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

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

-
HOUSE OF COMIONS.—JuNE 6.
( From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of
Commons. )
INCOME TAX BILL.
Order for third reading read ; motion made, and question
put, " That the bill be now read the third time." The
House divided—Ayes 189, Noes 55.
MA.tORITY—AYES,

---- .
A'Court, C. Freestun, Colonel Monck, Lord
Adair, Hugh E. Gallwey, Sir W. P. Mousell, W.
Adderley, C. Gaskell, JamesMilnes Morris, D.
A lcock, Thomas Gibson, T. M. Mostyn, E. M.
Aspinall, J. T. W. Gladstone, William Murphy, F. Stack
Baines, MT. Glyn, George Carr Norreys, Lord
Ball, John Geoderich, Vis. Norreys, Sir D.
Bell, J. Goodman, Sir G. O'Connell, Maurice
Benbow, John Goold, W. Oliveira, Benjamin
Biddulph, R. M. Gordon' Admiral Osborne, Ralph
Biggs, William Grace, 0. Palmer, R.
Blackett, J. F. Graham, Sir James Palmerston, Viscount
Bouverie, E. Gregson, Samuel Pechell, Sir George
Boyle, Col. Grenfell,(3. Peel, Colonel
Bright, John Grey, Sir G. Pellatt Apaley
Brocklehurst, John Hadfield, G. Phillimore. J.
Sotherton, Joseph Hall, Sir Benjamin Phinn, Thomas
Brown, W. Ilanmer, Sir John Pilkington, James
Browne, V. Harcourt, G. G. Price, Sir R.
Butler, Charles Harcourt, Col. Price, W. P.
Butt, G.ll. Hastie, Alexander Ricardo, 0.
Butt, I. Beard, J. I. Rich, H.
Byng, G. H. Charles Heneage, G. EL W. Robartes, T. J. A.
Campbell, Sir Arch. Herbert, H. A. Russell, Lord .
Cardwell, Hon. E. Herbert, Sidney Russell,-F. C.
Caulfield. Colonel Hervey, Lord Alfred Russell, F. W.
Cavendish, Hon. Geo. Hindley, Charles Sadleir, J.
Chambers, T. Hogg, Sir James W. Sandal's, 0..
Ch art eris, F. Hudson, George Sawle, C. B. G.
Cheetham, John Hughes, W. B. Scully, V.
Cholmondeley, Ld. H. Hume, J. Seymour, W. D.
Christy, S. Hutt,-William Sheridan. R. B.
Clay, Sir W. Jermyn, Earl Smith. J.
Cobden, Richard Johnstone, Sir J. Smith, M. Tucker
Cockburn, Sir Alex. Kendall; N. Smith, It. V
Cocks, T. Somers Keogh, William Smollett. A.
Collin, W. Kershaw, Jame. Stanley, lin .W. 0.
Collier, Robert P. Kinnaird, A. F. Strickland, Sir G.
Craufurd, E. H. J. Kirk, William Stott, Rt. Hon. E.
Crook, J, Labouchere, Henry Stuart, H.
Crossley, F. Laing, S. Thicknesse, R. A.
Denison, Edmund Langton, H. G. Thompson, George
Dent, J. Laslett, W. Thornely, T.
Dering, Sir Edward Layard, A. H. Townshend, Capt.
Divett, Edward Lee, W. Vane, Lord H.
Drummond, Henry Legh, G. C. Vernon, G.
Duncan, G. Lewis, Sir T. Villiers, Hon. C.
Dundas G. Lockhart, A. E. Vyvyan, Sir R.
Dunlop, ,
A. Lowe, It. Walcott, Adm.
Egerton, Edward Luce, T. West, F. It.
Ellice, Rt. Hon. E. Mackie, J. Whatman, James
Elliot, J. E. Mackinnon, W. A. Whitbread, Samuel
Evans. William Macgregor, James Wickham, Henry W.
Evelyn, W. J. M`Gregor, John Wilkinson, W. A.
Swart, William Ill'aggart, Sir J.
WWilliams, William
Fergus, John Marjoribanks, D. ilson, James
Ferguson, Sir Robert Mar tin, John Wiunington, Sir T. E
Ferguson, Joseph Master man, John Wood, Sir C.
Fitzgerald, J. D. Matheson, Alex. Wyndham, W.
Fitzroy, Henry Matheson, Sir J. Young, Sir J.
Foley, J. H. Milligan, Robert
Forster, Charles Mills, T. TULLIS.
Fortescue, C.
W.
Fox, w, J. Moffatt, G. Hayter, G.
Molesworth, Sir W. Berkeley, Grenville

MINORITY—NOES, 55.
Archdall, Captain M. Esmonde, John Lucas, F.
Bagge, W. Forster, Sir G. Maguire, J.
Bailey, Crawshay Frewen, C. H. Manners, Lord J.
Bailey, H. J. Fuller, Augustus E. Michell, W.
Bankes, G. George, John
Montgomery,
Bateson, T. Greene, J. 0,
Bennet, Philip Greville, Col, O'Brien, Sir T.
Beresford, William Grogan, E. Potter, R.
Blair, Colonel Halsey, T. Stanhope, J. B.
Br iolratilclk. L .
Blake, M. Hawkins, William Sullivan, M.
Bland, L. Hill, Lord A. E.;
Thompson,Ydnce, J. Mr. Ald
Taylor, Colonel
Booker, Thos. Wm. Hume, W. F.
Brady, J. Jolliffe, Sir W. G.H.
Brisco, Musgrave Keating,.. R. Williams, TP.
Clinton, Ld C. Kelly, Sir F. Wyndham, General
Clive, Robert Kennedy, T.
Coles, H. Beaumont Ker, D. S.
Corbally, M, Kerrison, E. C.
Duffy, C. King, J. K.
Dunne, Col. Liddell, H. G.

TELLERS.

Verner, Sir W.
Brooke, Sir A. B.

" It is with the greatest satisfaction that I have received
this assurance of the cordial co-operation of the Court of
Directors and of the East India Company in the promotion
of the good government of our vast empire in India, which
must be the great object of cur common exertions ; and Ican
assure them that it will be my anxious desire to meet their
very natural wish for an early communication of the in-
tentions of her Majesty's Government on this subject as
soon as it is consistent with my public duty to afford them
this information.—l have, ac.,

" CHARLES WOOD.

" Sir J. W. Hogg, Bart., M.P., and
Russell Ellice, Esq."

" India Board, June 1, 1853.
" Gentlemen,—l have the honour of enclosing a memo-
randum of the heads of the arrangement for the govern-
ment of India which it appears to her Majesty's Govern-
ment after full and anxious deliberation, that it would be
advisable to adopt, proposing for the consideration of Par-
liament such parts of the plan as require legislative sanction
in this country.
"The memorandum embraces all suggestions for improve-
ments in the constitution of the courts of justice, and in
some other matters of less importance.
" We are fully sensible of the progress that has been
made in India during the administration of the govern-
ment of that country by the East India Company since
the passing of the act of 1833, and of the oonstant atten-
tion which has been paid to this subject by the Court of
Directors.

" While we are of opinion that by some alteration in
the constitution of the Court of Directors, it may be ren-
dered a still more fitting instrument for conducting the
government of our Indian empire, we are most anxious to
preserve unimpaired the independence of that body, and
its freedom from all undue political influence, on which we
believe that its efficiency for executing the high trust re-
posed in it so essentially depends.
" We do not propose any fixed term for the duration of
this form of government, as vie think it advisable that it
should be open, at any time, to the consideration and re-
vision of Parliament.

"We trust that the changes which we propose in the
mode of admission and in the examination of candidates
for civil appointments, and for the scientific branches of
the Indian army, will tend to raise still further the cha-
racter of both of those services. 1

" The two most important changes in India are the en-
largement of the Legislative Council, and an improved
constitution of the highest courts of judicature in all the
presidencies ; from which we anticipate considerable im-
provement, not only in the legislation of India, bat also
in the modes of proceeding, and in the administration of
justice in the courts of that country.
"It is unnecessary for me to advert more in detail to
the various points embraced in the proposals which I have
the honour to enclose, but I shall be very happy upon any
of them to afford you further explanations of the views of
her Majesty's Government.
" We trust that the Court of Directors will believe that
our single object has been to devise the means which are,
in our judgment, the best calculated to promote the good
government of India and the welfare of its inhabitants ;
and that they will concur with us in the opinion that these
paramount objects have been carefully kept in view in
these proposals.
"We feel perfectly confident that if the Court should
think that the public interests of this country and of
India will be benefited by the adoption of this scheme,
the personal sacrifices which individual directors may be
called upon to make, in order to carry it into effect, will
be cheerfully submitted to.
" If, indeed, we could have entertained a doubt of the
spirit by which we are convinced that they will be actu-
ated, it would have been entirely removed by the expres-
sion of their feeling contained in your letter of the 30th of
March.—l have, &c., " CHARLES WOOD.
" Russell Ellice, Esq.
" Major Oliphant."

" MEMORANDUM.
" HEADS OF THE PROPOSED PLAM FOR THE FUTURE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

"1. The government of India to be continued in the
East India Company, with all their existing powers and
privileges, and subject to existing restrictions, until Par-
liament shall otherwise provide.
" 2. All the provisions of existing acts and charters, ex-
cept in so far as they are altered by the bill, to remain in
force.
"3. The Court of Directors to consist of 18 members, of
whom 12 are to be elected by the proprietors and six to be
named by the Crown, out of persons who have served a
certain time in India. In the first instance 15 out of the
present 30 directors to be chosen by the Court and three
only to be named by the Crown, and, on the occurrence of
the first three vacancies in the number of the elected
directors, three more to be named by the Crown, till the
full number of six is attained.
"4. The privileges, qualifications, and powers of all the
directors to be the same in all respects.
" 5. One-third part of the directors, both elected and
nominated, to go out every second year, but to be eligible
for immediate re-election or nomination.
" 6. The appointments of student to Haileybury and
Addiscombe, and also of assistant surgeons, to be open to
competition under regulations to be framed by the Board
of Control, from time to time, and laid before Parliament.
No alteration to be made as to other appointments to the
Indian service.
"7. 1 permanent Lieutenant-Governor to be appointed
in Bengal.
" 8. Power to create a fresh presidency or lieutenant-
, governorship.
" 9. The nomination of members of Council in India to
be subject to the approbation of the Crown.
" 10. Au enlarged Legislative Council to be appointed
in India. The Governor-General to have a veto on the
acts of the Legislative Council.
" 11. A temporary commission to be appointed in Eng-
land, to whom the reports of the Law Commission of India
shall be referred for their report and suggestions, to be
ultimately sent to the Legislative Council.
" 12. Supreme Court and Sudder Court in each presi-
dency
beenc introduced.ytobe un
ited, and an improved system of judicature
to
" 13. Appointment of Advocate-General in each presi-
dency to be subject to the approbation of the Crown.
" 14. The Commander-in-Chief of the Queen's forces in
each presidency to be Commander-in-Chief of the com-
pany's forces.
" 15. Present limit on the number of the company's
European forces forces to be enlarged.
" 16. Salaries in India to be regulated.
" 17. Furlough regulations to be amended."

" East India-house, June 2, 1853,
" Sir,—We had the honour to receive, last evening, your
letter, dated the lst inst., with a memorandum of the
heads of the arrangement for the future government ofl
India, which it appears to her Majesty's Ministers that it
would be advisable to adopt.
" This important communication was immediately laid
before the Court of Directors, and has undergone much
discussion.
" The Court having always been of opinion that the pre-
sence in the administration of Indian affairs of a body in-
dependent of political party, and exclusively devoted to
the discharge of the duties intrusted to it, is essential to
the ,good government of India, it cannot but be satisfactory
to them to observe that her Majesty's Ministers have de-
termined to propose to Parliament to continue the govern-
ment of India in the East India Company.
" The Court have not been inattentive observers of the
many attacks recently made upon the company and their
system of government ; but they have been content to
leave their defence to the development of facts which they
well knew would conclusively show that the period since
1834 has been one of great progress in India ; that revenue
(independently of that from new acquisitions) and trade
have both largely increased ; that public works of =gni-

"In like manner, if it shall be thought that competition
upon admission to Addiscombe, superadded to the severe
competition which already exists within the institution,
will give to India officers of Engineers and Artillery su-
perior, or equal, in scientific attainment to those supplied
under the present system, the Court will not object, al-
though such a principle has never, so far as they are in-
formed, been applied to the Government institutions in
this country.
" With regard to the 14th head of the memorandum en-
closed in your letter—namely, The Commander-in-Chief
of the Queen's forces in each presidency to the Commander-
in-Chief of the Queen's forces,' we would entreat that in
any arrangement which may be proposed to Parliament on
this subject, it may, as at present, be left open to the
home authorities to select occasionally for these important
commands distinguished officers of the company's service.
" The other heads contained in the memorandum are not
such as call for any immediate observation from the Court.
The whole subject will receive their most attentive con-
sideration, and any suggestions which may occur to them
as important will be communicated to you.
" In the meanwhile it becomes the duty of the Court to
submit your latter to their constituents. They have accor-
dinly convened a meeting of the General Court of Proprie-
tors for Monday next. _ _

" We have, &c.,
" RUSSELL ELLICE.
"J. OLIPHANT.

" The Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood, Bart., M.P."
Mr. HuarE said, the subject which the Court was
called upon to consider was one of grave importance,
and required to be considered with the utmost delibera-
tion. He was, perhaps, the oldest proprietor of that
Court, his experience having extended to upwards
of fifty-three years in the affairs of the East India Com-
pany. He took part in the renewal of the charter in
1833, and he little expected that it would be reserved for
him to take part in the discussion of the charter in 1853.
He was not one who could be said to have flattered
the Court of Directors, for he believed few men had
taken more trouble to point out the errors of that court
than he had done ; but he had never attempted to inter-
fere with them in the discharge of their important duties.
On the contrary, he had always endeavoured to assist
them. (Hear.) He had heard with great attention the
long statement made by Sir C. Wood, the President of
the Board of Control. The papers which had just been
read by the secretary made no reference whatever to the
interests of India, and to the welfare of the millions that
were under the government of the East India Company.
On that account he would venture to suggest that the
proceedings of the Court should at any rate be deferred.
Time was required for deliberation in order that an
answer might be given to the contradictory statement
of the President of the Board of Control. Ifhe were to
take the speech of that right hon. gentleman as a whole
he would say that it was highly favourable to the con-
tinuance of the present Government of India. (Hear.)
So far from the right hon. gentleman introducing a sys-
tem of reform, he, on the contrary, had offered a cheek
to all salutary reform ; and he (Mr. Hume) was sorry to
say that the committee of the House of Commons now
sitting was not a committee calculated to sift out the truth
upon this important subject. He had declined to be-
come a member of that committee because he disap-
proved of its formation ; but at the request of an hon.
friend he allowed his name to be used as one of its mem-
bers, although he was prepared to expect what had since
taken place. The East India Company was now on its trial,
as to how far it had committed itself, as was alleged by
some parties, or how far it had done good, as was maintained
by others. If there was anything he had to deplore, it
was the want of information among the people of Eng-
land as to the affairs of India. On that account he re-
gretted the secresy with which matters of a public nature
were kept within the knowledge of the Court of Direc-
tors alone. It was owing to that system of concealment
that false charges were now made against the company.
It had been his desire that every allegation contained in
the petitions against the administration of the govern-
ment of India should have been investigated. They who
shrunk from inquiry showed that they had a bad cause.
The petitions to which he referred contained grave and
important charges ; but the President of the Board of
Control treated them as of no importance, and without
any evidence being taken to substantiate the allegations,
he contented himself with referring to some pamphlet, or
newspaper, or private and unpublished correspondence,
as a sufficient refutation of those charges. He (Mr.
Hume) therefore considered that much which had been
stated by the President of the Board of Control was
altogether unworthy of notice. He (Mr. Hume), as a
member of the committee, moved that evidence should
be taken as to the truth of the allegations contained in
the petition (which were 14 in number), and that persons
should be summoned from India to be examined in re-
spect to them ; but 15 members of the committee voted
against him, and only two in favour of the motion. He
had been anxious to have the Manchester petition in-
quired into, because he was prepared to show that if
there had been any check to the improvement of India,
it had been by reason of the Manehester trade. (Hear,
hear.) He would not enter into details, but when
British manufactures of shawls, muslins, and cali-
coes paid a duty on imports into India, the Indian
manufactures were flourishing at Bahar and in Ben-
gal, and that system of trade brought wealth to
the revenue of India ; but since the' produce of English
manufactures had been admitted at a duty of 5 per cent.,
India had been beggared, and then the Court of Direc-
tors, forsooth, were accused of not having done this and
that for the benefit of India. The Government of
England, in its fiscal regulations, had been one of the
greatest obstacles to the improvement of India. He
wished all this to be proved before the committee, and,
until it had been, he considered neither the company nor
the Government could be prepared to legislate upon this
great and important question. He certainly regretted
that more attention had not been paid to public works in
India. In his opinion the Board of Control had been
the principal obstacle. That was a matter which re-
quired investigation. The result, then, of all he had to
say was, that having heard the proposal of her Majesty's
Government, he considered the Court of Proprietors
ought to be in possession of the papers, and that time
should be given for their deliberate consideration. It
was his belief that, if time were allowed, it could be
shown that all the evils of which they now complained
had been brought about by the Board of Control. He
could show that, if it had not been for their large and
unnecessary acquisitions of territory, and the wasting
of blood and treasure, for which the East India Com-
pany was not at all answerable, British India would now
be in a highly flourishing condition. But the wars
caned on by Lord Amherst, which had cost not less
than 10,000,0001. of money, the subsequent wars
in the Punjab, and the now pending war in Burmah
—with none of which had the East India Company
anything to do, save being called upon to pay the bill
—these were the real causes of the present position
of your Indian empire ; and then the Board of Control
turned round upon you and said, "Look at your debt,
look at the 50 odd millions that you owe." (Hear,
hear.) Why, he (Mr. Hume) was able to show, that there
would have been a surplus revenue since 1833, but for the
unhappy wars caused to be carried on by the mismanage-
ment of the Board of Control. If he was correct in these
statements it behoved the Court not to be hasty in their
acts. Let them trust public opinion. If they were right
they would be borne out by public opinion. (Hear, hear.)
The evil of the present system arose not from the Court
of Directors acting, but from their not having been al-
lowed to act. That secret mystery which was so loudly
complained of was, he would venture to say, never in-
tended by the Court of Directors. He had referred to a
private report in which Mr. Wigram and another direc-
tor, in their correspondence with the Government stated
that they could not agree in any arrangement for the re-
newal of the charter which would in any way tend to
suppress publicity, or infringe on the rights of the pro-
prietors to have full cognizance of all that concerned
their interests. His (Mr. Hume's) belief was that that
was the real spirit in which the Court of Directors wished
the business of the company to be carried on. (Hear,

hear.) The very fact that a special Court of Proprietors
anyco u be
question
tca i o called e
ord by ninemembers fo
complaint
ahowed
thratthiet
wdaisacuisnsiteon%!
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-
ista.n 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 Goverinient until they had ascertained
how far these statements were true. The 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 ? (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 sad 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, and 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, and 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-
sideeed the discontent and rebellion which had oc-
curred there—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 it 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, bear.) The
East India proprietors had 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
aspects. 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 he did
not approve of the exclusion of the natives from the
higher offices. That he 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 talk 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 dmprived 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, therefor%
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 day
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, and 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 Association, 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 100,0001.
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 costs 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 100,600/. In accordance
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 companyis 1,2891.85. 9d. ; and,
after giving credit for these tw
made out and admitted, exhibitn BUMS,
owing to the the accounts, as
a balance of principal
company of 21,828/, Os. 2d. on the 20th of
January last.

The Comus, 14, Commander W. A. FeHowes, 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
like long-shore guns, of 8-inch calibre, for 32-pounder
shot or shell. She has oa 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, topgallantmasts, 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
apparatus, for which purpose it will be necessary for
both ships to be placed in dry docks to pass the feed
pipes through their sides under water.
The Ocean, new coal depot, will be ready to leave
the basin for her station in Saltpan Reach in a few
days. New moorings of very large dimensions are being
prepared for her ; they will be of sufficient strength to
admit of two first-rates to lash alonaide the Ocean
ride together by them. 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 basin to make good defects.
The Afeican 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 t•
built with all possible expedition.