The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-03 00:00:00

SIR E. B. LITTON UPON INDIA.

Sin E. B. LYTTON, M.P., attended the Hertfordshire
Agricultural Meeting at St. Alban's on Wednesday.
The members and friends of the society dined to-
gether in the town-hall, the Earl of N'erulam occupy-
ing the chair. In the course of the evening Sir
Edward Lytton replied to the toast " The Members
for the County," proposed by Colonel Ames. Sir Ed-
ward, devoting himself first to a criticism upon the
cattle-show that day, which, though excellent in
quality, was rather deficient in quantity, and havinq
urged upon the farmers the necessity of using every
exertion to do their best, and each succeeding year
to do better, proceeded to discuss our prospects in
India. " The war " said Sir Edward, " which has
now broken out"

is not, like the Russian war, for the assertion of an ab-
stract principle of justice, for the defence of a foreign
throne, or for protection against a danger that did not
threaten ourselves more than the rest of Europe,—it is
for the maintenance of the British empire. It is a struggle
of life and death for our rank among the rulers of the earth.
It is not a war in which we combat by the side of brave
and gallant allies. but one in which we fight singlehanded
against fearful odds, and in which we must neither elpect
nor desire foreign aid.
My lord, I think it is no wonder that the heart of Eng-
land is up—that the slow progress of recruiting for the
regular army, and even the constitutional resource of the
militia, should not satisfy the ardour of an aroused people.
It is no wonder that our journals should teem with offers
of volunteers, and from a class that has never before fur-
nished us with private soldiers. lam told that it is difficult
for the War-office to avail itself of these offers. Difficult!
why, of course it is. There is nothing worth having that is
not difficult. My life, and I suppose the life of every man
among you who has worked with hand or head, has been
one long contest with difficulttes, and none of us would be
the men we now are if we had tamely allowed difficulties to
I conquer us. (Cheers.), Therefore I say it will not be to lir

•
THE PRESS, OCTOBER 3, 1857. 963
credit of the Government or the War-office if they cannot THE REVENUE.
devise some practical means by which to discipline and
organise so much ardour. I should be sorry if we lost the
occasion to show to Europe how England, when necessary,
can start at once into a military nation without the tyranny I.-THE NET REVENUE.
of conscriptions, and without the ruinous extravagance of
Quarter ended
large standing armies. (Cheers). . Year ended
The blood of many a stout English yeoman must have ~..--5...,-.-... I
~,,...-....a.--...„
run cold in his veins when he read of the atrocious nts. Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, 1 Sept. 30.
1866. 1857. 1855. 1 ' 1837.
nacres of Delhi and Cawnpore, and he must have panted ___ t
--.
to show, as his forefathers often did 'before, that there is no A 1! C I l
CUSTOMS
metal fora sword like the iron ploughshare. Of volunteers EXCISE
in such a cause there can be no lack, If I were but ten STAMPS 5,446,000 5,41,000 , .17,88,77 a .17,619,000
years younger I would remember that I am the son of a TAXES
167,000 149,000 i 11,100,021 I 8,099,020
soldier, and would be a volunteer myself-(cheers)-and PROPERTY TAX
even now, if I thought it possible that the young, the robust, POST. OFFICE 645.000 730,000 2,768,154 I 3030: 00
and the adventnrous needed an example from those whose '
MISCELLANEOUS 47,n57 60.644 383,1.67 I 277.04
vents, habits, and sta ion might be supposed to incline 150,343 • 2,9,135 1,120,631 1 1,147,981
them to refuse, I declare I should be among you to canvass, TOTAL- - ---•
19,V1, 429 18,682,269 71,344,967 71.178,681
not for votes, but for men, and should in)self lead them
against the enemies of our race. (Cheers.) 11.-COMPARATIVE STATEMENT.
But if volunteers are t I be of use they must have good
sense as well as will. They must submit to the discipline
and organisation of soldiers ; and, although I think it is Quarter ended Halflroar ended Year ended
but a reasonable demand that when t [ley are collected from bept. 30,1637. Sept. 30, 1657. Sept. 30, 1e,57.
the same neighbourhood they should be formed into the ~..----k.-.., „...---t.....
same corps, because they would then encourage each other, „.----1-_-..„
Increase. Decrease Increase. Decrease. Increase. Decrease.
yet they must be aware that it would be wrong to ask for
privileges which are incompatible with the present consti• A A A I i , 3
CUSTOMS
tution of the British army, ard which, if granted, might EXCISE r 499,969 215,334 13,908 i
create discontent and jealousy among the veterans of the STAMPS
18,394
professional service. Nor most we forget that, invaluable TAXES
as the aid of volunteers would be upon special occasions PROPERTY TAX ' 415,699 336,910
and for /Invited periods to that arm-the cavalry-which IClOS'tvrlits
our militia does not supply, yet for the regular reinforce. 7,203
MISCELLANEOUS7,2O3 ... .... 4.408
113,095
meat of that army which for a long time India must require 49,068
-v.-
we ought to look alone to the constitutional resource of the TOTAL
367,888
900,693 1,08903 93.0181 1.248.459 1197,194
Militia. ( Hear, hear.) s-,„--/ s
______....._.--/
The whole question of India must shortly command our 4389,100 81,166,401 91119,406
Net Decrease. Net Decrease. Net Decrease.

Quarter ended 1 Year ended
~..--A--.—...
.„....—...A.--...„,
Sept. 30, Sept 30. Sept. 30, i Sept. 30.
1858. 1857. 1855. ' 1837.
t 8 li A I A
CUSTOMS
EXCISE
81 AM PS 1r0,649 1,74 235 7,150,011. 1'7,3.6,!43I'7,3.6,!43
TAXES
PROPERTY TAX
POST, OFFICE 815.000 730.000 2,768,159 I 3080:00
CROWN LANDS 67,n57 60.644 5i3.3.1.67 I 277.04
MISCELLANEOUS 156,343 2,940 1,120,5,41 I 1,147,981
TOTAL

The whole question of India must shortly command our
most thoughtful consideration. We are not now getting
up liscussinns between town and country. One object is
uppermost in the minds of all—the preservation of our
empire. ( Hear, hear.) The present is not the time, nor
is this the place, to criticise the policy which has produced
the revolt in India. I may, perhaps, be permitted to say
that revolutions or revolts are never sudden. Those which
appear to us to have been so had always given long previous,
though it might be neglected, warnings. Revolts and
revolutions are like the springing of mines. The ground
must he hollowed, the barrels filled. the train laid, and the
match fired ,before we can be startled by the explosion ; and
therefore the man who tells us that a revolt which must
have taken months. if not years, to organise no prudence
could have foreseen, nr no ene •gy could have prevented,
simply asks us to believe that policy is an accident and
Government a farce. But the whole of that question it will
he the ditty of Parliament to examine, not with the view
of bringing the force of party to bear against individuals,
wbo may have committed mere human errors of judg-
ment—and, after all, the public itself is not free from
blame for its long indifference to our Eastern empire—
but for the purpose of obtaining knowledge and guidance
for the future. (Cheers.)