The Press.
London, England, 1858-07-31 00:00:00

HOUSE OF
.COMMI

At the morning sitting,
Colonel WILSON PATTEN called attention to the
Report of the Committee appointed for the Revision
of the Standing Orders, and, after various suggestions
relating to the conduct of the private business of the
house, moved certain alterations of the standing
orders, and a resolution regarding private bills,
which, after a short conversation, were agreed to.

INDIA BILL.

On the order for considering the Lords' amend.

Manta of this bill,
• Colonel SYKES, after a strong and earnest remon.
strance and protest against the whole measure, moved
that the amendments be taken into consideration that
day three months.
Mr. MANGLES said, he did not rise to second this
motion, but to vindicate the character of the Com-
pany's government and the Civil Service of hlls,
which he proceeded to do in a speech of considerable
length, abounding with details and incidents of the
insurrection.
This preliminary discussion, after having occupied
much time, was terminated by Colonel SYKES with-
drawing his motion, and the house proceeded to
consider the amendments.
In the twenty-seventh clause, providing that orders
now sent through the Secret Committee may be
sent by the Secretary of State without communica•
Lion with the Council, the Lords had added, "but
no such order shall be sent without having been pre.
viously communicated to the Vice-President and one
other member, to be selected by the Secretary of
State."
Lord J. RUSSELL objected to these words, and
proposed to substitute others, enlarging the number
of the Couneil to be communicated with, to form a
committee consisting of the Vice-President and four
other members.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER suggested
that this amendment should be withdrawn, and that
the house should disagree with the amendment of
the Lords.
After discussion, Lord JOHN'S amendment was put
and negatived, and the house divided upon the
Lords' amendment, with which a majority disagreed,
the ayes being 38, and the noes 108.
In the twenty - ninth clause, which originally
enacted that the appointments of the ordinary
members of the Council of the Governor-General
of India (except the fourth ordinary member), and
of the members of Council of the several presiden•
cies, shall be made by the Secretary of State in
Council, " with the concurrence of a majority of
members present at a meeting," the Lords had ex.
chided the words within inverted commas.
Sir J. GRAHAM objected that the omission of these
words would vest the whole patronage in the Secre-
tary of State.
Lord STANLEY said he could not defend the
amendment, and the house resolved to disagree there-
with, and with a similar amendment in clause 30.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE.
QUER, the debate was adjourned until six o'clock.
The International Patent Bight Bill and the
Administration of Oaths by Committees Bill passed
through committee.
In the evening, the consideration of the Lords'
amendments of the Government of India Bill was
resumed.
In the thirty-second clause, which had empowered
the Secretary of State in Council, with the advice
and assistance of the Commissioners, under the
Order in Council of May, 1855, to make regulations
for the admission of candidates to the Civil Service
of India, providing that " the candidates certified
by the Commissioners or other persons to be entitled
under such regulations shall be recommended for
appointment according to the order of their Koff-
mem, as shown by such examination, and such per-
sons only as shall have been so certified shall be
appointed or admitted to the Civil Service of India,"
the Lords had excluded the words marked by in•
verted commas.
Lord J. Russeia. moved the restoration of these
words, the omission of which might, he thought,
endanger the principle of competitive examination
for the Civil Service.
Lord STANLEY assigned reasons for believing that
the alteration would not have that effect, and that,
with or without the words in question, the principle
of unrestricted competition would be equally secure,
or he would not, he said, consent to the amendment.