The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-01 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIA ME NT.

ROUSE OF LORDS--(YESTERDAY.)
STATE OF JAMAICA.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE laid on the table papers
teAting to the dissagreement between the Governor
~„°' Jamaica and the House of Assembly of that island.
the
Noble Duke having entered at some length into
4'"3 history of the dissensions which had arisen between
''oe Executive Council and the Legislative Assembly,
referring to the crisis at which the . difficulty had
arrived, in the non-renewal of the import and rum
duties, which were the sole resource of the island's
revenue, stated that her Majesty's Government had
determined to recall Sir Charles Grey, the present
Governor, and replace him by Mr. Barkley, lately Go-
vernor of Guiana, at a reduced salary of 5,0001., being
1,000/. less than that of the present Governor. 3,5001.
of this would, for the next three years, be paid by this
country, the remainder being secured by a colonial fund.
It was also proposed to assist the island by a loan of
5,000/., at 3 per cent., to enable them to effect a reduc-
tion in their public establishments, by giving compensa-
tion to the present officers, and also to establish a sink-
ing fund to pay off their debt, which amounts to
700,000/., on which the island is at present paying 6 per
Cent.

The Earl of DERBY agreed with the noble duke it
would be premature at present to enter into a discusion
on the state of Jamaica, and the causes of the distress
that existed in that island. lie was so far from finding
fault with the course that was proposed to be pursued,
that, in fact, a similar line of conduct with regard to
Jamaica had been determined upon by the late govern-
xnent--(hear, hear)—he had the pleasure of saying,
that the gentleman who had been selected as go-
vernor—Mr. Barkley—was well fitted for ;the dis-
charge of the important duties that would devolve
upon him, as his experience in the West .India
Island especially qualified him for effecting the changes
which the state of the island required. He (Earl Derby)
would, however, have been better pleased to have seen
Mr. Barkley's new efforts marked with a more excep-
tional character, and that he had gone to Jamaica as
commissioner rather than as governor. In fact, he shoidd
have gone out with special powers to report on the state
of the island, rather than as a permanent governor. By
adopting that course, Government might have given
him a higher salary than they could possibly give him as
governor. He thought that 5,000/. a year, which was
to be the reduced salary, was higher than should be
given in the reduced state of the finances of the island,
and that a greater reduction than from 6,000/. to 5,000/.
should have been made. He hoped there would be a
guarantee that the income of the island would be able to
meet its expenditure, and to pay the interest of the
Money to her advanced.
Earl GREY could not agree that it would have been
desirable to have sent out Mr. Barkly rather as a
commissioner than as a governor, because it was irn-
Portent that that gentleman should have all the power
and influence which a governor was supposed to be pos-
sessed of. He should not have objected to a legal corn-
Mission being sent out with the governor, with the
view of aiding persons in the colony to so arrange the
law as to get rid of the difficulty in which the colony
'as placed, owing to its institutions, which were origi-
nally made applicable to a system of slavery, whereas the
ropulation of the colony was now free. He had great
confidence in the resources of Jamaica if they were pro-
perly developed. Jamaica was blessed with a soil of
great fertility, and a climate well calculated to promote.
that fertility. All that was required was, that the in-
stitutions of the colony should be remodelled in the way
that he suggested, and if this were done he anticipated
that the greatest good would arise to the colony. If,
however, the subject was neglected, he had the greatest
fear that the state of Jamaica would be most perilous.
Earl ST. VINCENT addressed the house, but in so
low a tone that it was impossible to hear his observations.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE said he had heard the sen-
timents of the noble lord in reference to Jamaica, but
he could not concur in his apprehensions in reference to
that colony, whether it regarded its social or commer-
cial character. His observations led him to think that
if the finances of the country were properly managed,
they would be equal to the expenditure of the colony.
The subject then dropped.
PUNISHMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the first reading
of a bill, the object of which was to substitute for trans-
portation in certain cases the punishment of imprison-
ment.
The bill was read a first tine, and their lordships
adjourned.

ROIISE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BILL-ADJOURNED

DEBATE.
On the order of the day for resuming the adjourned
debate on the Government of India Bill,
Mr. CUMMING BRUCE condemned the exagge-
rated and embittered attacks which had been made on
the system to which we owed our Indian empire. Ad-
vocating a double government, he stated that he had
been disappointed by the plan of the Government,
which weakened what it should have strengthened, and
increased power which was already almost despotic.
The proposed system of nominees would subvert the
independence of the Court of Directors, and he would
rather that the Crown should give to distinguished
Indian servants seats in the Council of the Board of
Control. He objected that the bill would do away with
all permanence, and leave a kingdom to be scrambled
for. He did not concur in Lord Stanley's amendment,
the addition to which bound us to legislate in two years
--a course which might be inconvenient. Legislation
should not, he thought, take place until the opinions,
not of the Governor-General, but of the governors of
the presidencies had been obtained. To the proposed
system of competition he was opposed, and he instanced
eases in which illustrious men had not distinguished
themselves during the period of education. Taking
various exceptions to the present system of Indian Go-
vernment, he made several suggestions of his own for
improving it. lie urged the necessity of encouraging
the spread of the great civilize; Christianity, and ex-
plained in conclusion that it was not competent to him
to propose any amendment of his own.
„Mr. AIARJORIBANKS would venture to reply
oriegY to the charges brought against the Court of Pro-
preietors, though he was well aware these were neither
Pro-
se
Bentertaining nor the instructive points of the debate.
•!at hould, however, feel that he was not doing justice
Tto_the Court of Proprietors, from whom he had received
atloll favour, if he
.did not rise and say a few words
let
Shire
vimaication. The hon. member for Inverness-
.gt,e,%vished the house to believe that the practice
tied 'alig3ive votes in exchange for patronage. He de-
batches The hon, member also said there were
Had
this bee:fthSeixty 'votes lying at certain bankers.
easier, for rho Case, his canvass would have been muchh
they only "gh the bankers gave him their best wis es
the b lr gave him two votes. He doubted whether all
could ""rs
in
Point
outmuster London if they combined their votes
300 votes. He would defy any one to
or indirect that a single thought been purchased bydirect
charge means. He git was a most unfounded
they era gainst 1,600 respectable proprietors, to say that
Juld be influenced in their votes by eorrupt mo-
tives
..-- - liaving now completely vindicated the Court of
ezfaZri_et:rs. he would proceed to notice some of the
ares zainst the company—with reference to the re-
:that- had been moved for by the hon. member for
riv, ""'°, he be to state that the report in question
.. beenivi ‘vauyrnhis,iled months ago ---the report, however, of
help regardingataot Yet been furnished. He could not
those as a measure of delay—and
he agreed with
sirable. ' Each d 'se who said that delay was not de-
:l,llye proved the absurdity of the charges
brought against
Mr. NAPIER , Company
advocated the bill rtoPPorted the amendment, as, if he
where,: would imply that it was sufficient
for its purpose,
voting for the amendment,
he did not repudiate the bilebut only urged that a most
important subject should
Ineag,o
e,del considered. He de-
el% Paltryr
scribed the bill as a
paliiative for the
evils of India, and he espe
Indian code :Ted the proposed
commissions—a work which Parliamentaowns by
means
of
plan of revising Ile
take. After dilating upon the duty of Enottcit) under-
would consent
Christianity in India, he
hsaaid
country, f this bill spread
that could be done for t
sitan
tiollhons of
to it only from stern necessity, v
He waarnsetietrh? houllest in-
quiry should be completed.the
'valued its character, and happiness. of th:,,,,'58, as it
India, not to pass this bill in its presentcontht n.
Mr. JOHN M'GREGOR approached.question
as an independent member representing a constituen
which took as great an interest in the affairs of India. as
any constituency in the kingdom. The error committed
by hon. gentlemen in this debate was in
legislate for the people of India as if they were
to
vere legisla-
tingfor the United States. There never was a country that
Previously to 1757 had been subjected to such perpetual
and bloody wars as India. The British Government
had done hard and cruel things in India, but he, for one,
could not overlook the good they had done, considering
the Population they had to deal with. The spirit of our
government had been mercy itself, compared with that
of the Governments that had preceded them. The con-
dition of the people of India had, indeed, been more
Fretohed and miserable before British rule commenced
Intl India than that of any people of whom history made
etien• Among the difficulties of the question 'was
in. efact, that we had had to do with from 3T to 40
toati.ons speaking different languages, and that we had
al4troduce Hindoo and Mahomedan law into our ad-
waatration. One-third of the produce of 'the" soil had
goveYer been considered as revenue belonging to the
protlF.e_; one-third as belonging to the zemindar, or
cultii.,;u; ; and one-third as belonging to the ryot, or
the
tazalieZ.
°1 fth soil. He believed that the systven of
ta, li India required great improvement, esotoially
this the Inn
salt. (Hear, hear.) He did not consider
but,
ChaniTt bill that could have been brought in,
ins,
ges,other hand, to make mat and sweep-
fessing difre_ population of 150,000,000 pro-
peaking 14 a
guages, havrieng
tiher!gions. and speaking 14 different lan-
and in a countr;ir traditional hatreds and prejudices,
divided into caste' where the Hindoo population were
difficulty. (Rear ' Was attended with great danger and
against was in le has
The error to be guarded
and in opposition to. the according to English ideas,
Prejudices of the natives,e traditions, usages, and religious
had possessed Ever since 1832 Parliament
member had the
8° much knowledge of India that no hon.
opportunity of aricqguheti t
i 3. say that he had not had an
iilldia• Ais objectio to
n in-
-6 himself with the affairs of
istion was expected tnhis delay was, that in India legis-
c"aidered that i d. Year, and the Governor-General
regarded the roll:1411e late legislation was necessary. He
ptiarten oepfe .in in the bill leaving Indian legisla-
tan
eto,..rPevis on as a wise and general policy on the
Vat aye vrovernment. He doubted very much whe-
ttzlz 01 competition for appointments would enc-
.