The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-03 00:00:00

inconvenience. But when we come to the legislative power
of the Court of Directors, great as it may appear, and great
as undoubtedly is the influence they exercise, their legislative
power dwindles down to nothing ; for not only have the Court
of Proprietors no power, by a unanimous vote, to issue a single
order, but the Court of Directors can issue no order with re-
gard to the legislation or government of India without the
consent of the Crown signified through the President of
the Board of Control. They have no power of issuing a
single dispatch, and more, no power of refusing the issuing
of a single dispatch, which the President of the Board of
Control may think it his duty to insist upon their transmit-
ting. If the President of the Board of Control sends to the
Court of Directors a dispatch upon a particular subject, and
they refuse to deal with that question, he may then, in one
fortnight, compel the transmission of that dispatch ; and the
single exception is the very improbable one, in which the
orders of the President of the Board of Control may be con-
trary to law, in which case the Court of Directors hold
that they have an appeal to the Court of Queen's Bench,
to know whether they ought or not to execute those orders.
But, further, supposing, in dealing with one particular
question. the Court of Directors should think fit to
send particular instructions, and the dispatch bearing those
orders and instructions, when submitted to the President of
the Board of Control, should be by him disapproved of, not only
are they compelled not to send out the dispatch they
intended, but the Board of Control exercises the power
of altogether modifying and altering the dispatch, so as,
if it thought fit, to reverse the whole sense and meaning of
the inetructions- and, under the hand of the Board, to give
instructions altogether at variance with those which they
desire to go out to the authorities as having the fiat of the
President of the Beard of Control, in whom, after what I
have said, your Lordships will see that, virtually, the admi-
nistration of the affairs of India in this country is vested.—
(Hear, hear.) The constitution of the Board of Control
has undergone alterations since it was established in 1784 ;
the last, in 1883, at the time of the last Act of Parliament,
by which, instead of three paid commissioners and secreta-
ries, it became what it now is, having a President and two
secretaries sitting in Parliament. That has been the consti-
tution of the Board of Control since 1833, and in that Board,
practically speaking, the whole administration of the affairs
of India rests.—(Hear, hear.) When looking, then, to
the working of this anomalous machine, conducted in the
first place, apparently by directors, elected by a body of
proprietors who have *little or no interest in the affairs of
the country which the directors are to govern—conducted
again by those directors under the control of the President
of the Board of Control, and thereby reduced to be in fact
a subordinate Government board the question naturally
suggests itself, to what purpose is it to continue this complex
and anomalous machinery? Why not vest the nominal autho-
rity in the same hands which are now possessed of the real
and why not dispense altogether with the unnecessary in-
tervention of the Board of Directors? That is a very im-
portant question, and one which the Committee will have
carefully and seriously to consider. I think, for my own
part, that very valid and strong reasons may be given for
not departing from the practical working of that which we
find in existence.—(Hear, hear.) But it is undoubtedly a
question which will be open to the consideration and judg-
ment of the Committee; and they ought to be satisfied, if
they recommend the continuance of this system, either that
it is one which in itself works well, or else that it
works, at ad events, better than any modification or
alteration which can be introduced, by giving a more direct
power to the Government.—( Hear. hear.) I ought to men-
tion that, independent of the Court of Proprietors and
Court of Directors, there is also the „Secret Committee,"
which is charged with all negotiations and aflairs which have
to be tracsacted with the native princes, as well as other
business which it may be thought expedient to preserve in
secrecy. This Secret Committee consists of the chairman
and deputy-chairman, with, I think, the senior member of
the Court of i irectore, and, in conjunction with the Presi-
dent of the Board of Control, this Committee administers
practically all those affairs which come under the political
head to which I have adverted, of negotiations or dealings
with foreign princes.—(hear, hear.) Now, I think it may
not be a waste of your Lordships' time if we just see how this
system has practically operated in India, and what has been
the progress made there since 1831; I have spoken hitherto,
of course, only of that operation of the machinery which is
limited to this country. In India, I think, up to 1833, the
three presidencies were distinct and separate. By the Act
of 1833 it was contemplated to give to the Presidency of
Bengal an overruling and preponderating influence and su-
preme authority over the other two. I think it was even con-
templated at that time that the Council of Beugel should be
a sort of ambulatory council, sent the different presidencies
under their rule for the administration of their affairs: that
practically has not been the case. The Governor-General in
council has administered the affairs of the Presidency of
Bengal.—(Hear.) In 1833 there was also a proposition for
the institution of another presidency, of Agra; but that
was done away with, and I believe since that time there
has been a Lieutenant-Governor for that district.—(Hear.)
Now, undoubtedly the Government of India has been, and I
think for many years must he, that which has been spoken
of in terms of praise by a Noble Friend of mine, whom I
do not see in his place (Earl Fitzwilliam)—"a mild
despotism." I 'apprehend none of your Lordships would
dream that the time has arrived at which popular institu-
tions can be applied to the government of India—( Hear,
hear)—and that, practically speaking, it is necessary that
the power of governing these vast dominions, subject to
the control of the Government at home, should be vested,
as it is at present, in the separate councils, and, more
especially, in the supreme authority of the Governor-
General in council. In the formation of that council,
however, in 1833, there was for the first time introduced
a new element, by the addition of a new coun-
cillor, not in the civil service of the company.
Previously to that, I think, it consisted of the Go-
vernor-General, the Commander of the Forces (not neces-
sarily, I think), and three other members of the civil ser-
vice; with them was associated by the Act of 1833 a fourth
couuciiler, appointed directly by the Crown, and charged
with peculiar functions, but having only the power to at-
tend the deliberations of that council when they entered upon
the discussion of judicial and legislative business.—(Hear.)
Now, Ido not lay any stress upon the extent of territory
acquired by the Company since 1834, because I am by no
means sure that the acquisition of all that territory was by
any means an unmixed advantage, and I am sure that the
possession of great portions of it was forced upon a very re-
luctant Government by circumstances over which they ex-
ercised no control ; but the fact is that since the
last time this question came before Parliament
there has been added to the territories of the
company an area of no less than 165,000 square miles,
comprising a population of 8,380,000. In the course
of that time it has been necessary, no doubt, mate-
rially to augment the expenditure and establishment of the
Indian service, but I am happy to say that with the ad-
vance of that establishment, although I confess there has
been a certain addition to the annual interest of the debt,
the revenue has increased from 18,500,000/. in 1334, in round
numbers, to about 25,000,009/. in 1849-50, while the
charge has increased from 18,600,000/. (rather in excess of
the revenue) to 24,306,0001. in 1849.50 (being rather below
the revenue); the estimated charge for 1850-51 is (we under-
stood) somewhat in excess, arising from circumstances which
it is not necessary to detail. But I think it will be gratify-
ing to your Lordships to learn that, while there has been an
increase in the territories of the company, and an increase of
revenae equal to the increased charge to be borne, the com-
mercial prosperity has made rapid and immense strides
during that period. I hold in my hand an account—l will
not trouble your Lordships except by stating the first and
last years of this return—l find the tonnage of British ves-
sels between this country and India stands thus :—The ar-
rivals in 1334-33 were 105,000 tons; in 1849-50, 252,000
tons. The departures in 1634-35, 83,776 tons; in 1849-50,
280,897 tons. The imports, in round numbers, had risen
from 61,000,000r.-6,000,000/., in 1834-5, to 12,000,000/.
in 1848-9, the last year for which there is a return; and
•the exports of India have, in the same time, increased
from 8,000,000/. to 18,000,0001. (Hear, hear.) In the
course of that time it is not only the material and commer-
cial prosperity of India which has made rapid strides—it is
not only that large territory has been added to your do-
minions, and new nations subjected to your sway, but I am
happy to say, that in the arts of peace there has been a great
and salutary increase.—(bear, hear.) With regard to that
which I must look upon as one of the most leading objects,
though it is an establishment which has to contend with
many obstacles, and work its way gradually through a mass
of ienorance and superstition and of conflicting difficulties,
which resider its advance blow and almost imperceptible, it is
satisfactory to know that, whereas through the whole of the
vast territories of India there were only employed in the
service of the company 31 chaplains of the Church of Eng-
land,when the episcopal authority was first intro-
there were a bishop and 75 clergymen. The
neen 1183813m3lultiplied the number of bishops, assigning its
Ad ut
ee
d of
bishop to each separatelBlp2, resoirde7nscy.asTilaheliBe3a2, retnhorewe,hiineshteepaed
iii
of 31 chaplains, as
and no less than 130 chaplains of the Church of England,'
independent of the ministers of the Scotch Church —(Hear,
hear.) Ot' the great social improvements which have taken
I Cannot but mention, in the first place,that which. has
place, cautiously and gradually introcluced, s 1834,
slaveryp asse ain ;11813 hoot
been the object of the constant and earnest attention of
this ;country, viz., the total and entire abolition of
roug
its dominions ; and, although
great difficulties had to be encountered, yet, by an Act
) in India as
nc ino
minions, slavery was t,' the rest of her Majesty's
abolished.—
(Hear,do-
hear.
in India. In 1 not less gratifying change has
taken place with and completely
examining into the whole contemplated to establish, and
—the whole system of
there was established, a Teas I
commission for the purpose of
83:eifard to the administration of justice
f
the system o J
generally their opinions withnal and civil laws altera-
tions. In India you have regard to the n
trri
isiplrauwd,e
andnc e
reporting
generally
courts and the courts anderthe ,Company.
The Crown courts consist a the control of
and two puisne
to distinguish between the Crown
chief
for some time consisted of ae
judges; I believe, practically,a justice have
These have very large and extensiveustioo and asz
hbreeefat t
introduced
presidencies, they
jurisdiction .n;
re-
cently, since 1833, there have
the control of the Company, ced, I think under
if I make any errors in spea—kin must beg pardon
with which I have not been
have been established minor couvrgts, uponlii a subject
ery fa
em
adjudicatingi
thel ia familiar,—there
a,l --lnejodtuuh gh etrye
courts in this country, for the purpose
in matters of small amount. But, althoughatfh
which is
rymmissionsent out in 1833 sat for some time, and laboured Commission
indus-
triously, and produced a most elaborate penal
at the present moment, I believe, under the consideration
the Governor of India, that Commission, front vaefttliesoef
cir-
cumstances, did not enter upon the discussion of this;
whole
of the extensive subject committed to it; gradually,
Hever, it has been permitted to lapse, the vacancies occurring-
upon it it not being filled up, and the labour has since devolved
upon the members of council appointed under the Act of
1833. But there are also courts of justice of various grada-
tions and ranks authorized to deal with questions of various
amounts and moment, with more or less of appellate jurisdic-
tion. I ought not to waste your Lordships' time by giving
you details respecting the Zillah Courts and the Sadder and
other courts, and the various gradations of jurisdiction, bat
that to which I desire to point your attention is, that in
the course of the period which has elapsed since 1833
there has been a very great interest in that which
I look upon as a matter of signal importance, viz., the
employment of the natives of India themselves in the
minor courts, and extending considerably the judicial autho-
rity conferred upon those courts.— (Hear, hear.) I have said
that I think the time is far from being come at which anything
like popular institutions should be conferred upon any por-
tion of India; but of this 1 am quite sure, that this is your
bounden duty in the interests of humanity, of benevolence,
and of morality and religioa—that as far and as fast as you
can do it safely, wisely, and prudently, the inhabitants of
India should be gradually entrusted with more and more of
the superintendence of their own internal affairs, under the
control of British authority, and learning to respect that
authority which is vested in the law, and which they see
judiciously
and
British authority,
enforced, temperately enforced also,
ah
by the superior rrimtilsh authority, which they may by long
habit and practice learn.to imitate, and, I would hope, even
And even if that gradual admission of the In-
to surpass.
should have the effect, not of consolidating and
cautiously,
dian race to te benefits of self-government, slowly and
leading a people accustomed to self-
_
been built up, but of
somethingmore ofcontrol over their
extending the great fabric of British
dominion which has
government to desire
afiaies—.( Hear, hear)—l say
political as well as their j udicial