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London, England, 1825-03-25 00:00:00

; however, he wield grant that it was their duty to suppress the ma-
i tiny at say expense; but when it had subsided be did think a dlr.
terent amuse ought to have been taken from that which bad been
adopted. After the excited feelings of the moment were over and
the mutiny had subsided, he thought matters should have been
managed differently. Was it to be believed that in any part of the
British empire, particularly in India, where we held nonunion of
the country from the natives, the innocent were to be punished
with the guilty It He was not aware of any act of injustice and ty-
ranny equal to the treatmeot offered to the °niters of the 47th re-
giment of native infantry. Daring the height of the mutiny three
officers were appointed to attempt to put a stop to its progress.
They called upon such of the troops as respected their duty and
discipline to advance and declare their inteotion—every commis-
sioned aid non-commissioned officer in the ranks came forward and
expressed their willingness to comply with the proposal. What was
the treatment they received for their fidelity ?—Cuuld any excuse
be devised for the conduct of the Governor-General, who, tour day"
afterwards, Issued a general order, in which he declared, that as it
was impossible the mutiny among the troops could have occurred
without the coosent and privity of the officers. they (the officers)
were therefore dinsniued the serving with disgrace I %Vas it
not ridiculous to hear what followed ? —After these officers
had been so dismissed with infamy, a Court of Inquiry was to be
held, to inquire into their guilt or innocence; and it was said the
Court would have the power of restoring such of the officers as
were not culpable to their rank. Was this -o be tolerated, or were
men capable of such injustice and imbecility fit to remain in the
eituatMns they now occupied ? The general sense and feeling of
the country were, that the Governor-General had lost the confi-
dence of every man in India, whether English or native. This
was a lamentable state of things, but it was the nmural consequence
of such a proceeding. Ile owed it to himself and his sense of
duty, to call upon the House to ascertain whether Ministers had
taken the peeper steps to remedy the mischief. (lieu.) An Hon.
Gentleman cheered ; he should like to know how he would be able
to support his " hear" to the public. He was prepared to prove
the conduct of Government itself had led to the muuny among the
native troops. Though desertions to an alarming extent had
taken place, and murmurs were known to have arisen against
the dangerous and difficult nature of the service, the Govern-
ment did not, as was its duty, anticipate the wants and dis-
satisfaction of the army by prompt and decided measures. The
touplaints—the well-grounded complaints of the troops, were not
redressed as they should have been. Such a crisis was mat the time for
Government to adopt a harrow and niggardly policy with respect
to the necessities of the forces. Their usual allowances had been
repeatedly pared down and diminished. It had been the practice
to supply the Smoys with cattle ;for the purpose of transporting
their baggage. This was known to be necessary ; the troops would
be wholly unfit fur action, were they to carry their baggage under
the scorching climate of India. When the troops were ordered to
march from Barrackpore for the south-eastern frontier, Govern-
ment had already bought up every species of carriage and convey-
ance for the use of the flotilla. He thought it particularly hard to
refuse the Sepoys the necessary assistance to carry their baggage.
(Hear.) They received money it was said, but he would 1113WCF, it
was impossible for money to purchase the requisite means of con.
veyance. (Hear.) So little did the Honourable Member who
cheered (Mr. Wynn) know of India, that he appeared not to be
aware of :his fact by his manner. But he (Mr. Hume) would tell
him such was tievertheles the case. Ile was aware it was difficult
sometimes in England for the army to procure proper convey-
ances for stores Ud baggage. What then must be the case in India ?
The Government should have supplied the pecessary conveyances,
iastead of giving the soldiers money, which was of no use to effect the
object. The Hun. Member proceeded to say—highly as be prised
the private character of Lord Amherst, he believed him iocompe-
tent to perform the duties of Governor of India.' 2 hat situation
required an individual of the highest abilities, one capable of taking
advantage of the varying circumstances of time and occasion. It
required, too, that he possess the confidence of all persons, and sure
he was that half the efficiency of the administration depended on
the confidence reposed in it. The Government of Lord Amherst
had lost that confidence,—froth that circumstance great disad-
vantage follows; it was owing to it that the present state
of affairs was pregnant with the most pressing danger.—
He wee anxious to see the documents fur which he intended
moving, to know if any, and what reduction in the pay of
the Sepoys had been recommended. lie wished too for
them, that if Lord Amherst be guiltless he may be acquitted.
He had intended to move for the papers connected with the mu-
tiny, but gave up the idea on hearing that they had not all arrived
—that no accounts were received of the proceedings up to the clue
of the sittings of the Committee. The despatches, however, of the
Marquis of Hastings, respectiog the reorganisation of the army,
and the answer thereto, he wished for, as he wanted to see how far
the changes recommended were carried into effect. No incon.
venience could result from giving these papers-ono danger could
arise from it—in fact no danger could be so great as that
which would follow the concealment of the facts. (Hear, hear.)
Nothing was more likely to prove fatal to India than ignorance on
the part of England as to its attain. The Hon. Gentleman after
some further remarks moved for a copy of the military despatch of
the year 1819 to the secret department of the East India Company,
respecting the organisation of the army in India; and for a copy of
the accusation sent thereto in 1823, and also for copies of despatches
showing that the said organisation had been carried into effect.
On the question being put from the Chair
Mr. C. iFYNN said, that before he entered fully into the merit.
of the question before the House he bagged to state its to one point
of the Hon. Member's speech he entertained the most perfect coin.
cidence of opinion—it aasas to the propriety of placing full coati-
dence in the Government of India. It vas necessary that great
confidence be placed in the administration of a country of such
mighty extent, containing so many millions of inhabitants, situs-ei
too at such an immense distance from England. Ile again re-
peated, that he agreed with the Hon. Member that a large portion
of discretion trust naturally be placed in the Government of India.
Let the House look to the circumstances. The space of five months
was consumed in the transmission of any despatch to this
country requiring instructions on any head ; live months more
elapsed before an answer reached India. There was naturally
a further delay ere these instructions could be carried into effect.
Let the House consider this, and must not they pronounce that man
mad who was not prepared to leave much to the discretion of the
Government there? (Hear, hear.) lie was glad to heat' the Rota
.Slenmber avow the sentiment ; but at the same time must be amazed
that he had not the same consideration towards the conduct of the
officers then in India. He was surprised, he said, that he did not
place confidence in them until some more full information was had
on the subject, and until an opportunity was afforded Lord Amherst
of stating the true nature of all the facts. He hMr. Wynn) must
continue to repose confidence in him. The Committee appointed
to inquire into the late Mutiny were sitting whets the last despatches
were sent from India ; indeed, the most recent information was an
account only five days after the Committee commenced their sit-
tinge. Such imperfect information as that it would be impolitic if
not a positive injustice to lay before the House. That was his con-
viction ; on that conviction would he act, however anxious he
might be, and however desirable it was the public should be set
right and disabused of the erroneous notions they entertained as to
the administration ofLordAmberst and the present state of affairs in
India. Now to come to the mutiny of Barrackpore. Ile asked the
Hon. Member what his object was in moving for the despatch of
the Marquis of Hosting., and the answer to it in reference to that
unfortunate affair. Why not move for every other despatch?
Why not move for all military orders connected with India ? None
of them had less connexion with the subject than the letter of Lord
Hastings and the answer of the Company. Neither in the letter
nor despatch was any the most remote allusion to the pay or allow-
ances to the Sepoys. Hear, hear.) They alluded solely to the
European officers (hear. hear); they alluded merely to regulations '
respecting European officers, and the regulations introduced in con-
sequence had the effect of raising their pay in some instances and
lowering it in other. Of thnse alterations no general complaint was
made, and no discontent followed their adoption. A little grum.
bling there certainly was from individuals. They murmured at the
new regulations as they pressed on themselves; for, from the ar-
rangement with respect to the battalions of regiments, it so hap-
pened that the rank of a few individual officers was not so high as
it would have been under the old system. The number of corn.
plaints did not altogether exceed five ; but what he contended for
was, that no general representation was made against them, that no
dismount was engendered by them. For Isis own part, he could
assure the House chat the alteration then adopted in the military
system in India was productive of great good. It hastened the res.
motion of officers, by shortening the period of service that entitlei
them to superior rank. Another reason for not acceding to the
Hon. Member's motion was, the great public inconvenience that
must Insult from it ; it would expose the feelings of officers as to
how they would be effected by the intended changes. Resides that,
some of die arrangements were subsequently given up. Would it
not be unfair then to lay before the House papers not having the
slightest connexion with any thine in the preunt Milt of afftirs,
and having recorded in them thw opinions of officers as to their indi-
vidual interests with respect to the statement of the lion. Member
as to the privations endured by the Sepoys, to which privations he
attributed the mutiny at Barrackpore ? In answer to that statement
he oust say, that in Huth there was no privation—no allowance was
stopped, no comfort taken away. Ile was free to admit there were
complaints; that in consequence of the demand of Government for
bullocks and carriages so for conveyances of stores to Boogonn, no
mode of conveyance teas left theist for their baggage. When that
representation was made, inquiry was instantly set on foot, said four
thousand rupees granted to them to purchase cattle. An answer
was returned that no cattle could be had, that all had been bought
up by Government. In contradicsion to that statement the Right
lion. Gentleman read a letter, setting forth, that when discontent
first appeared among the troops ten bullocks were granted to each
company for the conveyance of its baggage. It further appeared,
from • statement of Sir Edward Paget, that at the time of the
refusal to march the bullocks were actually within the lines
of the 47th regiment. Now let the lion. Member for a moment
conceive a regiment under such circumstances refusing to march
when ordered, each man having at the time 4'3 rounds of ammuni-
tion; let him look to all thecircumstancca, and say if promptitude
and decision were not called for. Must not the least show of fear
or hesitation produce the worst consequences, and be destructive of
all military discipline? Who um prepared to say that firing on
them was not necessary ? The lion. Olt-tuber stated on the an-
thoritv of private letters there were 180 killed, but such an asser-
tion lowed the incorrect information furnishes' through such a
source. And nsw that lie was on the subject of private latter, he
would inform the Houle that he himself' read ova 41) of them, each
differing from the other as to the :lumber killed, sane stating it to
be over 400. But he did not speak of the matter lightly, lie hoped
he never should be suspected of underrating the deprivation of
human life ; all he contended for was the impolicy, he would add
the impossibility, of doing anything in the present dearth of infor-
mation. (Hear, hear.) And suppose it should turn cut that many
lino; were taken sway, was there no allowance to be nude for the

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