The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-04 00:00:00

SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, AVGITST 4, 1846,

that it was also more economical. In 1839 there were
2,110 suffered punishment for desertion. Now let them
look at the expense of these desertions, and they would
be convinced of the truth of what he advanced. Unless
they brought public opinion to bear upon the Horse
Guards, they must not expect any salutary reforms in
the British army. He recollected when 1,900 lashes
was not an unusual punishment, and it was considered
a great relaxation of rigour when the number was re-
duced to 1,250. Some idea might be formed of the degree
to which this system had taken root in the country, when
he stated that, in 1811, the proprietor of a newspaper
was mulcted in the sum of 2001. for a denunciation of

interfered with a ceremony, which for forty-five
years had been carried on for four days without
any breach of decorum or any objectionable
procetding. The interference would seem to have been
undertaken from a proselytising motive, and had given
great offence to the professors of the Roman Catholic
religion. When the Governor, in February last, and on
the first Sunday of the Carnival, ordered its suppression,
he voted in a most improper and unjustifiable manner,
and he (Mr. Hume) should like to have some explana-
tion of the affair. It was true that a number of persons
dressed as clergymen did parade the streets with a
wooden bible in their hands, and they did so, he believed,
with the view of showing their detestation of the manner
in :which their ceremonies had been interfered with.—
(Hear, hear.) The prayer of the memorial, which he
held in his hand, complained that the interference was
a breach of their privileges, and he for one thought the
public of Malta had a right to keep up an usage which
was justified, or he might say had been legalised by
immemorial custom.---(Hear, hear.) The report of the
Governor upon the subject, he had learned from good
authority in Malta, was erroneous, nay, in many respects
untrue,; and Government ought to be rejoiced to have
that opportunity of explaining the document, and clear-
ing up the character of the Governor. It must be re-
membered that the place had always preferred English
to French government, and this act of the Governor, in
his opinion, evinced a strange and extraordinary want of
discretion.—(Hear, hear.) The Governor represented
that only seventy or eighty persons were arrested, but
he bad pretty good information, showing that the num-
ber was more likely to be 170, and upon this ground
alone he thought he had a right to call for it. No true
friend of civil and religious liberty could justify such con-
duct as this, and in justice to the public of Malta, who had
always shown a disposition favourable to England, they
ought to have this matter inquired into.—(Hear, hear.)
He did not attribute any intentional injury committed
on the part of the Governor. No doubt the Governor
thought he was acting conscientiouly, and for the best,
but still he had exhibited a sad want of discretion in
having 170 persons arrested on one day to be discharged
for want of charges on the following morning, and Go-
vernment would not be doing its duty to the colony of
Malta unless they protected the population against ti
repetition of such conduct. (Hear, hear.) He could
not conclude without expressing his regret at the let-
ter which Lord Grey had written upon the
subject, and he thought this was another reason why
the House should agree to his resolution, to show the
governors of English colonies that they were not to in-
terfere with the rights, privileges, and liberty of her Ma-
jesty's subjects, who might happen to reside within their
jurisdiction. The Emperor of China had issued a notice,
that within his dominions. Catholics, and in fact every
class of religionists, should be allowed freely to have
their processions and ceremonies, without being molested
or interfered with in any way.—(Hear, hear.) Here
was an example then set them by those whom they had
considered barbarians.—(Hear, hear.)
Dr. BOWRING, in seconding the motion, said he
thought his Hon. Friend had brought the subject before
the House with a good deal of temper and forbearance.
He reminded the House that although there was much
loyalty in Malta, there .was a strong undercurrent of
discontent, for the people had often memorialised
to have their grievances redressed, but their
prayers had never been attended to.—(Hear, hear.)
The Catholic dignitaries were not consulted, and there
could be no doubt that the conduct of the Governor was
unjustifiable. A few days previous to the holding of
the Carnival,f, he issued a manuscript order to the effect
that the Carnival was not to be tolerated. The Governor
had no right to do this, norhad he anyright to abolish the
law of centuries in the course of a few hours. The com-
plaints of the Maltese were well founded, and he thought
that the House should by their vote assure that people
that they would not tolerate such conduct on the part of
the Governor.—(Hear, hear.) That people had always
acted faithful towards England, and they had a right to
be protected.—(Hear, hear.) He had the greatest sa-
tisfaction in seconding the motion of his Honourable
Friend.

must inform the Hon. Gentleman that it was a part of
the foundation of that college that none but British sub-
jects could hold official situations in it. This was his
answer to what had fallen from the Hon. Member on
that subject. Again, he was amazed that Hon. Gentle-
men should stand up in the House and vend suspicions
of there being an interference with the Roman Catholic
religion, when all that was done would have met with
the approbation of all the Catholic clergy them-
Alves. The fact wag, as it had been stated,
the people ought to have got the sanction of the
Governor before masquing during the carnival ;
but that sanction had not been obtained, and
some of the lowest of the people masqued notwithstand-
ing, the consequence of which was, the interference
that had taken place. He said he had risen merely to
disabuse the minds of Members on the subject.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the
House divided, when there appeared—
Against the motion 5O
For it
Majority against the motion... —3B
Upon our re-admission into the gallery, we found
ARMY AND NAVY ESTIMATES.
Mr. WILLIAMS on his legs, addressing the House
on the subject of the increase in the army and navy es-
timates. In the year 1835, the estimate for the army
and navy was 11,657,000 L, while for the present year
the estimate was 16,840,000/., being an increase of
5,182,000/., or a sum equal to the whole amount of the
income-tax. The amount of men for the army and navy
was as follows :

this cruelty. He would conclude by calling upon the
Nuble Lord to signalise his Government by echoing the
sentiments of Mr. Wyndham, and abolish this sangui-
nary system.

Captain LINDSAY thought if the normal schools
were carried out they would find that desertions and
crime would be considerably decreased in the army.
There was this feeling in the army, that they had
nothing to look forward to but a miserable pension at
the expiration of twenty-five years, and so long as that
state of things prevailed they could not expect any
change in the present condition of the army. Among a
number of instances, he could state that in his own bat-
talion a number of the men made their greatest com-
plaint the length of serviee. lie thought that if educa-
tion and religion were more diffused among the army
the result would exceed their expectations, and the evils
which followed the present system would be put an
end to.

Mr. HUME said that the limitation of the service
was a subject which he had long advocated. By that
means good men would be secured, and desertion would
be lessened. If the report made by the general officers
on the subject was read Hon. Members would see that
those who must have the greatest regard to the efficiency
of military discipline were advocates of a limited service.
His own opinion of mankind was, that if they had their
compacts attended to, and were treated kindly, they
would not be disposed to indulge in crime. He entirely
supported the motion of his Hon. Friend, for the amount
of crime which resulted from the present treatment of the
military was a discredit to the nation. lie recollected
when 1000 lashes was a common punishment, and he con-
sidered that the adoption of milder treatment had been
attended with the most beneficial results. With regard
to normal schools, he thought they should not be con-
fined to the army, but extended to the whole country.
Mr. BERNAL hoped that his Honourable Friend
would not press his motion to a division. He thought
the Government should have time to investigate the
subject. This was only one part of a general system,
and he was of opinion that, as the whole subject of
military discipline was pressed upon the Government
by the country, time should be allowed them to
frame a measure to meet the evils. All the criminal re-
forms which were made were only brought about by
long deliberation. Forty years ago he believed a man
was hurl., only for cutting down a cherry-tree. The
criminal law 6 had since undergone great amelioration. With
regard to military discipline, he thought that the same
caution should he observed, and nothing attempted with-
out careful deliberation. With regard to the question
of economy, he thought if they wished to improve the
condition of the army, some expense would be found to
be absolutely necessary.
Mr. WILLIAMS thought the matters which had
been brought forward by the Hon. Gentleman (Mr.
Bernal) were of national importance, and hoped they
would be considered by the Government. It was true
that the Government had been but a short time in office ;
however, he expected great change would be made be-
fore next session. He thought seven years, as a period
of enlistment, was long enough ; and after that time was
out he believed the men might be induced to enlist for
the next eleven years by a bounty. All the changes
had been advocated on the ground of increased pay.
Now, in looking to the expenses of the army, he found
that a cavalry soldier received Bs. 9d. a week, a soldier
in the guards Bs. 2d., and in the line 7s. 7d. • this amount
of wages was aided by several perquisites and allowances.
In looing into the extracts, he found 35,000/. as a re-
ward for good service, and 3,0001. in lieu of beer, to
the troops at home. Much might be done for the army
by internal improvements, for far too much power was
allowed to the non-commissioned officers, and much lay
in the power of the superior officers, if they would
exert them selves for the good of the men.
Colonel J. WOOD said, for the non-commissioned
officers, that no class in the army exercised their au-
thority with more forbearance. They staid in the same
room, and slept in the same room ; and it was necessary
to take care that their authority should not be infringed
upon. They had no power to inflict punishment. Very
differently were they situated in the French army, where
the corporal and the sergeant each had the power of
sentencing to imprisonment ; a sentence which could not
be commuted without reference to the colonel of the
regiment. As for the changes proposed in the period of
enlistment, he had hopes that it might produce great
advantages.
Colonel SIBTHORP said, that knowing the army and
considering its history, he thought little or no change
was necessary. Reform was a word which, he must say,
he did not like—(Laughter)—and he said again that
little or nothing was necessary for effecting any desired
improvement. The House ought to recollect that offi-
cers, though officers, were yet men; they had their
failings, no doubt, but order and discipline was required
in a bony of men like the army. He begged, then, that
the House would leave the subject in the hands of one
so able to deal with it as the Noble Duke at the head of
that department. He begged they would leave to offi-
cers in the army, the army, and to naval officers the
navy, just as they had their Lord Chancellor, whom
they referred to as an authority in law. The army was
doing well, and it ought to be let alone ; the state of
which was such as to astonish the foreigners wbo came
into the country.
Mr. 11. CURTEIS said he regretted exceedingly on
finding that he had come to town in vain that evening,
when the Learned Doctor below him (Dr. Bowring)
put off his motion, which it was certainly his intention
to have supported. He had for twenty years advo-
cated the abolition of flogging in the army, and he was
glad to see others coming over to the same opinion. He
would support the motion of the Gallant Captain, and he
must tell that Gallant Gentleman that when he (Mr.
Curteis) was at the Horse Guards, he should allow him
to remain no longer a captain ; :he would make him a
colonel.—(Loud laughter.) He would not begrudge
any expense which could contribute to the ad-
vantage, and the improved condition of the army.
It would give great satisfaction to the country to learn
the way in which the question had that night been taken
up by military men ; and he hoped the Government
would take the matter into its most serious consideration.
After a few remarks from Captain LAYARD, the
motion was withdrawn.

1835 1845 Increase.
Army 108,743 . . 150,284 ... 41,541
Navy
Pensioners embodied ... 10,000 ... 10,000

Making a total increase of . 65,041
He really did not know what necessity there was for
this large increase in the pesent year, when there was
peace throughout the world, with the exception of
Caffraria. Again, if lie added to this number the
numbers of the militia, the half-pay, and the various
bodies of police, there was an available force of 274,000
men to be supported by this country. He would call
the attention of the House to the horse and foot
guards. There was a total amount of 6,568 men, the
expense of which was equal to 12,000 infantry. There
were 96 officers, and 150 non-commissioned officers, con-
nected with this body; being in the proportion of one
officer to ten men, and one non-commisioned officer to
every four men in the Ist Light Dragoons. In
the foot guards, and in the regiments of the line,
there was nothing like this enormous disproportion.
He did not know why this body, who had not seen
service, should be able to look down upon those veteran
officers who had seen all kinds of service. He hoped
Government would inquire into the subject ; he was
certain it was a matter seriously felt by the otherofficers
of the army. He had brought the matter before the
late Goverment, but he knew it was perfectly useless to
bring before them any subject with reference to the cur-
tailment of expenditure. They had, during three years
and a half of their administration created 600 places,
and bestowed upon these placemen 24,5001. per annum,
He would also call the attention of the House to the
enormous sum of 3,414,000/. for half-pay and pensions
for the army.
The CHANCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER said
that the Government would not, be could assure the
Hon. Member, propose any vote which they were not
prepared to defend upon the strictest ground of economy.
Mr. GOULBURN justified the conduct of the late
Government in the course they had pursued in the ap-
pointment of additional officers in the Post-office, in the
Bankruptcy, and other courts. He was quite prepared
to go into the question of those appointments with the
Hon. Member upon any occasion that he might think fit.

The SPEAKER having put the question,
Mr. HAWES rose and said, his Hon. Friend the
Member for Montrose, had said that he would confine
himself to the facts of the case ; and he (Mr. Hawes)
should pursue a similar course, and after having done so,
he thought that the House would agree with him. that a
case had not been made out for the interference of the
House. He begged to assure the House that
the Carnival was celebrated at Malta, not
according to the law of that island, but by the permis-
sion of the Governor.—(Hear, hear.) Both Catholics
and Protestants had petitioned the Governor to put an
end to these festivals, and that individual accordingly
issued the order complained of. He held in his hand a
letter from the Governor, in reference to the complaints.
(The Right Hon. Gentleman then read the letter, in
which the Governor stated that the festival had been

interrupted in accordance with the express desire of the
Catholic Vicar-General and clergy, and the Protestant
clergy also.) The matter was altogether of a religious
character. The order of the Governor had certainly
caused some opposition on the part of a few of the
people, but they were not composed of the respectable
classes of the island. The parties who had been com-
mitted summoned the police, but the case was dismissed;
and here the charge is fully confuted that the whole
fault lay with the Governor, for the case is brought
before the ordinary civil magistrates, who dismissed the
case.

Mr. HUME—They may not have decided fairly.
They may have been influenced.
Mr. HAWES—His Hon. Friend could not fairly
raise that question, but no such charge had been made,
and he considered that the case did not present the
slightest colour of a charge of an attempt to meddle with
the civil and religious liberties of the Maltese. When
his Hon. Friend said that Malta was a colony, he must
excuse him for drawing a great and broad distinction
between it and such a colony as Canada. It was a great
military position, and, therefore, with a population of
100,000, it was not entitled to be treated like a colony
such as Canada, for such a constitution would not be
adapted for Malta.

Mr. VERNON SMITH said that there was no doubt
that the case was much altered, but he considered that
they were much indebted to the Right Hon. Gentleman
for bringing the matter under the notice of the House,
for it was most necessary that there should not be the
slightest ground for suspicion that there could be even
an attempt made to meddle with the civil or religious
liberty of the people of Malta. He considered that the
Governor-General had acted unwisely in not mention-
ing to the people that he acted in accordance with the
advice of the Archbishp_(Hear, hear)—for the people
must have considered that there had been an arbitrary
act on the part of the Government. He was delighted
that the question had been brought forward, as the dis-
cussion would not be without its use.
Mr. EWART considered that Cie Governor had acted
incautiously; he had not taken care to inform the people
on what grounds he had taken the measure com-
plained of. Had he done so no complaint would have
arisen. He thought that the island of Malta should have
a system of representation ; if such were established, he
believed the people would be more loyal and faithful to
the interests of the British crown.
Sir DE LACY EVANS wished to know whether
there was any disturbance resulting from this carnival
that induced the Governor to interfere.

INQUEST AT HOUNSLOW.
Mr. B. OSBORNE wished to make a few remarks in
reference to certain proceedings going on elsewhere,
while he intimated the postponement of the motion.
The matter to which he referred was the proceedings at
Hounslow. Several writers in the newspaper press had
attacked the gallant colonel of the regiment for the
flogging of the man on whom the coroner's inquest is at
present sitting. Now he (Mr. Osborne) begged leave to
say that that gallant officer had no more to do with the
death of that man than the humble individual who now
addressed them. Nay, so virulent was the feeling
against Colonel Whyte, that some papers had advocated
his murder by the troops under his command. The Hon.
Gentleman, the Member for Coventry, had to-night
made use of these newspaper reports, and had referred
to the evidence of a witness who had been examined,
but who was a very disreputable character, and had been
guilty several times of gross insubordination, which
ended in his being flogged ; not for crying out " Halloa
Sergeant," as ho had asserted.—(Hear, hear,) Colonel
Whyte was a most excellent soldier, the son of a country
gentleman, and he felt extremely hurt and annoyed
at the manner in which he had been assailed
There was not a day but what he was receiving anony-
mous and threatening letters on the question. In stating
that he would not press his motion at present, he could
not avoid offering this defence of a gallant and much
misrepresented officer.
Colonel PEEL felt thankful to the Hon. Member for
the vindication he had made of Colonel Whyte. He
had read over every atom of the evidence taken before
the court-martial, and he felt justified in defending him
from the aspersions cast upon him. He (Colonel Peel)
believed him to be one of the best officers in the army.
With regard to the private's evidence, which bad
been referred to, that of Matthewson ; be was one of the
worst conducted men in the whole regiment, and ha d
previoue to the occasion on which ho received punish-
ment, been forgiven for one or two gross instances of
misconduct and insubordination. (The Hon. and Gal-
lant Gentleman read a short statement to this effect.)
Mr. FOX MAULE suggested that until the result of
the coroner's inquest was known, it was rather prema-
ture to enter into a discussion of the question.
Mr. WILLIAMS was surprised at the manner in
which he had been attacked. He had only stated to the
House what the man had stated when examined on
the coroner's inquest, which he believed had been faith-
fully reported. If what the witness had stated was un-
true, why did not the officers contradict it at the time?
Had they any explanations to make, that was the time
for them to do it ; and they would have been published
along with the• man's evidence. What had then taken
place showed the necessity of a complete reform in the
whole system.
Mr. MONTAGUE GORE felt that Colonel Whyte
had been most unjustifiably attacked. If there
was any fault, it was not attributable to Colonel
Whyte, but to • the system under which he
acted. That gallant officer could not have acted in any
other way than he had done. The system might be
wrong, but Colonel Whyte was not to be blamed in giv-
ing it effect while he was acting under it.
Mr. P. HOWARD was glad that steps were in pro-
gress to effect a diminution of corporal punishment, as
he believed it would be the means of considerably im-
proving the character of the army. He thought, in
regard to corporal punishments, the soldier should not
be placed in a worse position than the felon. He was
glad that the explanation had been made in exculpation
of the character for undue severity preferred against'
Colonel Whyte.
The subject then dropped.
THE CARNIVAL AT MALTA.

Mr. HAWES stated that great disturbances had
arisen, and many complaints had been made upon the
subject prior to the interference of the Governor.
Sir DE LACY EVANS said that the explanation of
the Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Colonies
had given a different tone to the subject.
Mr. P. BORTHWICK said that, with reference to
the dispatch of Mr. Gladstone, he must say, " dark with
excessive light the lines appear ;" and he would defy
any person to read it so as to understand it. The House
seemed quite in the dark upon the subject, and were
confounding the carnival with the masque; and the con-
duct of the Governor was perfectly inexplicable. -
Mr. B. ESCOTT said that he was at a loss to know
whether it was the wish of the Government that the
House should condemn or approve the conduct of the
Governor. He thought there had been a gross invasion
of the civil and religious liberties of the people of Malta
by the Governor. He repeated that both civil and re-
ligious liberty had been violated by the acts of this Go-
vernor. The people of Malta met together in accord-
ance with the custom of the country, and although they
had committed no breach of the public peace, they were
arrested and imprisoned for doing so.—(Hear, hear.)
If this was not an infringement of civil and religious
liberty, it appeared to him to be something very
like it. _ _ _

Colonel FOX confessed that ho did not think putting
down a masque on a Sunday was an infringement of the
civil or religious liberty.
Mr. HUME having declared his determination to
divide,
Mr. P. HOWARD said, as the Hon. Member for
Montrose intended to go to a division, he must take the
liberty of saying a few words upon the subject. It was
clear that this Carnival, besides being innocent in its
nature, was sanctioned by. long time and immemorial
usage, and the Governor, in his opinion, ought to have
paused before he took the proceedings he did.—(Hear,
hear.) He did not, however, think any good would
follow a division, and he therefore suggested to his Hon.
Friend the Member for Montrose, who had always been,
and he trusted would continue still to be, the champion of
civil and religious liberty, the propriety of withdrawing
the motion.
Mr. FOX MAULE agreed with the Hon. Gentleman
that he could not see what good could really follow a
division. It would bo a censure upon the Governor,
and before the House went so far, he begged the House
to remember tkat the Carnival, before it could be
celebrated, required the sanction of the Governor.
—(Hear, hear.) Now, on this particular occasion, the
consent of the Governor had not been obtained, and the
object of the people it was tolerably clear was to try and
do away with the governor's jurisdiction or power over
it altogether.—(Hear, hear.) The governor having
found it to be a custom which all wise people repudiated,
refused to allow it to continue; a custom not in existence
at Rome, and followed only at Malta. The House
would find, he was sure, that the Roman Catholic po-
pulation went with him.
Mr. C. BERKELEY hoped the lion. Member would
press his motion to a division. He found fault, not
with the governor putting down the custom, but with
the mainer of his doing so.
Mr. M'CARTHY From what he knew of the
colony of Malta, he was inclined to suspect there was
something more than appeared to the House ; he knew
there was an indirect interference with the religion of
the people of the country. There was a college in
Malta into which the rector wished to introduce a teacher
of the Italian language, and considered the person best
fitted for this purpose would be a Roman ; but the
Governor positively refused to allow any other than a
British subject to teach the Italian language in that
college.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the remark made by the last speaker introduced a very
different question from that before the House: Dut he

Mr. lIUME was sorry to detain Mr. Speaker a
short time longer in the chair, but he had a
motion of some importance which he wished to
submit to the House. It was as follows :
"That, in the opinion of this house, and according to
the correspondence laid before it, relative to the pro-
ceedings in the island of Malta during the Carnival
holidays in February last, the conduct of the governor
and of the magistrates acting under his orders, in the
interference with the long-existing usages of the inhabi-
tants of that island, amount to an infraction of the rights
and privileges guaranteed to the Maltese by the capitu-
lation under which they originally became British sub-
jects, and are also contrary to the principles of civil and
religious liberty." In the present case, the Governor of
the island had, in a meet unjustifiable runner,