The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-29 00:00:00

.EN1..17'40 3-A.N:UARY ••%15
-18
9,

TPANY,

EAST 1

ng Mr. Crawshay's reselution. He entered fully into
ho question of patronage, giving instances condernea-
(The following appeared in our late Edition of last night.) foxy of the Board of Directors. Referring to the
The fourth debate on Mr. Crawshay's resolution
Board of - C,ntrol he said Indian affairs could not
be entrusted to a worse president than the one now at
relative to the proposed change in the future Govern- the head of the Board of Control, who* qualifications for
ment of India, was resumed this morning. Mr. R. the office was his being the best dressed man in London.
Mangles, M.P., in the chair. At a quarter to 5 o'click Mr Sergeant Gazseep
Dr. BEATTIE opened the debate. He stated ho had moved an adjournment, which, on a show of hands, was
had considerable experience in India, and complained lost.
Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE then rose to address the
that the bible had not been made a class book in the Court, informing them he should oocupy their time a
Indian schools as it ought to have been ; and the want of considerable period ; and proceeded to state his objec-
encouragement of Christianity by the Company's ser. timee to the petition, fir.t observing that it was not
vents. (Hear.) He, however, strongly deprecated the properly before the meeting, no notice having been given
proposed change. (Hear.) He approved of the present e-irits hack to thena.-cideratio
n.
Courtge thatof
dtora f
the petition be
referred .
Jr re-consideia
mode of Government, and said that no patronage was tion.
more fairly distributed than that of the East India The CHAIRMAN then put the question, and the pati-
Company, contrasting it with the recent Government tion was adopted, both amendments being negatived.
appointment of Lord G. Paget, Inspector of Cavalry. The meeting steeply after separated.
(Hear, hear.) He contended that the East India
Company's government had been advantageous to
the people of India, and instanced the Con-
ctruction of public works, the roads, canals, &c., &c.
He hoped the petition would be adopted as that of the
whole proprietary body, &c. (Hear, hear.) He could
not too strongly denounce the proposition of change as
one fraught with the greatest possible danger to the

BAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST.
[A portion of tho following appeared in our late edition
of lAA evening :]—
The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this
undertaking was held this day at the Bridge House
Hotel. Leo Schuster, Esq., occupied the chair.
The report, which has already appeared in The Sun,
having been taken as read,
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said the proprietors would see by it that the capital
had nearly been exhausted in order that works that could
not be any longer delayed might be undertaken, and
they had also had recourse to the suspense account, but
the shareholders might rest assured that the utmost
economy would be still carried on. The Lewes
station was one of the causes that could not be
delayed, and in consequence of the growing traffic
at that point it was found that the alterations proposed
amounted to nearly an entire rebuilding of the station.
At the Lewes station trains arrived daily from London,
Brighton, Newhaven, and Hastings ; to each of those
places trains also left, and it was to accommodate
this great amount of traffic that the alterations had
become absolutely necessary. In a very short
time they would have at this station, in addition
to the traffic he had mentioned, that arriving
at Uckfield, and he felt sure the shareholders would
agree with him that the improvements that
had been executed were-absolutely necessary. The next
point in the report that called for notiee en hispart, and
It was a most agreeab'e one, was their debenture debt.
It was a well-known fact that during 1857, they had
gone through a crisis, and money was not to be had
under 6i per cent., but at the present moment the rate
of interest paid by the company was only 41. 35., and
it was also satisfactory to state that not a single mort-
gage bond had been renewed at any increased rate, The
report did not shays- the usual increase in the revenue
account, but it was -satisfactory to know that this was
not occasioned by any actual falling off of the ordinary
traffic, but arose entirely from the cessation of the
great traffic which bad been carried on during the Cri-
mean war, The goods traffic shows a deficiency ; but,
looking to all things, it was satisfactory to find that this
circumstance had not arisen from a falling off, but from
the stopping of building operations in their immediate
district. They had no large manufactories in their iin.
mediate locality, and therefore they could not expect to
derive a vary large revenue from such a source, (Hear,
hear.) It is satisfactory to find that the expenditure had
not increased, although they had largely increased the
number of trains, and reduced the amount of fares and
periodical tickets. The only item of increase was—and
he was sorry to say it—in tax Alen. The amount
actually paid ty the company in
tax, income
This
paysil:dividend of Si per cant,
tax, amounted to no less a
heavy payment took off considerably from the amount
might soon arrive at
divisible for dividend. To
it took 130,0001., so the meeting
how much each had to pay for taxes. The company
would have to go again to Parliament to oppose the
scheme certain parties attempted to coerce them into
leasing ; it was a line commencing at Godalming and
terminating at Havant, and called the Portsmouth Rail-
way. He really did not know why it was called the
Portsmouth Railway, but this he knew that they did not
feel called upon to lease the line. (Rear.) The company
called themselves an independent company, and he called
upon them to act independently. They had made the
line, why not work it themselves. (Hear, hear.)
Let them bring their traffio to our line and we
will carry it on on advantageous terms. (Hear, bear.)
He felt confident as to the result of the contest, for he
was sure that Parliament would never sanction such a
theft and inroad on the privileges of any company.
(Hear, hear.) He would next allude to an object of
vital importance to the shareholders. They had a very
excellent station at London-bridge, which accommodated
' the City traffic, but they had no accommodation for the
traffic west of Temple-bar. The directors had constantly
been looking out for a west-end station, and we now
had an opportunity of crossing the Thames, and accord-
ingly, after mature deliberation, the directors had
accepted an offer which had been made to 'them by a
company for constructing a railway, commencing on the
south side of the river at Battersea, crossing the Thames
and terminating at the Grosvenor basin, situated at the
end of Victoria-street, Westminster. The
proposed sta-
tion will be called the Victoria station, and it
e would be
situated in the centre of the western part of
longth
felt by
metro-
polis, and the want of which had ber S o
the company would be accomplished. Lookingpossaestsitohne
immense advantage to be
derived
•n io lishecfrlom
the
of a West-end terminus, the directors had no hesitation in
recommending the adoption the scheme. The arrange-
talents made, subject to
rproprietors,
is, that the bridge overthet he se terminus,Thames,anctionofs theh the line
shall
of
be vested
and the necessary site for th
in this
bridge
the f
a prom ottnhe
,i te rs,
purpose of constructing
reserving
way over the
station on such portion of the site as would not be
required by the Brighton Company. It was also further
agreed that the Brighton Company should not be called
upon to bear any of the preliminary or parliamentary
expenses. Compared with the advantages to be eerived
from the possession of a West-end terminus at Pimlico,
he thought the cost was extremely small. After a few
other observations the hon. gentleman resumed his seat
by moving the adoption of the report.
Mr. SCOTT, deputy-chairman, seconded the motion.
Mr. ASHMORE said the report stated that it was the
intention of the directors to make a railway to connect
Steyning, Henfield, and West Grinstead, with Shore-
ham and Horsham. Now he thought that such a
line would be anything but remunerative,: and he
therefore moved that that part be omitted.
Mr. ADDISON seconded the amendment.
After a short discussion the amendment was put to
the meeting and negatived.
Mr. BELL asked whetter the parties connected with
the Victoria-station and Pamlico Railway were substan-
tial parties
The CHAIRMAN said the law officers had been in com-
municetion with Mr. Kelk, a gentleman of the highest
respectability, and the other parties promoting the rail.
way. They had seen the agreement entered into with
the marquis of Westminster, which fully proved teat
the parties were empowered to go on with the works,
which it was considered would greatly improve the pro-
perty in the neighbourhood.
After a short discussion, the report was put to the
meeting and carried.
A formal resolution, empowering the directors to carry
out the works mentioned in the report, fir the payment
of the dividend of 3e per cent, for the half-year, and the
retiring directors having been re-elected, the proceedings
terminated, after some oppisition on the part of Capt.
Young, who. moved a resolution for the discontinuance
of the Sunday and excursion ',raffle, which WAS rejected,
with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
ff- I

true interests of the natives of India. He should cor-
dially support the petition.
Mr. PRINSEP (director) denied that the Rest India
Company had discouraged the spread of Christianity
in India. Their reason for not having urged it more
forcibly was that they wished to extend to the natives
the same religious toleration that was enjoyed by the
Christians, and also out of respect to their religious
prejudices. (Hear, hear.) On the day of humiliation
the sermons of all the preachers in this metropolis laid
the blame of the mutiny to the East India Company, in
consequence of circulars previously sent round to them
from the Church Missionary Society to that elbeot—a
society that had been especially favoured by the
company in India, but he had reason to know the
contents of the circular did not meet with the concurrence
of the bishops in India, because they could not agree in
its assertions. He contended the company had done all
they could to develop the resources of India. The
company was a responsible body,being responsible both
to Parliament and the people through the medium of
the press. He cancluded by defending the conduct of
Lord Auckland, relative to the Affghan war, and throw
the whole blame of it on her Majesty's Government.
11jr. WHITE, took that opportunity, as a pro-
prietor of stock, of expressing his firm approval of Mr.
Crawshay's motion.
The CHAIRMAN then addressed the Court at some
length, in the course of which he asked for a searching
inquiry on the part of the Government, before making
the proposed change. It was to be expected errors had
been committed, but when their administration had been
examined, and inquired into, he felt certain it would be
found, in the words of Mr. Mill, the Indian. historian,
" that no Government had ever manifested more dis-
interested benevolence or an earnest desire to improve
the condition of its subjects than had the East India
Government, and the black spots to be discovered
would be but few." (Hear, hear.) He directed atten-
tion to memorials received from several Rajahs in
India, in favour of the present government, and expressed
an opinion that the proposed change had been ill-timed
The hon. gentleman read documents received recently
from India. One of them was from Mr. Grant, President
of Benares, denying that he had pardoned any one Or
had committed the errors attributed to him. His object
in reading the letter was in illustration of the state of
public feeling that could alone have led to the concoction
of many of the extraordinary stories that had been put firth
He had always considered two points were necessary for
the Government of India, first, that absolute authority
should be in the hands of imperial authority ; and,
secondly, that by some means or other there should be
a body of advisers—a non-political body—(hear)—a4
independent body—to stand between the Indian and the
independent
he knew
new of
direct action of the Home Government. It was
essentialparty change
that
or party its should be e a body
a
politics,
none better than the Board of Directors. Referring to
the remarks that had been made by previous speakers,
hesaid that the Court of Directors concurred with the
Government in the annexation of Oude, but he thought
that was not sufficient to dissolve the company, seeing
the Government was a pareicelis eriiniKis, but he believed,
with Sir J. Lawrence, that that was nut the cause of the
mutiny. It could not be laid down too clearly that, in
the Government of India in this country, proselytism
was not the business of the Government. He denied the
charges that had been brought against the Company
with reference to patronage, and enumerated many of
the illustrious men who had been connected with the
Company's service, as a proof that that " nepotism"
ranks
snot the general impression of the public, from whose
their army and officers were drawn* After some
man concluded further remarks the hon. gentle
for the by asking
proprietors' support and co; - currence in the
directors' petition.
After a few remarks from Mr. Browns, relative to the
spread cf Christianity in India,
Colonel RATIIIORNE asked the chairman to explain
the rights and privileges of the East India Company
that would be affeeted by the transfer of the power to
the Crown. He thought they surrendered their rights
and privileges in 1833.
Mr,-MILLS-The right of meeting here and electing
directors. Two most important rights. There were also
territorial rights which they possessed.
Mr. J. P. WILLOUGHIfft M.P., (director), signed the
petition, and concurred in its prayer. As a nominee of
the Government he did not, on becoming a director,
surrender his independence, and he should in parliament,
and at that Board, take such a course as he considered
beneficial to the interests of India. He thought the time
taken for the proposed change would act as a premium
for mutiny in India, and if this measure be carried,
advantage would be taken of it as a sign of
weakness. He approved of the policy that
had been pursued in India, especially with regard to
religion. He thought they had done right iu giving
religious toleration, instead of forcing Christianity on
the natives. Ile read a letter he had received from the
Archbishop of Dublin, approving the course that had
been adopted by the Government of India with reference
to Christianity in India, and deprecated the charges that
had been brought against it on that head. He would
not then enter into the question of patronage
otherwise than to say , that it was honestly exer-
cised by the Boatel, and every widow and orphan's
chtiins were justly met. The Court here never inter-
fered with appointments in India, but left it to the local
goverrinieet there, a course that would probabl / be
changed when the barrier of that house was withdrawn.
He denied that this was a national mutiny, but purely
a military one.
Mr. CRAWSHA.Y then- replied. He considered the
predieposing cause of the mutiny was the Affghan war.
He entered at great length into the various Arguments that
had been used by the different speakers, and after
quoting at great length from documents in support of
his own views and the resolution he had proposed to ti e
meeting, and referred to the garbled despatches of Sir
A. Burnes by th 4 Government as a pretext for the the
shun war, said they deserved puni-hinent for the
nefarious act as much as any culprit brought to the bar
of justice. It was no less au offence than forgery. The
great blot on the Government of Lord Dalhousie was the
annexation of Oude, which be leoked on as a crime, and
he felt certain that the English people also looked
upon it as a crime; and it had had a great share
in producing the danger with which they were cur-
rounded. The sepoye principally came from Oude, sad it
was natural they should be attached to the old dynasty.
Toe only means of escaping from their difficulties was
to do justice to Oude, the same as they had been obliged
to do to Affghanistan, A great advantage to India
would result in their making that Court a Parliament
as it were for India, where Indian matters could be de-
cided on with authority. It would confer great benefit
to the people of England, amid be the means of diffu-ing
information iu England of which the inhabitants and even
members of Parliarueut were ignorant. It only wanted
courage—the stout hearts of old as spoken of by Mr.
Mills. He called upon the board and proprietors to
resist the proposed Government change.
The resolution was then put and carried, two hands
only being held up against.
The CHAIRMAN then moved the adoption of the peti-
tion to be presented to Parliament.
Sir F. COERIE (deputy-chairman) seconded the motion.
Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE said the petition ignored ail
mention of the proprietors, and sugested that the
directors and the proprietors should each have their
own petition the same as in Pitt's time.
Mr. JONES moved an additional clause to the petition
relative to the appointment of a council for India. He
also suggested some verbal alterations, but as he could
find no seconder, the amendment fell to the ground.
Mr. LEWIN proposed an amendment on the ground
that the petition was opposed to the facts. India had
been acquired at the cost of England's honour. He
denied that this was a military mutiny, and his opinion
was borne out by the facts that had come to the know-
ledge of the publio. He then referred to the different
p ira,graphs in the petition to which he objected, and
entered into a consideration of them, with the assistance
of numerous documents, from weich he read extracts.
His remarks bad reference more partieulai ly to the
company's rule in India, which had not been so perfeci,
as sated in the. petition. Ho moved an amendment that
the petition 'Wag con' 'try to the facts, and ought not to
be a lopte,t by the Ceurt.
Mr. INUKEisZIE ecended the amendment,
Mr. Sergea, t GAZELEE
interrupted (4 o'clock), anti
said he had an amendment to move. It would reels him
a considerable time to move it, and he aske d for an ad-
journment of the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said it was of the utmost importance
to India that the meeting should be brought to a close
that night. He and the directors were willing to sit on
till that was accomplished.
Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE moved the adjournment. of the
debate, but as no proprietor seconded the molun, it fell
to the ground.
Mr. APICENZIE then proceeded to address the meet:
ing, opening up the whole of the question, and referring
to, and repeating most of the arguments used in discus-