The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-06 00:00:00

and after having with my colleagues had leisure to con-
sider during the recess the measures to be submitted for
the consideration and approval of Parliament, I should of
course feel it to be my duty to lay shortly before you what
the measures were to which your attention was to be called.
But your lordships must be aware that, from the shortness
of the time which has elapsed since we accepted office it
has been impossible for us to prepare anything like a pro.
gramme of business to be laid before Parliament. The
attention of the other house must no doubt be occupied
for a considerable time with making those financial Sr.
rangemeuta which are requisite at this period of the year
for the purpose of carrying on the business of the country.
There is, however, one measure to which I think it my
duty even at this early stage to advert, becanse it is .i
measure which, upon full and anxious consideration, her
Majesty's Government have determine I to introduce to
the notice of Parliament. My lords, it certainly was my
opinion, and it was the opinion of moat of those with
whom i have the satisfaction of acting, that while the
state of India was such as it is at present—while a revolt,
or rather an insurrection, was raging in a considerable pot.
tion of our dominions in the East—it was not expedient to
divert the attention either of the Government or of the
East India Company from the consideration of the matters
which were immediately pressing to a discussion of any
change in the constitution of the Executive Administra•
tion at home. But, my lords, the House of Commons,
by a very large majority—a majority, I believe, of 147
members in a full house—affirmed the proposition that it

was desirable to consider the question immediately, mainly
with the object of transferring to the Clown the authority
hitherto exercised by the East India Company. I think
that vote materially altered the position of affairs. It
placed the Company in such a situation that they could not,
after it passed, command the same amount of public con-
fidence and of public support as they were entitled to re-
ceive previous to the decision cf the House of Commons.
Therefore, my lords, after the best and matureat considera-
tion which we can give to the subject, it is the intention
of her Majesty's Government to introduce a measure,
which is now being prepared by my noble friend the Pre-
sident of the Board of Control, which we trust will effect
most of the objects contemplated by the bill of the late
Government, and which we hope will at the same time be
free from some of the objections attaching to that project.
Of course, it would not be expedient fur me to enter int*
farther details upon the present occasion—the measure
indeed, is not yet framed—but I think it my duty to say,
even at this early period, that in the course of the present
session it is our intention to deal with the question of the
Government of India, and we hope also to pass a just and
satisfactory measure. (Hear, hear.)
My lords, it would be idle for me to enter into any
general description of the opinions or the views which I
hold upon public affairs. Such abstract declarations of
policy are in point of fact of little or no use. They are
mere words which may be construed into any sense, or, as
sometimes happens, into no sense. (Hear, hear.) I can
only say, my lords, that the policy of the Government to
which I belong will be that which I hope might naturally
be expected from the composition of the Administration—
viz., that while we firmly and strenuously maintain the
great institutions of the country, we shall not hesitate to
propose and support measures of undoubted improvement
and progress, and to introduce, whenever necessary, safe
and well-considered amendments. ( Hear, hear.)

My lords, there can be no greater mistake thau to suppose
that a Conservative policy is necessarily of a stationary
character. ( Heat, hear.) We live in an age of constant
progress—moral, social, and political. We live in a time
when art and science are making rapid strides, when know•
ledge is daily more and more widely diffused. Our Con-
stitution itself is the result of a series of perpetual changes.
Like the venerable old country•houses of England, it has
been formed from time to time by successive occupants,
with no great regard to architectural uniformity or rep•
larity of outline, bat adding a window here,
throwing out
a gable there, and making some fresh accommodation in
.
another place, as might appear to suit, nut the beauty of
the external structure, but, what is of more it:vomit:ice,
the convenience and comfort of the inhabitants.
My lords, in politics, as in everything else, the same
course must be pursued—constant progress, improving
upon the old system, adapting our institutions to the al•
tered purposes which they are intended to serve, and by
judicious changes meeting the increased demands of
society.
This leads me, my lords, to the last question upon
which I shall have to trouble your lordships—ore of
sgreet
importance and of great difficulty, but one which it is the
duty of her Majesty's Gotrentinent to consider. I wean