The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-20 00:00:00

EAST INDIA COMPANY.

A quarterly general meeting of proprietors was held
at their house in Leadenhall-street yesterday; Mr. E.
Macmighten, the chairman of the board of directors,
presiding.
The CHAIRMAN acquainted the Court that the war-
rants for the half-yearly dividend would be roady for de-
livery on the 7th of January.
Mr. J. C. WHITEMAN proposed the following resolu-
tion . —"That, at the general court of the Emit India
Company to b 3 held on Wednesday, the 9th of April,
1856, for the election of five directors for the term of six
years, it is expedient and just that some of the proprie-
tors, heretofore directors of the company, who were not
appointed to be directors in 1854, when that body was
(by the operation of the Act 16 and 17 Vic., cap. 95),
reduce I from 30 members to 15, be then elected direc-
tors, in lieu of those directors whose term of office will

expire on that day." At the next election it would be in
their power to vindicate their rights, nhich had been
suspended, and to restore a practice which had worked
satisfacterily during the long period of 120 years. He
truned that the proprietors would elect a board for the
management of the affairs of India which would meet
with the approval of Parliament.

Mr. LEWIN seconded the motion, not because he had
any sympathy with it, but because he thought it should
rot fall to the ground for want of such support. The
Government had done well in introducing three directors
of grea` al ility, and he trusted that they would soon in-
trod,lee many more, who would absorb the whole thing.
Dr. BEATTIE was of opinion that it would be impru-
dent on the part of the proprietors to pledge themselves
to the resolution. He would rather advise them to re-
serve their votes until the names of the whole of the
candidates were before them.

Mr. CLARK opposed the motion, inasmuch as be

thought that it would be an invitation to the Govern-
ment further to interfere with the vested rights of the
prnprietorp.

• The CHAIRMAN said that us he was one of the five who
would go out in April next, he would rather not have
made any observation on the motion, but he felt bound
to arnoui,ce that tl-e Board of Directors bad resolved
not again to issue a house list, hut to leave the election
ent'rely in the hands of the proprietors. (Cheers.)
After some remarks from Mr. Brown, Mr. Dent, and
Mr. Whiteman in reply, the motion was negatived.
Mr. M. LEwis proposed the following resolution :
" That, in the opinio❑ of this Court the present system
of Indian Government is unsuitable for its purposes; that
it assures neither efficiency, responsibility, nor redress ;
th It under it the grossest abuses are permitted to exist
unchecked throughout our Indian territories ; that the
sol'• nvdium of placing our Indian administration on an
intelligible basis, is a perfect transfer to the Crown, by
which the jumble of two Authorities (being as respects
each'oth r' powers unknown quantities) will be abated,
aryl the i.eedlees expense of the Leadenhall-street esta-
bli,hroent caved to the territorial revenues of India."
Mr. JoNEa seconded the resolution, although he could
not out roly approve of it.

Dr. BttiTTiE moved as an amendment, "That the
abolition of the Court of Directors, or any diminution of
its power 4, would be productive of most injurious noose-
du( nc

D r. FINCH seconded the amendment, which was carried.
Mr. Lewin's motion was therefore negatived.
Mr. JONES, in proposing his motion, to the effect
"That it was just and expedient that scholarships
should be attached to the universities of India, to enable
the native students to become competitore in the Indian
civil service examination in this country, and that the
saving to be effected by the abolition of Haileybury
should be applied to that object," said that the civil ser-
vice in India resolved itself into questions of law and
rjeugdagr
eds t
go
atvl
ee fgoernmeerra,l hesa tfiosuf
ancd.
tqhuaets ti
theoa sdecisions revenue
of.
it against them had been confirmed ;
nativelV th
and appealsshould
woetildbe remembered that those decisions were
tion, as
regulated by a system of laws founded on Christi-
anity, a religion which was not the creed of the judges
themselves. In matters of revenue, he maintained
that those acquainted with the country and the nature
of its productions would be more efficient officers than
the young English gentleman dropped down upon India
out of Ilaileybury. He found that there had issued from
the Board of Control a despatch for the establishment of
universities in India, which, although signed by the
Court of Directors, was to be attributed to Sir C. Wood
and which ranked him with Alfred and :with Wolsey.
He applauded that proposition ; but he did not see why
they should increase the susceptibilities of the natives,
and deny them the means of exercising their acquire-
ments for the benefit of their country. He did not think
that Europeans were too highly paid for their services
but taking into account the relative value of money in
this country and in India, he was of opinion that the
civil service there might be more economically managed
by the employment of native talent.
Gen. BRIGGS seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN would meet the proposition of Mr.
Jones with a direct negative, as he thought that that
gentleman was going too fast, and as there were already
421 scholarships attached to the educational institu-
tions in India, the emoluments of which, however,
he was willing to confess,
were not sufficient to enable
the holders of them to come and study in this country.
preparatory to their presenting themselves at the civil
service examination.
court by surprise.
tion, as it had taken the
Mr. DENT urged on Mr. Jones to withdraw the mo-
ho motion.
tors admitted the principle of t
Mr. LEWIN was glad to find that the Court of Dirac-
Col. STKEs thought that it would tend to the future
s of the proposition if Mr. Jones would consent to
15cethueg withdrawal of the present motion.
Mr. Jorms was rejoiced to 'find a co-operative spirit,
as regarded his proposition, in the court ; but as he was it should go forth to the public that the
s
anxioue that
adoption of his proposition was a matter of time, not of
principle,
he would leave his motion in the hands of the
court.
The motion was then negatived.
Mr, JONES inquired if it were the general rule that 12
per cent. should be charged on the arrears of revenue s
Mr. PRINSEP replied in the affirmative.
Mr. JONES said, on another occasion, he would bring
that matter before the court.
The proceedings then terminated.

- --
A German interpreter has been appointed to the Mili-
tary Prison, Fort Clarence, from Shorneliffe, for the pur-
pose of communication with the prisoners of the German
Legion.