The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-26 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-YESTERDAY.
INDIA.

The-Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved for certain
returns 'relitive to the—assessment of rent-free estates in
India, and the covenanted and uncovenanted civil ser—
vice of the East India Company ; the law expenditure of
the Company in Englandoind the condition of the allow-
ance mule to tbe deposed Rajah of Coorg. In doing so
be said he should abstain from going into all the topics
the return embraced, as humerely moved for them with
a view to a more extended inquiry which he intended to
propose next session. There could be no doubt, how-
ever, that the double government of India was most de-
fective in its operation, throwing obstacles in the way
of the investment of capital is India, and withholding
that protection from the natives which they had a right,
to expect. it was not surprising that the members of
the Government were averse to inquiry into the abuses
of its administration, because under its influence they
bad succeeded in obtaining eonsiderable 4jstinction, re-
putation, and wea:th, and they could lardly avoid
being more or less blind to the defects of the syatem.
Hence, it was almost impossible to obtain full and accu-
rate information on the subject of the affairs of India,
but as inquiry could not possibly be delayed beyond
this session, he hoped there would be no objection
to grant him the returns be was about to ask for. The
first of them related to the confiscations of estates, by
the Government, Mid he trusted lie should not be told
that the casts of confiscation were too great td-ndmit, of
their being laid befois Parliantent. (A. laugh.) The
noble marquis concluded by moving for a return shuwl
ing the, number of prnviously rent-free estates or parts
of estates assessed to the land tax, with.the gross amount
of assessment thereon, within the territories of Bengal,
Behar, Orissa,- and Benares, from the date of the com-
mission appointed in 1828 for making such assessment
to the latest time for which the same can be furnished •
also for a return showing the number of officers of the
Indian army employed in civil and politicalduties in the
respective years 1847 and 1855, or the latest for which
the same can be furnished, together with the amount
disbursed on their account in salaries or other allowances 1

in the years in question ; also a return showing the num-
ber of officers of the covenanted civil service in the ac-

tual discharge of duties under the several governments
of British India in the years 1834, 1847, and 1855, or
the latest for which the same can be furnished, together
with the amount disbursed on their account ,in
salaries or other allowances in the respective, years in
question ; also a return of the number of persons belong-
ing to the covenanted civil service of the East India
Company absent on sick leave or furlJugli, together with
the amount paid to them as absentee allowance, in the
respective years 1834, 1847, and 1105, Or latest for which
, the same can be furnished ; and also a return showing the
number of 'persons in the uncovenanted civil service of
the East India Company within the Several governments
of India, toge.her with thytotal amount paid to them, as
Salary or allowance in the several years 1834, 1847, and
1855, or latest for which the same can be furnished, and
distingui-ling, hi so far as the same nay be practicable,
European-Lorn from Indian-born_ _Britiala subjects or
Eurasians: - Be also moved that the return, of the law
expenditure in England of the East India Company
since the year 1853, ordered to be laid before this house
on the 16th Juri, be made forthwith ; and also for
copies ,of any minute of the East Indian Governtnent in
1834, specifying the terms and conditions of the allow-
ance to be.tn-adelifthe deposed
.Rajah of Coorg. The
law expenses he believed to be monstrous, and he sup
posed that to be the only reason for the return not
having been made. With respect to the last return, re-
lating to the Rajah of Coorg, he must say he considered
thy conduct of the East India Company to that noble-
.mau was most disgraceful. It was alleged that one rea-
son why he should return to India was that it was not
well to encourage the expenditure of Indian revenue in
England ; but that was a most absurd 'pretence, seeing
that all they alluwed the rajah in England was 4481. a,
year. The real reason why they wished him to return
to India was that he might not be here to superintend a
chancery suit he wae prosecuting against the company.
The Diiki-of ARGYLL said he had explained to the
noble marquis that he did not, feel called upon -on the
part of 'the GoVetoment to defend the course taken by
the East India Company. It, was not a matter in which
the Government had a right to control the company.
If he were CO express his own individual opinion he would
rather agree with the noble marquis. He did not see
that there could begreat in this person's re-
mainingany harm,
maining in London. At the same time he was in such
a Position as to require leave of absence. He asked for
it, •and it was given, on condition that he should return
in one year, and at the end of tha4eriod the East India
Company 'insisted upon his return.
After a few worth) from the Earl of ELLIT,NBOROUGEL who
sugzestel that the wording should he more general,
The motion was agreed to. ,
LORD COMBERMERE.

Lord ST. VINCENT then rose to put a question of
which he had given notice—whether, inasmuch ae the
judgments of the highest legal tribunals are matters of
public record, and may be referred to as facts in the
isnowledge of GOvernment, and umsidering the severe
censures that have. been passed in three successivejrdg
ments, pronounced by the late Lord Chancellor Cotten
ham, by Sir J. W&ori, judge' of the Prerogative Court,
of Canterbury, and by the Judicial Committee of Priv%
Council, upon the conduct of a noble member of this
house, holding ,the situation of Constable of the
Tower of .London, and also a distinguished officer near
her Majesty's person her Majesty's Governmont• have
thought proper, for th% due preservation of the high char;
acter i,I this house, to take say steps in reference thereto,
or if they intend so to do?., The noble lord, after some
further observations, which were inaudible in the gallery,
requeAA that, AS he was . in infirm health, the Clerk
might read portinris of the judgment. - •
The 'at the table then, read the following ex-,
tracts from the judgments referred to : • .
'Vineland has seen that Mr. Dyc'e Sombre had sufficient
cunning of himself at that time to parry the examinations.
that were made of tini 'as he had done at Paris. But it is
important to 'see whether that was not wrongly advised
and recommended, and whether it was not pressed upon
him over and over again by'Mr. Mahon and others, that he
should conceal his delusion in this respect, that he had no
chance of recovering his liberty unless he did conceal it, and
unless he did state that that delusion had passed away.
Over and over again is that caution given to him by Mr.
Afahon and by many other persons ; but it is given more
especially and more emphatically by. Lord and Lady Coin-
bernaere, who have taken an active part in this matter.
There is a letter from Lard Comberme-re; which is dated
in 1847; there are, indeed, earlier letters of the same kind;
but this letter goes to the examinations which subse-
quently teokplace-,-namely, those in 1848, in Dee., and
also in Nov., . when he was examined by the Chancery
Physicians. Lord Combermere's letter is to this effect : -
".You should come to Dieppe, and there wait till you get
the permission to come, over to Brighton ..to-be-examinedby Dr's. Bright arni^Siiiithey." • So that he was preparing
hits for this very ,examination Brighton. If you
arisWiii•their questions coolly, and in a' few words, they
must declarUyon'to be in such a state as to render you
quite 'fit to have your liberty indproperty, which, I think;
have been so unjustly withheld from you. I hope when
yea ..are ,:.examined ,that yep will say as - little as you
poßibly, can about Mrs. D. S. • You shoulii,l think, say
that whatever delusion you laboured under some time ago,
i.has left
,you," It is advice not only-about what he is to
but.what he is to say is to be prepared for
these examinations. He itrin be Crammed f)r their], as it
is sometimes expressed : " You should, I think, sty that
whatever delision' you laboured under soine,time ago, it
has left you,-as you. became divested of. your Eastern
notions and feelings about women ; and -firrther'' that there
is; no_ lohgeiltnYdangeritf your being-lealons
her {not
that you are convinced that you have beeu under- erroV
un(le* delusion) ittasmunir fls:.yriii have-lost 'all love,
admiration, and.atfection for -her, sand that no vntverupon.
:eartia
shonldinduce, you to live with or go near :her
You ShOuld say also that it is your wish to go to -India, for
;the benefit of your health, and in, order .to look 'lute and
;arrange your affairi. Let Me Ittiovi on Whitt day you Will
be at.Dieppe.' I•will go down to Brighton when I know
that you are to be there."
When I see hoW this poor man we'® prepared--for the
purpose of undergoing, his examinations—hoW- he was
prged- by; various,. petrions to conceal thoughts
not to give his delusietalfrzbirt'
432 comical them, and. to
inetend that he Ukl.P nt
9Pe reaining,,j.n.o7llerthat he might
pass,bka /night get.hiseuparaetleas; and might.
recttver,tl4 Whole. of his Vroperty-:whia r. see what has
take plat 'wit~ti r4'6.iTto'int..Maiapi); and. With respect to,
Mr. Prinsep, though, undoubtedly, the letters which ,were
r Svrittifi%,•-him'Avertilietplic6elYdtbe 's:arttelenour, and
think,notso blampahi', its those which were written by
bay Lord Combermeresand Lady :Cohrbermere, urging the
Concealment Of the delusion—l say that I think, under all.
the circtupst,3nces ,of . ee, ;,,am • botind to: pronounce
„
against tne,milt oittla.costs, , -
I,rtittloneafter Oceiited two co7nrounicat ions, of s
oh ratter nnexa rir`riled hope; in'tfie" histoiy of thia court,
The first was dated the 24th of. Deeember,lBP, two, days
after the'Tormer iiet?tinre it xi-Aden dikriisaed; Signed by bra.
Paris, Mt) • s CerMafitf, and- Costello The Other
was dated the 18th c f Jan., P49„.and
bermere,,Dtawnthire;' Shrewabuty,-and ,f9uF-ether geritle-
knantto:: whi:ch,svis 0444 s o te ,fren.Sir o,lTrSvelysiti, iott,
latter„ doetunrent . appeared' .1,0):4-:in.e
tenpert, MPUiPOIY•tallall,OO thofostaer, The',Whole of t4is
proceeding was Most irregular and improper; as every' psis
' vote cogmunication addressed to a iodrio for thi purpobe

of influencin g his decutionuport tnattersbeforetintt always
is, and ever c ,ught to be, reprobated. It is a practice cal-
-1 culated to 'd inert the course of justice, and ought to be
more fret:m:4ly treated than it is. as a high contempt of
court. It i s too often excused on account of the station,
and tonditio rvin life of the parties guilty of it, who are
supposed to be ignorant of what. is due to the court. No
such !muse can' be made in this case. If this was-not
intended as a private communication; 'why was it made
in that form.? Why was it not brought before the court
in the usual manner,' tbrough.thnsolicitor andediipsel of
the juuatic, ,Nho alone:could be recognised as his represen-
tatiVei? I have received from two of the subscribers

to that letter,. Lords Combermereand Shrewsbury, an asset r.
ance that no thing disrespectful to myself was intended
by that comrounication. 'I never corsidered in that light.:
hut, as judge of the court against .which th,s contempt has
been committed, I am bound to express my high reproba-
tion of the course pursued, not Only on accnant of tba let-
ter itself, but also on account of the rank and station of
the parties implicated.
The IVTarquis' of LANSDOWNE said' this was winost
pajuful subjeot. The observations which had been read
were made in a civil suit, and they related to a noble
•lord whO was not a party to that suit, and who had no
opportunity of being- heard in his own defence. Her
Majesty's Government were not prepared to institute
any proceedings, and they did not mean to pronounce
Any opinion on, these judgments, which successive judges
had given as to the conduct of the noble earl. If they
were called upon to institute an inquiry, it conk', only
be by a proceeding which would enable the noble lord-
to come forward and state his own case and make his
own defence. He had had no such, opportunity;
and not having had such opportunity,- Government,
without pronouncing any opinion, were not prepared
to take that sort of proceeding which the noble lord
seemed to wish. At the same time be was sure the house
would appreciate the motives which had induced the
"noble lord to bring forward this motion, connected ~as it
was with a near relative of his, and a most accomplished
lady.
After a few words from Lord St. VINCENT, the ,Sub-
ject dropped.
- EXAMINERS OF PRIVATE BILLS.
Lord REDESPALE, moved the appointment of Sa-
muel Smith and Chas. Frere, Esqrs., to be examiners of
standing orders and private bills for the ensuing session.
Agreed to.
THE HOSPITALS (DUBLIN) BILL.
The report of the amendments on this bill was received.
The Burials Ground (Ireland) Bill, the Lunatic Asy-
lums Superannuation (Ireland) Bill, and the Joint Stock
Banks Bill, were read a third time and passed.