The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-02 00:00:00

PUSEYISM.

Sir B. HALL gave notice that on Friday next he
would ask the Prime Minister a question relative to the
suppression of certain forms which had been introduced
into the service of the Established Church, and which had
been denounced by the Bishop of London.

the motion,

EVENING, APRIL 2, 1851.

so, clear of all the douht3 and tveertßinti,,a

L,i, uuj. . i5k.;...,,.a,c,ee :.at last year on this very
question, and he was enabled to say, from the knowledge
he had acquired while sitting on that Committee, that
on the one hand there were many landed gentlemen wil-
ling to borrow, and on the other many persons de-
sirous of lending money, if they had good landed
security, and the complexities of the law revised.
The prt sent complex system of investigations into the
title of property ofte❑ prevented the one party borrowing
and the other advancing; and thinking that such a Bill
as that proposed by his Hon. Friend would simplify the
machinery of the law. he would give it his cordial support.
Mr. FERGUS said it seemed to him that the only
excuse which existed for lending money for drainage
purposes was that the whole community had a general
interest in the productiveness of the soil. The principle
of the Government lending money at all was extremely
dangerous, and was liable to great abuses. He knew
very well that it was the intention of this particular
measure to allow only, private persons to make advances;
but then it gave a lien on land which would
over-ride all mortgages, and put the lenders
in the same position exactly as the Government
when they granted loans. If the Hon. Gentleman only
wanted to simplify the law he would be the first to join
i❑ the attempt. The principle, however, was only justi-
fiable where it was to be applied to the productivenss
in which the whole community had an interest, and if
not confined to that, it would be extended to the forma-
tion of ornamental grounds, and to building and other
purposes, which in his opinion would give rise to great
abuses and difficulties. He hoped, therefore, if the Bill
were brought in, that a line of distinction would be
drawn between the improvement of the soil and other
kinds of improvement.
Sir B. HALL said, that after the statement of the
Hon. Member for Shrewsbury, he should be very willing
to support the Bill. He was mach astonished to hear
_ _

the objections which had been made by the Honour-
able Gentlemen who had just sat down, proceeding
more especially from a Scotch Member, after that coun-
try had received such large advances for the improve-
ment of lands, to the detriment perhaps of English land-
owners. Supposing, even, that these advances did take
precedence of every other species of mortgage, in his
opinion this would increase the value of the land instead
of depreciating it.
Culonel DUNNE thought that there ought to be some
security given that money thus raised should be actually
applied to the purposes for which it had been borrowed.
Mr. E. ELLICE entirely concurred in the principle of
the Bill.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER should
not oppose the introduction of the Bill, though he be-
lieved it would be perfectly impracticable.
Mr. DEEDES reminded the Right Hon. Gentleman

that he successfully resisted a similar Bill last session,
and the very day afterwards he brought in a Bill which
extended the same provisions to Ireland. Now, that was
extremely inconsistent.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he

left it for the English Members and the Irish Members
to decide whether such a Bill should pass, and the former
rejected it by a majority of 2 to 1.
Mr. OSWALD objected to the extension of the Bill
to Scotland.

Mr. B. COCHRANE replied, and leave was then
given to bring in the Bill.

COAL-WHIPPERS.

Mr. LABOUCHERE moved for leave to bring in a

Bill to continue and amend an Act for establishing an
office for the benefit of coal-whippers of the port of
London. The Act, he said, had worked extremely well
in promoting the interest of a most meritorious class of
labourers connected with the metropolis. It had
been twice renewed, once for three years, and on a
.econd occasion for five years; but the time had come
when the House could safely place the Act on the Sta-
tute-book as a permanent measure. He should, there-
fore, propose that the Act should not be continued for

any number of years, but that it should be made perma-
nent. At the same time he should take the opportunity
of making some slight alterations in it, which had been
suggested by the parties to whose care the administra-
tion of the Act had been entrusted.
_ IRISH COURT OF CHANCERY.

On the motion of Mr. B. OSBORNE a return was

ordered of the draft general orders submitted by the
Lord Chancellor of Ireland to the Master of the Rolls in
Ireland, for his approval, under the Court of Chancery
Regulation (Ireland) Act 1850; and also the draft
general orders prepared by the Master of the Rolls in
Ireland, under the said Act.

EXPENSES OF TARING OUT PATENTS.
Colonel SIBTHORP moved fur a return of the fees
paid to the different officials by persons taking out
patents in England, Scotland, and Ireland. He did not
perceive that anything had been done to amend the
patent law since the year 1829, when a Select Commit-
tee sat without coming to any conclusion on the subject.
Nothing had been done since that time, and he supposed
that if it had not been for this Exhibition of the In-
dustry of All Nations, nothing would have been done
at all in the matter. At present a person taking
out a patent had to pay fees to the Home ,
Secretary, Attorney-General, Signet-office, Privy Seal,
and the Lord Chancellor. This patent was to take pre-
cedence of all nations, and of those foreigners who were
so soon to flock to our shores. The Gallant Colonel then
proceeded to inveigh in amusing terms against the pro-
bable consequence of the irruption of foreigners, whit
he contended would be full of mischief to English
society and to the commercial prosperity of the country.
There was never a greater humbug than the Exhibition;
it would be the receptacle for every kind of fraud and
immorality, and everything else which was detrimental
to the best interests of the country. If he obtained the
return he asked for he intended to bring in a measure
for the purpose of reducing the expense of obtaining pa-
tents by the industrious classes.
Mr. CORNE WALL LEWIS said he had no objec-
tion to agree to the return, but all the information the
Gallant Colonel required was contained in the report of
the Committee on the Privy Seal and Signet-offices,
which was laid on the table of the House last session.
That being the case, it would be wholly unnecessary to
reprint the return.
Mr. LENNARD would make but very few remark•,
and certainly none of a discursive character, and he was
only sorry that that indefatigable law re-
former, Lord Brougham, had not sooner taken
this subject under his consideration. It was evident
that the difficulty of taking out a patent was the ex-
pense, and he trusted that the Government would, from
that consideration, accede to the motion of his Hon,
and Gallant Friend. He believed that the expense of
taking out a patent for the United Kingdom alone,
without any reference to the colonies, was 3501. Now,
it was evident that this expense entirely prevented the
object f r which the patent laws were enacted, viz, to
secure to the inventor of any useful instrument the re-
ward that he ought to obtain for his invention. A poor
man was, of course, altogether precluded from getting
his reward.

Mr. LABOUCHERE deprecated any attempt to enter
upon a general discussion of the patent laws, as a Bill
was prepared, and would shortly be introduced, upon
that subject. He objected to the reprinting of information
already before the House; but if the Hon. and Gallant
Colonel would specify any information which he wished on
the subject, and which was not to be found in the returns
already made, be should b, perfectly ready to supply it.
Mr. AGLIONBY would put it to the Hon. and Gallant
Colonel, whether any information could be obtained by a re-
pr;nt of returns already before them.
Alderman SIDNEY regretted the Government objected
to the motion, because the information in the returns before
them was of a very complicated kind. Regarding the law
of patents as a disgrace to the country he should support the
motion. _ . .

Mr. S. CRAWFORD supported the motion on the ground
that the information sought for was intended for the public
and not for the House.

After a few words from Mr. CAREW in opposition to

Sir G. GREY (amid cries of "Divide") hoped the Hon.
and Gallant Colonel would not divide. As his Honourable
Friend had stated that any information not in the returns
already before them would be supplied, he hoped the House
would support the Government in resisting the motion—

(Divide.) -
Mr. DISRAELI thought his Hon. and Gallant Friend was
under some misapprehension as to what had fallen from the
Right Hon. Baronet. According to his understanding Go-
vernment had virtually conceded the motion.—(Hear, hear.)
The Right Hon. Gentleman had also promised that if the
Hon. and Gallant Colonel wished for any papers not in the
possession of the House on this subject, he would take care
to supply them.
Colonel SIBTHORP said he thought a division would urge
the Government to consider the question. The House then
divided, when there appeared
For the motion ...
Against it ..
Majority against the motion ...
SUPPLY.

39
••• •••
•••• ••• 70

-31

The report of the Committee of Supply was then brought
up, and the several items voted agreed to.
MUTINY BILLS.

The Mutiny Bill and Marine Mutiny Bill then passed
through Committee.
MEDICAL CHARITIES (IRELAND) BILL.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE moved the second reading of the
above Hill.
Mr. SCULLY said that was a measure of great importance
which proposed an alteration in the entire system of giving
medical relief in Ireland to the poorer classe ; and as such an
alteration was highly necessary, he fully approved of the
principle of the Bill. There might be some objections to the
Bill in detail, which could be discussed in Committee. He
hoped, therefore, the Right Hon. Gentleman would give
them full time to consider it.
Lord NAAS would not oppose the motion for the second
reading of that Bill, which was an improvement of the mea-
sare of last year; and he was glad to see his Right Hon.
Friend had f 'flowed the advice which he had giv,n him.
There was one point, however, to which he wished to refer—
he meant the case of the infirmaries, which it was proposed
to do away with altogether. These institutions would now
lose all their property which had been left them, and which
would now be vested in the Government, contrary to the de-
signs of those who made the original bequests. 'He thought
the Right Hon. Gentleman was bound to make out a strong
case in favour of that principle which was so different from
the old way of administering those charities. It was said that
the new hospitals would nut be open to the same class of
persons as the infirmaries.
Colonel I)UNNE agreed that the principle of the Bill was
good, and that any objections in detail could be discussed
fully in Committee. He hoped full time would be given for
its o nsideration, and that it would not be pressed before
Easter.

Sir P. 1N L GENT concurred in bearing his testimony to the
excellent principle of the Bill, and agreed in the opinion ex-
pressed by the Hon. Members who preceded him.
Mr. MONSELL was also in favour of the Bill, but he
wished to know why the change had been made that the
boards of guardians were to have anything to say to the ar-
rangemert of the districts for medical relief. He thought
that &Auld be left to the central authority; and that the ap.
peintment of medical officers ought to be in the hands of the
district committees.
Mr. FRENCH defended the alterations, which had been
made entirely at the suggestions of the Hon. Members from
Ireland. There was every necessity for going on at once
wi h the measure, And he hoped it would meet with no uu-
uceuary delay,

Passengers Act Amendment.

Commo—ns Enclosure.

Mr. ITESEY said, all-hone] he ebieetea to enure of the
7 ; • . • t'. r, :-
fug, in consequence of the relief it would afford in the west of
Ireland. He wished, however, to get some information on
the subject of the infirmaries.
Lord BERNARD said the Bill had been lost last year be-
cause sufficient time had not been allowed to consider its
provisions in the House of Lords. The grounds upon which
he supported the Bill wee, that the law with respect to fever
hospitals in Ireland was in a most extraordinary state. He
hoped the present session would not be allowed to pass with-
out some measure calculated to remedy that evil condition of
the law being passed.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said he agreed with the Honour-
able Gentleman, who said that that was a very important
measure f,r Ireland; and in framing its provisions be had
endeavoured to consult the opinions of the Irish Members as
much as possible. Committees of both Houses of Parliament
had sat to inquire into that subject, and they had concurred
in recommending the establishment of a separate medical
board. This he had acted on last year, but when he could
gather that a single board would be preferred by the majo-
rity of the Irish representatives, he had framed his present
Bill in accordance with that opinion. He was glad, how-
ever, that the principle of the Bill now met with general
approbation. Any one acquainted with Ireland could not
but know the evils of the present system, how unequally it
p-essed upon the humane, how unjust it was to the hard-
worked and ill-paid medical men in Ireland, and inefficient
for the relief of the poor. He had introduced the infirmaries
into the Bill, because he thought it was better that two
systems should not be going on together. Great as the
-abuses of the dispensaries were in some cases, the infirma-
ries were as objectionable. The latter system he thought
unjust to the ratepayers and inefficient for relief. These in-
firmaries were often placed at the extreme end of a county,
so that those entitled to get relief were placed at a great
distance. If a good infirmary system was to be introduced
into Ireland, a new local distribution should in the first in •
stance take place, in order that all justly entitled might be
brought within their influence. The Hon. Member for Li-
merick objected to the mode of formation of the districts, yet
the Bill of last year'had been altered in that respect to meet
the suggestions of both sides of the House. But that was a
question of detail. The appointments of medical officers to
the dispensaries were vested in the boards of guardians, and
that he thought the better way. That also was a matter
of detail. In conclusion, he observed that it was important
the present Bill should pass without delay, because it would
be necessary for the respective grand juries before the next
assizes to know what means they would have by which to
provide for the wants of the suffering poor.—(Hear.) He
would, therefore, name a day before the recess for the Com-
mittee, and if that were not convenient, or Hon. Members
had gone out of town, he would have no objection to postpone
it until after Ea ter.—(Hear.)
In reply to a question from Sir J. YOUNG,
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that the Bill was'not intended
for the pauper class at all, but for those that were now
receiving relief at such institutions. That was the reason
why it was so desirable to carry it through as quickly as pos-
sible.

The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.

THE ACTS OF PARLIAMENT ABBREVIATION ACT

REPEAL BILL.

This Bill was read a second time, after a few words from
Sir G. GREY and ➢ir. STUART.
It was ordered to be committed on Thursday mext.
The House the adjourned at a Quarter-past Seven o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS, April 1.
Their Lordships assembled sh,rtly before Five o'clock

ROYAL COMMISSION.

- -
The Royal assent was given by Commission to the fol.
lowing Bills:
Consolidated Fund.

Appointment of a Vice• Chancellor.
The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor
the Marquis of Clanricarde, and Earl Grey.
Their Lordships then adjourned during pleasure.
At Five the House resumed.
CEYLON.

Viscount TORRTNGTON then rose to move for the
papers in relation to recent events in Ceylon, of which
he had given notice. He felt that he was bringing for-
ward this motion at a time when a strong prejudice ex-
isted against him, but he should be able to prove,
from authentic documents, that in all that he had
done in Ceylon he bad acted constitutionally; that
he had acted by the advice of his constitutional
advisers in the colony, and that those persons who before
the other House bad given evidence against him had,
not only officials but merchants and others, testified
to him in Ceylon their approbation of his acts. Mr.
Baillie in the other House had given notice of a motion
of censure on him. Ho had maintained silence
under the numerous calumnies which had . been
poured upon him, believing that when the mo-
tion should come on he would have an opportunity of
defending himself, but Mr. Baillie having thought pro-
per to postpone the motion to an indefinite period, he
had felt it his duty to at once draw their Lordships' at-
tention to the subject. The accusations against him
might be denied under three heads—first, with regard
to the finances; second, with regard to the re-
bellion, its causes, and its suppression; and thirdly,
with regard to the personal allegations against him.
He was appointed Governor of Ceylon in February,
1847, and he arrived there on 28th May, 1847. He
found the revenue in a deplorable state; there was a
great deficiency, and he immediately proposed to the
Council measures for remedying such a state of things.
Those measures were adopted unanimously. The cin-
namon trade was labouring under difficulties,
and he recommended measures to relieve that
trade; those measures were successful, the revenue
recovered its elasticity, and the cinnamon export trade
was largely increased. A Stamp Act was passed, and it
was found exceedingly beneficial to the island at large.
A large proportion of the revenue was devoted to the
improvement of the roads; that was a most important
subject, as tending to develop the resources of the island,
and it was unanimously resolved that each male in the
island, from fitteen to sixty, should devote six days'
labour, or its value, to the improvement of the roads.
These were the principal measures he had proposed, and
they had been unanimously approved of. But he had
been found fault with for proposing the gun-tax, the
carrying-tax, and the shop-tax. Those taxes had been
proposed not for revenue purposes merely. It had been
discovered that there were at least 60,000 stand of
arms in the country; and it was thought necessary as a
precautionary measure to have a registration of those
guns, and for that purpose the tax was imposed. With
regard to the carrying tax it was thougnt advisable to
ensure a responsibility on the part of the carriers, and
with regard to the shop tax it was imposed to ensure a
knowledge of the revenue of traders. With regard to
the dog tax, those who had resided in Eastern
cities knew the nuisance which dogs were,
and how they increased in consequence of a dislike
on the part of the Orientals to take away animal life.
This tax bad been imposed to enable the officials to ex-
terminate these wretched dogs, wandering about without
an owner, as those persons who owned dogs would be,
in consequence, compelled to register them, to pre-
vent them from wandering abroad. That was the
sole object of the imposition of the dog tax,
At the time he undertook the government of the colony
the finances were in a most lamentable state. The state
of tile finances at that time is thus descrioed by the
Auditor-General of the col:ny:—" The year 1846 pre-
sents a lamentable falling off, there having been in that
year an excess of expenditure over revenue amounting to
81,801/. 13s. 74d,, which, though lessened by advances,
recovered drafts in transit, &c., by the sum of
6.934/. 6s. lid., still leaves a net deficit on the year of
74,8574 6s. 81d. Deducring this amount from the
balance of 129,4601. 3s. 94ri. in hand on the Ist
of January, 1846, it will consequently appear
that on the Ist of January, 1847, the balance actually
iu hand was reduced to the sum of 54 5921. 17s. lid."
On his arrival in the island he issued a circular instruct-
ing all those in authority to make every arrangement to
reduce to the narrowest limit the expenditure in their
respective departments, and he introduced the following
measures to relieve the trade and to distribute more
justly the taxation of the colony:—The export duties
were abolished, except the duty upon cinnamon, which
was reduced by two-thirds, viz., from is. to 4d. the
pound; the import duties were equalised, differential
duties being abolished; generally the tuxes to be re-
duced are to be estimated at 42,163/. As to the export
duties which were abolished, it was estimated that the
relief given to certain classes would be as follows :—To
the cinnamon growers, about 15,000/. per annum, esti-
mated upon the crop of 1847; to the coffee growers,
about 12,000/, per annum ; to the tobacco growers
of the northern districts, the cocoa-nut planters,
and native cultivators, about 3,0001. per annum.
The results of the economical measures which he had
adopted ware to reduce the expenditure of the colony as
follows:-1847, 53,4414 10s.; 1848, 15,2231.; 1849,
11,115/.—Total, 78,780/. expenditure in 1849 less than
in 1846. In the first nine months of 1850, as com-
pared with the same period in 1849, a further re-
duction of 16,408/. was effected, exclusive of the road
department. Great efforts had been made to make
it appear that the financial and commercial ar-
rangements which he had intrcduced had caused
the rebellion, yet it appeared from the evidence that
disturbances of a somewhat similar character had occurred
in 1842, and the disturbances of 1848 were attributable
to the same causes. The rebellion was hatched by the
chiefs and priests, who were jealous of the de-
cline of their influence and of their religion, and
who, therefore, endeavoured to keep up
a con-
tinual state of agitation. The people were solely
excited by the headsmen and priests; the
people did not even know what were the new taxes im-
posed. Sir A. Oliphant in his evidence said—" My im-
pression about the taxes is this, that none of the com-
mon people knew of their own knowledge by reading
what taxes were imposed, and that therefore no well..
grounded discontent arose in their own minds againstthe Government from knowing, and having read, and
being sure that it had imposed taxes upon them; but I
do not mean to say that the Korales and Aratchies who
drove the people together, did nut tell them any
stories they liked about the taxes. I have no doubt
that they made use of the taxes to excite the
opfrothclai
people. It was in evidence that the people who came
to Kornegalle said, ' eighteen new taxes have been
imposed upon us, and we are come
He had been accused of having to psy them.
unnecessarily, at the outbreak rebellion,em e d
that point he would refer to the evidence of Colontl
I Braybrooke, from whose examination, by Mr. Hume, be
would read the following extract: ‘, Could not the mobs
martialb lawton
or the assemblages of People have been dispersed with
the aid of the existing military force, and quiet restored
as well without as with martial law?—From what I now
know of the people, I think it is possible that it might
have been so; h
..,ut we were under the impression,
I from what we had heard of the whole country,
that we were on the eve of a great rebellion;
that being the case, I think it was wise and
judicious on the part of Lord Torrington to pro-
claim martial law, particularly as I know that, in ,
1817, it was generally believed, by the first military
authorities, that much mischief was done by Sir John
Brownrigg not having proclaimed martial law soon
1 enough. Ido act thials be prcelltimed i; till,
Webr 1,4417,

TORRLITGTON.

IQI c N.w„ vl,O warP thp fpeta Ag tO the r,13e11,,,r ? A

lr . ell eat, 5411 hemp and ceremony elected-; a king.
The plan was projected of drawing eff the troops in small de-
tachments, and those who remained in the town were to be
attacked in the church on a Sunday. It was not for him to
say there was any probability in the plan, but it was acted
upon. The whole country was denuded of the male popula-
tion—they had hidden their treasures and abandoned their
homes with the intention of making the war on the British.
He was aware that martial law was an arbitrary law, bat in
the circumstances of the country it was utterly impossible to
carry on the Government without it. Martial law was then
proclaimed by him, and the moment he could get all his
council together, he submitted to them the whole of the evi-
dence and papers in his possession, and they agreed in the
propriety of the steps that had been taken. Now, if he had
neglected this duty, let them look to the value of the property
that would have been destroyed. The value of the coffee en-
dangered by the rebellion " amounted to 37,802,9301b5. ; its
declared value in Ceylon was 456,6631. 10s. Bd. ; its average
value in the London market would be 748,3111., 3s. 4d ,
and the duty which it paid into her Majesty's Tressury, on
arrival here, was 661,5511. 12s. 6d." Every man in the
colony, whether military or civil, concurred in the
propriety of the step he had taken ; and it would have been
said that he was unfit for his situation if he had not taken
the precaution of protecting such a vast amount of property.
He had received an address from the Chamber of Commerce
on the subject, and the editor of the opposition paper at the
time, who fully approved of his conduct. The Legislative
Council, too, in 1848 and 1849 gave their approval of his
conduct. Every member of that council demonstrated his
approbation of it by his signature.—(Hear.) All that he now
asked for was that a fair and just interpretation would be put
upon his actions by their Lordships—that they would give
him credit for having acted honestly, justly, and zealously in
the discharge of his duty—that having done this, a fair con-
struction would be put upon his actions, and that they
might not be misinterpreted.—( Hear.) But, then, it had
been stated that martial law had been carried on too long.
He said that every one connected with his Government con-
sidered it necessary to maintain it as long as the pretender
was abroad. Every attempt made by the military to cap-
tura him was baffled—as soon as the soldiers got within a
mile of him shots were fired, and every means were taken to
conceal him. As long, too, as the population did not return
to their homes it was considered but-as a prudent measure to
maintain martial law. The well-conducted and the loyal had
not any objection to it, and it was only the idle and the dis-
solute who were dissatisfied with it. He referred to the

opinion of the Deputy Queen's Advocate on this
point :
" Too soon to have removed martial law (by which the
military were enabled to exercise many other powers besides
that of trying and punishing offenders) would, in all pro-
bability, have rendered another rising probable, and the
effusion of more blood necessary. The pretender would but
too speedily have had intimation that the ordinary course of
law was resumed, and he would gladly have hailed the change
as affording him another opportunity to gather his scattered
followers, and make a renewed attempt. The people, it must
be borne in mind, were mortified with their losses, and
would nut require much persuasion to join the king; and
amongst an ignorant population no great difficulty would
have been experienced to make them believe that the dis-
continuance of martial law was owing to a want of power
to support it. How comes it that the rebellion of 1818
proved in many respects so very disastrous to both the
outlaywell known, the
money,
Kandyan and the European ? Its commencement did not
suppressiont n
es s gr e great
of i
t numberscost
n revolt,oitnon ly animmense
yet,
but also occasioned the loss of many lives and made con-
siderable military assistance from India necessary. In that
rebellion the civil power acted for a considerable period, aided
only by the military. Martial law was not at first pro-
claimed, and the rebellion waxing strong, became alarming
and serious. Ultimately, however, recourse was had to this
law, it was continued for some months, and the insurrection
was suppressed."
Mr. Baillie remarked, as to there being only one of the
troops wounded when so many of the rebels were killed,
the reason for that was known. About an hour and a half
before the troops engaged with the rebels a very severe
shower came on, which rendered the matchlocks of the re-
bels useless, but did not affect the fire-arms of her Majes-
ty's troops. But then, it was stated that her Majesty's
troops had acted with inhumanity. He believed that it was
the first time that such a charge had been made against her
Majesty's troops in any part of the world. He referred to
the characters of all who had been employed in these mat-
ters as a reply to such a charge. He referred to the testi-
monials, as to their former lives, of the Major-General, of
Colonel Fraser, of Colonel Dwight, of Major Lushington, and
of Major Aird. But then it was said that these courts-
martial had been improperly conducted—that they were
conducted with precipitation—that their proceedings were
irregular—that on one occasion a wrong matt was shot, and
on another an innocent man and a priest was shot. It was
necessary here to remark that Mr. Hume, on the 18th of
April, moved as follows : —" That the chairman be instructed
to move that an humble address be presented to her Majesty
that she will be graciously pleased to give directions that
there be laid before this C .mmittee a copy of the proceed-
ings upon the trial by court-martial (of three members) of
Nichalle Puncheralle, of Melyitya ; Appoohammy, of Alut-
gamme Bandy ; and Of Allawalle Godde Leortin, on a charge
of high treason at Matelle, on the 6th September, 1848, who
were sentenced to be shot, and which sentence was carried .'
into effect on the following morning; and copy of the pro-
ceedings upon the trial by court-martial (of five officers)
of the Priest Kaddah Polla Unanse, at Kandy, on the 25th '
August, 1848, on a charge of holding correspondence with
rebels, and for administering or conniving at the administra-
tion of a treasonable oath, and sentenc:e:l to be shot to death,
which sentence was carried into effect on the following
morning." The Committee divided—ayes 6, noes 4; his mo-
tion was therefore carried by a majority of two. Accord-
ingly,
on the 29th of April, copies of these proceedings of •
the courts thus specially selected by Mr. Hume were pro-
duced to the Committee by Mr. Hawes. They were read by
Mr. Hume and by other members of the Committee. No
further proceedings were taken upon them—no motion for
printing them was made, and the resolution of the 18th of
April was rescinded in the following terms. The proceed-
ings on the courts-martial alluded to in the resolution of the •
18th of April having been laid on the table by Mr. Hawes,
motion made and question put, " That the resolution of the
18th of April be rescinded." It was resolved in the affirma-
tive; and, as these proceedings sustained none of the alle-
gations mentioned, no further reference was made to them.
Mr Stuart Wortley, the late Judge Advocate, was present on
both the days referred to. The Deputy Queen's Advocate
thus officially reports upon the proceedings of the courts-
martial in Kandy:—
" With reference to the courts-martial in Kandy, having
officiated as deputy judge-advocate on the four first trials,
I am enabled to speak of the manner in which the proceed-
ings in them were conducted. The evidence in each was
fully taken down ; the prisoners had every opportunity given
them of cross-examining the witnesses, and had every facility
afforded them of making their defence. The trials usually
occupied several hours, and no unseemly haste was mani-
fested in getting through them. In one of the cases—that
against Porang Appoo, the active part he was known to have
taken in the rebellion was not proved, and I intimated my
opinion that it would be proper to have ouch evidence; but
the court did not consider it necessary under the other cir-
cumstances established. With regard to the trial of the
priest, the mode of conducting it, the evidence given, the
opinions of parties who were in court, there is very remark
able testimony."
Now, it was upon this subject that a notice of motion had
been given by Mr. Baillie, which motion was to the same
effect and purp, se as that previously given by Mr. Hume.
Nothing that had occurred in reference to the proceedings
that took place in Ceylon could justify such a motion as that
of Mr. Baillie. As far as he (Lord Torrington) was con-
cerned he had viewed the necessity for proclaiming martial-'
law with the most extreme sorrow and regret. In respe
to the charge of confiscation, he distinctly declared that
there was no sequestration whatever of property in the'
colony. Wherever property was found to be deserted it was
taken possession of by the proper authorities, and was subse-
quently accounted for to the proper owners. If it were of sk
perishable character it was sold, and the proceeds handed
back to the proper claimants. But if it were not perishable
it was preserved for the owners with the most perfect exact-
ness. He submitted, however, it was impossible that any.
Government, under the circumstances, could be always an-
swerable for every single act that took place; and he was not
prepared to say that some slight error and mistake had not
taken place. But lie would maintain that the general pro-
ceedings that took place under his administration were right
and proper. There was one case of a seizure of property by
an officer of the Rifles. Upon learning the fact he (Lord
Torrington i took immediate notice of it, and ordered the
he full vtanl ueh
his
af
pseuwcehr property,ln reference and
tt
00
offendermake th teo
the proclamation of Captain Watson, which was referred to
by Mr. Bernie, all be could say was that if such a proclama-
tion was signed at the time it was alleged to have been dated,
fullestpa y
restitution
it was wholly unauthorised by him. When the news reached
him in March, 1849, that a Committee had been appointed to
examine into the affairs of Ceylon, he saw that the most
severe language had been used in respect to the proceedings
carried on under his authority, and he felt himself placed in
the most extreme difficulty when the knowledge of this fact
became generally known in the colony. He was of course
unable to meet the charges that were then made against him
in this country. He was held up to the public execrations
of mankind, and amongst many other charges brought
against him, it was stated that he had ordered prisoners to be
whipped with the most cruel and unnecessary severity, and
that he had executed a priest in his sacerdotal robes. Now,
in regard to the latter charge, he had no alternative in the
matter, for the priest referred to had no other dress; so that
he should be either executed in his robes or naked. As re-
gards the language which had been attributed to him upon
that occasion, he utterly denied having ever used it; and in
searching the records of the Government as connected with
this transaction, he would read a dispatch which he had for-
warded to Earl Grey on the 30th of May, 1850 :
"My Lord,—Certain private communications which I have
received by the last mail from England has caused me con-
siderable pain and mortification.
" I learn with great surprise that there are still people
who think my denial of the words which Mr. H. C. Selby
stated, before a Committee of the House of Commons, I had
used in reference to the execution of the priest, was not suffi-
ciently clear and explicit.
" I have only now to state that delicacy and an anxious
desire neither to war with Mr. H. Selby nor show any wish
to injure him, may have caused me to write in a milder and
less contradictory manner with regard to his statement than
I otherwise should have done.
" I am now, my Lord, necessitated, in my own defence, to
declare to your Lordsnip, on the honour of a Peer and a gen-
tleman, that I made use of no such words as those put into
my mouth ; andthat the statement to that effect is therefore
Simply untrue.—l have, &c.,
( Signed) " TOIRINGTOPG
"The Right Honourable the Earl Grey, &c."
The pri st was executed for the crime of administering sedi'
tious oaths to the people. He respectfully submitted that it
would have been a much more prudent and dignified course
for Parliament to have insisted upon his instant removal
from the post which he occupied, if it believed him to be
eat in judgment against him for such a length of time,
guilty of a tithe part of the crimes laid to his charge, than to
have
when it was imp, ssible—seperuted as he was by thousand?
of miles from' this country.— to reply to them. lie now said
that up to the latest period he remained in the colony the
same feeling existed amongst the inhabitants generally-
namely, that his policy all through was the only just and
prudent one that could be pursued under the circumstances-
On the 7th ..f August, 184, he received the followitg
dress from the merchants of Ceylon, which he would read 10
the House. This add: ess was signed by every merchant of
eminence in the colony :---
" LETTER PROM THE MERCHANTS OF COLOMBO TO Vl3OOllO

" Colombo, August 7, 1850.
"My Li-T(l,—We hope you will excuse our addressing
your Lordship on the present occasion, as we feel ourselvill
called upon to express our sincere regret that your Ei.°,
cellency has deemed it right to tender your resignation 0`
the governorship of this island, and we beg to assure your
Lordship that notwithstanding all past differences we feel
that the interests of trade and the general prosperity of Cer
lou would be most seriously injured by your Lordship wi!0:
drawing at the present time from the colony; besides which
we we conceive that it would have a very bad effect upon the
native and mixed population.
"From the experience and intimate knowledge of the re;
quirethente of the igiintl gaited by yQux Lordship during $ll

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