The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-10 00:00:00

Vlitztal.

Ma. BAXTER, M.P. for the Montrose Burghs, ad-
dressed his constituents this week, and after reviewing
the labours of the last session, which he characterised
as " one of the most harassing and uninteresting "
for years past, said, with regard to the Beform Bill
for 1858 !

Lord Palmerston is publicly pledged next year to bring
in a measure, and, unless events in the East cause a general
acquiescence in its further postponement, I am not sus-
picious enough to imagine that the word of promise will
not be kept. 1 hope it will include a further revision and
improvement of the representation of small boroughs, the
disfranchisement of some, the taking away of one member
from others, and granting of additional members to great
towns of comparatively recent origin which have not their
fair share in the government of the country.
With regard to India, Mr. Baxter observed that the
first question which will naturally be asked when
Parliament reassembles is, was no warning ever given
of what has taken place ?

Among the numerous and gifted civil and militaty
servants of the company were there none far•seeit;g enough
to predict the gathering storm ? I am afraid the officials
of Cannon row and Leadenhall•street will find it difficult to
persuade the Legislature and the public to accept of a
negative answer to queries which involve culpability anti
neglect. Did Lord Metcalfe, referring to the condition of
the Bengal army, say, " I fear we shall wake up some fine
morning and find that her Majesty has lost India "? Were
native newspapers containing notices of wide•spresd
disaffection laid before the council of lsC'O? Did the late
lamented General Anson never cease to represent to the
Directors the danger to be apprehended from the sepoys ?
Did Lord Melville when he returned home in 1850 (I
quote his own words in the House of Lords) express the
greatest disapprobation of the condition of the Bengal
troops, and was he told really not to publish his sentiments
lest foreign nations should be acquainted with the state of
affairs? Is Sir C. Napier correct in stating that in 1849
" a mutinous spirit pervaded some thirty erpoy battalions
in march for, or actually employed in, the Pimbaub "? Did
not he, in a work published in 1803, say—" Mutiny with
the sepoys is the most formidable danger menacing our
Indian empire—a danger that may come unexpectedly,
and, if the first symptoms be not carefully treated, With a

power to shake Leadenhall•etreet " ? Did the Bengal
sepoys mutiny in Scinde ? Iu 1849 was the same spirit
rampant in Delhi? Were twenty regiments then dis-
covered to be infected ? Did Sir C. Napier state, on his
arrival in ludia to assume the chief command, that "he
found the seeds of mutiny sown in a large proportion of
the native army " ? These are questions not to be hastily
answered, as they contain serious charges ; but you will
at once see that they call for the fullest and most searching
inquiry on the part of the representatives of the people.
But the great question, he believed, would be whe-
ther the East India Company should continue to
exist :
- - - - - .

Whether that mercantile oligarchy should bo held as
scarcely responsible for any of the evils admitted to
exist, and therefore permitted to continue its influence or
policy; or whether, in consideration of the growing feeling
even in Calcutta itself, as indicated by the unanimously
passed resolution of a public meeting and the widespread
sentiment at home, it should be condemned as effete and
inefficient, and India be brought into more immediate
connection with the British Crown.

Tire Post of Monday states "positively " that no
intention exists of calling Parliament together in
November, and that " there is no probability of Par• ,
liament meeting before the usual period." 1
Sin JOHN PAKINGTON has published a letter recom- '
mending that a county meeting shall be held at
Worcester with reference to the present state of
affairs in India. Sir John writes :
It seems to me thai: the time has come when it is desir-
able to give every possible public proof that the magnitude
of the crisis in India is appreciated at home, and that the
people are resolved to meet the danger in a spirit worthy
of the nation and of the occasion.
I therefore venture to propose that we should present a
requisition to the high sheriff, asking him to convene a
county meeting; and that the objects of that meeting
should be not only to prove our sympathy for the sufferings
and misfortunes of our countrymen in the East, but also
to adopt an address to the Queen, to assure her Majesty,
in the name of the county of Worcester, of our loyalty end
devotion, and of our firm determination to afford her
Majesty all the support in our power to enable her to
suppress the rebellion in India and to conduct the struggle
to an honourable and triumphant issue.
- -

- -
Upon this suggestion a requisition has already
been set on foot, and has received a large number of
influential signatures. Lord Lyttelton, the lord-
lieutenant of the county, heads the requisition.
THE RETIREMENT OF SIR E. C. DErtimi from the
representation of East Kent is now certain. Mr.
Deedes lately member for the county, Mr. E. Rice,
lately M.P. for Dover, and Mr. C. M. Lushington,
lately M.P. for Canterbury, are likely to be brought
forward.

_
THE NEW BOARD OF CONSERVATORS OF THE
THAMES, under the act of last session, is formed as
follows :—For the Admiralty—Captain H. Austin,
R.N., and Commodore Shepherd, RN.; Board of
Trade—Captain Sulivan, R.N.; and the Trinity
House—Captain Shepherd, the Deputy Master, and
Captain Pigott. The new board will hold their sittings
at Guildhall.
Tim Loan CHANCELLOR has appointed Mr. M.
Fortescue, of the Home Circuit, Judge of the
Devonshire County Court (Circuit No. 59), in the
place of Mr. Freed, deceased.
MR. SHADWELL, the revising barrister for the
metropolitan county, held his last court at Hampstead
on Friday week, which was attended, as usual, by
Mr. John Humphreys, on behalf of the Middlesex
Reform Registration, and by Mr. Tootel, for the
Conservatives. The result of the revision is as
follows 7—Objections made by the Liberals, 610;
sustained, 485. The overseers sustained 525 objec-
tions. No objections were made by the Conservatives,
and not morn than 20 claims were made by the
Conservative association; 310 new claims were sent
in and sustained by the Liberals.
THE EXPENSE OF THE GOVERMENT INQUIRY AT
BELFAST, which lasted sixteen days, is estimated at
153/. 125. This is paid by Government, and not by
the town.