The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-06 00:00:00

EAST INDIA CADETSUIPS.

Colonel SYKEB moved for • return of the number of
cadetships, and different eludes of individuals upon whose
sons all cadetships for India have been conferred by the
directors of the East India Company, and President of the
Board of Control, in the wend years from 1840 to 1057,
both inclusive. He said this return would show that nine-
tenths of the patronage had been given to the middle clause,
and that not • single cadetship had been given for party
objects.
Mr. V. SMITH said, if his hon. and gallant friend had
done hint the honour to consult him se to the form of this
return, he should hare been glad to have consented to it M a
modified form, but it appeared to him there would be great
difficulty in making the return as moved. He did not know
how they were to classify individuals. Were they to state ea
to each individual a hether he was the eon of a clergyman, or
a lar or • member of parliament ? (Hear, hear.) He
thought 'that would be very difficult, and if not dielmlt it
would be very invidious. If the hon. gentleman thought,
however, ha could get the return, he had not the lean objec-
tion, but he thought it not well that such • return should be
made. The reason of the middle classes going to India wee,
that it was • profitable sphere, and they had mom of that pa-
tronage because they were more willing to take it. He dial not
know what the hon. and gallant member meant by the middle
classes. If he meant the sons of tradesmen he believed there
were very few who had received cadetships. But there was
no imputation whatever on the persona sent. They bad
many of them distinguished themselves, and there was no
imputation on them. The motion referred to cadetships con-
ferred by the directors of the East India Company and the
President of the Board of Control, whereas he knew very
well that the cadetships were all conferred by the directors.
If the hon. and gallant member wished to show the distinc-
tion he should be too glad to show it. Then the period was
fixed from 1840 to 1857. He could not tell why
that period was fixed upon, till on looking at the
East India Register he saw that in 1840 the
hon. and gallant member was first made a director.
If the hon. and gallant gentlemen would restrict his motion
to the lest ten years, he (Mr. Smith) should have no objeo-
Non to it as tar as be was personally conoerned.
Colonel BYKES had originally intended to make his
motion_ apply to the last 20 years, but he found that re-
turns had already been published which came down to
1840. With regard to the right hon. gentleman's objection
to the form of his resolution, he had only to say that the
returns made under it would exactly follow the precedent
of the returns which had already been laid before the house.
Under these circumetancee he could not consent to any
alteration, and he should, ineoemary, divide the house.
The motion was, however, agreed to without &division.
EAST INDIA (ANNEXATIONS, &c.)
Sir H. VERNEY moved for copies of all papers not I
already presented to the house connected with the various
annexations of territory in India, including minute' by in-
dividual directors, since the annexation of Samna) ; account
of all an= paid to Hindu') or Mahonueum shrines, or in any
way in honour or Ruppert of the religion or of religions in-
stitutions of the native inhabitants of India, which were
collected or disbursed by the agency of the East India Com-
pany's servants during the year 1857 ; copies of the petition
of the inhabitants of Calcutta for the recall of the Governor-
General, together with any observations which he may have
made thereon ; and of any despatches from the Conti of
Directors of the East India Company to the government of
i
India respecting the appointment of commissioners to in-
quire into the cameos of the military mutiny in that country,
end the best means of re-organising the Bengal army.
Mr. V. SMITH explained that the petition for the recal of
Lord Canning had been sent home direct for presentation to
her Majesty. That was an informal mode of proceeding, and
the document bad been returned with an intimation that it
must come through the Governor-General. If the parties
thought proper to persevere with their petition, they would
send it in the manner pointed out, and then the Governor-
General would forward it to the Court of Directore, accompa-
nied with • detailed explanation of the circumstances to
which it referred. Lord Canning having, however, become
aware that the petition in question was in existence, procured
a copy of it, and sent it to the court with • few hasty motes
written upon the margin. That petition, and the notes upon
it, were • public document, and would be published ; but be
(the right hon. gentleman) hoped that the hasty chalet:ter of
those marginal notes would be borne in mind by all that
penieed them.
The motion was then speed to.