The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-01 00:00:00

INTELLIGENCE FROM INDIA.

Lord PALMERSTON, in reply to Mr. Hildyard, was
" really unable to explain " how it was that the
Government telegraphic despatch from India was
only received on Thursday morning, when private
telegraphs reached the City on Wednesday afternoon.
The house adjourned at five minutes to six.

HOUSE OF LORDS—THURSDAY.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH callsd the attention of the
Government to the omission of an important pro-
clamation by the Board of East India Directors
from among the documents recently laid before Par-
liament bearing on the Indian mutinies—the pro-
clamation of the lfith May last. The noble lord
then went on to comment on the system of bad
government, through clerks and secretaries rather
than by the Governor-General, discovered in those
despatches, and gave the following account of the
measures adopted upon the first symptom of disaffec-
tion at Barrackpore

On the 21st of January at Dumdum there was a very
strong feeling among the sepoys that it was impossible for
them, consistently with their religious prejudices—as we
should call them—or persuasions, to use the cartridges
which had been provided for them ; and on the '22nd
correspondence commenced on the subject. Eight dd•
ferent letters are written with respect to it, and four days
gre 410704 to Wire bef9o tits GovtorMent pt
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Calcutta become acquainted with that most ominous
event, the dissatisfaction upon religious grounds of the
sepoys, which took place within eight miles of the Govern.
went House. The Government then began to act. Three
more letters are written, and two days more elapse before
it is communicated even at Barrackpore that the objection
of the sepoys is removed, and another day, or nearly
another day, must elapse before that communication is
made to the Government. On the 28th of January
General Hearsey complains of what he considers an im•
proper order, given by the officer commanding the 53rd
ltegiment, at Fort William, to the officer commanding
the wing of that regiment at Dumdum, and an explanation
is asked for from that officer. Eight days elapse before
the explanation is received ; nine letters are written, the
officers being within a mile of Government House the
whole time, so that in one hour the whole explanation
might have been given and received.
The noble lord concluded by expressing a hope that
when confidence in the intentions of the Government
was restored in the native mind we might again
trust the sepoy regiments.
Lord GRANVILLE could not explain the omission
of the proclamation. With respect to the noble
lord's comments on the Indian system of govern-
ment, he thought that the conduct of Lord Can-
ning in this trying emergency had been such as
to raise him immensely in the estimation of the
public.
After some further discussion the matter dropped.
The Reformatory Schools Bill passed through
committee.
• • •

Some other business was then despatched, and
their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—TnuasnAr.
At the early sitting, the house went into committee
on the Police (Scotland) Bill, the clauses of which
were agreed to after much discussion.
On the order for the second reading of the New
Zealand Loan Guarantee Bill,
Sir J. TRELAWNY moved to dofer it for six months,
suggesting that, as the Colonial Assembly had not
recommended the matter unanimously, it would be
better to postpone the bill until next session.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said the question bad been con-
sidered by a select committee; that the security for
the loan was ample, and that the loan .was essential
to the colony to enable it to place their financial and
political affairs on a substantial footing.
The debate was adjourned by the lapse of time.

SUPERANNUATION BILL.
Lord PALMERSTON, in the evening, in reply to Mr.
S. Fitzgerald, said that the house having by a con-
siderable majority affirmed the second reading of the
Civil Service Superannuation Bill, the Government
would not offer any further opposition to its progress.

Sir C. Wool), in answer to Mr. ' Stafford, gave
lame explanations respecting the delay of the Go-
vernment advices by telegraph from India, but
promised an inquiry upon the part of Government.