The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-08 00:00:00

TRANSPORT OF TROOPS TO INDIA.

The following is the report of the select commit-
tee appointed to inquire concerning the measures
resorted to, or which were available, and as to the
lines of communication adopted.for reinforcing our
army. during the ,pending revolt . in India, and to
report thereon to the house, with a view to ascer-
tain the arrangements which should be made to-
wards meeting any future important emergencies
involving the security of our Eastern dominions :
"1. That the inquiry which this committee has been
appointed to conduct may be divided into three branches ;
and first, relating to the overland route to India ; the se-
cond, to the employment of steamers, as compared with
sailing vessels, for the transport of troops round the Cape
of Good Hope; and the third, to the use made during the
mutiny of the military resources of this country and of the
colonies.
"2. That the Court of Directors appear from the first
intelligence of the mutiny at Meerut to have been sensible
of the advantages of the overland route, and to have lost
no time in recommending its adoption ; but that political
and other'considerations deterred her Majesty's Ministers
from at onco assenting to that recommendation.
"3. That the committee cannot judge of the validity of,
those political objections, as they felt themselves precluded
from inquiring into them; but that they ceased to prevail
in the first week of Sept., when the more serious character
of the war and the lateness of the season for ships depart-
ing for Calcutta led to a formal requisition from the Court
of Directors, and to a compliance with it on the part of the
Cabinet.
4. That it would have been desirable, independently
of political considerations, to take advantage of the over-
land route at the earliest possible period, and apart from
such considerations it is much to be regretted that the steps
that were taken in Sept. to transmit small bodies of troops
by this route were not resorted to at an earlier date. That
the transport, however, of any large body of troops would
have required previous arrangements, and that the
evidence laid before the committee leaves great room to
doubt whether any considerable reinforcements could have
been sent in the months of July and August, with a pro-
spect of their arrival in India so far in advance of those sent
round the Cape as to give any great advantage in favour of
this route.

"5. That although the overland route may be advanta-
geously employed in times of emergency, it would not be
advisable that it should be relied upon as the ordinary route
for the transmission of troops to India.
"G. That if steamers had been used in greater numbers,
the reinforcements would have reached India more quickly
than they did by sailing vessels ; but that no evidence has
been laid before the committee to show that at the time the
emergency arose a greater amount of steam transport was
attainable, while it' has been shown that grave doubts
existed whether the supply of coal on the route would have
been sufficient foirl larger nUmber of steam-vessels than
--were - actual I employed.
" 7. That steamers should'for the futura be always made
use of, as far as possible, in urgent cases; but tbat for the
transmission of the ordinary reliefs the committee would
not recommend the adoption of so costly a mode of transport.
" 8. That the Governors of Ceylon and the Mauritius
gave early and valuable assistance to the Government of
India, and deserve groat praise for the meal and promptitude
with which they acted ; that the Governor of the Cape,
without loss of time, forwarded treasure and horses,
together with a portion of the troops at his disposal, but
that ho did not send the whole amount of the force which
he was instructed by the Rome Government to transmit to
India • that the committee have nut the means of judging
whether the circumstances of the colony did or did not
justify Sir George Grey in taking this course.
"9. That the committee observe with satisfaction that
the people of Canada displayed great readiness to afford as-
sistance to the mother country, and that the committee ale
of opinion that it is highly desirable to give every' encou-
ragement to such demonstrations of loyalty on the part of
the color ies.
" 10. That on the whole, considering the suddenness of
the danger, and the distance to which the troops were to
bs sent, the committee are of opinion chat great credit is
due to the Court of Directors of the East India Company
for the promptitude and efficiency with which they die
charged the difficult task of transmitting reinforcements to
the army in India during the past year."
The report is dated July 1. It gave rise to seve-
ral divisions. Cant. Vivian moved an amendment
which would have indirectly censured the conduct
of Governor Grey, of the Cape of Good Hope, for
not sending the whole amount of troops to India
that he was required to do ; but this was negatived
by 7to 2 votes. There was 4140 a diVisiOU on the
motion to thank the East India directors for their
" promptitude and efficiency ;" which was carried
by 8 to 4. The conduct of the Government was also
the subject of discussion, and the expression of re-
gret, in paragraph 4, was only carried 1,57 a majori, y
of 1, on a very full division.

CRYST4D PALACE.--ONE SgILLINik PAT, We4negday:
July 7.—Aumissious on payment, 5,810 ; ditto, by
Beam ticket-, 631 ; total visitors,