The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-13 00:00:00

INDIAN OFFICERS.

Captain JERVIS drew the attention of the house to the
report of the royal commission on the subject of the memo.
rift's of Indian officers, and moved that the assurance in
regard to the pensions and allowances of officers in the East
India Company's service should not be departed from for
the future, and that in those cases where, it had been
unjustly departed from full reparation should be made to
the parties affected. _ _

Colonel SYKES supparted the mption. The hon. and
gallant member entered into a rather lengthy statement in
reference to the subject, and contended that the claims of
the officers in ques,ion should be taken into the considera-
tion of Parliamnt.

Sir C. WOOD said he admitted that these officers were
entitled to the most complete and liberal justice on the part
of the Government. The whole measure of amalgamation
had been sanctioned by the highest authorities, including
the law officers of the Crown, and it had entailed a large
annual charge. nly a small minority of the officers
affected by the change had any ground whatever of com-
plaint. Although promotion in the Company's army had
been by regimental seniority, this rule was liable to excep-
tions, as where reductions were made, and a large reduction
of the native army had been made sine the mutiny. In
conclusion, he intimated that a revision of the scheme was
under the consideration of the Government in concert with
the military authorities.
Captain JERVIS thereupon consented to withdraw his
resolution.

Some further discussion took place, when the motion was
withdrawn.

REPORTS OF SCHOOL INSPECTORS.

Lord R. CECIL moved a resolution that the mutilation
of the reports of her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, and
the exclusion from them of statements and opinions adverse
to the educational views entertained by the Committee of
Commtttee of Council, while matter favourable to them
was admitted, were violations of the understanding under
which the appointment of the inspectors had been originally
sanctioned by Parliament, and tended entirely to destroy the
value of their reports. He supposed cases in which the
practice alluded to might be employed, and asked the house
whether it could trust reports thus expurgated.
The motion was seconded by Mr. WALTER, who ob-
served that this matter was of a very serious character
Thy Inspectors were not mere correspondents of the Com-
mittee of Council, but men eminently competent to advise
and inform the house upon the subject. He had reason to
know, he said, that while opinions adverse to the views he
(Mr. Walter) entertained were allowed to appear in Re-
ports, the opinion of an Inspector favourable to his views
had bee n struck out. This was not fair play,

Mr. LOWE said he was not aware of the case referred
to by Mr. Walter. The Inspectors received instructions
for their guidance in their reports, and if they inserted
improper matter they did not obey their instructions, and
they were required to bring their repot ts into conformity
with them. They applied the rules and principles of the
committee themselves; the work was that of the Inspector
himself. The charge of mutilating the reports was there-
fore groundless, and the mode in which they were laid be-
fore the house was no violation of any understanding. He
hoped the house would not consent to the resolution.
Mr. W . FORSTER said it had been always understood
that the house was to have the fullest information as to the
distribution of the Educational Grant, and this was a time
when they wanted all the information they could get as to
bow this large grant was spent, with the practical sugges-
tions of the Inspectors.
After a few remarks from Mr. LIDDELL,
Sir G. GREY said that his right hon, friend in the course
of his speech had adverted to the practice of other depart.
ments. He felt bound to say, as the result of experience,
that it was absolutely necessary that the head of a depart-
ment should exercise some degree of control over the reports
of their inspectors. (Hear, hear.) He had had occasion
some time ago to call the attention of a certain class of in-
spectors connected with the Home-office to the character of
their reports. If no control were exercised they would have
inspectors writing essays at the public expense.
The house then divided—

For the motion ..
Against it
The announcement of the numbers was received with loud
cheering from the Opposition benches.
Mr. D. GRIFFITH moved for leave to bring in a bill to
afford shareholders in joint-stock companies facilities for
voting by means of voting papers.
The motion was seconded by Mr. HADFIELD, and
agreed to.
Mr. DILLWYN called attention to the insufficiency and
inconvenience of the temporary Museum for Inventions at
South Kensington, and of the Patent office in Southampton--
buildings, when the house was counted out at three minutes
past 8 o'clock.