The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-23 00:00:00

THE CALCUTTA STEAM COMPANY.

Mr. ROBERT BOURNE, who had given notice of the
following motion :—" That referring to the papers
laid before the Court of Proprietors, in accordance
with the resolution of the quarterly court of October
last, regarding the claim of the Calcutta Steam
Company for the public services rendered by their
steamer the India, it is the opinion of this court
that those services should be acknowledged by payment
of the sum claimed, namely, 20,000l."—proceeded to
state that twenty-fire years ago attention was directed,
in India and in England, to the establishing regular
steam communication between Calcutta, Madras, and
Suez, and large sums of money were subscribed for the
purpose of encouraging attempts to extend steam navi-
gation. Public meetings were held in various parts of
India, the Governor of Madras presiding at one of them,
and it was the loudly-expressed wish of the natives that
assistance towards that great object should be afforded.
Lord William Bentinck, when Governor-General, took
a great interest in the subject ; and in reply to a letter
addressed to the court by Mr. Cutler, in 1840, the di-
rectors expressed themselves as fully sensible of the ad-
vantage of steam communication with India, and as-
sured that gentleman that their efforts had been and still
were directed to the accomplishment of that object. They
also stated they should be disposed to afford encourage-
ment by a pecuniary grant to any well-devised scheme for

the purpose. Under those circumstances several gen-
tlemen connected with the East India Company pro-
jected the Calcutta Steam Company, and the India
was ordered out in Sept., 1840, to run between Calcutta and
Suez. In February, 1841, the Oriental and Peninsular
Steam Company made overtures to the Court of Direc-
tors, in a letter, in which they requested to know whe-
ther the Court would give remuneration in some shape
for the proposed services. In answer to that communi-
cation, on the 19th of March, the Court of Directors
offered 20,000/. a year, for a period of five years, in aid
of the measures projected. That arrangement was com-
pleted, and preparations were made for carrying it into
effect. In the meantime the India steamer had been

sent to India, in the full conviction that she would be
admitted into any arrangement that would be made, and
that conviction was retained by the Calcutta Company.
Well knowing that the Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany could not commence operations until 1843, and in
tho.full belief that the India would be included in the ar-
rangement, or that, if not, they could trust to the justice
and liberality of this Court, the Calcutta Company de-
termined upon the immediate commencement of the ser-
vices required. They made arrangements for sending
the India at once from Calcutta to Madras and Suez ' •
they incurred all the preliminary expenses which such
an enterprise naturally involved ; and as it was acknow-
ledged that no private party could undertake such ser-
vices without ruin, it could not be supposed respectable
gentlemen in Calcutta would be such a parcel of incapa-
ble fools as to undertake them without expecting aid
from the pubic purse. It was arranged that the steamer
should start on her first voyage from Calcutta oh the
17th of September ; but while the India was under-
going some repairs, news arrived that the Sove-
reign of Ava was advancing with a powerful army
on Rangoon. The governor of the Martaban pro-
vinces applied for immediate aid. The company had
no steamer, their own war steamers being •n their way
to assist in the China war, and there was no other al-
ternative but to ask for the services of the India. The
Calcutta Company thought it deranged their plans and
involved great loss, and seeing the emergency of the case,
consented to abandon their intention, and placed the
India at the disposal of the Governor-General. Within
a few days the oth Regiment was conveyed by the India '
to Moelmyn, and the steamet:, was thence sent to take
up a position before Rangoon. The King of Ava, ob-
serving the promptitude with which forces had been sent
to the provinces lie threatened, retired, and probably an
impending war was at that moment averted ; at a mo-
ment, too, when grave and perilous events in the north
of India were occurring. It might be said that it was
only by accident the India was engaged in such an im-
portant service ; but it was a very fortunate accident
for the Government of India. He did not mention itfor
the purpose of fastening upon it a substantive claim,
but in dealing with a general claim he thought it de-
served consideration. On the return of the India from
Rangoon, the original arrangement was resumed, and
she left on her first voyage for Suez on the 10th of Jan.,
1842. She performed the service better than could have
been expected, and enabled important communications
to be made to the Government at home, concerning the
state of affairs in Affghanistan. She performed four
voyages before the Peninsular and Oriental Company
had a single vessel on the line ; and inasmuch as the
Oriental Company would have been entitled to 20,0001.
if one of their vessels had made a single voyage in 1842
the Calcutta Company thought they might fairly claim
that sum for the services rendered by the India. At one
time the Peninsular and Oriental Company seemed to have
entertained the idea of taking up the India ; but the
moment they heard of the formation of the steam com-
pany at Calcutta they withdrew from their proposal, in
order to secure to themselves the undivided benefits
which accrued from the arrangement with the Court
of Directors. Having stated the broad and general
grounds of the claim of the Calcutta Company, lie
did not hesitate to assert that the claim was just and
equitable. There was no attempt to deny that the India
did perform the services which were so eagerly sought
by the Court of Directors, and he could only suppose
the court came to a summary and unfavourable conclu-
sion with regard to that claim, merely because it was
treated in a strictly legal manner. If the Calcutta
Company had had legal rights, he should not have been
there pleading for them—the strong arm of the law
would have given them justice ; but, he submitted, the
court had not always been guided, in the distribution of
money, by strictly legal considerations. It was the in-
firmity of great bodies, as of individuals, to be ungrateful
for services when they had been performed ; but he
hoped he should not appeal in vain to the generosity
and liberality of this court. He was not insensible to
the difficulties which surrounded the board, and had,
therefore, modified his motion in these terms, " that re-
ferring to the papers laid before the Court of Proprie-
tors, in accordance with the resolution of the quarterly
court of October last, regarding the claim of the Calcutta
Steam Company for the public services rendered by their
steamer the India, this court, having given considera-
tion to the claim, believes it to deserve the equitable and
liberal consideration of the directors, and this court I
accordingly recommends it to their favourable re-con-
sideration."

Mr. MeexiLLot, seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN said, if it was intended by this motion,
to obtain a larger sum of money than had already been de-
cided upon, he could not agree to it. If the hon. pro-
prietor liked to move that the claim be referred to the di-
rectors for reconsideration that might be done, but he
could not hold out any hope that the directors would go
further than they had already said they would. A very good
answer might be made to this case, particularly as it was
admitted that the steam company had no legal claim.
(Hear, hear.) He would not enter into that, as the
papers had been laid before the proprietors, and if the
honourable proprietor could not consent to further
modify his motion he should be under the necessity of
moving the previous question .
Mr. JONES thought that if it was one of the positive
duties of Government to provide public communication
by roads, it was equally their duty to provide good sea
communication where it was absolutely required, and
that, as the services rendered had been for the benefit
of the people of India, it would be a proper application
of the Indian revenue to protect the steam company
against loss.
Mr. DENT (a director) observed that he had taken
great interest in promoting steam communication be-
tween India and the mother country, and if he had not
joined what was then called the comprehensive com-
pany, he should most likely have shared the loss of the
gentlemen who had established the Calcutta Company.
When the India was put on the line, as he was return-
ing to England, he took passage in her. He had no
doubt the Government of that day would have employed
one of the Government steamers to bring the intelli-
gence of disasters in Afghanistan home ; but the India,
being on 4e point of sailing-, the Government took ad-
vantage of her to put despatches on board. He could
bear testimony to the praiseworthy zeal with which
Captain Henderson, on landing at Suez, posted off to
Cairo, and induced the Pacha to charter a vessel to take
these despatches to England. The intelligence fortu-
nately arrived in anticipation of the Bombay mail, which
enabled the Government in this country to send out to
the Governor-General of India despatches on which
he issued instructions to General Nott, giving him
full discretion to advance on Cabul if necessary. He
believed the gentlemen who had engaged in the Cal-
cutta Steam Company had been actuated by purely dis-
interested considerations; and be sympathised with them,
the more perhaps because he himself narrowly escaped
being a participator in their losses.
Mr. LEWEN firmly believed the court was under a
moral obligation to this company, if not a legal one ;
and he trusted those parties who were entitled to make

the court the cases of Messrs. Grant and Le Geyt,
removed by Lord Falkland, when Governor of Bombay,
from their situations as judges of the Suddur Court, in
that presidency, on account of their being deeply in debt.
The honourable proprietor laid great stress on addresses
having been numerously signed by persons in the district
of these courts in favour of the restoration to the bench
of Messrs. Grant and Le Geyt, and on the fact that the
local Government had entertained the greatest confidence
in them, as was evinced by its having conferred on them
other appointments. He also expressed a strong opinion
that they had been sacrificed to the attacks of a Bombay-
newspaper, and, after condemning the conduct of a col-
league of theirs, who, having written eulogistic letters,
refused to sit with them on the bench, he concluded by
moving "That this court now take into consideration
the case of the removal of Messrs. Grant and Le Geyt."
Mr. ROMER seconded the motion, declaring his opi-
nion that the restoration of these gentlemen would only
be an act of justice, whilst it would rectify the weakness
and error of the Government of Bombay, who removed
them.
The CHAIRMAN was quite sure the Court of Proprietors
would do the Court of Directors the justice to believe
that this case was taken into their most deliberate and
painful consideration. It was a case, no doubt, of an
exceedingly painful nature. These gentlemen had occu-
pied the Suddur bench of Bombay for many years, and,
up to a certain time, had most satisfactorily fulfilled their
duties. They had borne most excellent characters—
characters to which even the Government of Bombay had
borne testimony. It must, therefore, have been with
exceeding pain that this Court came to the conclusion—
which they were bound to do—that, for the reasons
which had been laid before the proprietors, they could
not interfere. Neither the hon. mover nor the hon.
seconder had done more than he expected ; but he must
say ho thought it a very unwise proceeding to suggest
that the Court of Directors should endeavour to take the
matter out of the hands of the gentlemen whom they
appointed to be the judges in such cases. He hoped the
Court of Proprietors would negative the motion, which
in fact either involved a censure on the directors, or im-
paired the authority of those to whom the power of
judging properly and legitimately belonged. He be.
lieved, therefore, it would be less hurtful to the feelings
of these gentlemen If, instead of proposing a direct ne-
gative, be moved as an amendment the previous question.
Mr. DANIEL stated that, with regard to the ease of
Mr. Le Geyt, Sir C. Wood was now satisfied the trans-
fer of a debt, alleged to have been fictitious, was really a
bona fide and honourable transfer. He also expressed
his opinion that these men were sacrificed through fear
of a newspaper, but hoped that, as Lord Falkland was
now in England, the reason for upholding an indiscreet
act no longer existed.
Mr. SULLIVAN believed the removal of these gentle-
men would strike a deadly blow at the independence of
the bench, and that if the Court did not restore them
they would sanction a most unwarrantable exercise of
authority. Fifty years ago, when he went to Calcutta,
insolvency was the rule, and insolvency the exception.
(A laugh.) The Governor-General was hardly out of
debt—the judges of the Supreme Court were deeply in
debt ; and he wanted to know what people went to India
for if it was not to get out of debt. (Laughter and
cheers.) They ought to give the same measure of fair-
play to judges in India as was given to judges in this
country. If they neglected their duty let them be
solemnly impeached and solemnly condemned, but do
not let judgeships depend on the good pleasure of the
Governor; for if so, no judge would discharge his duty
fearlessly and conscientiously. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said it was impossible the Court of
Proprietors could alter a despatch sent out to India,
approved by the Board of Control.

Mr. SULLIVAN was quite aware of their own impo-
tency, but " where there was a will there was a way."
The directors could send a petition to the Board of Con-
trol. It was not the way, it was the will that waa
wanting. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN thought they ought not to interfere
with the executive.

Mr. SULLIVAN rejoined that the proprietors only asked
the directors to entreat the executive to do what was just,
and hmest, and proper. (Hear, hear.)
Captain SHEPPARD said he had no desire to press hardly
on these gentlemen ; but he thought the tone of this
debate was rather disadvantageous. Gentlemen filling
high and important situations in India ought to command
respect, not only by their principles, their moral charac-
ter, and their judicial capacity, but by the independence
of their means. Though they could not prevent some
servants of the Company being in debt, when the liabili-
ties of a judge were brought under the consideration of
the whole public, it must have the effect of bringing the
office into discredit. (Hear, hear.) It was a very serious
matter for the Government to say these judges ought
not to be removed ; but it would be a most dangerous
Course to replace them, after the circumstances had been
so fully exposed ; and be hoped the proprietors would
not agree to a motion which would have the effect of
censuring those who had removed them.

Mr. LEwEN modified his resolution, and proposed it
in these terms, " That the Court of Directors be requested
to re-consider their decision in the case of Messrs. Le
Gcyt and Grant."

Mr. CLAItKE thought it was desirable there should be
some means of obtaining compensatory justice for mis-
takes committed in the administration of our Indian
Government ; but, on the other hand, the judges ought
to be above suspicion ; and in the case of Mr. Le Geyt,
it appeared that, before betiding a cause, he found it
necessary to have a debt transferred, which he owed one
of the suitors, lest a decision in his favour should be the
subject of an appeal. Every one ought to be out of
debt, but more particularly the judges of the land. He
should, therefore, vote against the motion.

The Court then divided. Nineteen proprietors and
one director voted for Mr. Leaven's motion, and nine
proprietors and fifteen directors against it.
The motion having been declared to be negatived,
complaint was made by Mr. Lewen that the directors
had made themselves judges in their own cause.

THE RAJAH OF NAGPOOR.
Mr. SULLIVAN, presuming that the intelligence re-
ceived by the last mail was correct, that the company's
troops were being marched upon the territories of the
Rajah of Nagpoor with a view to their annexation, as
in the case of the Rajah of Sattara, cited treaties with
the late Rajah of Nagpoor to prove that the company
recognised his right to adopt a successor, and that upon
the recent death of that prince, the present rajah right-
fully succeeded, though his rights had not been recog-
nised by the company ; and concluded by asking if the
court could give any positive information on the subject.
The CHAIRMAN replied in the negative. The hon.
proprietor seemed to know a great deal more about it
than he did. (A laugh.)
Mr. PRINCRPS (a director) suggested that the march-
ing of the troops might not be with the view to annexa-
tion, but with the purpose of protecting the territory,
pending the disputed adoption by the late rajah of a suc-
cessor.