The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-15 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS:—TrEsDAY, Jolcsl4.

The LORD CHANCILLOA took his seat co the woolsack at
five eolock.
EXPLANATIONS IN REFERENCE TO LORD

CANNING AND LORD ELGIN.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said he wished to uk •
question in reference to the reports of what fell from his
noble friend the President of the Council last evening. He
understood, when his noble friend was speaking of Lord
Elgin. and rendering to him no more than what was a just
tribute,and referring to that part of his career in which,
while on his way to Chios, he agreed to direct, and did direct,
the troops under orders for that country to be union to India.
He understood bin noble frieod to say that Lord Elgin did
so at.the urgent request of the Governor-General, and upon
his responsibility. The reports stated that Lord Elgin was
fully rewarded for what he had done by the result. Now,
reading,what had been reported alone. one would suppose
that Lord Elgin had received information upon which he
could rely, and that be bad conceived the original notion of
sending the troops to India which were under his command
for Cnina. That was not so, and the papers which had been I
laid before their lordships would show that though
Lord Elgin acted in a most disinterested manner,
yet that he acted upon a distinct and urgent
demand made by the Governor-General of India, who stated
that be was willing to have the whole of the responsibility
of diverting the troops from their way to China. Lord
Elgin lost no time in acceding to the request made to him,
but he would repeat that the idea was not his own. (Hear.)
Earl GRANVILLE said that no doubt there was 001130
inaccuracy in the reports of what took place last night, but
considering the way in which the discussion went on across
the table, and the almost constant noise at the bar
of the house, it was wonderful how the reporters
caught even the substance of their debates. His
noble frieod bad due well in bringing thia mat.
ter before their lordships, because everything which
happened at the time referred to was worthy of being pro-
perly recorded. What he intended to say was that Lord
Elgin was met when on his way to China by information of
the Indian mutiny, that he received a request from Lord
Canning, and on his own responsibility, to divert the troops
destined for China to India, and that Lord Elgin took the
responsibility upon himself of acceding to the request made
to him. Although there was an error in the reports, yet
nothing had been mid which in any way affected the merits
of those two distinguished men. lie might again refer to
an interesting fact that those two early college friends,
after being separated for many years, found themselves
united and co-operated most cordially in a plan for putting
downl the rebellion and saving the Indian empire to this
country.
Lord LI" VEDEN agreed that what was said had not been
pr_operly reported in the newspapers. When the matter wee
before the other house of parliament both Lord Palmerston
and Sir C. Wood laid far too great stress on the conduct of
Lord Elgin upon the occasion of the diversion of the troops
from China. Sir C. Wood had stated that the main reason
for greeting the mules of I,ooof. out of the Indian re.
Tenses was because Lord Elgin diverted the troops from
going to China. Now the facts ought to be accurately
set forth when it was stated that a charge would be thrown
upon India, and there could be no doubt that Lord Canning,
as soon as the mutiny broke out, sent a memo to Lord
Elgin to divert the troops under his command to India, and
that he allowed the troops to be so diverted. Lord Canning
alas asked the late Sir H. Ward and Sir G. Grey to send
troops from Ceylon and the Cape respectively. He quite
agreed that they should grant a pension to Lady Elgin, but
he thought the government ought to consider whether it
should be charged upon the revenues of India,
and he would remind their lordship. that no
pension bad been granted to Lady Ward, whose
husband died from the effects of the climate,
nor to Sir George Grey for sending troops from the Cape.
He would ask whether it was intended to lay down •
general rule that the widow of every Governor-General of
India who died after holding the office only one year
should receive a pension
Lord STRATIORD DE REDCLIFFE was understood
to say that he assented to what his noble frieod the Presi-
dent of the Council stated on Monday evening in reference
to one of the late noble earls—his relative—end that it was
impossible to look back at all the circumstances which had
occurred in reference to the Indian mutiny without eon.
Immolating the loss which this country had sustained in
the deaths of so many ernioeut men. Remembering the
great services of Lord Elgin he rejoiced that an opportunity
had been taken to show the sense which was entertained of
them by granting a pension to his illustrious widow.
The subjct then dropped.
GRANT TO SIR HOWL AND HILL.

The Queen's message having been read,
Hal GRANVILLE moved that their lordships do came
In enabling her Majesty to grant Sir Rowland Hill the suns
of 20,0001. The noble earl was understood to say that he
Lad the honour yesterday of asking their lordships to concur
in makiog provision in favour of the widow of a
late distinguished member of their lordships' house,
who had been long engaged in the service of the
country in Taril){ll parts of the world, sad that he
had now to make a somewhat similar proposal for •
gentleman who had for many years served the public faith-
fully, and who bad devised an important scheme which
though somewhat uncertain in in early development bad
resulted in unquestionable success and advantage to this
country, and indirectly to the whole world. (Hear, hear.)
Lord BROUGHAM expressed his entire concurrence in
the motion. There was this peculiarity in the ease of Sir
Rowland Hill, that while other inventors usually saw no
difficulty in the adoption of their schemer, and exaggerated
their pruktehle value, he was fully conscious of the obstacles
that lay in the way of a successful application of his pro-
pped, and rather understated than overstated its merits.
He estimated the loss to the revenue in coosequenee of the
change at 300,0004 a year ; but it had really resulted is •
gross increase of revenue to the amount of 1.700,0004, or,
deducting 500,0001. for packet services, of 1,200,0001., and
• clear net increase of 100,0001. He wan sure that, mo-
uldering the great services of Sir Rowland Hill, their lord-
ships would have no difficulty in acceding to the motion.
(Hear, hest.)
The Marquis of CLAYRICARDE said that as be had
filled the oMes of Postmaster-General at the period when
Sir Rowland Hill had commenced his great reform, he felt it
to be his duty to bear testimony, to his extraordinary seal,
judgment, discretion, and never failing urbanity in • poi-
tioo in ...bleb he was surrounded by great difficulties. The
came generally of the Poet-office believed that the change
was one of a very hazardous character, and it was no
wonder that they should have looked upon it with con-
'biteable distrust. Their lordships were however aware'
that it had proved eminently successful, and that snows'
was no doubt in • great measure due to the personal ex-
ertions of Sir Rowland Hill One important portion of
the new system was the extension of the money order
office. He believed that, previously to the appointniest of
Sir Rowland Hill, the sum distributedlthrough that depart-
ment was not me-sixteenth of ita present amount, and there
could be no doubt that that change waa productive of im-
mesas advantage M the poorer sod the lower portion of the
middle classes. Sir R. Hill bad always displayed the
greatest moderation in the discharge of his duties, and the
utmost resdittess to consider fairly any objection that might
lee suggested to his proposals. He (the Marquis of Clanri-
cards) believed that no publicservant bad overbites rewarded
by • grant of money who more richly deserved it ; the fame
of Sir Rowland Hill would live in every civilized nation
in the world, for every civilised nation had reaped the bene-
fit of his labours. (Hear, bear.)
The motion was then agreed to.