The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-06 00:00:00

LATE DISASTROUS OCCURRENCES IN INDIA

Mr. HUME, seeing the Noble Lord at the head of the
Government in his place, said—l wish to ask him a ques-
tion, but I feel considerable difficulty in shaping it in such
a way as to obtain sufficient information. But, Sir,
after the statements which we have seen in the Gazette
of Saturday last, and in the Gazette prior to that, rela-
tive to the affairs of India, the state of that country can
no longer be a matter of indifference to every
man who looks to the future.—(Loud cries of" Hear,
hear.") I should be sorry to prejudge any
man, and particularly one who is not present
to answer any statements that might be made, but certain
facts, which are disclosed in the dispatches which were
received four weeks ago, without any relation whatever
to the late moat melancholy transactions that have taken
place, authorise me in inquiring whether her Majesty's
Ministers have taken any measures to ensure to
the army in India such command as shall
obtain the confidence of the min, and also all those ad-
vantages of art and science which we, as a civilized na-
tion, p)ssess for the purposes of warfare? It appears
from recent dispatches that those advantages had not
been used, and I do hope, therefore, that her Majesty's
Government will state what measures they have taken
to ensure better success for the future.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL rose, amidst profound
silence, and said—Mr. Speaker, there can be no doubt
that the state of our military operations in India
is not only not a matter of indifference, but a matter of
the deepest interest to every ono in this House.—
(Cheers.) I can, however, only state at present that
her Majesty's Government, after considering the
intelligence which has been received, have offered to her
Majesty that advice which they think best calculated to
meet the present exigencies of that part of our dominions.
But we have not as yet received her Majesty's reply to
the advice which we have humbly thought it necessary
to give. However, as soon as that reply is received
shall make no delay in communicating it to the House.
—(Loud cries of " Hear.")
ECCLESIASTICAL FUNDS.

In reply to Mr. BOUVERIE,
Sir G. GREY said a Bill on this subject was in pre-
paration, and it would depend on the state of public
business when it was introduced.
NAPLES AND SICILY.

Mr. URQUHART inquired if the Noble Lord the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs would have any
objection to lay on the table the correspondence that had
taken place relative to the presence of the squadron
under the command of Sir William Parker, in the Bay
of Naples, in the month of July last?
Lord PALMERSTON replied that he had no objec-
tion to lay on the table an abstract of the correspondence
that had taken place previous to the arrival of Sir
William Parker at Naples; but ho should object to lay
on the table the whole of the correspondence that had
taken place between Sir W. Parker and the Sicilian Go-
vernment. Fie hoped, however, in the course of a few
days to be able to lay the greater part of the correspond-
ence on the table.
Mr. URQUHART expressed his satisfaction.
ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.

In reply to Mr. HORSMAN,
Sir GEORGE GREY stated that a measure was in
progress for the alteration of the management of these
courts. It was in an advanced state. He could not
then state its exact features.
Mr. HUME said the Hon. Baronet would confer a
favour on the House if he would state whether the Bill
proposed the repeal of these courts?
Sir G. GREY replied that the Bill was not certainly
one of that character.

Mr. J. O'CONNELL said he held a letter in
his hand from a Mr. Berwick, who denied that he had any
share in tho framing of the Bill introduced the other

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THE NAVICiATION LAWS—QUEbEC.

Mr. HERMES said some time ago a petition against
the navigation-laws was agreed to at Hamilton, Quebec,
and presented to Lord Elgin for transmission to the Home
Government. He wished to know whether his Excellency
had transmitted to this country that address, and if so,
why it had not been laid on the table of the House.
Mr. HAWES said all papers on the navigation-laws
that had been received by the Government had been laid
on the table. He. would, however, make inquiry, and
reply to the question of the Hon. Gentleman to-morrow.