The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-01 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, N0v.!30.

The Earl of SiIAFTESBURY, in the absence of the
Lord Chancellor, took his seat upon the Woolsack at
live o'clock.
COSTBVGCLESIASTICAL COURTS.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition corn-
plainirA of the excessive costs of suits in Doctor's
Commons, and stated that he should one day draw
the attention of their Lordship to this subject.
INDIA.

The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH moved for an
account of all sums advanced by the Government of
India on the hypothecation of goods in each year
from 1839 to 1846, both inclusive, with the rate
or rates of exchange at which in each year
such sums have been advanced, and the credit
given for the repayment of such advances ; also,
An account of all bills drawn upon the several Pre-
sidencies in India respectively, by the Court of
Directors of the East India Company, in each of the
years from 1839 to 1846, both inclusive, with the
rate or rates at which bills were drawn in
each year, and the number of days after
date or sight at which such bills were payable ;
also copy of the notification issued by the Govern-
ment of India on the sth August, 1843, with respect
to the proposed discontinuance of advances on the
hypothecation of goods, and of any official report
which led to the issue of such notification, and of
all correspondence between the Government of India
and the Board of Directors, relative to such
proposed discontinuance of such advances ; also, copies
of all memorials or representations addressed to the
Commissioners for the affairs of India, or the Court
of Directors, by merchants in England, with re-
spect to such advances, together with the replies
thereto, from 1839 to 1846 inclusive ; and also,
copies of any agreement entered into by any eom-
pany or companies for constructing railways in India
with the Government of India, or the Court of Di-
rectors of the East India Company, whereby any
amount of interest is guaranteed to such railway
company. He considered that if these returns were
made they would in a great measure explain the cause
of the recent railway failures. At that time he was
Governor-General of India, he had endeavoured to
discourage these advances on the hypothecation of
goods, and he wished to call the attention of her Ma-
jesty's Government to this subject, which was most
important. It appeared that the Court of Directors
had ordered large remittances of bullion to
be made to them from India. Now, to
show the effect of this measure upon the
well-being of the people of India, he would refer to
a letter written by Mr. Trevelyan, now one of the
Secretaries of the Treasury, but at the time when
that letter was written employed in India, viz., in
1832. In that year the directors had ordered
a quantity of silver to be remitted from
India, and in consequence, as Mr. Tre-
velyan stated, Bengal was almost drained
of silver. The natives, in consequence, suffered
the greatest distress ; and the land tax, which
had been previously cheerfully paid, was with diffi-
•eulty collected. No doubt it would be more con-
venient for the Court of Directors to drain India
of its bullion, than to go into the money market
here for the supplies which they must want—no
doubt they woull be forced to pay a higher rate
of interest for raising money in this country during
the presen: state of necessity in the money market,
but that would affect only the proprietors of East
India stock and the holders of East India securities,
and would not at all affect the great bulk of the po•
pulation of India, and he held that it was the duty
of her Majesty's Government to take care of the in-
terests of the millions of India who had bEen en-
trusted by Providence to their care, and he thought
that this was a case in which the Government was
called on to exercise the most careful consideration,
and not to lightly sanction the course proposed to bs
pursued by the Court of Directors. The Noble Ear
concluded by moving for the returns.

The Earl-of AUCKLAND, on the part of the
Government, had no objection to grant the returns.
With regard to what had fallen from the Noble Earl on
the subject of advances on the hypothecation of goods,
he (Lord Auckland) was inclined, in a great measure,
to agree with him with regard to the second point, and
also with regard to the advances made by the direc-
tors to railway companies ; he must at present decline
giving any opinion.
The returns were then agreed to.
RAILWAYS.

Lord WHARNCLIFFE asked whether the mea-
sure for granting additional time to those railway
companies who had obtained their Bills for completing
their works, was intended to apply to Railway Ex-
tension Bills also ?
Earl GREY said that, until the subject had been
considered in the House of Commons, he could not
give an answer.
Their Lordships _then adjourned.

rzyclo.r, G.A.r Aro!, cy,
The SPEAICHR took the Chair at Four o'clock.
Several Hon. Members took the oaths and their

seats.