The Express.
London, England, 1849-02-21 00:00:00

witnemes before that committee a cam night be made out
initiating the committee, and afterwards the how, to express
so minim in favour of a return to pnrection (Hear, hi ar.)
Like the nght boo. butts.% the memStr fir Temworth, I
perceive both is the motion and in :he amendment terms
test might well be objected to. But in whatever way the
motion may be framed, I thick that words pledging the
hoar not to altar its commercial pdicy ought not to be in-
serted. If they be so inserted, I shall be well contented to
made to the original amiss, if not I shill vote for the
asumdment of my hoe. friend, and afterwards vote for the
appointment of a committer.

Mr. DISRAELI would occupy the hone but • few mo-
ments in order to explain the tint position is which Mr.
Media was plead by the amendment proposed and the ob-
servations which bed been made upon it. The mo•inn, as pro-
posed by Mr. Baillie, did not involve commercial considers-
doss at •11, nor did he tooth upas ostannecial topics, lest it
should be supposed that it did so. Yet he was charged
with an attempt at economical retinas, and was met
by the amendment, which placed him in • position of some
embirruiment. If the committee could only be granted on
the condition of the amendment being accepted, those who
supported the motion cou'd not take the committee euhj ci
to such • condition. As to Lord Torringtnu, when he heard
f the attack upon, and the defence of, him made that evening,
aprared to him that the noble lord would prefer the attack
to the defence. He did not then wish to go into the merits
of the case, his chief, if not his sole, object being to viadi-
cate the terms of the motion, which he would not advise Mr.
Finale to alter. They could not vote r,r the amendment,
inumuch as it was utter'y alien to the object which the mo-
tion bad in view. The house should not permit itself to be
led away by " • maticeivre which had not the merit of dex-
terity:" There never was a can more deserving of inquiry,
and Mr. Wile deserved every credit for bringing it forward.
Mr. LABOUC HisRS said he should exceedingly regret if
the house had say dispute about the termed the mnion,seeing
that they were all very generally agreed as to the propriety
of appointing • committee to consider the improvements to
be made in Ceylon and British Gonna. (Hear.) He agreed
with the r:ght hoes. berme, the member for Tamworth, and
his noble friend (Lord J. Russell) in thinking that some excep-
tion might fairly be taken to the original motion, as well es
to the amendment ; and he thought it would not be difficult
for the house to substitute words which would not send oat
au impression to the colonies, that the committee meant to
discuss the principles of free-trade or protection, or that it
was intoaded, on the other bard, to deprive the colonies of
the bassets of the inquiry. Perhaps, the hon. gentleman
opposite, (Mr. Bailin) would accede to an alterati, n in the
motion which might relieve the difficulty, and which would
make it read as follows : " Seine committee to invite and
report to the house whether any messing can be devised for
the better administration and government of the crown

loofa of Ceylon and British Guiana." (" Ob.") The motion
as it stood upon the paper necessarily implied grievances,
and if it went out to the colonies that the house had cep.
pointed a committee to inquire into the grievances com-
plained of by those colonial, it might be attended with die.
advantage. For instance, the whole foundation of the dis-
pute at British Guiana was, that she could not
vets the taxes in consequence of the act of
'46 ; and if it appeared that the committee
were appointed to Inquire into that alleged grievance it
would lead to the expectation that the house were about to
investigate a matter which would lead to an alteration of the
duties there established. The hon. gentleman (Mr. Baillie)
doutitlese disclaimed any intention to make this a eommittee
for the diacussion of free trade or protection ; and, believing
that it was a bond fide motion for inquiry,
he now called upon the bon. mover to remove
ambiguous words from it whi. h were exceedingly liable
at present to misconception. Now, the right hon. baronet,
the member f. r Tamworth, had stated his objections to mime
parts of the conduct of Lord Torrington, and he had parti-
eulsrly Diverted to the indignity nffered to a pretender, a
Cingslase_prince as he styled himself. Bat the ag..ount given
of that affsir at the Colonistoffice differed in some respects
from that the hon. baronet had related. The man pretended
to be a member of &Climates. royal house, but be turned
ge to be a low-ease Indian. The same attempted fraud had
occurred in 1823, in Ceylon, at the time of
an insurrection in the Wand, and that pretender
had she received • hundred lashes previous to being
confined. He mentioned these facts for the purpose of
' showing how difficult it was to judge at a distance of the
conduct of *there who were plated in circumstances of great
difficulty. (Hear, hear.) In reply to the hon. member for
Buckinghamshire, he had to observe that Lord Torrington
had reduced the expenditure of the island by 20,0001. in one
half year, and that be was a man of very considerable ability.
He thought the preposition he had made would meet the
object in view, while it would avoid the practical evil of un-
settling the minds of the colonists, and preventing them
steady and continued habits of industry which were 'satchel
to prosperity; and at the same time it would show them
that we were not about to abandon the system of free trade,
but rather to extend it to the colonies.

Mr. B. OSBORNE protested against the question of free
trade being introduced, is hoodwink the home on this occa
lion, sa trusted that independent memben would not be
tykes in by sedulity a mancruvre, but that they would give
their votes for a full and searching inquiry into the whole
system of colonial government, which had for eo many years
sat like an incubta on the energies of the colonies.
_ _

BAILLIE wished to undorstand whether the amend•
ment was to be withdrawn. (Cries of " Divide.") If so, he
should be prepared to make sonic alteration in his mstion,
which, without altering its same, might meet the views of
hon. gentlemen opfr.sita..

Mr. RICARDO thought there wu not much difference
between them after all. (Laughter.) His object was simply
that the committee should really inquire into the adminis-
tration of the ealonies—that be believed wu the object of

the hon. gentlemen, but there was en expression in the mo-
tion which led him to suppose that the committee might go
into an inquiry on the subject of free trade. (" No," and
" Divide.")

Mr. WARNE, looking oa his hon. friend (Mr. Ricardo)
an the mouthpiece of the gsverninent on this occasion,
should give to ►is proposition his most decided opposition.
(Cheers.)

Mr. P. WOOD negated that the committee should be
appoieted to inquire into the administration and government
of tre eoloeies named, and to report if any improvement
could be made in such administration and government
The Earl of LINCOLN could not vote for the amend-
ment, but in voting fur the original motion he could not
allow his vote to be so far misunderstood as for it to be sup-
posed that he was sacrificing the principle of fr.•e trade.
Lord J. RUSSELL inquired what were the words the hon.
member for Inverness proposed to introduce into his motion.

Mr. BAI LUZ would alter his motion so that it should
stand thus :—That a select committee be appointed to in-
quire into the grievances complained of by the crown colo-
nies of Ceylon and British Guiana, in coupe:las with the
admiestraticrn and government of those dependencies, end
to report their opinion whether any measure can be adopted
for the redress of any grievance of which there may be
shown just reason for complaint.

Mr. MUME objected that that would be leaving out the
wet important point—(" heir," and lauekter)—and eug.
gusted the addition of the words, " and whether any mea-
nly* as be adopted for the better administration and go-
vernment of thous dependencies for the future."

Mr. MAILLII COUSOIHAd to this addition, and Mr. w-
ard.** antendwent having been withdrawn, the original
motion, as altered, was put, awl carried amidst considerable
cheericg

NEW BILLS.: - ' -
Kr. FAGAN obtaioed leave to intr.:duos a bill to make
life policies of invitees*, assigoable at law, and snake other
amendments in the law relating thereto.
Mr. WOOD obtained leave to bring in a bill to enable per.
was who refuse. on religious grounds, to be sworn, to substi-
tute an affirmation for an oath.