The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-09 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

Sir H. HADDOCKI-f;ise to ask the President of tho
Beard of Control, whether it is proposed, after the passing
of the bill, to retain the practice of P. C. or previous com-
munication, in the transaction of business and correspond.

ence between the Board of Control and the Court of Direc-
tors ? And whether it is proposed to adopt any measures
to improve and render less voluminous the system of corre-
spondence which is now carried on between the Court of
Directors and the authorities in India ?
Sir C. WOOD—In answer to the first question of the
hon. gentleman, I beg to state I do not propose to dis-
continue the practice of previous communications, but to
extend facilities for the transaction of business. In reply-
to the second question, I shall endeavour, if I can, to re-
duce the quantity of correspondence which passes from this
country to India; but I would remind the house that some
of the witnesses examined before the committee declared.
that the extent to which it was carried was absolutely ne-
cessary for the good government of India. (Hear, hear.)
THE RUSSO-TURKISH QUESTION.
Lord pALMERSTON—Seeing my hon. friend the mem-
ber for Aylesbury in his place, I wish to make an appeal
to him on the subject of the notice which stands in his
name for Monday next, and to request him, on the part of
the Government, to' consider whether in all respects it may
not be more advisable to follow the example set by those
persons in the other house of Parliament who had a simi-
lar notice on the books, and postpone, without naming any
particular day for the present, the notice ho had given.
(Hear.) It is obvious that the discussion to which that
notice must inevitably lead wig', l's the present state of
public affairs, be attended with inconvenience to the pub-
lic service—not that her Majesty's Government, or any
member of it, would be led to swerve from their duty by
abandoning that prudent reserve which it would be thei-
obligation to follow, but that it might be expected, and
probably would happen, that 'a the course of that discus-
sion things might be said by other persons which would
create unnecessary irritation, and thereby tend to thwart
and defeat any efforts to bring about a peaceful termina-
tion of the present crisis. It cannot, I apprehend, be ne-
cessary for any purpose which my hon. friend has in view ;
for, if I understand the nature of his notice, his objects
are three :—first, to obtain information, if rny informa-
tion can prudently be given ; next, to assure the Govern-
ment of support, in the event unfortunately of support
being required; thirdly, to hold the Government to their
duty, if in the opinion of my hon. friend, they were
likely to swerve from the performance of it. Now, in
regard to information, none can be given, consistently
with the duties of the Goverrment, beyond that o.l7eady
in possession of the house. Nothing can be obtailri
with regard to that object. With respect to suppoi t,
I assure my hon. friend that her Majesty's Goverrment
require no assurance ; they do not suppose that, in any un-
fortunate event which may load them to appeal to this
house and to the country for support in a just cause, that
support would not bo cheerfully and cordially given.
We need no other assurance of that than the knowledge
that we are sitting in the British Parliament. (Cheers.)
With respect to the last topic, as to any idea that her Ma-
jesty's Government may require a stimulus for the per-
iare aiming at a com-
mon of their duty, I thick it is sufficient to observe
unreserved reses by
e of
commonconfidence in each olicy
nterests, and inspired
that when two great countries like England and France are
bmyo nmostunitedobject, ji nepc
eat ;
fc
areeoem mt
a g
und io nd
rved p
other—
(cheers)—l say that it cannot, I am sure, enter into the
mind of any man to suppose that any temporary forbear-
ance which the Governments of two such great countries
shows, arises from wont of determination, or that the most
conciliatory course can be a symptom of leb;`-ty or weak-
ness. (Loud cheers.) I trust, without any exhortation
from my hon. friend or from any other quarter, the honour
and interests of England and Franco aro in safe keeping,
and that honour and those interests are inseparably bound
up with the great and important interests of Europe. I
should hope, therefore, that my hon, friend, yielding to
the appeal I now make to him, pursue the course welch
has been pu-sued in the other home of Parliament, confi-
dent that when the moment arrives that her Majesty's Go-
vernment think information can be given, that information
will be given, according to the circumstances of the c. se,
to the fullest extant that those circumstances may appear
to render desirable. (Cheers.) The noble lord resumed his
seat, but immediately rose again to move the formal motion
that the house at its rising adjourn to Monday.
Mr. LAYARD—In rising to answer the question which
has been put to me by the noble lord the member for Tivor-

ton, I trust tho houso will permit me to say one word on
what occurred yesterday as to deferring this motion, be-
cause it appears that I have not been rightly understood. I
beg distinctly to state that I am unconnected with any
party, and that in giving notice of that motion I brought
it forward as an independent member, in the conscientious
belief that it was my duty to do so. (Hear, hoar.) Of
course the appeal yesterday could not be resisted ; and
when I was informed that the noble lord the member for
the city of London could not be. present tb's ever4ng, I
did not hesitate to defer that motion pntil Monday. But
another question, and a much more serious question, has
arisen. lam requested to defer tl,,s motion, uncondi-
tionally, and without :limit. Now allow me to remind the
house, that it was not myself that fixed tl,:s day as the
proper day to bring forward that motion, but it was the
noble lord, who stated, in my absence, that Goveroment ,

would give this day for bringing on the question ; and it
appears it was a member of her Majesty's Govel_siaent
who named Monday next as the proper day. I had nothing
to do 31 naming either to-day or Monday, rud conse-
quently, as her Majesty's Gove--. s-nent cr.d nano Monday,
I thought the matter of convenience had then been taken
into consideration. I conceive lam labouring under goat
difficulty and very heavy responsibility. It is my own con-
viction that, so fa,- from the discussion of this question
originating any dangerous results, it would be of the utmost
itanCOPlClacifirjainn.gth(iitullis)morttntrisacinoels;ip"onintl atirtte-
very great alarm felt in the country from the uncertainty
prevailing on this matter. (Hear.) Not only in England,
but on the continent, that air- at is felt, and I corress it
seems to me scarcely fair towards that elly with whom
(and we learn it for the first time on this occasion) we are
cordially acting, that the repot should be prevalent in
this country—a report wl 'eh may or may not be true—
that there have been dissensions in cal 'Vain quarters which
have led to this uncertainty. (Hear.) Now, negotiations
in the common acceptation of the term, sre scarcely going
on. What are the facts of the case ? Here is a great na-
tion which has sent a powerfri r-my into two provinces
of a neighbouring nation and taken possession of those
provinces. A marifesto has been issued, and I beeve this
country is little aware of the immense importance and
enormous danger of that mr-'2'esto. It was an appeal to
millions, in the name of their religion, to rise and fight for
that religion. I trust it may not have the effect, but it
may possibly evoke passiors which no man on earth can
control. (Hear.) I believe the time has never happened
when such proceedings as I have described have occurred
on the continent of Europe, without this house haN:ng
some information (I do not say how satisfactory) laid be-
fore it; and I must be a"owed to remind the house that
this house has received no tittle of information from her
Majesty's Government. (Hear, hear.) The only informa-
tion given has been derived from the officir.l information of
the official organ of the French Government. I say, in
that state of uncertainty, the trade and commerce of this
country have felt very considerable alarm ; and I think it
only
.reasonable that some satisfactory explanation should
bo given by her Majesty's Goverrment. (Hear, hear.)
But if the noble lord rises, and, i r somewhat more distinct

languago, tollspo that the copse' quoncos of this motion is

diaigornns to the public sorvic3, of course I cannot hesitate

in the course which I shall Ru;sue.

At the same time I

appe.ll. to this house and to the country to bear me out—
that f am no longer under any responsibility, snd that
the responsibility falls upon her Majesty's Government.
Of course, I was ready to tako that responsibility which
such a mo!ion world throw upon me; and unless it were

distinctly uTuderstood that her aMajosty's Goverrmont now
take that responsibility in delaying this motion, I should
bo guilty of a very great dereliction of public duty.
(Hoar, hear.) If the noble lord rises and states that it is
his bolief I should endanger the public service by pressing
this motion, I shall certairly abstain from doing so.
Lord PALMERSTON—I thick I stated as plainly as
words can put it, that I thought the discussion of the mo-
tion would be attended with inconvenience and injury to
the public service. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI—This is a very remarkable case, and I
think wo ought not to allow it to pass altogether unnoticed.
Ono may easily adopt tho impression that an independent

member gave notice of a motion on a most important sub-

ject, which her Majesty's Government consider to be of

an inconvenient character ; and no doubt a Minister

of the Crown rising and appealing to the member would be

supported as under ordinary circumstances and as may now
oven be accorded. But I must remind the house that is

not the caso of the honourable member for Aylesbury.
- - - - • • - - -

Only a week ago the first minister of the Crom n, in this
house, himself indicated his wish that Ws subject should,
be brought forward, his readiness to meet the motion of
the honourable member for Aylesbury, and himself fixed

the day on which it should be brought forward. Then
what follows? From what has taken place to-night that
may follow, unless removed by the representations of her
Majesty's Government, which may have a very dangerous
effect on public opinion, because if the noble lord, the
leader of this house, was anxious and ready a week ago
that this subject should be brought forward, and if wo are
told now the bringing it forward will be injurious to the
public service, it follows that in the interval of a week
circumstances have occurred which have changed the opi-
nion of her Majesty's ministers. (Hear, hear.) lam not
for a moment saying those circumstances have occurred.
I hope they have not occurred ; but, unless they have
occurred, I see no reason why the noble lord should appeal
to the honourable gentleman. The honourable gentlemen
is in exactly the same position as ho was a week ago, unless
circumstances have occurred which have rendered our posi-
tion much less advantageous than at that time. (No, no.)
I hear a murmur of no ! That is exactly the point which
we have to discuss, and it is merely to notice that im-
Rortotntpon t that I have risen. It is nee by murmuring
that point
answer can bo given to criticism of this
kill. It is essential to the satisfaction of the public mind
that we should be bettor informed on this subject. If dur-
ing that interval of a week circumstances have occurred
of Bach vast importance and gravity that her Majesty's
ministers aro authorised to take a precisely contrary course
to that which they were ready to take a week ago, a de-
claration of that kind would render every gentleman silent.
But if that be not the case, if circumstances of great
danger and gravity have not occurred, then I say the
honourable member for Aylesbury incurs grave respon-
sibility if he omits to do his duty to his constituents
and to the country, and to bring forward an important
a subject which the First Minister of the Crown d
pre-
viously invited him to do. (Hear.)
Sir G. GREY and Mr. BRIGHT rose together, but the
former gave way.
Mr. BRIGHT said—l think with regard to the main
question no one has a right to find farlt with the bon-
member for Aylesbury if he consent to the proposition of
the noble lord, because any member of this house—the
right hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli) I;niself—is at liberty
to give notice and to bring the question forward on the
earliest day which can bo secured, and an opportunity is
not very difficult to find if a person is determined to ob-
tain it. (Hear, hear.) lam one of those who think the

honourable member for Aylesbury will exorcise a very wise
discretion if he does not bring this question forward, and I
will state in a very few words the reason why I am of that
opinion.--In this country there is probably no diversity of