The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-09 00:00:00

VENING, AUGUST 9, 1854

very littleconsideration as to what could be done. I think
estimates of the total cost and of the expenditure for the
year ought to be made. Aa far as Bengal and the north-
western provinces are concerned, I am happy to say that a
better practice prevails, and that the public works are put
under the authority of a responsible executive. I hope
before long that the same system will be adopted in the
other provinces, and that some responsible person will be
selected to whom we can look for the execution of the
works. I have also proposed that these public works shall
only be, executed to the extent of the surplus revenue of
the district. I thought that that would be an improve-
ment, for under the present plan we could never tell what
drain there would be on the Indian Treasury. We have
intimated to the Governor General that we prbpose
to expend on 'public works in India the largest
amount that could be spared out of the revenue.
The real drawback on the progress of public works in India
was the want of superintendence. The means of adequate
superintendence were deficient, and there was no obvious
source of supplying that deficiency. The difficulty is a
temporary one, and we will endeavour to supply the defi-
ciency as rapidly as we can. I now come to the last, but
not the least, important subject-I moan the measures
taken for supplying the great want of education in India.
It would be unjust to those persons who have paid great
attention to the subjeet of education in India if I did not
pay my tribute of thanks for what they had done. But,
however mach has been done, it is plain from the evidence
taken before the committee last year that much remains to
do. I may mention the names of Bishop Wilson, Sir C.
Trevelyan, Mr. Macaulay, Mr. Bethune, Dr. Moore, Sir J.
Monroe, and Lord Elphinstone. Nor ought Ito forget the
hon. and learned member opposite (Sir E. Perry.) But,
howeier 'much has been done no stronger testimony of
what remains to be done was ever given than that which
those gentlemen had borne. The deficiency in education
was different in different parts. In Bengal there is a great
I desire on the part of the natives to acquire the English
language with the view of obtaining employment under
the Government. I have read answers given by Hindoos,
in examinations in 1852 to questions, which I confess I
should not like to have had put to me. But, accompanying
that, there was a great defect in what is called the verna-
cular education of the mass of the people. In the north-
western districts, on the other hand, the education was
not 0 much in the English tongue as in those great
branches of practical education well known in this coun-
try. Mr.. Thomason, knowing the ,advantage to the na-
tives of a knowledge of land mensuration, has established
schools in which they were taught in their native language
a knowledge of useful arts. Dr. Moore, a most energetic
supporter of education in Bengal, admits that in the north-
west the knowledge of English was deficient, but that in
the practical knowledge conveyed to the natives through
the vernacular the system was superior. In Bombay im-
provements have taken place, but the efforts made in educa-
tion are comparatively trifling. In Madras an excellent
college was established by Lord Elphinstone, but the go-
vernmental schools had not been so successful as elsewhere.
The efforts of the missionaries, on the contrary, have been
more zealous in Madras than anywhere else, and in these
schools the vernacular education of the natives is carried
to a mush greater extent than elsewhere. Lately the
Governo General founded at Calcutta a presidental Col-
lege of iir
aye and of Engineering, which I hope will meet
the wan e and wishes of the district, and will go far to re-
medy the evil most complained of-the want of any prac-
tical education. But there was still a deficiency in giving
education to the great body of the people ; not that he
thought they should diminish their attention to the higher
branches of education. Government had laid down the
principle and the scheme for extending education in India,
and these they must work it out. What Governmentpro-
posed to do was to give assistance to all the schools in
India which would submit to inspection-he meant those
schools which would give a sound instruction.- Hon. mem-
bers knew that in India, as in this country, there was a
great obstacle to uniform system of education. Govern-
ment preferred to put the schools under inspection, laying
down certain rules that were to be attended to, and Go-
vernment carefully abstained from interfering with anything
relating to religion, for he was sure if the people of India
were Jed to believe that there would be any religious
interference, it would at once be fatal to any scheme of
education. (Hear, hear.) They would, therefore, equally
support the missionary schools, the Mahomodan schools,
and the Hindoo 'schools. They looked only to secular
education; and would in no way interfere with the religious
belief or the religioui observances of the people of India.
(Hear,' hear.) Government proposed also to establish
universities in the great cities on the models of the London
University, and all the pupils at the various colleges might
take degrees at these universities. In the lowest schools
of all they could not do other than teach in the vernacular
langua es, and he proposed to submit the whole of these
to the nspectors, and that the pupils should be examined
under the eye of the inspectors. He hoped the members
i
of the Council of Education would give their valuable
services in carrying gut the scheme he had detailed. In
addition to what he lead stated, there would be colleges for
professional instruction, and there would also be schools
for training schoolmasters. Books would also be printed
in the vernacular languages. That was the same which it
had been thought advisable to adopt, and in framing it he
had taken great pains to consult with all those who were
able to give advice. He had consulted with Dr. Duff, with
the Court of Directors, and with all those who were
acquainted with, India, and the general scheme had met
with their approbation. (Hear, hear.) He thought it was
quite unnecessary he should ilate on the advantages of
education in India.
Sir E. PERRY observed that the right hon. baronet had
gone over so large a field that he hoped the committee would
indulge him whilst he touched upon some of the more im-
portant topics to which he had reverted. He had heard
his speech with unmixed gratification, and he knew that
thinking people in India would hail it as the most pro-
mising that had as yet been addressed to that country.
Notwithstanding the large deficit of 872,3751., which
he admitted, he had detailed most extensive mea-
sures oni four great heads. In public works, judicial
establishments, the funded debt of India, he had pro-
posed now projects which *emid not be too highly appre-
ciated. "With regard to the last of these, especially, the
gratitude of India was due to him, and his name would
go down to posterity associated with those which were
most loved in that country. He attributed the dulness of
demeanour on the part of the house, on the occasion, to
the fact that discussions of this kind led to no practical
res Wt. That, indeed, was the general character of Indian
debafes. It was so 30 years ago, when the Duke of Wel-
lington made one of, his admirable speeches before 80
memliers, in support of the administration of his brother. ,
By tilt) act which the house had passed the power of the
President of the Board of Control had been greatly in-
creased, while that of the Board of Directors had been
diminished, and from that circumstance the right hon.
gentleman was well able to speak to its efficiency in
practice. He was prepared to say that the principles
expressed by the hon. member for Manchester, with
reference to Parliamentary interference in the affairs
of India,;excited thefgreatest admiration out of doors, of
the felicity of expression did not place him at the head of
Parliamentary orators. It was well known that Parlia-
ment; had never interfered in the affairs of India except
undet the most auspicious circumstances. In the opening
of the China trade, in education, in public works, this
beneficial interest was seen ; and, lastly, in the taking
away of the civil patronage of the company. The extra-
ordinary difference between the colonies and India ought
to be noted. The first were Anglo-Saxons, who had ob-
t self-government for themselves, and were without
anhereditary
e° aristocracy. India was a large, densely-
paineepled country-, under a despotism, and was in its cir-
cumstances as different from our colonies as possible. To
mpaxethem together was to compare things wholly dis-
similar, They might take the island of Ceylon, to show
how Ceylon: had progressed iu a more rapid manner than
India had ever done during the last year. The hon. and
learned gentleman here gave some statistics to prove the
advance made in Ceylon in prosperity. There was a wonder-
ful state of progress in Ceylon recently, and that was solely
_co
owing to European capital and Europeanenterprise. When
those views were brought forward last year he would ask
the house to recollect how they were received. (Hear.)
The proposition made was to abolish the power of the
Court of Directors, and to transfer it to the responsible
ministers of the Crown. Now, the power of the East India
directors was long founded and widely spread ; and yet,
when its abolition was proposed, not a hand, as it were,
was hold up in its favour. And this was to be explained
only by the fact that the institution was becoming effete,
and was not in harmony with the spirit of the times-that
the Government of this vast empire could only be trusted
to the hands of the leading statesmen at home. (Hear.)
It was always difficult to get an audience in that house to
listen to Indian affairs. Nay, the very speeches recorded in
Hansard were never spoken in the house ; they were pre-
pared by a clerk of the Eastl ndia House, and handed over
~ way,Dsar NBVreotcheerrt,a-inllrvehogpoet
one
to be printed in Hansard. Unless they could get Parlia- A MODEL LETTER.- The following letteeirsofisa
meat to take.a proper interest in Indian affairs, this vast
subject would-never be properly considered and dealt with.
subj
disposed to He was greatly pleased at finding the house somest farms in the State, and have it nearly paid for.
listen to him that night. He would not go largely into
Crops are good, end prices never were better. We have
the subject, butiwould content himself with calling atteni
had a glorious revival of religion in our church, and both
tion to a practical letter on the subject of the mechanica
all our children (the Lord be praised) are converted. Father
manner of dealing with Indian affairs, namely, bringing
an in control, got to be rather cumbrance, and last week I took
the departments under one roof and under proper specimen eian its.-
him to the poorhouse.._ ho s —y
in connection with the Imperial Government. He wished p r.u e. our affectionate brother.--
to state to-the house what the expense of having the present New York Daily Tones.
would
absurd arrangement cost the people of India; and he THE HARVEST.- -The corn harvest has now commended
show how a vote of that house could save to India at least in many parts of Devonshire. Generally speaking, the
was
50,0001. yearly. The cost of the double governmentl.
(he crop promises to be a good one, though there are com-
W 4 follows :-The salary of the directors was 7
plaints of rust and mildew. ats, also, have been cut
took••4he-old figures) ; expenses of repairs andpetty
in some places, end have been housed in excellent
chirges, 32,000/. ; salaries of secretary, officers, and Courtcon-
of Directors, 94,387/. ; Board of Control establishment, (rt. The hay harvest is d •
i ton. drawing towards a close.
2-9,420/ ;-the rent of India. Hou-e and other buildings, [ADVERTISEMENT].--Holloway's Ointment and Pills'
3'2,9501. ; rent of India Board, 2,600/. The total was essentially beneficial for healing wounds.-Mr. Paul
198,987/,
there, was afflilted for a long time with ten
Now, he would ask the house to recollect at_ Spencer, of Weft Bromwich, informs Professor Hello-
what cost an ordinary government could be carried on. He way, in a letter dated May 2(i, 1854, that a friend of his
would take the Colonial-office for instance, which office had residing in New-street, in that town, and well known
53 governments to rule over, and the whole expense of the
Office was 40,550/, He therefore took this cost as aroper ulcers, and although he had the best medical ad •
tppe, and to it he added 10,0001. a year for a board of di
miles round, yet he was not benefitted b vice for
rectors, and then he found that for 50,0001. a sufficient y the same ;
government for India could be had, which would leave therefore, as a last resource he • was induced to try Rol-
-150,0001- -to -be applied to other purposes of public
utility. Re trusted that persons of longer experience loway's Ointment and Pills,and
them for three months
the wounds all healed and be was
than he was would give the house an opportunity of de- completely cured, to the wonder of every that
oneknew
cidisg whether the mechanical arrangement to which he him.-7 Sold by all Vendors of Medicine, and at Professor
had adverted was not both desirable and practicable. Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London.
Thbre would be a saving by his method of 150,0001. a year, [Aetssalszezier:] Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent fois
ut this sevin would be coupled with other even more valuable and extraordinary improvements in the most power-
, Important advantages.He had seen eteough of the gover- ful and brilliant Telesco
...b._
pes,
nore of India to sa the desired to do justice in their Perspective Glasses(glazed with Camp, Race-course,
y that ey .
it was the Munic German Glass), to know
government of ' India. He said, therefore, the distances of objects viewed through them-of great im-
duty of all to attempt to do good to India byinstructing. poitance to the army, navy, and others. Messrs. S. and Bd
themselves in: facts connected with Indian affairs. But it Solomons, opticians, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Ob-
conlii. net_ be expected that members of that house would serve-opposite the York Hotel.- Theset,
telescopes possess
golto I,eadenhair.street, to get information that was essen- such extraordinary powers that seine 3i inches, with an ex-
tialEfor he could by no means conceive that the Board of tra eye-piece, will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn'T_ Centica svas-the real governing mind in Indian affairs. ring, and the double stars ; wins the same telescope can be
This was his irgpment, for getting a general board collected 1 semi a person's countenance three miles and a half distant,
under one roof; which should have the whole control of ' and an object fro& 12 to 14 miles. The are of larger and all
Indian affairs. 'Every one who, like himself, felt strongly ,
sizes, with incresea, Royal Ex-
the duty cast upon him, would think ho was guilty powers accordingly.-Theof hibition, 1851:-Valble, newly-invented, - very small,
a dereliction of duty if he„did not exert himself to make powerful waistcoat-pocket glass, the size of a walnut, by which
the important question or the Government of India ' a person can be seen and known 1 i miles distant; they answer
fully known. Every one who had studied the present !
1 every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera houses,
temper of the times could not but be aware of the great 1 country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at Bto 10 miles. improvement that had taken place in the public mind 1 They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to
with regard to Indian affairs and the interests of our In . sportsmen, gentlemen gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera,
dian empire. Formerly wo only looked to the commercial race-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wonderful
portion of the question ; now we were rising to the higher
10 to 12 miles
power ; an object can be clearly seen from
and what he would call the holier aspect of the question. 1 distant. Spectacle Lenses of the greatest transparent power.
We were looking to the broad and unselfish question of , The valuable advantaee derived from this invention is, that
what was generally advantageous for India, not what was i vision becoming impaired is preserved and strengthened, and
most commercially beneficial to ourselves. He firmly be- I
I very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most
lieved that the same spirit would continue for successive, minute occupation-can see with these lenses of a much less mag-
generations, and in the end be productive of the most ! nifying power-and they do not require the frequent changes
lasting benlits to India and to the British empire. [to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Deaf-
Mr. KINNAIRD was favourable to bringing the Go- etas-. New Discovery.--The Organic Vibrator, an extraordi-
',imminent of India more fully under the control of the '
~ nary powerful, small, newly-invented instrument for deafness,
Imperial_Government. He thought by another arrange- ! entirely different from all others, to surpass anything of the
meet that the annual important stateinent relative to kind that has been, or probably ever can be, produced.
Indian affaira' might be brought before the house in May, Being of the same colour as the skin, is not perceptible ; it
rather than be deferred, as now, to so late a period of the enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at
session. (Hear, hear.) He did not think, however,
(Sir that public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensation of singing noises
the extracts read by the right hon. 'gentleman C. in the ears is entirely removed ; and it affords all the assist-
IVOod) relative to the monopoly of selt was an answeit 0 erica that possibly could be desired,-39, Albemarle-street,
ihose arguments which had been urged against that IMO- Piccadilly, Observe-opposite the York Hotel.
Y.
............ . _
ti i the
nra u rune
I In perfectai n uniquengd .

poly. He could, however, only express his sincere hope
that measures for the internal improvement of India would
engage the active attention of the Imperial Government.
If the various authorities of India were compelled to draw
up a report of the condition of their various districts,
something on the model of Lord Elgin's report, not too
long—for members had no time to wade through long re-
ports—if such a report was drawn up, giving a full view of
the social condition, improvement, and state of commerce
of the various districts—seven in number—and if this
report were laid on the table before the annual statement
was made, the best results would flow from such a practice.
If they were able to see the progress that was made, and
if the different governors in India were able to contrast
the progress of their departments with other departments,
it would act as an incentive to improvement, and would
have the best effects both on the governors and on the
general interests of India. (Hear, hear.) He considered
it was due to our national character to show that we did
not use the vast empire of India merely for our own ad-
vancement, and without regard to the welfare of India at
large. He was happy to bear the present Governor-
General was to stay another year, as that would be a
guarantee for further improvements. _ _

- Mr. HUME assured his hon. friend who had just sat
down that the reports to which he had alluded had hitherto
been prepared. (Hear.) There was no want of statistical
detail in India, but there was want of publicity ; and he
trusted, from what he had now heard, that this last de-
sideratum would not long be wanting. He expressed his
satisfaction at the manner in which the right hon. gentle.
man (Sir C. Wood) had begun the duties of his office, and
augured from this commencement a better discharge of the
duties of the Indian department for the future. With re-
spect to the finances of India, he hoped that an alteration
might be made in the date to which the' accounts were to
be made up. He thought the principle shadowed forth by
the right hon. gentleman with regard to education in-
India a sound one. On one point, however, he differed
with the right hon. gentleman—namely, his denial that
the revenue of Madras could not be improved. He (Mr.
Hume) quite agreed with Colonel Cotton that the neglect
of communication by roads and canals had precluded the
augmentation of the revenue of India. He admitted, with
the right hon. gentleman, that much would depend on. a
proper supervision of works, but it could not be pretended
that there was not a plentiful amount of engineering and
other talent at command. A remaining source of the de-
cay of Indian finance was the continuance of petty taxa-
tion in that country; and he hoped that ere long the ma-
turpha tax and all similar imposts would be abolished
that we should hear no more of persons being called upon
to pay a tax for sinking 'a well. (Hear.) With regard to
the military system of India, he also trusted that a larger
measure of justice would be extended to native officers,
and that Europeans would not be indiscriminately put
over their heads. The doctrine of Lord Dalhousie, that
the natives might be robbed in respect of their territory,
he thought a most mischievous one. (Hear, hear.) Wa
had 150,000,000 of people under our control in India, and
the end of legislation should be to strike off the shackles
of that people, and make them rich and happy. (Hear.)
Mr. DANBY SE YMOU.R was anxious to bear his testi-
mony to the efforts which the right hon. gentleman had
made during the year iu the direction of Indian legislation,
The minute of the right hon. gentleman on the subject
of education in that country would be received with
universal satisfaction, but the retention of the salt
tax would generally be regarded as a grievance.
Ho did not agree with the right hon. baronet as to the
state of the population of Bengal; the wages he under-
stood to be low, and the people in a very distressed state.
It came out that there was a deficit of 800,000/. which had
to be made up, and he (Mr. D. Seymour) thought that
economy could not be better practised than to reduce the
regular cavalry in India, which was inefficient in the field,
but which was kept up simply because the directors have
the patronage of the commissions. Irregular cavalry only
cost half the money. There was only oue regiment of re-
gular cavalry in the Madras army which had not shot its
officers. The right hon. gentleman, therefore, would do
well to imitate the policy of Sir R. Peel, and meet this
defect by prompt retrenchment.
Mr. PHILLIMORE said the first object in India as re-
gard statesmen was to obtain cheap traffic with regard
to transit. He rejoiced at the opening of the Godavery,
which would give cotton to England at a rate to compete
with American cotton. As regarded extension of terri-
tory, he (Mr. Phillimore) fully concurred with the hon.
member for Montrose in designating Lord Dalhousie's
letter an insolent and imprudent document.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD, in reference to the officers of
the Queen's troops serving in India, said they were placed
iu a most degrading and injurious position, in consequence
of the rules and orders of the service in that country.
He thought the true remedy was to amalgamate the ser-
vices, so that there should be only one, and that one
should be the Queen's service.

Mr. V. SCULLY complained that the statement had
not been mada at an earlier period of the session, and
also that the members connected with India were not
in attendance in the house. He thought the misfortunes
of the people of India arose from the vice of the land
tenures in that country, and he hoped the right
honourable gentleman would attend to that subject, as
vicious tenures of land had been the ruin of the West
Indies as well as of Ireland. The condition of
the rural population of Poonah, in June, 1854, was
of the worst description ; they were literally famished,
and thousands of them had been living on roots for the
preceding four months, all because of the viciousness of
the land tenures in that country.
Sir C. WOOD replied. The circumstance to which the
hon. and learned gentleman alluded had arisen from the
want of rains, and not from the land-tenures. As regarded
the works of the Godavery, an iron steam-boat would be
sent out next year for the purpose of clearing the river as
high up as possible.
The resolutions were then agreed to, and ordered to be
reported this day at 12 o'clock.
The house then resumed.

MEDICAL GRADUATES (UNIVERSITY OF LON-
DON) BILL.
On consideration of the Lords' amendments in this bill,
Mr. MO WBRAY rose to call attention to the circum-
stance that those amendments excluded the University of
Durham from the operation of the bill, which had only
been originally included in it after a very considerable
discussion in this house. Now ho must say, after the
question had undergone so complete an investigation—after
the proposal had mot with the sanction of her Majesty's
Ministers in this house, he was entirely unprepared to find,
without any previous notification of such an intention, an
amendment made by a Cabinet Minister, in the other
house, and supported by another Cabinet Minister, to the
effect of excluding the University of Durham from the bill.
Still he was not without hope that the noble viscount the
Secretary for the Home Department, on a re-consideration
of the subject, would see fit to re-insert the name of the
University of Durham in the bill ; and, therefore, with a
view of allowing time for that further consideration, and
not for the purpose of throwing obstacles in the way of the
bill finally passing, he should point attention to the fact
that there were not 40 members present.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and it ap-
pearing that there were only 18 members present, the fur-
ther consideration of the bill was postponed ; and the
house adjourned at 20 minutes past twelve o'clock.