curred under any Act of the present session for appoint ing Commissioners to inquire into the existence of Bribery in the borough of St. Alben's." On Tuesday the debate was on a motion for cen sure on the Government on the subject of the proceed ings of Lord Torrington in Ceylon. The case is a bad one, and how the Government are to get out of it, is not easy to see. Their situation is in one view a hard one; lee it is certain that they have never of their own will encouraged misco n d uct . B ut there is a gulf between this, and having either the will or the power energetic ally to repress it; in fact it is beyond the age. Tao debate was finally adjourned till Thursday. I am, Sir, yours very sincerely, AN OLD REFORMER. London, May 28, 1851. ISLE OF WIGHT ELECTION RETURN OF THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) COWES, TUESDAY, SEVEN O'CLOCK.—This union of the people against the aristocracy of the island, should be a lesson to the kingdom at large of what the middle classes can !do when they make up their minds to a thing. Mr. Dawes is one of the people, and after a tre mendous struggle of two days' duration, they have suc ceeded in returning him to represent them in Parliament by a glorious majority of 46: Even Sir Richard Simeon, the former Liberal Representative of the island, at this election (to his shame be it said) voted against the Liberal candidate, and in opposition to the very elec tors who had before returned him to Parliament. A great deal has been said of the bribery and intimidation made use of, such as 101. for mending a coat, and 51. for a paltry shell ; but all was to no purpose, except to convince the people of the necessity for the ballot. FINAL CLOSE OF THE POLL. Dawes. Hamond. Cowes and Yarmouth Newport Ryde 565 519 Majority Leaving not twenty voters in the island unpolled!!! COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, with the Princess Royal, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Prussia, Prince Frederick William, and the Princess Louisa of Prussia, the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Co burg Gotha, and Duke Ernest of Wurtemberg, resumed their inspection of the Works of Industry of all Nations at the Exhibition yesterday morning, arriving at the building at half•past nine, and remaining till nearly eleven o'clock. In attendance on the august party were the Hon. Beatrice Byng, the Countess A. de Hacke, the Countess Oriolla, the Baroness de Wangenheim, Count Pokier, Colonel Hon. Charles Grey, Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Hugh Seymour, Major Von Boyen, Count Goltz, Colonel Fischer, Lieutenant Von Heinz, and M. Bdc. Treskow. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince: and Princess of Prussia, and Prince Frederick William, accompanied by the Princess Louisa, paid visits yesterday to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kout, at Claeence House, St. James's, and to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester House, to take leave. The two Princes afterwards went to Apsley House, and honoured the Duke of Wellington with a visit. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and his Serene Highness the Prince of Leinengen, visited and took leave of the Prince and Princess of Prussia, in the afternoon, at Buckingham Palace. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Prussia, Prince Frederick William, and the Princess Louisa, attended by the Countess A. do Hacke, the Countess Oriolla, Count Pukler, Major Von Boyers, Count Goltz, Colonel Fischer, and Lieutenant Von Heinz, took leave of the Queen yesterday afternoon on their departure from England. Her Majesty, with the Prince of Wales and the Prince Alfred, attended by the Ladies in Waiting, the Master of the Horse, the Master of the Household, and the other gentlemen in waiting, accompanied her royal visi tors to the hall of the Palace. The Duke and Dut:heas of Saxe Coburg Gotha, and Duke Ernest of Wurtem burg, also accompanied the Prince and Princess of Prus sia to their carriage. His Royal Highness Prince Albert accompanied the Prussians Royal Family. The illustrious party quitted Beeltingham Palace at ten minutes before three o'clock, and proceeded to the London-bridge terminus, where hi Royal Highness took leave of his illustrious guests, who departod by the South-Eastern Railway.f I. Dover, en route to Ostend. Lieut.-Colonel F. H. Seymour. Eqm•rry in Waiting to Prince Albert, attended the Prussian Royal Family to Dover. his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar accompanied the Prince and Princes; of Prussia from Buckingham Palace to the railway terminus, and there took leave of their Royal Highnesses. The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, attended by Mr. Birch, vi sited the Zoological Gardens in the Regent's park yesterday. The Princesses Alice, Helena, and Louisa took a drive in an open carriage and four yesterday. Prince Arthur was taken an airing yesterday in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha, took a drive yesterday in an open carriage and four. Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps and Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey at tended on horseback. liar Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess d and Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha, Duke Ernest of Opera Wurtemberg, honoured the Royal Italian peraith their presence yesterday evening. The Royal suite were, the Viscountess Jocelyn, the Hon. Beatrice Byng, the Baroness Wangenheim, Lord Dufferin, Lord George Lennox, Lieut.-Colonel Francis Seymour, Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, and M. de Treskow. During the evening his Royal High ness Prince Albert honoured the Institute of Civil Eaginoers with a visit, and afterwards returned to the Theatre to her Ma jesty. Lord Dufferin has relieved the Marquis of O s r i m r oude in his duties as Lord in Waiting to the Queen. Fre derick Stovin has relieved Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. Ito bel; Boyle in his duties as Groom in Waiting to her Majesty. The Prince of Leiningen, accompanied by Prince Ed ward of Saxe Weimar, attended by Lord James Murray, honoured her Majesty's Theatre with their presence last evening. The Queen's private hand attended at Buckingham Palace, after dinner on Monday evening, and played the following pieces:— Overture—" Acteon” Corn Pastorale ... Costa. Selection—" 11 Comte Ory" ..................... Rossini. A deputation , consisting of Mr. Raeph Smith, Mr. G. D o dd, major Boileau, M r . S ergeant Wallingen, mr. Tierney Clark, and Mr. B a il ey, b ad an interview (d. 111,1'., major yesterday with Sir George Grey, at the Home-office. Major Harold had an interview with Earl Grey yes terday at the Colonial-office. -(= Baron Brunnow had an interview yesterday with Sir George Grey, at the Home -office. Mr. Cross, Secretary to the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland, ako Ltd an in!erviefi with Sir George Grey yesterlay. Mr. Jackson had an interview with Earl Grey yesterdny. . . THE AIIIERICAN 'A r MEN" OF THE EXEIII3I HUN. A e . orrespondent of th e Ti mes wr it es i n f avour o f the Amtricon connibction9 to the Exhibition, th,J in nu one branch is the Unite I States fairly or atieuir tely r•- presented; and in this f`shall To fully b.)rneout by sii Englishmen who have visited America. Th(f.ti or th,l3l 4 =elr---741tierit rep re. , stinted, either as to the extent, the progress, or the variety of its manufactures. The middle states, Von; have long been famous for the invention and construc tion of some of the finest machinery in the world—in which branch they are second to none—have here but three or four machines, which, exctellent as they are, give but the faintest idea of the gigantic progress of the country in this particular. The southern states, which are principally agricultural, are most certainly not repro sewed. As an illustration of the many kinds of cotton cultivated, we find here but samples of seven, while the different varieties of sugar in the state of Louisiana are represented by one s p ec i me n from a single planta tion. Now, to the causes. First, the want of sufficient in formation through the length and breadth of the States in reference to the character and extent of the Exhibi tion. This at present lies at the door of the central committee at Washington. Secondly, Congress has un fortunately appropriated no fund, as in other countries, to assist exhibitors. And this has operated to strengthen the third cause —the remoteness of the scene 'of action, an obstacle increased by the great extent of the country, which rendered the internal transmission of our contri butions expensive and inconvenient, and even, in some instances, impracticable—and which, added to the dis tance itself, made this a very onerous part of our task, and formed a very considerable portion of our outlay. The time for preparation, too, was short, cons id er i ng the nature of the enterprise and the distance of the country. The enumeration of these f. causes, offered in a spirit of candour and under a firm conviction of their literal truth, will, it is believed, mainly account for the in completeness of the American department of the Ex hibition. STEEL PENS, AND THE " JOURNAL "NOTICES OF THE GREAT EXHIBITION. [We have been requested by Mr. Gillott to publish the following letter, which is a copy of ono that gentle man has addressed to the Editor of the Birmingham Joacrnal:—] TO THE EDITOR OF THE BIRMINGHAM JOURNAL. Metallic Pea Manufactory, Victoria Works, Birmingham, 23d May, 1851. Sir,—My attention has been called to the article on Steel Pens, by your " Great Exhibition" Correspondent, in the Journal of Saturday last, and though it must be conceded that the contributions of all exhibitors are open to fair criticism, yet when that criticism is evidently founded upon error, and may operate indirectly to the detriment of others, I conceive I am but discharging a duty in setting the matter right. In speaking of the steel pens exhibited by a firm in this town, your correspondent appears to rest the claim of that firm (and so does the official catalogue) to par ticular notice and pre-eminence as being the inventors and users of a certain patented " Pen-makieg machine capable of being wrought by power," and by which " six times greater amount of work can be turned out than by the ordinary process." The machine alluded to is my own invention. For several years prior to 1344, a similar machine was made and worked by myself, and when in the year 1844 I learnt that other parties were seeking to ()burin a patent for such a machine as their own invention, took steps to oppose the affixing of the great seal to such patent before the Lord Chancellor. Subsequently those parties to whom the merit of the invention is now ascribed besought me to allow of their perfecting the paxnt, in consideration of the same being vested equally in the supposed inventors nod myself, Cue whole expense of such pate6t being paid by them, the supposed inventors. This arrangentcnt was concluded through my sanction under an agreement, and the patent ps:rfected accordingly, with a condition, also, that no licence to use it was to be granted to any party without our mutual consent; sine?, which period such machines (wEit improvements which have from time to time suggested themselves to me) have been, and are now, at work in my, establishment in Graham street, Birmingham. _ It will at Once be perceived that, in awarding the merit of this invention to others, an error has been committed as to facts, and an injustice done to myself— I am willing to believe inadvertently. By inserting this letter in your next publication you will oblige, Sir, yours &c., JOSEPH GILLOTT. STATE OF CALIFORNIA. SAN FRANCISCO, APRIL I.—A curious discovery has lately been made in one of the inland chains of moun tains in Nappa, a place about 70 miles from San Fran cisco, which is thus described:—A party started from Benicia ten days ago upon an exploring expedition, which they were induced to undertake by the wonderful accounts of some hunters from the mountains. When arrived within a short distance of a mountain towards which they had been travelling a whole day, they heard a tremendous roaring and hissing, which they found to proceed from steam issuing from a number of apertures' in the mountain's sides, and sounding like a great num ber of steam-boats " blowing off." The geological for mation of the country was extraordinary. In one spot was a spring bubbling up water so hot as to scald the hand, while not far off another discharged an ice-cold stream. Mineral springs of all kinds abounded—sul phur, alum, carbonated and chalybeate. A piece of wood placed in one of the springs was soon petrified. A quantity of lignite was also found. Minerals of many kinds were picked up in the vicinity ; the whole face of the country was covered with sulphur, and the party could see the process of the formation of limestone going on in the mountain before their eyes. They also found a mountain of salt at a little distance. I myself saw a lump of rock salt picked up some months ago in the same region of country. A gentleman who was one of the exploring party has addressed a letter to one of the Sacramento papers on the subject of the discovery. lie says—" The fountains lay open at one view the extraordinary operations of subterranean heat caused by chemical action instead of volcanic fire. The action now going on has evidently affected the neighbouring mountain chains very exten sively, and at no distant period. In one place, about 40 miles from the mountain first above-mentioned, ono of the party broke open a hard rock of shell limestone, and found in it a perfect shark's tooth with serrated edges, precisely like the living species in our own waters. In another place ho broke open limestone more recently formed, in which were enclosed land snails or helices with perfect shells, together with fragments of charcoal. In other places were found carbonized wood, petrified trees, &c. A green tree which was cut and put into one of the steam fountains was so altered in less than 48 hours that it could not be distinguished from oak, ash, or alder. There aro hills which appear not to have been formed by volcanic fire, but by the action of the geysers (fountains), and re-cemented into belts of conglomerate. In one of the caverns was found groups of silken fibrous crystals, white as snow, r esem bli ng t h e finest amianthus, which appeared more like vegetable growth than a mineral formation. In other places mounds of mineral salts are thrown up em bodying many thousted tons. The surrounding country abounds in bear, deer, elk, hares, ducks, quail, &c. In fact, all th e un i nha bi te d port i ons o f California abound in wild animals to an extraordinary extent. The market of San Francisco displays a variety and profusion of game that is not equalled in any country." There is no doubt of the correctness of the account above given. It has been verified by good authority. The news from the mines is of the most encouraging character. A good deal of rain has fallen lately, which has done good service to the reieere, and a large amount of gold has lately come in frcm the interior. The scarcity of gold experienced by persons en gaged ,in the purchase of " du,t " in this that ' the oar- Icet for exportation has given rise to the a " production"is declining. This is not so. The is increasing steadily. Month after month shows keep the increase to those who take the trouble to the statistics of the gold market. The s uppos ed " scarcity" is ideal and easily accounted for. Formerly there were but few persons engaged in buying gold as a business., Now there is a vastly in creased number of bankers and others estAlishtd San Francisco, and engaged in the purchase of gold for frate operations have caused a exportation, whose egg" , (led, and is ( d uly keen competition, and have trenched. uv upon ,ii the few old established houses. T he gold thus scarce to the individual houses. Other causes render it " scarce" or more difficult to be obtained by the bankers. such as the large amount bought by the jewellers for . the manufacture of ornaments and plate, of which there i s a good deal exported, as also the increase of large- , towns in the interior, where much gold is chanised for the necessaries and luxuries of life and in gambling; all n which expenditure was formerly con centrated in San Francisco. The circulation of gold h as been also les sened by the expulsion of the M ex i can miners freely h ha n ving gambling, aal wound bliag e u , p a t. their s e: business and spentpersons h eengage d irearni earnings sell tradeand retired with their capital,, in shape other countries; by vast su ms h aving gold dust, to b in ternal improvements, such as bricktsu eo ieldn sunk in ingsand the like; by large amounts p a id away for taxes since the ad ministration of the State has been organized; and, finally, by an augmented foreign trade having for the last few mouths taken a country, to Chin a an d to h g r o a o n d ill d a " a l nd of o g th o e ld r o p u la t ce o s f , t f l' o e r the purpose of buying cargoes for this market. A statement of the expert and other statistics ' of gold dust for the first quarter of the present year is pub lished in the San Francisco Herald, which I think is as correct an estimate as any data existing in the co untr y can supply. I have compared this statement with one which I k eep myse lf , and, although there are some (fis crepaucies b e t ween us i n th e d e t a ils, I do not tied muc h difference ou the whole. The recapitulation of the Herald's statement shows the expert, including an esti mate of the gold taken away by pr iva te hands, to be 10,689,142 dolls., valuing the "dust at 16 dolls. the ounce. To arrive at the actual production, the following esti mates are made :—Gold used t.y t' i o , l s - I p 7 r , i o v o a o te d c o o l l is trgeilndby the jewellers in this coun , including that used at the United States' Assay-office fur ingots; gold dust shipped w ithout being manifest e d , carried overland, and remaining. in the hands of bankers, mer chants,private putties tor business and oth er pur poses,2 and i 50,000 dolls. There amounts, being estimated at 16 dells. the ounce, if 1 doll. ounce is cdfled to brig the " dust ' up to the present nicrket value of 17 d o lls. the ounce in San Francisco, anti 60e. the ounce is also added to bring the gold up to tiro mi nt value, whiQh _______ • tNu j eats(V 1 tioll.Ated 6)c.) act writ tod.,:i3__ 7_ 4,0,1,3,d011e and then add this tevithe - 4cedt3i sum s , we ffav‘ the • ' aetteg-stet Producti6ll of' ili p 4Ote e tnineacruiclor the Trai . :.er,,141,4 4 ended t010,c4y,140 drills., aced which,' if the "s ji4d 4 , coo tinoc i ,,to.glve fur , the next (110,114:ti Xers as i t has do ne fo r tLe'lait one will unke tbc,prodiiction for th, Tear,lPtwt4''',it6:(2od6llB: " ' i 44. vli 'f it g i Aii -tile lieraid state:: the prebable yield for this. year at 7f5 millions of dollitrsj e tiai,4,, A htt*tteliSan te "doubt" his eititnate. The wealth of this -country is unly b , 4,ritt4ing to ! beideeeloptd, butis - iisijequitYVear now that it rt quires the .applicatief' „ ot 0044,,lpience, and ~kiii toenakitltig"wealthfullkAgitlabl i e ,.,1 'rho i(ii&nti t: k o f go ld dost,,exported tTisattimonth (lra reio v , ils, in. dollars, 3,028,631, althoughtifeilniount tuauifrsted at thaf;uston:r+hoilSe is only 2,87iA.,d0115. Of this . latter •iiitit::'2o;3i7i&ls. was shipped to Val paraiso, and 42;2111 dolls. to China. The' rest went by the stea mers, the greater portion LC) the United States. The bulli on imported dolls. 12c. in Much Was 142,336 Three steamers whi c h l eave this; port, s to4atP,r, Pa nama take over 2,000,000 dolls., but the aCtuiaamount is not yet ascertained, as they continue to ship after they the P o .S z. — T T h h e e p p r i n e e a i o p f a l g o b l a d a I d { e u r s a t h a a g clear at the C us t om -h ouse. s re a e d a v & ta n c p e a d y to tki 1 1 3 7 p d r o i e l l e s , . partly to induce the miners and other holders of dust to sell to them in s t ea d of taking their dust to the Assay office, to be run i n t o i ngots, and partly to counteract the effect of private coining, by enhancing th e pr i oe to the coiners. If this price is maintained it may produce the desired effect, as 17 dolls. is better to the miner than the result of his " dust" at the Assay-office, after payin g its ' charges for converting his du s t'i nto ingots,-and I,7„dells. is too high a price for the calm er to pay unless heralloys his coin. :ill° This system of coinage private is an outrage.lt , ille gal, and has been carried on by irresponeible parties, and cannot be too' severely reprobated. • The increased price of gold dust has alte re d t h e ex change, and first-class bills on London at si g h t are held at 47d. There are, however, several houses dollar business as bankers who have been drawing at th e ~,a t ra rates, in order to secure the remittance of lame sums. The current quotation is—for bills on ' England at sight, 46: 4 1 c1.; 60 days' sight, 47d. tti'i 47id.; France, 5G 75e. and 5f.; Hamburgh, 41id And-42 banco; Valpa raiso, Lima, and Mexico, 30 days, lit par of exchange; ' United States, at sight, 2 per centltremium. The interest on money continues easy, 5 per cent. per The Legi s l ature has month is the mo s t current ra t e , b u t some loans have been made d ur i ng t h e l ast mont h at 1 ai d li p e r c en t. below thi s rate. passed a Bill to settle the title of the city o f S an Francisco to a large tract-of ground covered by th e sea, which has improved the money market by th e i ncreased security afforded by this Bill.- Too much attention cannot be drawn to the fact that the foreign miners-tax has been abolished. The Go vernor has issued a proclamation to -,this effect. Now the mines are open to the labours of ail=--t 0 he people . of every nation.— 'I zincs. , ; , OurrrA •, % ; CALIFORNIAN MAILS. , I. ' l - The advantages derived from the .BUPP O rt afforded b y the United States Government to the establishment. of a mail service with California, as shown by ..the annexed statement of the letters forwarded and th e revenue-re ceived therefrom, forms a striking contrast with, the conduct of our own Government the question aiex tending, or rather providing, a mail service to our co/o- Ides in Australia. In the case of California, a bi-monthly service is in successful operation;returning a large profit to the Government of more than a hundred thousand dollars per annum, while our important colonies receive their letters by the means of sailing-vessels Ioiitral the Cape of Good Hope, or the-still more uncertain Toute by way of India, by which letters not unfrequertly are from tour to u months in the transit; and actiOnuts werere ceived last mouth fro tn ,S y d ney, by way . or San Franc isco and Panama, in much ehorter,tame than E b y either of the number of California lettei,s received at New York for the port-ofnce . qtiarter ending. Dee, , 3l was 310 ,402; California letters sent, 123,912; foreign I , tt,,rs, '147,0-18; foreign, 353,454; total, 94 4,816.- The avurage daily 'domestic correspondence, being 55,000 letters. added to this sum, with those 'letters stint and received by teaDsient vessels, gives -6,037,000 letters that have been received and sent out of that . ctlico in three months. "It thus appears that half a mil ,n of letters annu ally are already remind at New Fork alone from' Cali fornia, and au equal number forwarded from New York thither. This makes a million annually. If to these sic) add these taken and delivered at New Orleans, Charles ton, and. Savannah, the number will probably rise to a unihon and a half, which, at forty cents each, amount to 600,000 dollars. The mail pay of the two lines, the Atlantic and Pacific, is 490,000 dollars, so that they over repay to the Government more than 100,000 dollars on the C 4 liternia le _Or postage alone, without counting the newspaper postage or the Havannah postage." RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. THE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RAILWAYS—THE COMPLETION TO OXFORD. On Monday the directors of the Buckinghamshire rail ways gave a magnificent dejeuner, at the Star Hotel, Oxford, in celebration of the completion of the line to that city, the public opening to which took place on the 20th instant. A special train, which left Euston station yesterday morning at a quarter before twelve o'clock, took down the chairman, Sir Harry Verney; Mr. Smith, the deputy chairman; and several other directors of the London and North-Western Company; Mr. Watkin, the secretary of the Buckinghamshire Company ; Mr. Al 4 Conuell, the locomotive superintendent of the southern division of the London and North-Western Company; and a considerable number of other gentlemen officially connected with the railways. About 300 ladies and gen tlemen sat down at table, Sir Harry Verney presiding, and supported by a large number of the authorities of the universities and of the members of the corporation. The strong claims which important public matters have upon our space will not admit of a detailed report of the many excellent addresses that were - delivered - nu the occasion; we must, therefore, endeavour to give a short summary of the prominent features of them, so far as they refer to the local and national advantages, that are associated with the complet on of the narrow-gauge line to Oxford. It was originally intended to open the Oxford brat ch of the Buckinghamshire railways on the Ist inst.; but although the contractor, Mr. Ilayton, performed all that human labour, skill, and perseverance can peasibly ac complish, yet an ugly slip and unfavourable weather-de layed the opening to the 20th, and having gone over the line ;u March last, and had an opportunity of judging of the amount of " construction " that, had. then to be exe cuted, we must give our testimony to the fact i athsts taking into consideration the slip to which we have alluded, the chara c t er o f the soil, and the unfavourable weather, the contractor is entitled to great credit for the celerity with which he pushed and completed the works, as w e ll as f or the solid and substantial manner in which the permanent way has been laid down. The completion of most the interestingraiiwuy i a t re a ' ffords to the place, the commercial benefits which , and the entire districts through which itpa o s t of the London facili ties afforded to persons. travelling b and cast and west. When the gauges . Western Companies shall t o results Oxford flowing 1 from the first te and North-Western and Great d passes, h es north and south soon will, there will be a not, but which we belie m v communication--with the exception continuous railway "In 'ectionable we admit in goods, of a break of gauge, of 3 , nience indeed in n t ch i es t te ll ; ran into one station at Oxford, which at present they do passenger u Sat uii Basingstoke, 'Reading, and Luz trafile—from and Dideot, and_ ing end Reigate line, to Oxford, via Birmingham,rio'tt;er_dv::::t(ilidtf r , l o n m e ll ' ove . r — and B r a i n g ( h to w n : Liverpool,l m hand , unic a t t h i e o n c o b m e "- bletch y • ' Rugby) through the airdlund districts by meat,. or (v 1"....,. o f Lir Midland air iine Railway. afi o r d sOn railwayt h the other pletron of twoon Oxford and the whole of the eastern parts of Eng land, via the Peterborough branch; and w h en the Worcester portion of the Oxford, Worcester, and - Wol verhampton line shall have boon finish e d , the- Oxford branch of the Backingnaehdiiro liuea will completaen second eastern and wc stern railway eummutlics . g i ed ' from Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Norwich, Wisbeach, Lynn, ace., to Worcester, Won...ester, Exeter, South-Wales, ,Bristol, and Plymouth, andea;tri, 1 ti . g at the present pi:r hey of the London atici North-Western CemihoY' it " very probable, should the Oxford, Worcester, and SVQ I : vereamPtoa line be made on the narrow gist?,_g'e, that a`' short branch will be carried from the, latter I Lne .6 " e- Q Cheltenham. - ;.„ , . xford The betralt to the University andeitizens of .0 ~,, is great. 13e'iure the •ofthe line thoei rflittAleY opeoing ' siOrallytira to Oxford those desiring to proceed north ge ben , took veiled to London by the Groat Western, ape-, b T. ndaftt tld North the rail at Chu Euston-station of the — O ,-- hrirshire rail- Western. The completion of the Bucking the fare over ways saves theca several hours' ti t in:i le a l€a„. public ad- • sc)rile 76 miles railway. And 119 e's of Oxford and Cam vantage is that the two univeri!".l aiiet railway cona badge are now brought into a me. munication with each other. line has rendered to the entire The service which tne. through which it passes may be of the district . s fact that it ba reduced the 'a t 1 .. Ice be gathered from the ton, and that, 163. per quence, coalfrom 25'3.. to ~t . , „ s in Oxford and ot.tua. places pence, t h e pile!) . ‘-' 0 Onlitig GOVVII tO It r eas , sable Wm along the railway is c . per 1,000 cubic f e et.good which railways have effected; morally The public iiv was very stronol and comiaercia,,,, the member s , b y d welt upon ye 5,,,.„ ,,,.„ several of memeers of the University, and by d . uta,,VS What • the Great Western line and 0114 many a " tn . ...1 . he • , 110 B uo kinghainshira ra il ways have conforr.,,, upen,t '• of cika Oxl,,cford were very handsom e l y an d emphat i ca lly ty etv L I,(d. ac 6 A lew minules be;Cre seven o'clock the sprcial train iett tor London. The journey from Bletehley te, ,train den den Town was made at broad gauge 'speed, viz., 60 miles per hour, and the party arrived at Euston-square anon. Y before eight o'clock, highly delighted with their trip. 'We must not forget " mine host" of the Star Hotel. The dejeuncr w a s • ' aueurao y served, I and the wines were excellent. [AD , .., N E uTlSEZlENT.]—Dropsical Affe c t io ns cured by Holloway's Pills.--lhe causes of this direful disease are various ; it is often engendered by the morbid state of the sys tem, whereby the free circulation of the blood is impeded ; t r it may ori.inate from some preceding complaint. The first thing to be done in order to effect a cure is to remove any ob struetio: s, by purifying the blood, and causing the discharge of the superabundant fluids from the body. For this purpose take Holloway's Pills, as they possess such cleansing properties by ma l e o r female, at all periods of life'- S o ld' that the dropsical patient is' i; radu a 1 1 y restored to health, and per manently renovated. These Pills may the whole frame is and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, b b y e sa a f l e l ly p t i a ., k iz e g n ists UILE.—A gentleman farmer in llants, j. , 2t4, Strand, London. 1 1 innaiinth:eie'dAti:xi4'wCylosttriTti,,:c2oouft 4s to oll eu th lt a i L N i 'a p t t e o ' n fi : ix A m b o oli st t ;ef t t li er u lett . . „s „ :‘ wesofpaud will shortly be devoted to Wiz+ purpose. Vali a ). It d the inex- en ed Nu- iable upon need , Sir they re- Lord fact. Lord fea- Cain- and ence ated iven 'hey non eme )art ,