The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-07 00:00:00

~.
-- : . ,
t - '4 ~ • :.• i,/,17
r AL IN'
, te+ ;
. . ~ eat,
-' ,t. - ' (41111111.
.____. .....,,.....:0, t.
.
,)0,...i*. 1"
Ner,,
I '44.-_,... :,:.... ...
.1,,...,..),:.5.2.
i;.„ : , ~,i-t(
I ~,,......
i,..:. , v ; 2 . ANzi,
! ' - - ..se 1 ir' ..-4 cv
..., ( ~,. . - . _-,
,Z ~ , r,. r
neJ
°#:,.. 1 '''ts . "?--T:1-..,°,,,f11 w ,•=4:l-Noll '' ,„ -,i-i, , 44%1';0•-• thk. (--.--...,, \,,.;:-,,
~,// 17jki, 1-4,4944 Z .4,01,,,,. ' bit-S"' - -t., -V? 4or , A'"„,t„..-
:4 .4 .-/ ,
- .
. . ..

[PRICE SD.

hear.) The very fact that a special Court of Proprietors
could be called by nine members for the discussion of
any question or complaint showed that it was intended
the Court of Proprietors should be a sort of council to
the Court of Directors; Although secresy might be
essential on some points, publicity ought to be the guid-
ing principle. He was, therefore, prepared to prove that
the evils which had arisen in the Government of India,
from the year 1833 to the present time, had been in con-
sequence of the system of the secret orders of the Board
of Control having been carried out without the know-
ledge of the Court of Directors. He believed the Secret
Committee of the Court of Directors consisted of only
three members, and that they were bound by an oath not
to communicate with their colleagues on any matters
coming before them as members of that secret commit-
tee. He believed it could be proved that if the Affghan-
istan war had come under the deliberation of the Court
of Directors, such was the knowledge that many of its
members possessed, that the war would never have been
entered upon. What would have been the consequence ?
Upwards of 13,000,0001. of money and many valuable
lives would have been saved. Take the war in Scinde.
Did any man for a moment doubt that if the facts had
been brought before the Court of Directors they would
not have been able to assign a reason why they should
not hesitate before they entered upon that conquest ?
So, in the same manner, with respect to the Burmese
war. The whole proceeding of that war had been, in
his opinion, most unsatisfactory. No power was given
to the Court of Directors to overrule the Governor-
General. The Governor-General could not be called to
account. No minutes were kept, no correspondence of
a public nature carried on ; so that the people of this
country knew not on what ground the war was begun
and continued. All was matter of private communi-
cation between the Governor-General and the Board of
Control, by which he was urged on to the most disas-
trous consequences. It was on these considerations
. that he wished the Court not to give any hurried
answer to the Government until they had ascertained
how far these statements were true. Tho opinion he
had therefore arrived at was, that no good government
could result unless every measure underwent full discus-
sion whenever the President of the Board of Control
differed from the " chairs," as it was called, of the Court
of Directors. But then it was said that he (Mr. Hume)
was against the establishment of the constitutional prin-
ciple in India. Did any man believe that India was
capable of constitutional government I (Hear, hear.) It
would take a long time to bring the people of India to a
knowledge and an appreciation of constitutional govern.
ment. But, after all, he did not deny that there were many
and grave faults in the government of India. In respect
to appointments made by Government, no doubt faults
had been committed. Let them be remedied. Then as
to the Law Commission, it was considered by many
from the beginning to be a very great job. He, how-
ever, had never thought it was bad economy to have a
good system of justice, and he always considered it the
duty of the Government to afford to the natives speedy
and economical justice. These and many other things
he might mention to show the Court that they ought
not to express a hasty opinion upon the question now
before them. He had on many occasions said that the
Court of Directors did not stand up for their rights, and
that they yielded on many occasions upon the principle
of letting things go on quietly, an), of • not quarrelling
with the Board of Control. He 'believed that, in many
things, if the Court of Directors had asserted an inde-
pendent opinion, they would have been supported by the
proprietors ; and, if publicity had been given to their
deliberations, by the public also. But, looking at the
question in a £ s. d. point of view, how would the pro-
posed scheme of Government affect the proprietors ?
The Court of Directors were trustees, whose duty it was
to pay the dividends to the proprietors, and to take care
of the interest in the reserved fund of 2,000,0001. till
1847. Now, the question was, whether they would be
running a risk by allowing the position of the Company
at this moment to be altered ? Suppose the Imperial
Government should assume the entire power over India,
what would be the consequence? His solemn belief was,
that if that took place, aml the Government were to
possess India, as it now possessed Canada, India would
not remain a dependent on the British Crown for many
years. Old as he was, he might in that case live to see
.that catastrophe. When he looked to Canada, and con-
sidered the discontent and rebellion which had oc-
curred ther%—and when he looked to the Cape of Good
Hope, and saw it almost in a state of revolution from
the mismanagement of the Crown, what could be ex-
pected if such a possession as that of British India were
to fall into hands of the Crown. (Hear, hear.) With
regard to the service of the East India Company, he
would ask what service in the world had turned out
such men ? He never heard any person who, when com-
paring one person with another, did not give the supe-
riority, both in the civil and military branch, to the ser-
vice of India. He therefore believed ill was a delusion
to suppose that India could be resumed by the Govern
ment of this country with safety. But if India was lost
then, with it, went your dividends. (Hear, hear.) The
East India proprietors bad no other resource. The
guarantee-fund might go on to the year 1874, and then
the Government might say, "Take your capital, but we
have no dividends to give you." (Hear, hear.) These
were questions which made it matter of importance that
the subject now before them should be viewed in all its
a.pects. What was it that the President of the Board
of Control proposed should be done ? His whole speech
was in favour of continuing things as they were, with
the exception of certain changes in regard to the Legis-
lative and Executive Councils. Nobody doubted for a
moment that that would be an advantage. But lie did
not approve of the exclusion of the natives from the
higher offices. That lie considered a blot in the proposed
arrangement. Having had a most extensive experience
in India, he found the natives honest and useful people,
and no individual need to have been afraid to point atten-
tion to them. Give them an object in view, and pay them
adequately, and there was no one who would say that they
were not capable of discharging their duty in any depart.
ment to which they might be appointed. He would now
turn to the proposal for improving the Court of Directors.
Their number was to be reduced to 18, and one-third of
them was to be nominated by the Crown. He had no
objection to Government reserving to themselves the
power of nominating five or six well qualified men to aid
in the government of India. But t•Ilk as they pleased
about 24 men having the management of India, and of
the expense of the Indian Government, what had those
people to do ? Compare their duties with those of the
Government of this country, and they would find them
to be at least equal in magnitude and importance.
Looking at the Indian government as a whole, it was
a subject of admiration and surprise to everybody. They
were told that it was a double Government. Why,
England was a triple Government. A representative
Government consisted of checks. He could not con-
clude without noticing the extraordinary position the
30 directors would be placed in by being called upon to
select 15 of their number to remain in the direction.
(Hear, hear.) But that was not his objection to the
plan. The Minister of India would be deprived of the
counsel which he ought to have. On these and other
grounds he considered they were not prepared to legis-
late upon the subject but that the inquiry ought to go
on ; and that it would be more consistent with former
practice, and with the dignity of the Court, that the
discussion of this great question should be deferred.
Cries of " _ Move.") They might have a continuing act

for one year, and: in the meanwhile the whole subject
might be fairly discussed. (Cheers.) He, therefore,
begged to move that the correspondence which had been
read be printed and distributed among the proprietors,
and that the debate thereon be adjourned to this (lay
fortnight.
Sir P. LAURIE seconded the motion.
Mr. LEWIN said, he agreed very much in all that had
been said by the hon. member for Montrose (Mr.
Hume). Not knowing what motion that hon. gentleman
was about to make, he had intended to move that the
Government measure be taken into consideration that
day 12 months, and that in the interval, a sufficient in-
quiry take place to enable the Government to legislate
with their eyes open, instead of, as they now proposed
to do, in darkness. One reason for delay was, that Sir
C. Wood's views were of the most outrageous description,
he having denounced 150,000,000 of the people of India
as perjurors, and unfit to hold any high office in the
State ; but the whole speech, in fact, of the right hon.
gentleman evinced the most supreme ignorance of the
' subject on which he was treating. The hon. proprietor
was proceeding to' argue the question, when
Mr. HUME rose, an suggested that the only question
before the Court was the production of the correspond.
ence and the appointment of a day on which the debate
might be fully entered upon.
A very long conversation ensued, in which many hon.
proprietors took part, all of them in a greater or less
degree expressing their disapproval of the Government
plan, and their opinion of the necessity of the Court of
Proprietors taking the subject into their immediate con-
sideration.
The question on Mr. Hume's motion was then put,
and agreed to by a large majority.
The debate was then adjourned to Monday, the 20th
inst.

THE CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW ZEA
LAND COMPANY.—An arrangement has at length been
made between the directors of the New Zealand Com,
pany and the late Canterbury A ssociation, in reference
to the disputed claims of the former, by which all further
litigation between the two has been terminated. Mr.
Selfe, on the part of the association, and Mr. Buckle, on
the part of the company, have entered into a convention,
which stipulates that 2,0801. 19s. Bd., the sum necessary
to complete the payment in respect of the first 100,000/.
of land proceeds, shall be payable within a specified
time, and that the proceedings at law and Chancery
shall be severally discontinued, each party in the former
paying their own costs, and the association only paying
the coats in the latter. The accounts between the two
bodies were to be made out by an accountant, as an act
of grace, to remit its claim to any portion of the fund
for miscellaneous expenses accrued from land proceeds,
in addition to the first item of 100,0001. In accordanceas
with this agreement, the sum of 2,0801. 19s. Bd. has
been paid by the association, and the guarantee given by
four members of that body given up to them. The
amount remitted by the company is 1,289/. 8s 9d.. ; and
after giving credit for these two sums, the accounts, as,
made out and admitted, exhibit a
owing to the company of 218281. Osa.l2adn
.ceonofthper2inoctbipaoli
)
January last.

'TELL,/-ENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, JUNE 6.
The inhabitants of this port looked to-day as though
iw blood had been infused, on hearing that the long-
_..glected but fine old ship Neptune, 120, Capt. Scott,
was ordered to be rigged and fitted out immediately for
active service. We understand a similar order has been
given for a first-rate at each of the other ports. We
trust the order has not been too long delayed. There
are the ships, but where are the men ?
The Blenheim, 58, screw guard-ship, Captain W. IL
Henderson, C. 8., has received wages to-day, and awaits
orders.
The Simeom, 18, iron screw troop-frigate, Captain
Henry Smith, hauled out of dock this morning, and was
taken over to the guard-ship's moorings on the Gosport
side of the harbour.
The Duke of Wellington, 131, screw, Captain Henry
Byam Martin, received on board her crew to-day from
the hulk, and will go out of harbour to-morrow morning
soon after eleven.
The Princess Royal, '9O, screw, has commenced laying
the " ways" for the coming launch. A gang of convicts
has also been engaged in taking up the planking of the
bridge and removing the uprights, and are clearing away
all impediments.
A private letter from Malta, bearing date the 23d ult.,
states, " the squadron are ordered for a short cruise, it
is uncertain whether we accompany them. We should
like to know what's up,' as there is a great deal of gri-
macing and signalling, and the skippers looking vastly
important. The whole of the bands of the squadron are
to go ashore, and to form one monster band la
Jullien' (?). The regimental bands to do the same. The
governor gives a grand ball, to which the die are in-
vited—your humble servant, as a matter of course.
Suppose, just suppose, that this ball should turn out
like the celebrated Duke's at Brussels, what a blessed
splendidi c., iu or more
rbdael
atiliidanouognhet
ttoo
befollao
snatchw..
for
r Waenya
scrimmage there would be. We have dreamed a dream,'
double our number—aint we plucky ? " frocrcin

PLYMOUTH, JUNE 4.
Port-Admiral Sir John A. Ommaney returned on
Thursday from leave of absence, and hoisted his slag,
white at the main, on board the Impregnable, in Ha-
moaze.

The St. Jean d'Acre, 101, Captain the Hon. H. Rep-
pel, was masted on Thursday, and was yesterday warped
to the jetty to be rigged ; her tops are over the mast-
head.

The Avon steam-tender, Second Master Veitch com-
manding, arrived on Friday from Portsmouth.
The Coast Guard men, under Captain W. 11. Ken-
nedy, R.N., Inspecting Commander of this district, were
inspected on Tuesday at great gun drill, on board the
gunnery-ship Hotspur, by Captain Hewlett, of her Ma-
jesty's ship Edinburgh, who highly complimented them
on their state of efficiency.
The Cork Steam-ship Company's packet Ajax, Captain
Mowle, reports that at noon, off the Deadman, yester-
day, wind E.S.E., fresh, she saw a brig beating up Chan-
nel, showing the first distinguishing pendant, No. 7,495.

SHEERNESS, JUNE 4.

The Dolphine, 3, brigantine, has been taken into dock
for survey and making good defects preparatory to being
commissioned here.
The Comus, 14, Commander W. A. Fellowes, is fully
completed in her rigging, and is now all ataunt. She is
completing her armament and stores, and will shortly be
ready for sea. Her armament is all of what are termed
bite long-shore guns, of 8-inch calibre, for 32-pounder
shot or shell. She has on board as smart a crew of blue
jackets as we have seen for some time past. The new
Admiralty regulations for pay, &c., to the seamen have
been read on board of her for the information of the
crew, by which volunteers for the navy may, if they
choose, obtain increase of pay by volunteering for ten
years, or if, having former services in other ships to
complete that time, it will be taken to make up the ten
years, provided the seaman shall be over 18 years of age ;
no previous service will count, that being the period at
which the ten years' servitude shall commence. After ten
years' servitude, if they think proper to leave the navy,
each seaman will be entitled to 6d. per day pension for
his lifetime, and for 15 years 9d. per day. All petty
officers who are entitled to wear good-service badges, or
stripes on their arm, will receive additional day-pay for
every badge or stripe obtained. This is another strong
inducement held out by the new regulations to efficient
seamen, who are thoroughly acquainted with their entire
duties from stem to stern and from keel to truck on
board a man-of-war.
The Horatio, 24, screw steam-guardship.—The orders
for this ship to proceed to Devonport, as reported, have
been countermanded, and she proceeded no further than
below the Nore. She there brought up and remained
48 hours. During her stay there the crew were exer-
cised in shifting sails, topgallautmasts, jibboom, and at
gun exercise, &c., when she returned into harbour, and
has taken in her moorings.
The Tribune, 30 guns, new screw-steam-frigate, and
the Miranda, 14 guns, screw steam-sloop, are ordered _
to be fitted with Grant's patent cooking and distilling
appavatuia, for which purpose it will be necessary for
both ships to be tlace. in dry docks to pass the feed
pipes through their side under water.
The'Ocean, new coal depot,..will be ready to leave
the basin for her station in Saltpan Reach in a few
daR. New moorings of very largo dimensions are being
prvared for. her ; they will be of sufficient strength to
admiii of tw%first-ratisZto.lash a4onsida the Ocean la.
ride "together by thent. -The moorings are being made
by Messrs. Brown and Lennox at their London factory.
The Myrtle steam-vessel has been taken into the dis-
charging oasin to make good defects.
The African steam-tug has made good her defects, and
is engaged assisting and attending on riggers, who are
overhauling the heavy mooring in our harbour, and also
for the purpose of being ready in case of accident to any
of the men employed in this dangerous work, with heavy
moorings, to convey them immediately on shore for
medical treatment.
The keel of a new screw steam-sloop of war has been
laid down on No. 1 building-slip here, and several of
her midship body-frames have been raised. She is to to
built with all possible expedition.