The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-16 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

A SPECIAL Court of Proprietors was held on Wed-
nesday at their house in Leadenhall-street, in pursu-
ance of a requisition, to consider the communication
addressed to the Court of Directors from the Go-
vernment respecting the continuance of the powers
of this company.
The CHAIRMAN, having informed the court that the
annuity of 1,0001. to General Sir Archdale Wilson,
and the annuities of 5001. each to Lady Neill and
Mrs. Nicholson, had been approved and confirmed
by the Board of Control, said, before they proceeded
to the business of the day he had to acquaint the
court that the Court of Directors had addressed a
letter to the Government on the subject of the com-
munication that had been made to him and the
Deputy Chairman by the Prime Minister of its being
the intention of the Government to bring in a bill in
the present session of Parliament to transfer the
government of India from the East India Company
to the Crown :

He was not yet in possession of any answer from her
Majesty's Government, or of any information beyond that
which he communicated to the proprietors at the last
court. Ile begged to add that it was the intention of the
Court of Directors before Parliament reassembled to
summon a court of proprietors and lay before them all the
information which they possessed, and take their opinion
and invite their co-operation in any proceedings it might
be deemed advisable to pursue.

Colonel RATHBONE suggested that the meeting
should be adjourned until the reply of the Govern
ment bad been received.

After some further conversation on this point, Mr.
CRAWSHAY, Mayor of Gateshead, rose to propose a
resolution to the effect that such a measure as that
contemplated by Lord Palmerston was " opposed to
the rights and privileges of the East India Company,
fraught with danger to the constitutional interests of
England, perilous to tho safety of the Indian empire,
and calls for the resistance of this corporation by all
constitutional means." Mr. Crawshay then, in a
vigorous speech, defended the East India Company
from all the misdeeds charged against it, on the
ground that the Company had been submissive to
another power, the Board of Control, which, by the
abolition of the Company, would become supreme :
When it was proposed to abolish the double government,
what was it that it was intended to extinguish ? Why, the
East India Company. The Company would die really,
while the Board of Control would undergo a sham death ;
at the same time all the present power possessed by the
Company would be invested in the Government. To
abolish the double government, therefore, was nothing
more than to abolish the East India Company, and to give
that power which it now enjoyed aide by side with the Go.
vernment to the Government itself exclusively.
Mr. LEWIN seoonded the motion.

Mr. MACKENZIE opposed it. All the arguments in
favour of the retention of the Company were, in his
opinion, completely outweighed by those of vast
political importance for the Crown at once assuming
tha direct government of India. " I would advocate
the direct government of India," said Mr. Mao-
kenzie, "by the Crown—first, because under the
present system of government there is no direct
responsibility "

On whom, for example, does the blame rest fur not
sending more European troops to India last year, and
when we heard of the mutinies who were to blame for not
immediately despatching troops overland? In these oases
we have the responsibility bandied about from the Board of
Control to the Court of Directors and the Governor
General, with skill that an Eastern magician might envy,
and if blame appeared to be brought home to any one de-
partment it was soon made to disappear. Secondly, it
seems to me unconstitutional that a body of men like the
Court of Directors should be held up as responsible for
the home government of India, over which they have no
control or independent action, as was clearly proved by Sir
James Melvin before the secret committee of the House
of Lords. Rumour states that even the present noble
Premier has borne testimony to the action of the Com-
pany as a good buffer between himself and public opinion
on Indian affairs. Thirdly, that iu India, where the
Company still reign paramount, the governing class, who
are their own nominees, looking to the pleasure of the
court for their future promotion, have saught to govern
India entirely for their own exclusive advantage.

A mere change in the home administration of India,
unaccompanied by a complete reformation of local
administration, would produce no beneficial result
The double government at home is no doubt a great
evil, but the real mischief lies in the fact that the twit)
authorities are unable to give protection to life and pr.,
perty, which is the first duty of every Government. This
system can only be remedied by the introduction of a
much larger European element into the administration of
justice. Under a different system of government India
would have had a wealthy agricultural population, and
would have been covered with many magnificent works,
the creations of European skill and activity. It may be
argued, " If the people of Bengal are in the state you
represent, why did they not join the nurineers ?" This
may do for the uninitiated, the same as the long speeches
as to whether this is to 5e celled a mutiny or a revolt. I
would ask where, from time immemorial, do we ever hear
of the people of Bengal rising against their rulers' standing
army? When we took Bengal, Ink we to conquer the
people? I trust that India will at once be openly and
avowedly taken over by the Crown, and our Queen pro-
claimed, not Banee (queen), but Pudishah (empress),
and her representative there should act for her in that
capacity. Along with this we ought at once to do away
with all idea of governing India by truckling to the passions
of any sect. Let us proclaim at once our position in India
as her conquerors, and then the natives will comprehend
it, for in no other place in the world is the " might is right "
principle so well understood. Having distinctly asserted
our supremacy, we ought to become kind, honest, and just
rulers of India; and her people should be made to feel
that we are so, not from any fear of the bloodthirsty
Mahomedan, or the venal, torture•loving Hindoo, but from
that high sense of justice which is the characteristic of the
English race.

Colonel SYKES, in a careful speech, vindicated the
Company from all responsibility kr the last twenty
years. The Board of Control, he declared, were
entirely responsible for every act of policy during
that period.

After a few remarks from Mr. G. BRIGGS, the
debate was adjourned till Wednesday next.