The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-20 00:00:00

EVENING, APRIL 20, 1862.

Committee to report from time to time on measures
likely to prove beneficial to the working classes.
MAYNOOTH GRANT.
Mr. SPOONER, postponed his motion respecting the
Maynooth Grant tilt Thursday, the 4th of May.
Mr. BRIGHT wished to know whether the Hon.
Member did really intend to bring forward his motion,
as it had already been postponed two or three times, and
the repeal of the grant was being made a party cry
throughout the country.—(Order.) Ho ought to fix a
day, and stand by it.—(Continued cries of " Order.")
Mr. SPOONER—I have fixed a day and will stand
by it; the reason I have postponed the motion is that the
position it occupied on the paper rendered it utterly im-
possible to bring it on.
MASSACRE AT THE SOLOMAN ISLANDS.
Mr. M. MILNES asked the Secretary to the Admi-
ralty whether any steps had been taken by her Majesty's
Government, to inquire into the facts connected with the
reported massacre of Sir Benjamin Boyd, at the Soloman
Islands, with the view of placing the question of his fate
beyond doubt, and of taking such ulterior measures as
may be necessary?
Mr. STAFFORD said directions had been sent by
the mail which left on the 24th ult. desiring one or two
vessels, which were under orders to return home,
to return by the route of the Soloman Islands,
in order to obtain some account of Sir Benjamin Boyd.
Of course every measure would be adopted for his relief
in the event of his still being alive. Efforts would be
made to enlist the services of the United States' whalers
who frequented these islands in the search which was
being made for the missing gentleman.
Sir R. H. INGLIS asked the Secretary to the Admi-
ralty how far the attention of the Board had been di-
rected to any plan or plans for facilitating disembarka-
tion from ships into boats, in the event of fire occurring
at sea; and how far the crews are or ought to be exer-
cised in any such plan or plans.
Mr. STAFFORD said that sedulous attention had
been directed to this important subjeot by the Admi-
ralty, and some of the many inventions which were
almost daily submitted to the Admiralty for facilitating
the lowering of boats would be put into practice on board
her Majesty's vessels. Instructions had been given to
the captains of vessels to keep the boats and gear in
proper condition, so that they could be easily re-
leased, and they would be required to enter a weekly
report on the log book.
MR. BRAGGS.
Lord DUDLEY STUART wished to put a question
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer respecting some
outrages alleged to have been committed on British
Braggs,sub-
belonging to one of her Majesty's
ships at Leghorn. Had any steps been taken to obtain
particularly on a non-commissioned
officer named jreecciTtrsheisenaCTfollurAs:Narryßranadgae of the EXCHEQUER said it
was quite true that Mr. Braggs having got into some
squabble with the police was ill-treated, and the agent
of the police was imprisoned for his misconduct for eight
days. Government,however, would not accept this as suffi-
cient reparation for the outrage, and negotiations were
still going on with Tuscany on the subject.
Lord D. STUART said that information had reached
him that no such punishment had been inflicted upon
the superintendent of the police, but only on one of the
corporals.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had
been given to understand that the punishment was in-
flicted on the chef de post du gensdarmie.
Lord DUDLEY STUARTMATHE should be glad to know
what was doing in this case.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
that as active negotiations were still proceeding in
the matter, it would be quite out of place for him to
enter into details now.—(gear.)
INTERMENT IN TOWNS.
1 On the motion of Sir JAMES DUKE the following
return was ordered The Report on the results of a
spec inquiry
ui ryinto
Supplementaryth e
RP
practice
of Interment in Towns,"
presented to the House in 1842 by command of her Ma-
jesty;Special inquiry into the practice po
fo rltzt
en the results
Interment
nen
ttn
Towns,of
185
presented to the House in 1843 by command of her
the General
House Schemen of Ma-
jesty; " the Report of the General Board of Health on a
" The Report of the General Board of Health on a
General Scheme of Extramural Sepulture for Country
oExbtyra commandm of her Majesty; and Sepulture," presented to
Extramural
Towns," presented to the House in 1851 by command
of her Majesty, be referred to the Committee on the
London Necropolis and National Mausoleum Bill.
PARISH VESTRIES.
Sir DE LACY EVANS then rose to move for leave
to bring in a Bill to amend an Act of the first and second
year of King William the Fourth, for the regulation of
vestries, with reference to joint parishes.
Mr. C. LUSHINGTON seconded the motion.
Mr. WALPOLE said there would be no objection to
was intended
isethe Bill, blithe should be glad to know if it
intended that the Bill should apply to joint parishes
generally, or only to those of the metropolis?
Sir DE LACY EVANS said it would apply to seve-
ral parishes.
Leave was then given to bring in the Bill.
THE CHURCH AND MR. BENNET.
Mr. HORSMAN then rose to move, that whereas by
the constitutions and cations ecclesiastical of the Church
of England it is decreed and ordained, that "no bishop
shall institute any to a, benefice who bath been ordained
by any other bishop, except he first show unto him his
letters of orders, and bring him a sufficient testimony of
his former good life and behaviour, if tho bishop shall
require it; and lastly, shall appear, on due examination,
to be worthy.ot his ministry." (Canon 39.) Also, that
" no curate or minister shall be permitted to serve in any
place without examination and admission of the bishop
of the diocese, or ordinary of the place, having episcopal
jurisdiction, in writing under his hand and seal, having
respect to the greatness of the care and meetness of the
party. And the said curates and ministers, if they re-
move from one diocese to another, shall not be by any
means admitted to serve without testimony of the bishop
of the diocese, or ordinary of the place as aforesaid,
whence they came, in wri:ing, of their honesty, ability,
and conformity to the ecclesiastical laws of the Church of
England:" (Canon 43.) An humble address be pre-
sented to her Majesty, praying that she will be
graciously pleased to direct inquiry to be made, whether
due respect was paid to the decrees of the Constitutions
and Canons Ecclesiastical of the Church of England in
the recent institution of Mr. Bennett to the vicarage of
Frome. This case, the Hon. Member observed, had
brought so much scandal upon the Church that he did
not despair of inducing the House to adopt this motion.
Ho had, however, no charge to make against Mr.
Bennett upon his religious convictions; because as
long as he violated no law the Reverend
Gentleman had a right to adopt what princi-
ples he thought fit; but it was with the acts of
Mr. Bennett that he had to deal with, and the conduct
of one of the dignitaries of the Church in connexion with
Mr. Bennett. The House was aware that in 1843 Mr.
Bennett was appointed by the Bishop of London to the
living of St. Paul's, and from that period down to 1850
a system prevai!ed at St. Paul's which eventually excited
the indignation of the public, and led to his removal. Ac-
cording to a letter which the Rev. Gentleman himself
had published it appeared that his proceedings had so
exasperated the public mind that a large police force was
required to keep the neighbourhood of the church in
order, and on one occasion some of the people who at-
tended the church were carried before the police
magistrates and punished. The magistrate, how-
ever, in sentencing the accused parties, strongly
censured the conduct of Mr. Bennett and his followers,
and the subject afterwards so forced itself upon the at•
tention of the press that the Bishop of London was at
length induced to remove the Rev. Gentleman from his
living. The letter of the Bishop accompanying the dis-
missal was familiar to the House, as must also be
the reply of the Rev. Gentleman to it. It would be re-
membered that the Bishop's letter recommended Mr.
Bennett to resign, or legal measures would be taken to
remove him; and in accordance with that recom-
mendation Mr. Bennett did resign, and his resig-
nation was accepted by the Bishop; not, however,
before the Rev. Gentleman had made a formal
protest that he had violated no rules of the
Protestant Church, and the Bishop had declared
that he had not only been unfaithful to the Church but
insubordinate to his diocesan. It was then publicly re-
ported that Mr. Bennett had either gone to Rome or in-
tended to go there; but at all events, however that
might be, the people of England fancied he bad left
their church for ever. Imagine, however, their surprise,
after what he had said and written, that it should
come to pass that he should again be appointed
to a living in the Protestant church. It was
a matter of surprise that any patron could present
him, but a still greater matter of surprise
that any prelate could be found hardy enough
to institute him. When Mr. Bennett left St. Paul's he
declared that his religious convictions were unchanged
and unchangeable, and it was right that the House
should know what church he attended during the twelve
months which intervened between his resignation
and his appointment to the living of Frome.li
116 had been stated in a public print that Mr. Bennett had
spent the interval in Bavaria, where, instead of at-
tending the English Protestant Church, he was
constant attendant at mass, and upon subsequentt__n
inquiry being instituted into the truth of this
stement it was found to be substanally correct.
The fact was notorious to all English reastidextr:
and it might be considered as proved that
nr t s Bennett was, to all intents and out-
wardlyPill-
at least, a Roman Catholic,
he had been
all sympathy for the Church in which
brought up. Notwithstanding these circumstances Protestant
he was appointed Protestant Minister of rshead lost
peoplea of Frome
congregation at Frome.—(gear.)
The dreaded what
were in an agony of apprehension, and bad occurred in _London, might, take
Place in biome; and
they sent a very strong, but most respectful memorial
to the patroness of the living to cancel theappointment
a the
This memorial was signed by five clergyreri
innd the
most influential part of the Pe° Preeceived was
town, but the only reply they -
r dy made, and
that the appointment was
could not be reversed, Now,the patroness
appointment, because in making
and
legal right,
only exercises an undoubted
s and convictions.
according to her conscientious views and
since
the writings and preachings of the Rev.
P beyond
not complain of the
had under-
all doubt that his views and to labour under
his appointment to the living obfeFdraiodiniet,
principles
gone no change, and be appeared
s, Protestantism
the impression that, within ten y
of use in Pro-
to be a faction, so far as it was He passed
meting and extending Christianity.
but lie
no opinion upon such doctrines,
Propounded
would have ceased to exist, and theear Bible be found
• been
simply mentioned them as having
wittim the parish church ef Freme 2.1.571
Ul p L
against by his own perishioners The '
had long ago been made acquainted of at those recente
and the reverend genii9o2an was at full]
proceedings, bat he had takea no notice
ieft tnem

liberty to go on preaching those principles which
he (Mr. Horsman had faintly introduced to
the House as they were explained by the
Rev. Gentleman himself. Now the House was fully
conversant of the immense powers exercised by a bishop.
He was a dignitary at large enjoying great wealth,
and being responsible to no one he could live
where he liked, or do as he liked. If the Bishop
were a bad man, his power could be used for
the purpose of inflicting injury upon the
people ; while, on the other hand, if he ware
well disposed and gifted with a nice conscience,
his office was capable of much good. The ecclesias-
tical law, however, regulating the appointment of
beneficed clergymen was exceedingly strict. It required
that before he could be appointed three bene-
ficed clergymen should certify that they had constant
opportunities for a period of three years previously
of observing his conduct, and they had Been nothing in
it that was contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the
Church of England. Now, had such a certificate
boon signed by three beneficed clergyman in this in-
stance, having reference not to three but to one
year previous to the appointment ? He hi.cl
been told three such beneficed clergymen had
been found to make such a certificate, while the
Bishop of London himself had countersigned it, de-
cluring his conviction that for three years last past Mr.
Bennett had done nothing in opposition to the principles
of the Church, or at variance with its discipline.
(LEFT SPEARING.)

DE STRUCTIVE FIRE.
Yesterday morning, about one o'clock, the inhabi-
tants of queen-street, Rateliff, were alarmed by the sud-
den outbreak of a fearful fire in the premises cccupied
by Mr. W. Werneking, licensed victualler, and proprie-
tor of the Rainbow Tavern, situate at No. 4, in the
above-mentioned street. Tho several residents in the
house in attempting to gain the street by the staircase
were driven back to their rooms by the flames. Mr.
Werneking, having fortunately succeeded in gaining the
street in safety, obtained the assistance of au old ladder,
and having placed it against one of the windows, he was
in the act of leading his wife down, when one of the
rounds gave way, and she was thrown upon her face.
Fortunately she was not very seriously injured. The
servant girl, however, who was in the second floor back,
on finding the fire approaching her room, in order to
avoid being burnt to -iota, jumped out of window, and
fell with a fearful crash on the ground. The poor
creature was picked up and was found to be so
seriously injured that she was forthwith obliged to be
removed to the hospital, where she at present re-
mains in a state of great suffering. A man and a
boy were also obliged to make a precipitate retreat from
the first floor, and the lodgers were driven to similar
expedients. The engines were quickly on the spot, and
a plentiful supply of water having been procured, the
firemen were setting their engines to work, when the
whole building suddenly fell to the ground. The fire
communicated with the premises belonging to Mr. E.
Standish, No. 5, next door. The destruction of the
last-named building appeared inevitable, when the bri-
gade, who were aided by about 50 hired assistants,
worked the engines with full vigour, and they at length
succeeded in getting the flames extinguished. The
damage dune is thus officially reported by Mr. Braid-
wood to the various fire offices forming the London esta-
blishment :—" The premises of Mr. W. Werneking,
licensed victualler, and known as the Rainbow, were
very old, and fell down shortly after they took fire; con-
tents were insured in the Royal Exchange Fire-office.
The premises which belonged to Messrs. Lerchin end
Co., of Queen-street, were insured in the Legal and Com-
mercial Fire-office. The premises of Mr. Standish have
the roof and side wall considerably damaged by fire,
and the furidture by removal and water ; the contents
were insured in the Phceaix Fire-office, and the building
was insured in the Legal and C immercial-office. The
furniture of Mr. G. Thorp, cowkeeper, No. 3, in the
same street, is likewise damaged by removal and water.
The lose will fall on the Royal Exchange Fire-office."

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, APRIL 19.
SrocK EXCHANGE.—The share market continues very
firm. Great Westerns were done to-day at 921/;—South-
Eastern and Dover, 22% —York and North Midland, 26.
LIVERPOOL, APRIL 19.
STOCK EXCHANGR.—There was an improved feeling ex-
hibited in the share market to-day, and a good business
has been done at improved prices. The sales reported were—
Eastern Counties, 9 9-IG—Last Lancashire, 17%—Lanca-
shire and Yorkshire, 74—Ditto, Fifths, 6 dis.—Liverpool,
Crosby, and Southport, 21--London and North-Western,
125 —Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 35—Mid-
land, 68,A—Shropshire Union (Railway and Canal), 3 dis.—
York and North Midland, 2.55.
MANCHESTER, APRIL 19.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—There has been a fair amount of
business transacted to-day, without material alteration in
prices. The only transactions were as follow :—Ambergate,
Nottingham, Boston, and East Junction, 17g dis.—Blackburn
(No. 1), N—West Riding Union, 4% dis.—Preston and
Wyre (No. 1), 45 ',—Manchester, Buxton Matlock, and
Midland, 2% —Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 35
Ditto, New 61. Preference, p.

TELEGRAPH.--The
-----
GREAT NORTHERN I.ELEGRAPH.----The Electric
Telegraph Company have just completed their Great Northern
System of Telegraph, rid Peterborough, Lincoln, Newark,
Doncaster, Boston, Gainsborough, Great Grimsby, and on to
York, a distance of 220 miles, placing the agricultural dis-
trict of the Lincolnshire Wolds in immediate communication
with London, the West of England, and the North.
The shipments of specie by the Peninsular and
Oriental steamer Ripon amount to 48,2001., of which
18,3001. is gold for Alexandria, Ceylon, and Madras, and
29,9001. silver for Bombay, Calcutta, and Hong-Kong.

IMPE RIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 19.
EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER.

Mr. HERRIES rose to move for a Select Committee
,o ir,quire into the operation of the 3 and 4 Will. 4, c.
85, " tor the better government of her Majesty's Indian
territories," and to report their observations thereon.
The House would be aware that the object of this Coin
mittee was to take into consideration the propriety of
renewing the charter to the East India Company.
He need scarcely state to the House that hitherto the
East India Company had exclusively enjoyed our In-
dian territories, and it was equally unnecessary for
him to inform the House of the extraordinary progress
which the Indian empire had made since the year 1784,
when the present system of government began. Since
that period there had been a gradual tendency to abo-
lish as much as possible the exclusive rights and privi-
leges which the East India Company enjoy. For instance,
in the year 1793 the charter underwent a considerable
modification and a great inroad was made upon the pri-
vilege of the Company. Amongst other things a new
system of private trade was introduced, which was ear-
ned on not only in connexion with, but under the imme-
diate direction of, the East India Company, and
this private trade had developed itself to an almost
fabulous extent from that period down to 1813.
About this latter period a very great alteration
in the exclusive right of the East India Company as
traders was made, and private traders were admitted. The
only exclusive right, in feet, reserved to the Company
was the trade to China, but, with that exception, all
their other trading privileges were removed. New re-
gulations were introduced at the time of a most valuable
nature, and these regulations continued for some time.
These new regulations were the result of an inquiry
which the House had instituted, and they were con-
tinued down to 1133. At that time a new Act
for regulating the charter was introduced
and by this Act all the rights of the Company, including
those of trading with China, were modified, and from this
time they ceased to be a trading company. All their
powers were made over to the Crown, and their commer-
cial assets were disposed of under that Act.
The Act was to continue for twenty years,
namely, from 1834 to 1854, and it was agreed to
by the Company on certain conditions. The first con-
dition for the immense sacrifice which the Company
made was that their stock, amounting to, as
he was informed, 6,000,000/., should not be
subject to redemption for forty years. That was, it was
not to be called in for forty years after the passing of the
Act he had mentioned, and also, if, during that period the
Government should deprive them of any privilege in-
cluded in the Act, they should acquire a right of de-
manding a redemption of their stock of 2001. for every
100/. This certainly was no great boon to the Com-
pany, for at this present moment the 1001. stock
of the Company he understood was worth 260/.
The affairs of India under this arrangement had con-
tinued to be administered from 1834 up to the present
time, and they would continue to be administered till
the year 1854, after which it would be for this and the
other House, and the Crown, to determine whether
the same or another system should bo adopted.
The Governmant had thought it necessary to submit
the question with regard to the renewal of the charter
to Committees of both Houses of Parliament. They
considered that there were three courses open to them—
first, to let the Act expire; secondly, to propose the re-
newal of the Act without further inquiry; and thirdly,
to propose an inquiry before any further steps were
taken in the matter. The present and the late Govern-
ment thought the latter was the best and most becoming
course to adopt. Infinite benefit was found to result
frOm the inquiry which was instituted previous to the
granting of the last charter. He did not
apprehend any difference of opinion with
regard to the appointment of a Committee. Twenty
years had nearly elapsed since 1833, and it was neces-
sary to inquire what effect the system of government
in India bad produced on the welfare and progress of
that country during this period. The revenue had in
some instances been satisfactory, in others unsatisfactory.
At the commencement of the .period the total income
was 18,407,0001. and there had been a gradual increase
in that sum during every succeeding year, and in the
present year it amounted to 24 379,0001, the difference
being not less than 6,000,0001. He was sorry to say,
however, that the charges had increased from
,18,000,000/. io 1834, to 25,000,0001. in the present year,
thus exhibiting a deficiency of 678,000/. It would natu-
rally be inquired how this deficiency arose. In the first
four years there was a considerable surplus
after that period there had been almost but
a con-
stant deficiency, with the exception of one year,
when there was a surplus of 350,0001,
increase of charges was occasionedtheby The
disas-
trous wars in which India was involved during the whole '
of the period. The misereble dlig
uader ta 1 called the
war of Affghanistan had drawn certainlynojess a sum
than 10,000,000/. Then the war in Scinde,
and second war in the Punjaub, and the first
jati
enormous sum. It appeared, fromb'
the h had been able to collectceoststaccoaulannts hean
have cost a less ' that
all these wars could not
sum alto
had
been
added her than 36,000,000/. There
r''4! "")1 f;-hti.t culoieriti,nce,
00,0004 i '
t-; 6,tiz‘voltmd a-
additional uxpetlt' Lure to the country in the
of interest. There were for con-
, however, some points
gratulation. Daring the shape
20 rears' the exports and im-
Pail 110 nearly dtlibled ti h boo Pry'
t All 1..er0

sive increase in the tonnage of vessels both inwards and
outwards. They had also obtained a great augmenta-
tion of territory and population. As many as
165,000 square miles of territory, and cer-
tainly not less than nine millions of popu-
lation, had been added to their dominions in
India. On the whole he thought the future prosperity
of India was incomparably more advantageous now than
at any former period of its history. It had
been said that the natives were precluded
from all share in the administration of affairs
in India, but the fact was that the Government
encouraged the employment of Datives, and also
promoted their education, in order to fit them
for that employment. The total number of
natives employed in adne.nistrative offices, having sala-
ries of and above 1201. per annum, is not less than 1,560,
and there aro besides 2,840 others at a lower scale of sala-
ries. The courts of India had on the whole worked exceed-
ingly well, and it was satisfactory to know that of late
years they had considerably improved. The appeals
had been few in number, and the administration of the
law bad on the whole been wise and salutary. Then,
again, with regard to the important subject of education,
he found that the educational establishments of India
had of late years been greatly augmented. At one
time there were only two, one in Calcutta and
the other in Benares, but in )335 there were
no less than fourteen in existence, while
last year it was found that there were no less than forty
existing in Bengal and the north-west part of the ter-
ritory. The systems observed in these educational
establishments were based on sound religious prin-
ciple, and there could be no doubt that the
Government bad all along displayed an anxious desire
to improve the condition of the people committed to
their charge, both in an educational as well as a moral
and religious point of view.—(Hear, hear.) The
state of affairs in India then was most gratifying;
while with regard to the financial condition of that
great territory he thought the returns upon the table
would give equal satisfsetion to the House. The
interest payable on the Indian debt did not exceed two
millions a year, and even that was gradually
being reduced, as the works which the
Government had undertaken were getting into reproduc-
tive operation. Many of these works consisted of high-
roads, and not a few of them had been
undertaken within the last twenty years.
Therefore, in considering the management
and conduct of the Government of India,
these matters should not be lost sight of. And with
reference to the railways which had been projected in
various parts of India, he thought the works generally
which had been undertaken were celled for by the exi-
gence of the State. The ecclesiastical establishments of
India stood upon a very satisfactory footing, and the in-
crease which had from time to time been made in the num-
ber of Indian clergy displayed a laudable desire on the
part of the East India Government to secure the reli-
gious instruction of the people. At present there were
130 clergymen employed in various parts of the empire,
besides three bishoprics. The patronage of the East
ludia, Company was impartially distributed, but with
regard to political affairs the East India Company was
only the agent of her Majesty's Government. The re-
sponsibility, therefore, fell upon the home Ad-
ministration; but it would, nevertheless, be a
great mistake to suppose that that Company
was simply an agent or too], because it partook
of a mixed character, and, in some respects the respon-
sibility of government, beyond its ministerial capacity,
rested as well upon the shoulders of the Company as
upon the Government. Occasionally it came to pass
that a difference of opinion arose between her
Majesty's Government and the executive of the Cem-
pally; but still, upon the whole, he thought it was infi-
nitely to the advantage of the public se: vice that this
system of mixed government should be continued. Tele,
however, was one of the suLjecis which the Committee
would have to take into its serious consideration, and
he hoped having now gone through all the topics which
suggested themselves to his mind, the House would
have no hesitation in agreeing to his motion.—(Hear.)
Mr. ANS FEY said no one who had heard the Right
Hon. Gentleman could fail to arrive at the conclusion
that it was impossible to overrate the importance of the
subject, or to perceive the danger of proceeding to any
decision without due and full inquiry; and he thought
that the appointment of a committee (or committees) to
investigate the subject was what no one would object to
He was not disposed to question the propriety of at pro-
sent continuing to follow the old course, and thought,
indeed, that Parliament ought not to be called upon to
legislate at all until there had been made a full inquiry
under the control of Parliament. But ho asked the
House to consider whether—(useful as such inquiry
would be)—it would be under the present circumstances
sufficient fur the object which they sought. He believed
it was impossible so to conduct such an inquiry before
any committee as to be satisfactory; and he, therefore,
had risen to move the amendment, of which he had. given
notice, to add the following words:—" And tnat an
humble address be presented to her Majesty,
representing the lateness of the
thc powerssession, the nearand
approach of the period when
authorities under which the government of her
Majesty's Indian dominions is now carried on
will naturally determine, and the urgent importance of
obtaining a thorough insight into the condition of those
dominions, and into . the feelings and wishes of the
Queen's subjects, native and Europeans, resident within
' the same, before Parliament is called upon to pass any
measure for
powers antde authorities;take the
a
Majestygtforrho
said
tha t
purpose
continuing nu in
nd prayingne-
cessarymeasures for sending commissioners of inquiry
into British India, duly instructed and empowered to
cernosence and prosecute all requisite inquiries in the
premises, and to report the evidence, together with their
observations thereupon, to her Majesty in Parliament."
No inquiry (he contended) could be successfully prose-
cuted unless with the assistance of local commissioners
authorised to take evidoece in India; the evidence of na-
tives, and of planters, and other residents. Even if the
' flattering picture draw!' by the Right Hon. Gentleman
were oorrect, it would surely not be wise to resign
150,000,000 of our Indian subjects for another 20 years
to the absolute authority of the Company, without
taking the evidence of natives and residents.
Without a local commission this ceuld not be
done. The Hindoos were prevented by their relieion
from coming to England, for they would lose caste by
crossing the sea; and many of the Mahomedans could
not be expected, fur the result of the Cerepany's rule
had been to reduce that population to unspeakable
wretchedness and poverty. In 1848 the Committee of
Mr. Bright upon cotton cultivation reported that the con-
dition of the cultivating classes was one of extreme
poverty, and there were scarcely any ocher classes in
the country. There were precedents for a Commission
of Inquiry; that course had been taken with respect to
Africa, and to the North American boundary, and also
to the lonian Islands. And with reference to India
itself, the same course had been pursued in respect to
railways, which it had been said was a subject which
could only be dealt with properly by a local inquiry.
He did net, however, admit the flattering picture drawn
by the Right Hon. Gentleman of the condition of the
country to be correct. The Right Hon. Gentleman
had said that the debt did not exceed two years' re-
venue, and this appeared plausible, but was fallacious;
for the revenue of India Wtni not made up merely of
taxation, bat partly out of a rent received by the Com-
in the capacity of proprietors. He
pan; from the lead,
contended that the Company took 60 per cent. of the
produce of the land, calculated not on the value of the
land but on the probable value of the crop. And, added
to this, there was taxation on every article on which it
Was possible to impose it. Yet the revenue did nut ex-
ceed $11,000,0001. from a territory as large as Europe,
and more fertile, better peopled, and more completely in
the hands of the Government—blessed with several har-
vests in the year, and abounding in everything, from
the production of the tropics to those of the pole. This
was all the revenue derived, and that paltry revenue
the people were racked to produce, and often sold
up and ruined. And, on the other hand, the ex-
penditureet went on year after year consuming
only the resources of the present, but also of rho
future. The truth was, that, as local inquiry would
prove, the condition of India was one of hopeless mi-
sery, which was bettor or worse according as our rule
was more or less direct, and thus it was better o
in the
f the
" non-regulation" provinces (where the influence
es where the tyranny
than in the " regulation" provinces, Governor mitigated the tyranny of Leadenha -stree ,
prevailed to the greatest extent; and emigration
Bing Oude,
in
continually goine, on from those latter provinces was
into the
dominions of the Nieuwe or of the of

order to avoid the tyranny of the Company. Such was
p„zed
the population we had undertaken to liberate, but
which practically we had enslaved. In India, indeed,
we were at a dead lock, and it would
Cbeatndlieffibociftulolttthhateot
squeeze an additional farthing from the peop
country. Even by the testimony of Mr.
of the company's servants, who had written
of the company within the last two months,
that the amount of rent was estimated according
manufacture crop, but that opium, sugar, and cotton paid
proportion. Having reduced the value
ianriticulietously mo-
nopolized exactions, we proceeded to tax th of
the land I,y
life ; and whilst we forbade the enecessari°s
of
nsaolptolizededrivtehde fmroamnuratchteureseoaf,
ltwhee
gu ar fact that the ' from the earth. It was a sin produced
break-
ing out of the cholera in Ind"
mfuelidyicparleovffialceenrtsamhaodngrsetp_ orted that the disease,gtr;ight-
creation of the salt monopolyla by was
coincident with the
gfTthheorearbtaicdleb of
during
eud dr. i
no
eitmiebiseerdpraonedeeaed to exami Warren Hastin s and
the
last
feween some relaxation of
pdt ooe i
liccr hi the poor in India, who were
ridiculed salt, left the rich almost Im-
p e'doubleoen fe
this mono-
poly
body of the peoplea.itPaalipri4e'rgic
appreciable by the years, but not to an extent
Member
aion granted by the the " exemptions from tax-
Company, the Hon. and Learned
ne the position that the
Board of Control acted as a check on the Board of Di-
rectors, and v. that the Board
of Directorstics versa. He contended
were as much guilty of the Afghan and
other Indian wars as the governments of the day, and
that they had acquired territory and patronage in
consequence of these wars. Well would it have been
if the 36,000,000/. had been to be paid by the
people of this country, for then the payment woul.l
have been disputed; but as the unrepresented and
tyraunised-ovi-r people of the Punjaub arid others
wore the sufferers there was no chance of redress.
It was remarkable, also, that whilst we had hem going
on increasing our territory in India, there had been a
growing deficiency in the revenue. The state of things
generally was such that if Mr. Macaulay were now a
member of the House of Commons, he would no lunger
find it possible to repeat the praise of the Board of Di-
rectors ho had uttered in 1833. Mr. Campbell t :d
that within the last ten years the net reveue hsidati'
ercase<l by more than 5.000,0001., but tbo; .i ~ ' n.
c, .. of the or iteary e3t'alttli•ltztets hi,' , :18137':'.°
0,utiJ,0601., so that the deductiOns, int,it 1 (1;f:' L''in'' zu fl,:i:
per cent., wore 76 per cent. The position( - -°-
a
of the joint
jurisdictions of the Board of Control
nom
was
aitorather _ . and Board of Di.
* atne. The TWAIN nOw

for consideration was, whether they had sufficient confi-
dente, in the men who have thus mismanaged the affects
of India to give them a renewal of their powers. 1:13'
would ray that the patrootig, of India ought to be eon"
fitted to the who were really answerable for the gf's
vernment of Ind:he—they ought to give fair play
repre.entative institutions they had ()Drained already, but
which they were endeavouring to take away. They (webt
to admit natives of rank and iuflaence into the highe,ss
places of the state. The policy of this country had only
succeeded in those places in India where they bad 101.01_
actively interfered. In the Punjaub, for instance, the
revenue was collected with the greatest ease, and ther:6
were no defaulters. Their resident at Loodianah bed
already given evidence in favour of the fitness of
the
natives of India for the exercise of the higher function;
to the
of the Government. lie stated that there were mall °‘
the natives whose qualifications for the higher office3o'
the state were such as to reflect honour upon an assembly
sitting even in London or Paris. Ile had gone throng?'
the list of places held by natives, and he Tound that °„,11,:j
,
of 100,000,000 and more of natives, there were not ,
receiving incomes amounting to 1,000 rupeeiea month '
whereas out of the 800 covenanted servants of the COunn:
pany, 600 of them were in the receipt of between 2,0011.
and 3,000 rupees a month at least; and of the remainder
not ono-third had less than the maximum amount of 96-
lary received by natives or tincovenanted lervaute• Wll4O
was the case of Colonel Outram ? This was an honour"
able and deserving man. In the attempt that bus been
recently made to crush him they had an insight into tni,
dark recesses of Indian despotism and corruptiov•
appears that there is a tributary state to whicht of
British Government had acquired by treaty a. right b
intervention. That right they had exercised in ouch
way as to extend their guarantee to all persons, whetbr
they be native or foreign, of becoming British subject
and thereby of being entitled to British protection. 'll3,
rights under that treaty were fully recognised ' ,
Sovereign of that territory and the Court of Director
A very rich banker in Baroda, who was a native, fe;
calved a guarantee under this treaty from the Br't's
Government, and upon the faith of such he carried 0
the business of a banker. That person died, leatil
some milliees behind him to his two widows, by each cg
whom he had one son, who were ultimately to inherit
his property. Under the conditions of the guaract'n•
just referred to the two widows continued to carry
°^",
the business of the bank, until upon one day a fraudulec'
agent of the bank had carried off one of the childrebn'd
the other having died previously. The child thus earrie
off was murdered, and the guilty party to screen himself
charged the unfortunate mother with having feiste-ell
spurious offspring upon her husband. She was tb,er;,:
upon immured in gaol, and the accuser was placed
pessessien of the property. Colonel Outran soap
after this circumstance wan appointed resident of Bart,'
and the widow contrived to make her case known to htr,e'
He made a searching inquiry into all the facts, and the
result was not only to establish her innocence, but -ne
extensive conspiracy, in which were implicated raacY,,-
the officers of the late resident in this fraud. It was Bled'
covered that many of the highest rank had been bribe
nt
by the ill-gotten gains of this agent to refuse the slightest
support to any of the woman's applications for redress'
At the same juncture the facts became so widely know,
that the Bombay Government were obliged to make
nt
show of interference in the matter, end a letter was den„
to Colonel Outran), dated the 15th May, 1851, rola" 0
ing him to report whether he had any reason to suPP°9O
that any such bribery existed generally. A eOPYf
~,„
this letter was sent to every officer in the Bombay u"'„
vernment that bad been charged with the office of no',
dent. Colonel Outram obeyed the instructions thus
communicated, and made an effectual inquiry into tnth
subj. ce fie found the charge proved, aed ascne dtaieed that from 1840 large sums of money I%
been sent to Bombay Castle, and had been expen"
in the way of bribes. The highest persons were
denounced as the recipients of those bribes. Colonel
Outram found, whether they were recipients or n°'
that the money bad reached the castle, and had. pro"
cured those particular services which it was meant tu
purchase. Colonel Outram was enabled to intercept on
the nay to Bombay Castle the most secret and extract"
dinary minutes of the Governor in Council, which had
been so recently adopted that they had not yet bee°
acted upon, and yet they were, translated into the nativedialect. This intercepted document he sent back to the
proper quarter. For thus acting he was suspended'
although be (Mr. Anstev) contended that under the Pe;
culiar circum•tances of the case he could not have seen
otherwise. Notwithstanding Colonel Outram's denaenls,
the authorities have refused to nuke any inquiry into
case, but on the contrary have endeavoured by every
means in their power to hush it up. The most along"
articles have appeared from time to time in the 110"11:
papers there, Particularly
the native ones, in reference t"
the conduct of the British authorities in this matte!'
Was this the treatment to which they ought to mu"'
ject that man who had rendered such valuable serving
to their army in Scintie,
and who had been annoint
resident in Barcda for the last services be had ten'
dered them at Hyderabad? Colonel Outram was ne,;
in England asking them for justice. He held in his
band the report of the Advocate-general in.BareoLl ,
It was dated July 31, 1843, many years prior
the appointment of Colonel Outram, Mr. Le Mesuce_rn
the Advocate-general says," There can be no doubt MI:
his highness, finding his position becoming critic"
formed the design of bribing largely those members. of
0
the British Government who were in a position to 111,0
effect to his wishes and these of his Ministers." sir
document went on to say that a long intimacy wit%ese
James Cam
Cameo pointed that gentleman out as
and hat
channel of reaching the Governor of Bombay ; d
145,0001. bad already been proved to have been exPepuebe,
in the way of bribes. The accusation continued t°
disregarded, and the Bombay Government refuseuulta
vindicate its own character. He (Mr. Anstey) vv°
now ask what confidence could they place in the
e„,
deuce produced before a select committee in referenen,e,
such a state of public affairs ? What trust could lisp
repose in the honesty of superintendents come
fors"ard to give evidence upon such , a subject ? 11
for
could they reach those who could give them in
motion upon those secret matters of corruPtinna
unless they went to the place itself, and showed the
people of India that they were really in earnest'
and that they would be perfectly sate in coming
forward to give evidence ? The people of England were
deeply concerned in this inquiry; for they were QV!
guarantees to India for their sincerity of purpose.
.I_4
was easy for them to inquire here into tilt corruption
practised in some of their borough; but there were thou'
sands of miles of rolling sea separating
and there was also to be considered the immbensediffe-
rence which existed between this country a d IndiaUnles in
s
respect to language, religion, andthem from Indus;
prejudices.
inquiry into the subject, it
to make a full anti searching
hopeless to expect any useful result. such a
commission was appointed to sit in India, and with power.
was utterly
thbeaatrtheevEidaereelcoet there
ajt
undisturbed by any contingencies of a change of Cabinet
or
permit him to do so. When,
and
dd
but he did not know whether
the Burmese war to
ffe Indiawas
however, he did return home, he might
possibly ell,
bousie was coming
wnooumde
iu the language of Lord Herdiune, that the great
concerns of the empire, and the constant fear of war, -
had quite unfitted him for giving any opinion on the
administrative affairs of India, lie would implore of
the House mot to oppose his proposition, but rather •
to remember the words of warning which bad
been uttered by many great men, namely—that the
natives of India being justly discontented were be"
coming disaffected and desirous of a change of masters' •
It was yet in their power to arrest the further spread
of this feeling. Let them not trust to hearsay or
secondary evidence. Let them distrust the statements
of their irreconcileable enemies, who have gone to India,
not for the benefit of the people, but for the mere put" •
pose of putting money in their own pockets. The
by
and Learned Gentleman concluded moving his
amendment.
An HON. MEMBER, whose aster- •
name we could not es
tain, seconded the amendment.
The SPEAKER having put the t• ques ,
Mr. H. J. BAILLIE said that as the Hon. en
Learned Member for Youghal (Mr. Anstey )a d had en
opportunity of explaining
the views and opinions he en-.
tertaino,
_A on this subject the
to the House, he trusted
lion, and
Learned Gentleman would be satisfied with
that advantage, and not
press ils amendment to a di-
vision. If he understood the Honourable Member
rightly, he was ofßoyal Cominission
opinion that a
to ascertain the
should be issued to proceed to 111 d is,
of that country
sentiments of the native opulation
with reference to the manner in which the govern-
ment there had been administered under the auspices of
the East India Company. NOW be (Mr. Baillie) con-
fessed that he entirely padniyficred from the Hon. Member as
to the best mode of obtaining that information which.
however, he believed the House generally were of
opinion it was desirable should be laid
th© before Parliament
ere it proceeded to legislate
not think it was t?
t future government
desirable
that a Royal Commissionthither to
of Inclia.—(Hear.) •e— should proceed . In.
quire into the complaints and grievances of all those dlf
ferent nations which
now acknowledged the supremacy
be
of British rule--nations,it remembered, differing
from one another in manners and customs—differing
from one another in religioa—differing from one an-
other also in langusge,band spread, as the Honourable
Member had himself o served, over a space on the sur-
face of .the globe little less—it' at all
less—than that
which was occupied by the whole of Europe. Ile eon'
that he did not '
!eased, then, think It would be desirable
se herculean a task thatas this inquiry would I‘,
prove should be entrusted to commissioners ar
po• ten by tho Crown,—(}jean, "
, ean, hear.) He 5
quite ready to admit tnat it' commissioners were to •
proceed to India, and it were understood that those
gentlemen had gone there for the r 4
purpose of heari
the complaints and grievances of the people, no doubt
their time would be fully occupied;
there 'You'd be a good ariavery
y of complaints gnu
grievances laid before the H(the
nise• and doubtless, as
Hen Member . had remarked,
i • •source
never.failing
_e
of complaint and grievance
nt India the operation 01
the land-tax, would be one of the most prominent of
those complaints.—nlf
e•.ear, hear.) The settlement which
took place under Lord Corn Isettlement
which
eve its—a
he believed Was entered not only
into in great igncranc,,
of the manners
and customs, but of the rights and Pri"
vitsges of the naive population of India—bud been a
great nuts'
,ortute, and bad led to considerable injustice;
but we w all
were now unable to retrace our see pd—at
events, we could not do so with reference to that settle:,
tent without committing still greater injustice to an en
Lose interests which have grown up in India during 11.5;
the last sixty or seventy years. But that this question
of the laud tax was the main grievance of the
people of India, we had already ample proof before us'
The very prospect of the appointment of a Committee
of r had cawfd an ossooistion to spring -14)
T
zn ,C.lr the eXiateo purpose of Ittyive thv, vorzykin:
a;`'3 o, v,wfio /1-t'a t.,"ll34:li'tee. An association,
composed of native gentlemen—many of them be
Onla
be-
lieved men of education and intelligence, and of
•
them also of high 4850611t4d together, other