The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-13 00:00:00

MAGISTRATES FOR BELFAST.

Mr. DlA7SYTsice7ltirChiefSecretary for Ireland,
whether it was the intention of the Irish Government to
carry into effect that portion of the report of the Belfast
Commissioners, in which they recommended that soma
Roman Catholics should be appointed magistrates for
the borough of Belfast/
Lord NAAS said the hon. and learned gentleman was
in error in supposing it was intended to appoint magis-
trates for the borough of Belfast. The magistrates who
noted in Belfast borough were appointed solely by the
Lord-Lieutenant.

REINFORCEMENTS FOR INDIA.
Mr. WYLD asked the Secretary of the Board of Con-
trol if despatches had been recently received from Sir
Colin Campbell asking urgently for immediate reinforce-
ments
If the Court of Directors of the East India
Company bad declined for the present to provide trans-
ports fur the troops which the military authorities had
reported to be ready for embarkation ?
Mr. H. BAILLIE said such questions as this might
lead to serious public inconvenience if persisted in. (Hear. )
He, ho wever,ehould answer the question. No despatch had
been received from Sir C. Campbell for immediate rein-
forcements, nor had the East India Company refused to
furnish transports for any troops that were required for
Mr. WYLD gave notice that he would repeat the
question in another shape on a future day.
RESIGNATION OF LORD ELLENBOROUGH.
Lord A. V. TEMPEST asked the Chancellor of
the Exchequer whether the resignation of Lord Ellen-
borough bad been his own spontaneous act—(laughter)
—or whether it was partly attributable to the directly
or indirectly expressed wish of the Government that the
noble lord should resign—(laughter)—and whether it
was the intention of the Government to adopt
the views conveyed in the despatch of the Secret
Committee to the Governor-General in Council,
19th April, 1858, or whether it was the intention of the
Government to accept the policy laid down in the pro-
elamation of the Governor-General of India, dated•Alla-
babad, March 14, 1858 (Hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, in
reply to the second question, that he thought, upon re-
-1,!on, the house would agree with him that the in-
quiries contained in it involved more the nature of a
resolution than the scope of a question, and
136 was desirable of obtainin information, he
f
t!uggested to the noble lord gthat it would br
better for himbeto pursue
d that course that the que3-
tion might ebateel.. The second question
he thought was answered in the frank al.(' generous
speech of Lord Ellen glannouncing his resignation
in another place. (Rear.) a perusal of that speech
othfethneobcfreolworedwavesoubldetflanwcatrheajefetven the First Minister
had been lahiedresignation of Lord
Ellen borough until it
at the foot of her
tahnaol!,,r of the
that
Majesty—(bear, hear)—and he (the
b
.Exchequer) had no doubt the motion'
the noble lord, though not unconstitutional, was rather
influenced
unusual; but bad those who had the honour of
lately the noble lord's colleague 3 been aware of hise
in-
tention, the great regard. for his personal qualities,
and admiration of his genius', would
. have induced Oleo',
unanimously to have requested him to have withdrawn
his resignation. (Loud cheers.)
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'3 PROCLA-
MATION.
Mr, NEWDEGATE asked the sight hon. member for
ITortbas spton, whether the late Government received
any intimation of Lord Canning's intention to issue such
a proclam stion as that addressed to the chiefs and inha-

~~ ~ ~ .

bitants of Oude which was sow before Parliament, or
that proclamation ; whether the late Government were
consulted by Lord Canning as to the policy of issuing
Quell a I)*,.‘c4a.v,%ti". or of any meaetire for
tee same pu. p,llt ; It tie lee Government
were thus inform ed or coneuited, at what. period
their attention was first called to the subject, and what
were the dates and nature of the communications be-
tween the late Government and the Government of
India thereon 3
Mr. V. SMITH said he should be most happy to
ifhwoauss eallwudoeudldto n
bd
uu
tl
suchhina
answerwith a n the
el p aune as tt nn of w thhaetif
ea
eceodui sge
of
twerehe choonut
sr
ea,r y
he two
ut hl
proesgtuploant ed e
it order
till
he of po
motion
r-
of adjournment to-morrow.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXC HEQUE R. —I think
it would be much more convenient.
Mr. V. SMITH—Then I will postpone it. (Loud
,e No, no," "Go on, go on.") The question, so
cfarires of
as he was concerned, would be answered. He re-
ceived a letter from the Governor-General of India, dated
March 6 ; but before answering the question, it was
necessary to inform the house that the mode of commu-
nication adopted by the Governor General of India was
either through the Court of Directors, the Secret Com-
mittee of that body, or privately to the President of the
Board of Control, the latter being the most confidential
of all. He was prepared admit in the fullest sense that
every ex-Minister, or any one, who heard anything ad-
vantageous or disadvantazeons to his country, was bound
to communicate to the Minister of the day, taking care
not to communicate anything of a private character
that would betray the confidence reposed in the
party. After leaving office, he communicated to Lord
Ellenborough a private letter of Lord Xlphinstone,
which the noble lord returned without inviting farther
comment ; and, as regarded Lord Canning, he stated
that his communications to him (Mr. V. Smith), from
their being private friends as well as public colleagues,
were not so reserved in his private communications as
they otherwise would have been. The communication
alluded to, and to which he thought undue impor-
tance was attached, was dated the 6th of March,
aad arrived in this country when be (Mr. Smith) was
absent in Ireland, and his reason for not communicating
it to the Government was that he did not attach much
importance to its contents. Amongst other things which
it contained of a private character, was a paragraph
stating that Lord Canning intended to issue a proclama-
tion addressed to the zemindars or landowners in Oude,
that would reach him officially by that mail, and that
his lordship had hoped to have accompanied it with a
full explanatory dispatch, but more urgent business had
prevented his doing so. That letter did not convey to
him (Mr. Smith) any explanation of the proclamation,
and in consequence be did not think it necessary that
he should have communicated thatletter to her Majesty's
Government. iCries of oh, oh.) There was no neces-
sity for hie informing the Earl of Ellenborough that he
(Mr. Smith) had heard privately that he had received
by that mail a public despatch from India, and to have
informed him that Lord Canning intended to send him
an explanatory despatch, which, for all he (Mr. V. Smith)
knew, never might be sent, would be a work of supere-
rogation. Such a communication to Lord Ellenborough
would have been not only useless, but impertinent.
Certainly Lord Ellenboroogh was the last man in the
world to whom he (,Ir. V. Smith) should wish to make
an impertinent communication—(" oh, oh," and hear,
hear - because he could only have communicated to
the noble lord that he (Mr. Smith) had received
a public despatch informing him that a proclamation
was about to be issued in Oude, but that such was his
sense of the noble lord's intemperance and irritation
—(Dries of Oh, oh, and Hear, hear)—that he considered
he was about to act on a proclamation, without waiting
for an explanation ; and if he had so communicated:,te
the noble lord, he thought that the noble lord
would have had cause to have justly pronounced it au
impertinent comwwnication. (Hear, and oh, oh.) The
noble lord knowing better than he (Mr. Smith) did the
mode of communication adopted between the
Governor-General of India and the Home
authorities, and as the Governor-General commu-
nicated with the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
when oases of importance arose, be (Mr. Smith) had a
right to suppose that the Fame mail that brought his
letter would have brought a communication of
the like kind from the Chairman of the Board
of Directors, with whom the noble lord was in
constant communication, and would have communicated
it to the noble lord if it bad been of importance. There
fore, looking at the communication, and the contents of
the letter generally, he considered he was justified in
not forwarding it to the noble lord. He read
it immediately he received it to his noble friend
the member for Te,-rton—(loud cheers from the
Ministerial benches)—to whom it did not occur any
more than to himself the necessity of its being,
communicated to the Government. (Hear, hear,
and cheers.) Ho was quits prepared to justify
his conduct, respecting which he did not entertain the
least regret. (Hear, hear, and Oh, oh.) He believed
he had acted perfectly correct in the course he had pur-
s4ud in believing what was written to him in a private
letter was of no sort of importance, and he defied any
one t) show that it had affected the decision of the
Government in anything they had done with regard to
India. If her Majesty's Government pretended to say
it had or could have done so, then he must express his
wonder that they did not first inquire in every quarter if
any communication bad been made to any one about it.
(Hoar, hear.)
Sir M. FARQUHARSON asked the right bon. gen-
tleman if, as a matter of course, bad he continued Pre-
sident of the Board of Control, he would have received a
draft of the proclamation said to have been forwarded
by the same mail with the letter.
Mr. V. SMITH—Of course.
The subject then dropped.
OATHS BILL.
Lord J. RUSSELL brought up the report of the com-
mittee appointed in reference to the Lords' amendments
to the Oaths Bill. The le asons for dissenting from
the amendments were put seriatim by the house, and
agreed to, Mr. Newdegate first entering his protest
against them.
It was then agreed that a message should be sent to
the Lords, asking fer a c ,nforence.
THE -VOTE OF CENSURE.
TheCHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER inquired
of Mr. Cardwell how he intended to bring the motion of
which he had given notice before the house to-morrow
—whether by way of amendment to the motion
for going into supply or as a substantive
motion. He asked the question that if the latter course
were adopted he might move that notice of motion
should have precedence of orders of the day. (Hear.)
Mr. CARDWELL—Asa substantive motion. (Hear.)
Mr. M. GIBSON—Is the motion to be submitted to
the house in the same words in which it is now on the
table of the house 1
Mr. CARDWELL—ExactIy. (Hear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER gave
notice that to-morrow notices of motion should have
precedence of the order of the day.—Agreed to.
MASTERS AND WORKNIEN BILL.
The second roadinz of this bill was withdrawn.
JOINT STOCK BANKING COMPANY BILL.
Mr. HEA.DLAM moved the second reading of this
bill.

Mr. BLACK rose, and was
Liar SPEARING.