The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-26 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 26, 1853.

LMENT,

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erjury.

gd a
,petition
iersons resid-
a redress of

„grievances. The petitioners stated tl4t-tgse grievances
arose principally from excessise taxation ‘d its mode of
collection ; from the delay and expense °Stile courts of
law_; from the want of roads and bridges, d insufficient
irrigation ; and from the want of a better, provision for
the education of the people. They also desired a redtic-
tion of the public expenditure, and a form of government
more likely to be onducive to the happiness of the
people and the prosperity of the country. The petition
was signed by between 3,000 and 4,000 natives of great
respectability, and was extremely voluminous. They
complained, in the first instance, of the ryotwary system
under which the revenue was administered. That system
was prinCipally established and greatly eulogised by Sir
Thomas Monroe, a great authority on all matters of ad-
ministration ; and although that system prospered under
his management, it was not likely to prosper under the
management of ordinary men. The petitioners also corn-
plained of the want of irrigation and want of roads, and
stated that what had been done in that respect was
not well done, and that the resources of the country had
not been properly brought out. He thought it was
a scandal on the Government that the system of irri-
gation formerly established had not been maintained.
With respect to the toads, there were none but trunk
lines of communication between the distant and more

important parts of the country. But even these roads
were to the last degree neglected. They were rather
traced than made, and in many places they were most
inconvenient for want of bridges. In fact, on one road,
in the course of one year, he himself had ordered the
construction of not less than fifty bridges. The conse
quence of the want of roads was, that all the higher
articles of produce—cotton, for instance—were in-
creased in price in consequence of the difficulty of tran-
sit, and the superabundant produce of one part of the
country could not be conveniently brought to another.
He never at any time felt such a sentiment of disgust as
when, travelling from Gwalior to a distant part, he Ob-
served the scandalous neglect of the roads and bridges.
He knew there was every disposition on the part of the
directors to confine the Governor-General to Calcutta,
where he could hear nothing but through the ears
of the secretaries and councillors by whom he was '
surrounded, and see nothing but with their eyes. +
He objected to the Governor-General living at Simla
or on the confines of Tartary, and warned their lord-
ships against listening to any suggestion from the board
of directors as to the necessity of the Governor-
General being confined to Calcutta, where he could have
no opportunity of witnessing the working of his instru-
ments no means of testing the virtue of men's services,
of redressing inquiries on the spot, and ordering neces-
sary improvements. (Hear.) The petitioners went on
to say that the reason assigned for the want of sufficient
roads was the deficiency of the revenue of the country.
He did not consider that a sufficient reason, and was
satisfied that if the Government were to borrow money
at five per cent. for the purposes of irrigation and the
construction of roads, it would produce them at least i
twenty or twenty-five per cent. Having touched upon
these points, the petitioners referred to the very defec-
tive state of education, and the small sums voted for that
purpose throughout their presidency. `Sir Thomas
Monroe, in his evidence before a committee of the House
of Commons a great many years ago, stated that there
were native schools in every village, in which reading,
writing, and arithmetic were taught, and in that re-
spect
the greatthepeo majoritythatlein of h
presidency were
o
eretthisbetter educated
than country.
But what the petitioners meant by education was
English education, which was office and influence, which
necessarily to a great extent must follow the acquisition
of the English language. The question of education was
one of the most important that could be brought under
the consideration of Parliament with reference to the
state of India and its government. If all the higher and
middle classes in India were instructed in the same man-
ner as similar classes in this country, it would be
impossible to maintain the dominion of England in that
country. The extension of knowledge in that country
as it was desired to extend it would be inconsistent with
British dominion ; and however he might be disposed to
do all that could be done for the people of India, he
was not prepared to do anything which could impair the
security of our possessions in that country. But there
were other material things to be considered in this re-
spect, now that the question of India was before Parlia-
ment. The persons educated generally throughout the
country, with the single exception, perhaps, of the pre-
sidential towns, were the sons of the lowest persons in
the community. The gentlemen of England would not send
their sons to the schools established there, any more
than their lordships would send their sons to the ragged
schools in this country. Besides, in India there was, to
a great extent, a strong feeling in favour of domestic
education, and it would be extremely difficult, even by
the establishment of a college to be altogether reserved
for the sons of persons of distinction, to induce them to
abandon these feelings in favour of domestic education.
On examining some of the schools, he was shocked to
see the manner in which education was prostitued.
The persons generally educated were the sons and re-
latives of natives—not the most respectable amongst the
natives—who were employed about the collectors ; and
a lower class of the community were thus educated in
hereditary succession to occupy the offices of the per-
sons who had the ear of the collectors. And then let
their lordships look at the system of education. He
recollected going into one school where he found a boy
spouting from Shakspeare, and enacting the part of
Brutus. That boy was the son of a coolie, doomed per-
haps to work hard for his living for three or four rupees
a month. How much better would it have been to have
taught him some useful art or science, in order to make
him a beneficial member of society. The petitioners
alluded to another most important subject—the admi-
nistration of justice. From the earliest period with
which he had been acquainted with any part of the ad-
ministration of India, he had felt the necessity of a very
great reform in the whole system of the administration
of justice through English gentlemen. The judicial
departments of the service in that country ought to be
separated from the revenue, and ire Persoir'ought to be
allowed to exercise the functions bf mAgifitrate or judge-
unless .he possessed some knowledge of the laws he might
be called on to administer. The Retitioners complained
of the evil arising from the absence of sound judicial
capacity in the presiding officers, particular in the lower
departments—of their not being acquainted with the
vernacular of the districts in which they were called
upon to exercise their functions—of their not having de-
voted their time to the study of jurisprudence. These
evils were greatly aggravated by the mode of appoint-
ment, and by the courts being in a state of perpetual
transition. The petitioners complained that persons were
occasionally appointed even to some of the highest sta-
tions on the judicial bench, without any knowledge
of the law. They mentioned the case of one man who
had never done a day's duty as a judicial officer, who
was made a civil judge, with unlimited jurisdiction. In
another instance they stated that an individual had been
appointed to act in the absence of the:official, although
out of 22 years of civil service the p.erson so appointed
had passed less than two years in a judicial life. Now,
how was it possible that justice could be well adminis-
tered, or that the people could have any confidence in
its administration, under such circumstances. The pe-
titioners likewise directed the attention of their lordships
to the appointment of assistants for life. These parties
hid one or more divisions placed under their charge for
the purposes of collection, and in ose divisions they
represented their superiors, and ha to perform magis-
terial duties. The assistant was onl nabled to execute
his functions by the aid of a moons e ' • and if any
per-
son committed an error and was pulushed, it was not
the collector, but the moonshee. The petitioners pro-
ceeded to offer certain suggestions. The first sugges-
tion was one which had certainly very considerable plau-
sibility. If their lordships were prepared to grant to In-
dia any of the constitutional advantages which we pos-
sessed here, and which we desired generally to extend to
those countries which were under our protection, the pe-
titioners thought it most advisable, afid indeed necessary,
that the executive should be separate from the legislative
body, and that the same council should not perform legis-
lative and executive duties. They further desired that
the two presidencies of Bombay and Madras should have
a limited controul over their own affairs. He must con-
fess that it had always appeared to him that it would be
of very great advantage to those who exercised legisla
tive functions in India, if they had an opportunity of con-
sulting on all matters persons who possessed local expe-
rience and information. He did not say that he would
venture to instance,asosrotchiaattebeinwtohaeldfimrsatkeany
materialnat altera-
tioniveswitl
legislative body. He thought it would be of
gElu•eraotipn peratahncest'ical advantage if the Government had the op-
portunity of consulting respectaVe men before proceed-

ing to legislate on matters relating to their religion and
their laws—laws which, in their opinion, had a most
material effect on the prosperity of the community. He
therefore most deeply regretted that the Government had
not enjoyed an opportunity of having that consultation
before laws on these subjects were passed. The peti-
tioners were desirous that there should be in India a
commission of inquiry, partly composed of persobs from
this country and partly selected there, 7116 might have
before them not only the grievances complained of in the
petition, but all the grievances which might hereafter be
brought forward; and they wished that the passing of
any act for the purpose of altering the Government,
should be suspended until the report of that commission
should be made. He could not go so fax as the peti-
tioners in that respect, but with respect to the appoint-
ment of a commission he would venture to mention what
occurred to himself when he was President of the Board
of Control. It appeared to him, then, that it would be
extremely desirable to have a commission sent to
India for the purpose of making a financial investiga-
tion, with a view to consider whether great and useful
reductions might not be made in the public expendi-
ture. -At that time the country was in a position of
great financial difficulty. Various reductions were made
at the time under the Duke of Wellington's Govern-
ment, which amounted to no less than 1,800,000/. But
the Duke of Wellington advised that no such commis-
sion should be sent out, and said it would be better to
leave the question to the local government, as a.com-
mission sent out from this country would be a disparage-
ment of the local government to a great extent, -and he
(the Earl of .Ellenborough) willingly acceded to his
opinion. Another question for consideration might be,
whether, if no commission should be sent to India, it
would be expedient to vay the expenses of native wit-
nesses sent for examination here before the committee.
He thought that in the event of an inquiry being con-
ducted in this country, their lordships would not be able

to come to a correct decision. He must confess he
thought that the petitioners were late in the field. Two
or three years ago they knew that this question would
come before Parliament, and he thought that they ought
to haie presented their petition at an earlier period. At
the same time, there was no denying that the matters
which they touched upon were matters of the gravest
possible moment, and such as he thought it would be
highly advisable for their lordships to take into conside-
ration. Upon that and other grounds he confessed he was
most anxious that her Majesty's Government should take
some steps in the matter. He had stated in his evidence
before the committee of the House of Commons his be-
lief that it would be expedient to prolong the present
state of things for one or two years. Her Majesty's Govern-
ment were new in office. It was a Government diffe-
rently composed from any which we had had for a con-
siderable period of time, and the gentleman at the head
of the Board of Control knew nothing whatever on the
subject of Indian affairs. He would not .say anything
of the radical elements which had been infused into the
composition of the Government, and he did not profess
any great extent of confidence in the measures which
they might propose, but at the same time he said with
perfect frankness and sincerity that he had much better
hopes of her Majesty's present Government on the sub-
ject of India than he had of the late Government, or the
Goveimment which preceded it. Their lordships were
aware that the result of the mode in which the court of
directors were elected was not the appointment of the
fittest or ablest men, but, almost without exception, of
men of the most ordinary stamp. What he asked from
the Government for India was, either that they would
so reform the constituency as to insure the best;chance
of their electing the most able men, and the best ac-
quainted with the departments and presidencies of India,
or that such persons should be selected by a different
arrangement, such as the nomination of the Crown in
conjunction with the Governor-General of India. That
would be the best security that could be given for im-
proved government in India, because the Minister of In-
dia in this country would then have the assistance of
able and competent men, whose advice would carry
authority with it. If this were done, there would be no
more complaints such as those which were contained in
the petition which he had presented. Having done his
duty by presenting that petition, it only remained for
him to ask whether it was the intention of her Majesty's
Government to introduce any measure for the future
Government of India during the present session.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said that the subject had
been fully considered by the Government, and after
much deliberation they had come to the conclusion that
it was their duty to propose a measure for the future
government of India during the present session. He
was unable, therefore, to acquiesce in the desire ex-
pressed by his noble friend, to postpone legislation for a
time. He would not say to what extent the duration of
the form of government which her Majesty's Ministers
proposed to establish might be prolonged, but he must
saympfh orioresro nobleatnhrteaeh
prepared at
nita.
fhrtttepi
et:lniotfidse felt
time
bound
rtemsiu,
.teneoda introductionss tauoyreFurthera rejectnwyht he tithnhhgeaoinf
epnrarot proposal
tpcalo,ot,ats,
sonl
tdumywi
continuing
egds e
sayria by
not
Go-
vernment would have to propose, although embracing
modifications in the government, both with respect to
this country and India, would be founded on the exist-
ing system of government. The committee now in
action will still continue their inquiries, and those griev-
ances which required legislative interference here would
be redressed in that mode, but most of those which had
been recapitulated, as it appeared to him, would be more
properly left for the action of the local government. All
those remedies which required legislative action would
naturally be adopted when the committee should have
made their report. At present the committee of both

houses had only finally concluded that branch of the in-
quiry which was connected with the administration of
the government, and upon that her Majesty's Ministers
were fully prepared to legislate.

The Duke of ARGYLL did not know whether many
of their lordships had had an opportunity of examining
the petition which had been presented by the noble earl,
but as it was possible that some of them had not, he was
anxious to direct their attention to a few points in the
petition which he thought deserving of notice, because
the noble earl had given an account of it which was

sufficient for his own purpose, but not for all purposes.
The noble earl had laid this petition on the table of the
house in connection with a question which he pub to her
Majesty's Government respecting what was commonly
called the renewal of the East India Company's charter.
He did not think, however, that the noble earl had

brought forward those parts of the petition which most
bore upon this subject. The petitioners complained of
various grievances connected with the presidency from
which the petition came, and they said that they had
brought it forward because they wished to avail them-
selves of the Parliamentary investigation into the go-
vernment of British India. It was clear that with regard to
internal matters this statement of their grievances might
have been brought forward at any time ; but it struck
him that the expectation that it would be brought under
the consideration of Parliament had exercised an influ-
ence upon the tone and matter of the petition. They
said :—" Your petitioners submit that it is the bounden
duty of the State which reduces them to their miserable
condition, and keeps them in it from charter to char-
ter, to spend a far larger portion of the re-
venues upon the improvements of the country
whence they are derived than it does at pre-
sent. It can find money to carry on wars for self-
aggrandisement, to allow immoderate salaries to its civil
service, to pension off the whole of its members at 5001.
a-year each, and to pay interest at 10 per cent. to the
proprietors of East India stock—all from the labour of
the ryot ; and if he requires roads, by which he might
find the means of bettering his condition, and that of the
revenue, lie is told that he must make them for himself."
Then, with regard to the Church establishment. It had
been the desire of the Christian population in India that
some little addition should be made to the number of
Christian clergy, for the sake of the Europeans resident
in that country. But the petitioners said, "They admit
the propriety of military chaplains for the European
troops, but repudiate the injustice of the people of this
country being compelled to support a couple of State
establishments for a mere handful of foreigners, profess-
ing a foreign creed." These were hardly the terms in
which the Church establishment should be spoken of by
petitioners addressing their lordships' house. The peti-
tioners also expressed their desire that the College at
Haileybury should be abolished. They said that the
money which was raised in India should be spent in India,
and that whatever education was necessary to enable
Englishmen to fill Indian appointments should be given
in India alone. A request more perfectly monstrous
was never addressed to either house of Parliament.
Many other requests were contained in the petition,
which were expressed in language equally inde-
corous. They ended by requiring that a mixed com-
mission might be instituted in India, for the purpose of
inquiring into all their grievances, before Parliament
proceeded to legislate. Now, so far as his humble voice
went, he had no doubt that it was the duty of the ad-
ministration to legislate at once, and not to encourage
agitation by establishing a merely provisional govern-
ment. The noble earl would not suppose that, in con-
sequence of his (the Duke of Argyll's) having had the
advantage of sitting one session as a member of the com-
mittee on the affairs of India, he considered himself
competent to debate with him on the details of Indian
government. But if there was one thing more true
than another, he believed it would be infinitely better to
make any change, however violent, in the government
of India, and to decide upon it at once, than to have
that great empire under a provisional government,
thereby giving encouragement to all sorts of agitation.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH defended himself
from the charge of slurring over the statements con-
tained in the petition, which comprised 41 closely
written pages, and which would take any gentleman
three hours' hard reading to get through, It was not
his business to answer the petition which he presented,
but he had brought before their lordships what he con-
sidered the most important statements.
After some observations by the Marquis of CLANRI-
(JAIME and Lord CAMPBELL, the conversation terminated,
and the petition, on the motion of the Earl of ELLEN-
BOROUGH, was ordered to be referred to the Committee
on Indian Affairs.
Their lordships then adjourned.

/
/ (

fe.

/

[PRICE SD.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
Mr. COGAN took the oaths and his seat for Kildare

A number of private bills were brought in and read a
first timo.
The members chosen to serve on the Frome and Cam-

bridge election petitions were sworn at the table.
On the members chosen to serve on the Waterfori
election committee being called, . .

Sir J. TROLLOPE said that he had received this day

a letter from Colonel Harcourt, one of the members
chosen to serve on this committee, stating that, in con-
sequence of the death of his brother, he had to request a
week's leave of absence. He (Sir J. Trollope) had there-
fore to move that Colonel Hat-Court be discharged, and
that in pursuance of the act of Parliament the committee
should be discharged, and the petition referred to the
select committee of elections.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. THOMPSON" presented a petition from Aber-
deen, praying for an increase of the salaries• of letter-
carriers.

Several petitions were presented praying for the dis-
tribution of Parliamentary papers.
Mr. PERCY presented a petition from Sunderland
against the admission of Jews into Parliament. _ _

Similar petitions were presented by Mr. Deedes
from Kent ; Mr. Carter, and Lord Hotham, from a
place in West Kent, and several other honourable
members.

Mr. FRESHFIELD presented a petition from the
Legal and General Life Assurance Company praying
that the income tax may for the future be levied on the
property .of terminable annuities.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from
Clerkenwell, in favour of county boards ; also petitions
from letter-carriers, praying for a redress of their
grievances.

Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from a place in
the West Riding, praying for the Parliamentary en-
franchisement of the London University ; also a peti-
tion from a number of proprietors of East India Stock
complaining of grievances, and praying that the petition
be referred to the select committee on India affairs.

The petition was ordered to be referred to the eom.
mittee.

Mr. LOWE presented two petitions from Kidder-
minster, one against the adulteration of coffee, and the
other praying for the parliamentary enfranchisement of
the London University.
Lord D. STUART presented a petition from certain
residents in Oxford-street against the taxes on know-
ledge.