The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-17 00:00:00

7COLONISATION IN INDIA.

Mr. W. EWART then rose to move the appointment of a
select committee to inquire into the progress and
and the best means to be adopted for the precnotterritt
ropesn colonisation in India ; and the formation of military
stations; especially in the bill districts and healthier climates
of that country ; as wen as for the extension of our com-
merce with Central Asia. In making the motion he
said he should refrain from advancing any theoretical doo-
tribes of his own In its favour. He simply wished to have
an inquiry; to have the facts of theme, both for and against
ooloniastioadgiven in evidence before • select committee of
the house. He was aware that committees had sat upon the
subject of India, melon after session; but although slightly
touched upon from time to time, this question had never
seriously or to any great extent occupied the attention of any
committee. He proposed, therefore, that there should be an
inquiry into this simple question. Those who read through
the reports already made upon a kindred subject would be
struck by the remarkable difference which existed between
the colonisation of other possessions and the colonisation of
India. In the other peesesemna there was a free develop-
ment of British capital, British industry, and British
labour. New British empires were rising in every
port of the globe, but if we turned to India we
found that, excepting the military, the European
adders did not exceed 22,000 individuals. He was aware
that an objection might be made to this motion on the ground
that events in India precluded the possibility of
calarion ; but there were parts of India where the present
time would be peculiarly favourable to the experiment.
Mr. BAILLIE said the motion of his bon. friend was
doubtless a very important one, but he must forgive him for
saying that the time which he had selected for bringing it
forward was not very opportune. (Hear, bear.) In a few
days they would be called upon to legislate for India, and to
frame a new government for that country, and he thought it
would have been well if, before introducing • motion which
intimately concerned the internal condition of their Indian
Empire, his hon. friend had waited to see what form of
government the house might think proper to adopt. Now
in proceeding to say a few words in reference to the moticsi
submitted to the house, he meet, in the first place, exprees
his /lumen at the very sanguine views which his hon. friend
entertained of the possibility of colonising India with Euro-
peans. (Hem.) In all the reports which he had met with on the
subject, it was asserted that even in the hill districts of
India Europeans would not live beyond the third sreneration.
(Hear, hear.) The establishment of military stations in the
Gina was • very favourite theory with many persons ; but be
was assured that if the scheme was adopted it would prove
most injurious to the troops themselves ; who, on descending
the plains, after living in an agreeable climate, would be
found unlit for active duty. Moreover, he put it to his hon.
friend whether it would be just to the people of India to all
upon them to !say, as be had proposed to do, the ex-
pense of establishing such colonies. India was a
highly peopled country a country where labour
was exceedingly cheap, and if colonies were to
be established, Ragland, by whom the colonists would be
seat forth, should certainly bmr the expense. Even if the
thing would not be unjust, it would still be impracticable.
He took it for granted that hie hon. friend expected that
earmista who went out to India from this country would take
with them a certain amount of capital. lie maid not propose
to send mere labourers to • country when labour was so
cheap. But what Englishman would take his capital 10,000
miles from his own country to establish himself in India
without reasonable security foe obtaining a good return; and
who would say that a good return could be obtained in the
hill districts of India P The government had not the
slightest wish to prevent inquiry. They thought that
the present time was inopportune, and that his hon. friend
would do well to postpone his motion till next year; but at
the same time if his hon. friend wished to have an inquiry
se once, they would not throw any obstacle in the way. He
should therefore leave the question with his hon. friend.
Mr. EWART said he was, in common with many other
members on both sides of the house, so desirous of an inquiry,
that he must accept his hon. friend's (Mr. bullies) offer.
The question having been put,
Colonel SYKES stud he regretted very much that the hon.
member for Dumfries had not acceded to the suggestion
which had just been muds to him. The directors
of the BM India Company had anticipated the hon.
geetlemen's whites by sending out orders in Sep-
tember, 1866, for such inquiries as he now
wished to have made by means of a committee ; and he had
that evening placed the Information obtained in stance
Tthe authorities in India In the hon. gentleman's da.
e colonising of the plains of India had been shown to be
quite impracticable. :Why the natives of India would in
certain months of the year be very glad to get rid of their
skins to cool themselves. (Laughter.) What pros-
pect, then, was there of agricultural labourers
from this country being willing to settle in India f
Them, in the hill districts it was hardly Feasible to obtain a
spot of more than 100 yards square and fit to be cultivated;
and there was to be added to this the fact that the most va-
luable pardon of the exports from India could not be grown
la the Mlle. (Hear, hear.))
air I. ELPIIINOTONI hoped that the papers taloned to
by Mr. Bailie would be placed on the table. From his ex-
maim* in India he must say that the statements nude by
the gallant member who bed just sat down were entirely cor-
net. He doubted, hedged, if throughout all India a fern of
600 UM could be °Mend fit for cultivation. Certainly it
could not to obtained in the southern part of the peninsula.
Mr. MANGLES aimed to the lame effect, supporting his
views bp to doennowtery evidence. He defended
the conduct of Indian authorities in relation to this