The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-27 00:00:00

LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
MILITARY BaLRACKS.

Lord PAtiMlTßEmoved for some returns respect•
ing the expenditure incurred upon the construction
of military barracks. Much misapprehension, he
observed, had arisen on the subject, which it was
very important to correct, since the effect was to in-
terfere seriously with the recruiting services. The
noble lord entered into various details, exonerating
the late Administration from the charge of negligence
or incompetence in their arrangements for providing
barrack accommodation for the soldiers.
After some remarks from the Duke of CAMBRIDGE
the returns were ordered.
Several bills on the paper were advanced through
a stage of progress, and their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
CHELSEA BRIDGE.
In reply to Sir J. V. Shelley,
Lord Joint MANNERS stated that the new CLelsea
Bridge would be opened to the public on Monday
next at the lowest possible tariff of toll that was
compatible with a due regard to the provisions of the
Act of Parliament.
THE WESTERN BANK OF SCOTLAND.
Mr. BRADY inquired whether any criminal pro-
ceedings were to be instituted against the directors
of the Western Bank of Scotland.
The LORD ADVOCATE said that no information bad
come into the possession of the Government of
a nature to warrant any such proceedings.
COIIPENSATION TO PROCTORS.
Sir W. HEATHCOTE asked what means had been
adopted by the Government to bring under adjudica-
tion the claims of the several parties who may be
entitled to compensation under the Probate Act of
last session.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that
a commission had been issued to investigate the
subject, which was of much importance, as involving
claims exceeding in amount 250,0001.
THE INDIA BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then moved
for leave to introduce a hill to transfer the govern-
ment of India to her Majesty. The separation of
the authority of the East India Company had, he
observed, been decided by the late vote of the house,
and he and his colleagues had, in deference to that
vote, determined on introducing the present mea-
sure.
Under any circumstances, it was not without
precedent that a Government suddenly installed in
office should take up a great question as it was left
by its predecessors. The Administration of the noble
lord had done this when it adopted the SeLasto-
pol committee. The Company fell through no fault
of its own, but through the inscrutable circumstances
of time, change, and progress. For a long time past
every one must Lave felt that the foundation of the
power of the East India Company was sapped. The
object be had now to accomplish was to combine the
energy and rapidity of an imperial government with
the experience and tried knowledge of the Company.
It was proposed to appoint a Secretary of State for
India, assisted by a Council of India, and with the
power of appointing a vice-president. The Council
was to consist of eighteen members, nine of whom
would be nominated by the Crown, and the other
nine be elective. The nominated members would
all be required to have some special qualification.
Each of the civil services of the three great
presidencies would be represented. The repre-
sentatives would be required to have served in
India ten years. A fifth member would be taken
after ten years' service from the residents or political
agents at the native courts. The four other nomi-
nated members would represent the Queen's
tary service, and these of Bengal, Bombay, and
Madras. The first would be required to have
served five years, and the three others to have served
six years. The names of all those first appointed
would be inserted in the bill. As for the elective
moiety of the Council, the qualifications for the first
four would be that they must have served the Queen
in India, no matter in what capacity, for ten years,
or have been resident there for fifteen years. The
constituency would consist of all those who have
held a commission or been in the civil service
in India for ten years, or who were proprie-
ters of 3,0001. India Stock, railroads or other
property, or of 1,0001. Company's Stock—the
holder in the last case only to have one vote. He
calculated this constituency at about 5.000. The
remaining live elective members would be chosen
from persons engaged in trade with India for five
years, or resident in India for ten years. Each of
the great towns of London, Manchester, Liverpool,
Glasgow, and Belfast would return one of these
members, and the constituency ought to he, as he
was convinced, after long consideration, the same
as the parliamentary constituency. He proposed
that their names should in the first instance be
inserted iu the bill. He read the names of
many of those whom it was proposed to