The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-03 00:00:00

PUBLIC HEALTH.

Lord EBRINGTON expressed a iiopa that hon. mem-
bers would not hurry out of town in reference to their
own health, while the bills in reference to the public
health and local management referring to the health a
the country generally, ware yet to be considered.
SCOTCH UNIVERSITIES.
Mr. WALPOLE said, if auy conFiderable progress
should be made in committee on the India Bill on Monday
evening, he hoped to be able on that evening to go on with
the Scotch Universities Bill; and if not, he hoped they
would be able to go on with the bill on Tuesday.
The motion for adjournment was then withdrawn.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

The house then resolved itself into committee on the
Government of India Bill.
On clause 19, relating to the duties of the council,
Mr. VERNON SMITH referred to the manner in which
matters were carried on by tho Secret. Crmamittee of the
Court of Directors, and said, iu his winion, it would bo
better to adopt the words of the act rJi 1853, which referred
to the department of the Secrets': y of State.
Lord STANLEY said the right hon. gentleman mis-
apprehended the clause., for its only object was to point
out the duties respectively of the Secretary of State t.nd
the council, in connection with the correspondence.
Col. SYKES asked if the noble lord intended that a
despatch should have the signature of the Secretary of
State only?

Lord STANLEY—The Secretary of State only.
After a few words from Mr. WILLOUGHBY, tho clause
was agreed to.

On clause 20 being proposed, empowering the Secretary
of State to divide the council into committees,
Sir E. PERRY objected to the clause. He 'thought that
every member of the committee should be prohibited from
any connection with banking or mercantile business of any
kind whatever.
Lord STANLEY said that no absolute rule was laid
down, but it was expected that the members should give
up to the business of the council as much of their time as
was deemed necessary.
Mr. V. SMITH thought the question a most important
one, and the answer to it not at all satisfactory. If these
committees were occupied daily, they would not have much
time for other matters;. but a minute ought to be made on
the subject if words to the purpose could not be put into
the act. He suggested also that instead of the business
being divided into six, it should bo rather into three de-
partments.

Lord STANLEY said the rule the house agreed to was,
that the Minister should make the first arrangement, and
then the council should regulate for themselves. With
respect to a minute being made, they could not do so before-
hand, and before they knew what would be absolutely
necessary.
Col. SYKES thought the Secretary of State would have
a right to expect that a majority of the council should at-
tend daily, and they would find plenty of business to tran-
sact.
The clause_wats then agreed to. _ _

On clause 21 being proposed, appointing the president
chairman of the council, and, in his absence, the vice-
president,
Sir E. COLEBROOK moved to insert the words, " or
in the absence of the secretary, a member chosen by them-
selves."
Mr. AYRTON thought the alteration totally unneces-
sary, but be suggested that, in the absence of the Secretary
of State, the under-secretary should fill his place.
The amendment was then negatived without a division.
The clause, as amended, was agreed to, as were also
clauses 2:3, 24, 25, and 26.

On clause 27 being proposed,
Sir G. C. LEWIS said this clause proposed to renew, in
a varied form, the powers of the secret committee. If the
proposed council were to consist of a smaller number he
should have no objection to the abolition of a Buret com-
mittee. It ought to be distinctly understood, however,
that the powers of the secret committee would not be
strained, and that it should be as 'Attie resorted to as pos-
sible.

Mr. It. D. MANGLES said the Government of India had
the power of communicating with the secret committee on
any subject whatever und,r the act of 1633. The effect of
this had been very mischievous; for matters which all the
world might have known with advantage had been kept
secret, and perhaps, the house did not know that for some
years after the conquest cf Scinde the government of that
province was under the secret committee, the Court of Di-
rectors knowing no more about it than did the Emp:ror of
Russia. (Hear, hear.) He believed that the Court of Di-
rectors had shown themselves as competent to keep their
secret;; a any Cabinet of her Majesty's .ilverunient was,
whether Whig or Conservative. His opinion was that if
there were anything worth keeping secret, it would bo so
kept by the council, if properly elected.
Mr. AYRTON said they seemed called upon to take a
Course on the present occasion, in reference to the secret
committee, calculated in its nature to censure the Court
of Directors in recalling tho Earl of Ellenberough, an act
which he thought was a very wise and a very proper one.
He thought it necessary that they should now define whe-
ther the Secretary of State should have the power of send-
ing out any despatch which he should wt bo bound to
communicate to the secret committee without the notice
laid down iu the 21st clause. He therefore begged to sub.