The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-18 00:00:00

(Stamped ld. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

INDIA REFORM

Last night a public meeting was held in Bt.
Martin's Hall, for the purpose of considering the condition
of India and the working of the doable government. Vis-
count Beer, M.P., in the chair. The meeting wait well
attended, but the mom was not anything like full.
Mr. Roreece, M.P., said they were met there Ike a very
important purpose. The people of this country devolved
upon oaten the duty of eoverning them, but the people erg
this country sometimes met to tell those who governei them
what they thought of the mode in which the gummiest wee
oonducted. They were now met to tall the government
what they thought of the government of India. (Hue,
hear.) There we. a etreefeer feeling Mena with Fagan:lln
India than ever existed before. ((ieu, beer.) Rome in Al
her greatness had no empire like that of the Indian ample oe
England. It we. won for England b the hardihood sad
bravery of the Denali people. (Cheers. That empire was
founded by Clive , and men of the dock e him. (Hear, hear.)
Of the justice by which their Indian empire had been
acquired he would not then speak. We went to India as
traders and we remained as conquerors. But he believed thee
the government of India by England was a blessing to the
people of India. (Neer, hear.) Thep acquired India by un-
just means, but they should henceforth govern it with
• due sense of their reeponeibility to God end
man. (Hear, hear.) The people of India derived
benefit from the government of England, but the 'everting
clews of India had been put down by them, and those chums
would continue their enemies. The East India Company
stepped in between these two. At the time when the double
government of India was founded George 111. was king,
and George 111. believed that if there was • parliamentary
government of India his power would be curtailed. Mr.
Feria India Bill was, therefore, lost, end Mr. Pitt brought in
his India Bill, which in substance wee still the law. The
President at tie Beard el Cottrell was tie resi rinmoni
of India, but he and the East India Company played the
game of " nobody's child." The Board of Control disclaimed
responsibility, the East India Company disclaimed responsi-
bility, and the Governor-General of India disclaimed respon-
sibility. (Hear, hear.) Thus there was no responalbility
which they could lay their hands on. What be Mould pro-
pose wee to abolish the East India directors and the Board of
Control, and to establish in lieu thereof • Secretary
of State for India. (Hese, hear.) But having established
a &teeter, of State for India, they should inquire
what the government of India in India should be.
He should propose tbst the three presidencies of India should
be retained, but that there should be municipalities in Cal-
cutta, Medals, and Bombay, composed of the Englishmen in
those towns, who would govern themselves as Englishmen in
other colonies governed themselves. The colonies of England
were governed by Englishmen who took out with theca the
ideas and feelings of Englishmen. But India was M • very
different position. The tiger of India, with its sleek skin and
its velvety paw, with death lurking beneath, was an apt
illustration of the Indian. (Hest, hear.) Whose heart in
this country did not bleed at the recital of the deeds which
had been dens in India ? Could Englishman be guilty at
such deed. f (.' No, no," and " Yee, yes." to Peterioo.")
Captain ATCII CRLEY —There is • red Indian sitting near
me. (Laughter and interruption.)
Mr. ROEBUCK said he did not so read the history of his
' country. Englishmen could not be guilty of those deeds.
If Indians could govern themselves, he should say let the
people of India govern themselves in accordance with English
Weimer:ma. But the Indian people were not able to
govern themselves. (Hear.) They moot therefore be governed
by Englishmen. (Hear, hear.) Well, how were trill,"
governed ? They had heard a good deal about "old I
He heard a member of the HOMO of Commies sweet that
torture exiated in India, and one of the " old Indiana," who
had been the chairman of the East India Company, denied
the statement in the most positive manner. (Hear, hear.)
Yet it was proved that torture existed in India. (Hear,
hear.) Again, it had been vehemently asserted by "old
Indians" that the Sepoy army would not revolt,—that he
was too mild and gentle to revolt,--and that on the very eve
when the Sepoy army was about to mutiny, and to commit
the most fsigbtfnl atrocities. (Hear.) He ceutioned them,
therefore, how they trusted to "old Indian" experience,
and to beware whose testimoey they received on this ques-
tion. (Hear.) They most get rid of the East India COM-
my sad the Board of Cuter), and have direct reopersibility
he government of India. But much depended on the
people out of doors. The representative. in parliament some-
times required the rpm and mmetimee the bridle. (Hear,
bear.) They must impress on their reeruentatives the
duty of watching the affairs of India. The diecussion
in parliament could not he shelved. The independence and
Went of parliament would be applied to the question, hut that
independence and talent that would fall unless supported by
the impulse feeling. (Hair.) It was then the duty of each
of them to weigh this question well. He believed the time
we. not far distant when they would all have • direct action
on the pediment of England. (Cheers.) The empire of
England we. spread everywhere over the fees of the globe.
Her empire wee like the light of the IMO, but it must depend
on them whether it ins to be a panful, terrific, and horror-
era mg light, or • beneficent and bountiful light. He wished to
know whether the people of England were se good se they
ware great, ea wine as they were sagacious ; whether their
empire conduced to the happiness of mankind, se it did to
the greatness of England. (Cheers.) He wished to see
England good as she was great, to be heralded by the
nations se the coming good sad glory of mankind. He
would not...wish her to be cursed for the misery of her rule,
bat blessed as the happiness and glory of mankind. (Cheers.)
Mr. Roebuck, whose speech wee frequently interrupted by
Captain Atcherley, which ended in his expulsion from the
meeting, concluded by moving the following resolution
' That the system of the double government of India, as
toted by the results of its administration, has proved alike
incompatible with the welfare and happiness of our fellow-
subjects in that country, and with the safety and commercial
prosperity of the British empire; and therefore that, with a
view to secure our national interests, and also to raise the
morel and social condition of the people of India, to develop
their reeourece, and to give them protection for '
geoperty, it is expedient that there be established Peerrizadia a
17ible form of government in the name of the crown,
I"swhich all abuses may be checked by the control of the
people of England, exercised through their representatives in
the House of Commons."
Mr. (Tway seconded the resolution.

Mr. Mnan supported the resolution. He referred at some
length to the course of events in India, and charged upon
Lord Canning and the government at home the blood which
bad been shed in Cawnpore and the miseries which had been
endured in Lneknow. (Cheers.) The world never presented
such en example of misrule as the
_government of India.
The people of India woe not tigers, but mild, gentle, and
trustworthy. Tbs eepoy was indeed a tiger, but the real
tiger of India was the East India Company. (Cheers.) It
=on the people of England whether thin system of
wee to 00EWIDE. Ile hoped they would feel a des
semis of their responsibility and urge their representatives to
abolish the existing government of India. (Hear.)
Mr. COLLET proposed an amendment in the eame terms
so that which he moved at the London Tavern. The East
lades Company were not responsible for the annexation
policy or the Afghan and Persian wars. If Lord Dalhousie
and Lord Canning were bed governors, who was responsible
for that but the government which appointed them. The
Emit India directors recalled Lord Ellenisrough for the an-
nexation of Scinde, and this wan the return that body met
with from their fellow-countrymen. (Hoar, hear.)

The amendment was put and lost. s
Mr. C. Waiter moved an addendum to the motion to the
onset that they ought to raped the political rights and reli-
gions feelings of the people of India, and to ensure this that •
radical change in the representation of the people of this
eciantry was required.
Mr. Ronerex said he wee a friend of parliamentary
reform, bat he thought it could be best promoted by keeping
It distinct from the question of India reform. (Hear hear.)
Mr. LOCKHART seconded the addendum, and said that it
arm folly to throw all the blame of the misgovernment of
India on the UM India director.. Since 1833 the govern-
ment had all power and authority in India, but till parlia-
ment was reformed they never would have good government
either in this coustry or in India. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was put and carried, there being two die-
seadents. _ _

On the addendum being pot,
Mr. J. JON Es said it •••• because he was concerned for the
welfare of the people of India that he appeared before them.
Tb. effect of the resolution wee to throw on the parliament
of this country the government of India. He believed that
t, a. at present eonetltuted, was about the worst
Mb on to devolve the government of India. (Haar,
hrr.) The parliament of this country had not time to
ere Indian subject.; and even if they had the time, they
Ind not the members of perliament who had the ability to
discuss them. ("Oh, oh," and "Hear, hear.") It was
only at the We meeting at the London Tavern that the
chairman, a member of parliament, displayed entire igno-
rance of the subject to be discussed. (" Oh, uh," and cries of
" Sit down.") Mr. Jones continued to Ocher the meeting
for some time in the midst of great confusion, the audience
miring to hear him.
The addendum wee then put and carried amidst loud
cheers._ . .

Yr. ERN P.qT Josas moved a petition tQQ parliament, which
was carried, after which the meeting brol up with • vote of
&maks to the chairman.

PRINCE ALBEIT'S PRIZE POLY.—The subject of
the pm, for which Prinot Albert annually give, a gold
modal at Cambridge will for the coming year be .D 4111."
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SCRGEONS.—The following
members of the college, having undergone the nearer,
ezaniinations, were admitted licentiates In miderthey at
meeting of the board on the 16th instant —Messrs. gamed
Oliver, Ouildford-strest, Ituraell•nonare ; Charles David'
Dols, Aldgate ; Thomas Edwin Edward", Gloucester-
moment North, Westboarne-perk ; Fredmiok Thomas
Aisembly•row, ; Jamie John Beer,
Holbortf ; William Sty, Winchester, lionsirset, end CU**
Theophllas Konica, Plaistow, Sam.