The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-12 00:00:00

contract involved the expenditure of large sums of
money, of placing the financial control of the con-
tract in the hands of the Treasury ?
Mr. Gladstone—Though I have not much consi-
dered the form in which the contracts are entered
into, I think that substantially the Treasury is
mainly answerable for the merits of the contracts
made by the Post-office for remote postal service
over sea. I apprehend, however, that the Post office
would have a special responsibility for those parts
of the arrangements which belong to its own de-
partmental duties, and that the Board of Trade, or
the Board of. Admiralty, should have a special re-
sponsibility with regard to those parts of the con-
tract which were strictly maritime. The general
responsibility would, however, be with the Trea-
sury.
__

Sir H. Willoughby—lt is in evidence that some
of the contracts have been mainly, if not entirely,
decided by the Financial Secretary of the Treasury.
What is your opinion with regard to such an
arrangement ?
Mr. Gladstone—l think that that is rather a
question as to the internal organisation of the Trea-
sury than a question in reference to the packet ser-
vice. It is, however, a question upon which I can
well conceive that much may be said. The practical
business arrangements of the Treasury would never
be inferred by the public from reading in an
almanac or red book the names of the persons
charged with the different offices. The relation
of the Financial Secretary of the Treasury to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and again to the First
Lord, as well as the relations of an Under-Secretary
of State to the Chief Secretary are matters involving
a great deal of public interest, and ought not to be
settled without a great deal of consideratien.
Sir F. Baring—Can you state to the committee
whether in the case of these contracts, it is not the
practice for the Financial Secretary, though he may
have gone through the details, to take the opinion
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer before he makes
any final arrangement ?
Mr. Gladstone--I should say decidedly that in
the case of any one of these contracts the Secretary
of the Treasury would grievously fail in his duty if
he did not do so. I have, however, had very little
experience in the matter, because, when I was for-
merly Chancellor of the Exchequer, very few con-
tracts came under my notice, and, since my last ap-
pointment, the question has been kept at arm's
length, in consequence of the sitting of this com-
mittee. At the same time, if you ask my opinion,
Ido not hesitate to give it. Of course, it must be
a matter of discretion for the Financial Secretary to
determine which of the subjects brought under his
notice should be referred to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer ; but it is quite clear to me that it is his
duty to refer to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
contracts of this nature.

At the conclusion of Mr. Gladstone's examina-
ion, the committee adjourned.

INDIA AND CHINA.

INDIA.

By the arrival of the Calcutta mails we (Times)
have received our private correspondence and files
of papers from Calcutta to the 10th of April, and
from Hong Kong to the 30th of March.
The following is the letter of our Calcutta corre-
spondent :

" CALCUTTA, APRIL 10.
" But eight days have elapsed since the despatch
to you, via Bombay, of a letter in which the ques-
tion of the relations of the indigo planter with the
ryot were fully discussed. During the brief period
that has since elapsed universal quiet has prevailed.
The ryots, even in the Kishnaghur district, have
desisted from active hostility, and have returned to
their ordinary vocations. The threatened agrarian
outbreak, the very whisper of which seemed likely
to postpone our monetary and commercial reforms
has subsided. Even the agitation, but three weeks
ago so universal, has entirely died away. No
doubt, this state of affairs is very much owing to
the legislation forced through the Council. The
bill prepared by the Lieutenant-Governor and im-
proved by Mr. Wilson has had considerable effect
in calming down men's minds. Nevertheless until
we have passed through the ordeal which men are
so anxiously awaiting, it will be impossible for any
one to write with perfect confidence as to the con-
tinuance of order. I use this phrase as totally distinct
from any danger of outbreak; of that there is none;
the measures of the Government have been taken,
their police have been judiciously stationed around
and among the disturbed districts, and the slightest
movement will be promptly and effectually put
down. The danger to be apprehended is of a dif-
ferent character, and partakes more of the nature
of a passive resistance, which the planters will find
it difficult to overcome. If, for instance, in the
course of the present week those heavy showers so
longed for at this season, and so necessary for the
cultivation of the indigo plant, were to fall, we
should then have an opportunity of testing the
real efficacy of the recent enactment. This is the
ordeal to which I refer. If the bill recently become
law stand this trial—if it induce the ryot to sow
after the showers, we may be sure that the Bengal
indigo districts will never again prove a source of
anxiety. Up to the point where we now stand the
bill has been successful ; it has put down agitation.
The question still remains whether:it is able to go a
step further, and compel those ryots who come
under its provisions to perform the contracts into
which they have entered with the planters. The
first heavy showers, now daily expected, will settle
this question. Some anxiety meanwhile is felt as
to the composition of the committee which is to con-
duct the investigation so loudly demanded by both
parties. On this point a pretty general confidence
is felt in the impartiality of Government, and it is
believed that it will be formed of men who have ex-
pressed no decided opinions on one side or the other.
" Mr. Wilson's Income-tax Bill was to have been
read a second time last Saturday ; the debate was
looked forward to with some interest, as there were
rumours of amendments on various minor points,
At the last moment, however, the sitting was post-
poned, and an extraordinary meeting of the Execu-
tive Council summoned instead. It is probable that
whatever differences of opinion might have existed
on various points of detail were settled on this oc-
casion, and it is as well. Meeting the Legislative
Assembly united, the Supreme Council can always
practically dictate its own terms; it is only in the
event of union among the members of the Executive
that opposition could prove successful. There is
not the smallest chance of this on the present occa-
sion. Mr. Wilson's measures are as safe as though
they were already law. European public opinion
has been strongly pronounced in their favour, and
they have from their very breadth and fairness suc-
ceeded in upsetting the prejudices of many of the
natives. The opposition, for instance, of the zemin-
dars is not nearly so pronounced as might have been
expected. These men, those in Bengal especially,
regarded the settlement of Lord Cornwallis as their
constitution,' or their charter; they considered
that the imposition of taxation was a breach of that
charter, and was essentially illegal. In the face,
however, of Mr. Wilson's logic, and of his stern array
of facts and figures, they have not been able to main-
tain this position. They have felt the necessity of
marching- onwards, and, though still unwilling to ,
give up the point entirely, they are ready to give a '
sensible and practical answer to those who may be ap-
pointed collectors by Government. Mr. Wilson has
ample opportunities of making himself acquainted
with the views of this important class. Not a Bengalee
newspaper is published of which he does not receive
an accurate translation, and as the Bengalees, with
a boldness which shows their complete confidence
in the justice of our Government, express their views
in these papers in very strong language, never hesi-
tating to condemn by name those members of the
Administration whom they conceive worthy of
blame, Mr. Wilson is thus enabled to obtain, as he
legislates, the surest knowledge of the effect which
his measures will produce on the minds of this por-
tion of the community. In connection with these
Zemindars I may mention that the proceedings of
the ryots about 15 days back had filled them with
alarm. They were quick-witted enough to know
that repudiation of advances, if successfully accom-
plished, would inevitably lead to repudiation of
rent. In the petition which they made to the Lieut.-
Governor on this question they dropped their usual
formula of hostility to the indigo planter, and asked
for the preservation of order—a phrase which in
this case could only mean the enforced performance
of engagements.
"A curious forgery case, of surpassing interest to
our native fellow subjects, has recently been heard
in our Supreme Court. The principal defendant,
Sibkissen Baneijee, was a very wealthy native,
possessing property to the amount of £4,000 per
annum. He was accused of forging the signature
of his deceased brother to a will, in which he was a
legatee to the extent of nearly £15,000. his princi-
pal witness was a 1)r. Crawfurd, formerly an
apothecary in the army, a man of no very
creditable. reputation. A third, a native, one
Kunhye Lall, was also concerned in the matter
as an accessory before the fact. There had
previously been a civil stilt to try the validity