The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-14 00:00:00

BAST INDIA COMPANY.

After our report left yesterda
The CllalltaLta sea, aftery, what they had leftward
within the last few weeks:during which a ministry, having a
commanding majority in the House of Commons, had been
mini;e mated from rower and • which wee fez from lav-
ing • majority had acceded to he would be • very bold
man who should attempt to prop what would be the
fate of any measure in the House o 7 Commons. He was
present at the very remarkable debate which occurred
on the previous night. He hardly ever before wit-
needed such • scene in the Home of Commons—such

an abduction of their proper functions by the
=Misters of the crown—(chew)—suen • wish
to transfer those functions to the hands of an eminent
member of the home. Though the home
=josthd tolerate the treader of the functions of the govern-
ment, and compelled the ministry to accept their repoasi-
bility to the matter, yet, such was the effect of the speeches
delivered that he thought no member of the home could
after that debate haute been bold enough, any more than he
himself wis, to utter any prediction as to the fate of either,
or both, of the bills, or to lay that the East India Company
would not be allowed to exercise its fanotions, at any
rate, for another year. (Hear, hear.) Under these
irca...Amami ho loped Om netneat of prostratore
would leave it to their executive body to adopt
these measures which they might think beet suited
to secure the rejection of either or both of the bills in their
present form, or if it should be the determination of puts-
meat end the country that power should be taken ant of the
bands of the Bast India Compsny, and madded to the
crown, to divest the bill which might be proceeded with of
its most objectionable features. (Hear, hear. Now the
bills as they stood he considered comparatively unimportant,
for he believed they would be so modified, clause by dame,
in committee, that their patents would not know them.
(Laughter.) In short, the whole contest would take place in
oommittes. (Hera, hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer
had sanonnoed it to be hi. intention to propose a serfs of
resolutions. What those resolutions would be he (the
Chairman) had not the smallest notion ; but he had
been informed, within a short time, that they Wen
concocted in a conference between Lord John
Russell and the Chancellor of the Exchequer a
statement of the correctness of which he had at present so
means of judging. Those resolutions would, he apprehended,
oonsist merely ef the affirmation of certain general principles;
he could not imagine that they would include any details.
Probably, the first resolution would be that it was desirable
to Osman the government of India frolll the lands of the
Best India Company to those of the crown • the next neon-
tion would probably be, that the governmeeit of India should
be carried on by a Secretary of State, assisted b a counciL
But, whatever might be the nature of the resolution., he ex-
pected that the whole inmate would take pace in cook-
male; when the bill would be considered daubs by clause;
and it would be the duty of those directors who bad mete to
parliament to unite with those numerous independent member
ot parliament who were determined not to deal with
the Indian government ea • party question, in en
endeavour to introduce such alteration& Into the bill
' that this new system of government would be the
beet that could be obtained. (Herr, hear.) There were tad
great principles which he had always maintained were essen-
tial to the good government of India ; one was, that the
mown mast be supreme—the aldose ratio of the whole sys-
tem; the other was that there should be a body—whither it
were mated • court of directors or a council did not matter—
possessing such powers and exercising each funotimas thst
they would be able to sand erect and to hold their own
nine& the government of the day.
Mr. Lewitt—What about the proprietors P (Hear.)
The Cements—Well, that was eomewhat of • h
question. (Laughter.) In their report the direct=
they considered it desirable that there should be en inde-
pendent body which might call for information, and by whom
Indian subjects might be discussed. How it would be
possible to combine such a body with • council he wee not
prepared to say. It Wei not his business to frame • bill.
When be Ina celled in by her Majesty's government he
should be prepared to give his opinion se to how that object
might be beet Waded.
Mr. Lwerne—Do you think that the proprietors should be
the mouthpiece of the people of India I'
The CHAIRMAN MUM repeat that it was not his banner
to frame • bill for the government of India. (Hear, hear.)
His business se chairman of the Come of Dinetaii, sodas
an earnest well-wisher to India. we. to endeavour to sake
the bill introduced by the responsible advisers of the crown
as little objectionable as possible and as beneficial as possible
to the people of India, and for that end ha would earnestly
and conscientiously struggle.
Mr. Coot—Consistently, at the same time, with the
right of the proprietors.
The CHAIRMAN—WeII, he wam a representative of the
.company, and he hoped he should never abandon the rights
et his constituents. (Cheers.) Under the airounisaness It
was most &Arable that the court should pees • mazdname
resolution, end as there we., in fad, but little difference be-
tween the original resolute= sad Mr. Lewis's ameedeastit, be
hoped the latter would be withdrawn. (Han beer.)
In compliance with the request of the Chairman, Mr.
Lewis withdrew his &misdates; and Colonel Wilkinson's
mond= was afterwards carried umanlenotudy. It we. in
the following terms :
" That this, court concurs in the opinion of the Court of
Directors that neither of the bills now before parliament is
calculated to secure the good government of India, end they
accordingly authorise and request the Court of Direeton to
take each meseures as may appear to them advisable for re-
the passe of either bill through parliament, end
sg
Introducing into any bill for altering the constitution of the
government ot India such oonditione as may promise a
system of administration caloulated to promote the Intim*
of the people of India, end to prove madman to the gestmel
wean.'
This tenninated the proosedlngs.

TIM BALLOT BOIRIII.—We to remind our
readers that the Lerma asi* to Mr. N ou, dis ballot
of the ballot in the British le to tabs place at the
Prowassona' Tavern thle weal . Budriwn 3.11-Pe
Sir Arthur H. .P., Mr. Cowley, M.P.,
Genera Thoensonl.7lz. m.r., Mr. Aytten,
M.P., Mr. MP, Mr. WyM, PadM Crorkaitgais
Mr. Morley, Mr, MIA Mr. 'taltarst, other
hinds of the ballot, vlll he presant.
Unman= Dzezzi.—The Univenity of Eclin-
at a swift laid as Saturday last, conferred the de-
res h I.L.D. an nohow Ferrier, of fit. Andrew's, author
M " Isslitatee of Molmpittan."