The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-17 00:00:00

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BILL.

The adjourned debate on this bill was adjourned till
Thursday.
Lord PALMERSTON said the hon. member for Shef-
field had consented to give way on that day that it might
be brought on, and the noble lord expressed a hope that
other hon. members would do the same.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the house adjourned at ten minutes to 1 o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY COMIIIITTEES.

TRANSPORT OF TRf )OPS AND STORES TO

INDIA.
Yesterday the select committee of the House of Corn
mans met for the first time to inquire as to the transport
of troops and stores to India (appointed on the motion of
Sir De Lacy Evans). The committee consists of Sir De
Lacy Evans (in the chair), Lord Godorich, Sir J. Paking-
ton, Lord Stanley, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Danby Seymour,
Mr. Osborne, Captain Vivian, Mr. Horsman, Mr. Wil-
loughby, Sir E. Colebrooke, Mr. Byng, and Sir J. Elphin-
stone.

Mr. P. Melvin, Secretary to the Military Department of
the East India House, was called as the first witness. He
said that in February last year, there was a deficiency of
about 5,000 men. There had been a number of men with-
draswn in 1854, and remonstrances had been addra,,sed to
Lord Dalhousie on the subject. The events in the North
Western Provinces, including the outbreak at Meant, oc-
curred on the 10th of May, and as the communication by
telegraph was then complete, the intelligence would be re-
ceived by Lord Canuing and Lord Elphiustone the follow-
ing day. Lord Canning sent word that he did not con-
sider it necessary to send oat a steamer. The news was
received by the Court of Directors on the 27th June, and
immediately the directors asked her Majesty's government
to place at their disposal 4 regiments to be sent out, in ad-
dition to 4 regiments of infantry and 2 cavalry regiments
which were then on their way. The Board of Control in-
stantly acquiesced in the application. Lord Canning lost 10
days by nut despatching a steamer with the news. Ever
since 1854 there had been a deficiency of European troops in
India, and the government promised to make up the defi-
ciency as soon as possible. The troops were sent out by
sailing ships, because it was considered there was not suffi-
cient depots of coals at Mauritius and other places to
facilitate the journey by steam vessels. It was decided to
sent out four regiments of infantry in June ; but two of
those regiments were intended to supply the deficiency of
two regiments withdrawn during the war in the Crimea.
That was the time the Court of Directors first thooght it
necessary to increase the force, They were not sent away
for ton days after the time appointed. No communications
had taken place between him and the Court of Directors
as to sending our troops by the overland route. It was
always the practise to send out troops by sailing vessels,
except in one case where they had to send out a steamer
to ply between Madras and Calcutta, and as it was empty.
they used to send out a body of 300 troops by it, but that
was completely au exceptional case. A remonstrance was
made in .854 against the withdrawal of troops from India
for the Crimea. When the demand was made for more
troops in June, the Government of India were informed
that they might retain the troops that ware about to be
relieved. The 29th of June was the first day when the
East India Company reeeived a demand for additional
troops. The chief reason why troops were sent by sailing
ships was the difference of expense; the difference be-
tween steam and sailing ships was 501. and 101, a man.
There was a deficiency of two regiments in 1854, and they
were not replaced 6111557. The troops were not withdrawn
from the Crimea until the end of 1856, for although the
peace with Russia occurred in August, the treaty of Paris
was not signed until the end of the year. It would have
been unwise to send out troops in the winter, as they would
arrive in India at an unhealthy season. Under ordinary
circumstances, the latest period that troops should be sent
out to Bengal would be in August. Lord Elphinstone
offered to Lord Canning to send a steamer to Aden to
catch the previous steamer, so that the vessel might have
brought the news to England of the outbreak of the mutiny
in India, but Lord eloping declined to employ it, as it
would have been attended with the expenses of 4001. or
500/. Six requisitions were made by the Court of Dim-
tore to the Board of Control for additional regiments to be
sent to India. .No delay had occurred in making these
requisitions, and three of them were made entirely by
the Court, of Directors without any application for them
from India. There was delay in complying with those
requisitions on the part of the India Board. In February
the number of European troops in India was 40,030, and
they were then short of 5,000 men. About 4.000 men were
withdrawn from. Persia. Up to the 29th of June, he, as
Secretary to the Military Department of the East India
Company, felt no anxiety about the mutiny. No part of
the force sent to Persia was withdrawn from Bengal. A
letter was addressed by the Board of Directors to the Board
of Control, on the 31st of August, respecting the convey-
ance of troops by the overland route. There was no dan-
ger in sending out troops in September or October, but it
was considered desirable generally that troops should get
there in the cold weather, so that the: might become ac-
climated before the hot weather set in. Witness could not
say when they first began to make arrangements for send-
ing troops through Egypt, as that did not come within his
department; but he knew that they began to make ar-
rangements for sending them by the overlan 1 route in Sep-
tember, and that route had been partially adopted since.
He did not consider that it would have been prudent to
send troops from the Crimea to India, as they would hare
arrived there in a disordered state, and would have arrived
to be equipped. There was always a deficiency of 1,000
men at that particular Beeson. At the time of the outbreak
in India there was a deficiency of 8,000 men.
Mr. Mason, Secretary to' the Marino Department of the
East India-house, said, with reference to the employment
of steam-vessels in the transport of troops to India, it was
decided on the Ist of July that two regiments should go out
by clipper sailing ships and two regiments by screw-
steamers. He vindicated generally the arrangements which
had been made by the Company in connection with her
Majesty's Government, but stated that as there was but a
small supply of coal at the depots it was not considered
safe to send troops in any great numbers by steam-ships.
The committee then adjourned.

[ADVERNISIDMIT.j— SIGHT AND HEARING -- SpECTACLES--
POWERFUL TELESCOPES - OPERA, RACE, AND PEESPECTIVF
GLessas.—S. and B. Solomene, opticians, 39, Albemarle-
street, Piccadilly. Obs.yrve—opposite the York Hotel, W.
By her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and ex-
traordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant
Telescopes, Camp, Race-COHrSO, Opera, and Perspective
Glasses, to know the distances. These Telescopes possess
such extraordinary power that some, three and a-half inches,
with au extra eye-piece will show distinctly Jupiter's moons,
Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope
can be seen a person's countenance three-and-a-half miles
distant and an object from 16 to 20 miles. For the waist-
coat-pocket, and are of larger, and all sizes, with increasing
powers
accordingly. ' The Royal Exhibition, 1851. —A valu-
able, newly-invented, very small, powerful, Waistcoat-pocket
Glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person can be glen and
known one and a-half mile distant. They answer every pur•
pose on the Race-course and at the Opera-houses. Country
scenery and ships are clearly seen at 12 to 14 miles. They
arc invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to
sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera
•
Camp, Perspective, and Race-course Glasses, with wonderful
powers. - Invaluable preserving Spectacle Lenses of the
greatest transparent power. The great advantage derived
from this invention is, that vision impaired becomes pre-
served and strengthened and very aged persons are enabled
to employ their sight at the most minute occupation—can see
with those lenses of a muck loss magnifying power—and
they do not require the frequent changes to the dan.
garous effects of fnrtber powerful assistance. Persons
can be suited at the mos# remote part of the world by send.
ing one of the glasses out of their spectacles in a letter, and
stating the distmee from the eye they can read small print
with it, and those who have not made use of spectacles by
stating their age. Deafness.—New Discovery.—The Organic
Vibrator, an extraordinarily powerful, small, newly-invented
instrument for deafness, entirely different from all of aers,
surpassing anything of the kind that has been, or prob slal)
can be, produced. Being of the same colour as the skin, it
not perceptible, It enables deaf persons to hear distinct ly a'
church and at public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensation el
singing noises in the ears is entirely removed, and it afl ards
all the assistance that possibly could bo desired.-39. A Ike-
naarle-street, Piccadilly —Opposite the York Hotel, W, I