The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-17 00:00:00

orders in 1850 for an inquiry to be instituted such as the
hon. member now moved for. The information collected
by the authorities in India he had put into the hands of
the hon. member for Dumfries, and bad suggested that
he should move for the papers, and, in the event of their
not being satisfactory, then he could move for the in-
quiry he now sought. To colonise the plains of India
was absolutely impossible. There were periods of the
year when the natives would be glad to get rid of their
' skins, if they could, (Laughter.) In the hill districts
j they could hardly get 100 square yards that was fitted
for cultivation, and they had failed in their endeavours to
induce officers and pensioners to go to the hills. (Hear.)
Sir JAMES ELPHINSTONE hoped the hon. and
gallant member would move for the papers to which he
had alluded. There were places in India which were
called within fever range, and it was as much as the life►
of a European was worth to go to land within that range.
If the papers alluded to by the hon. and gallant colonel
were laid on the table, a large amount of information
would be obtained cn the subject of the likelihood of the
colonisation of India.
Mr. MANGLES, having the papers alluded to before
him, would say a very few words on the subject. He
denied that there was any objection on the part of the
East India Company to the colonisation and culture of
land in India. Whatever might have been the case for-
rarrly, since 1834 the c Anpany had no power to prevent
Europeans settling in India, but on the contrary, they
gave every encouragement to them to do so. The
papers alluded to he thought would be ♦ery discourag-
ing to the hon. member who brought forward the pre-
sent motion. In the Punjab it was stated by the secre-
tary of Sir John Lawrence that there was scarcely any
land fitted for European cultivation. In the North-
western provinces the report was equally unfa-
vourable. In the Himalaya mountains a very small
portion of the land was fitted for cultivation. Re-
ference had been made to the cultivation of tea in
Assam. Mr. Fortune, a gentleman well acquainted
with the subject, had been sent to Assam, to encourage
in every way the cultivation of that article of commerce,
and the plants had been given gratis to the cu tivators.
A few months ago orders had been sent to India to
select the best and most healthy sites for European

troops. There was a certain height between the highest
altitudes and the lowest levels in which dysentery did
not prevail, and orders were given to construct railroads
and tramways to convey troops to and from those favour-
able situations. The company, therefore, had not over-
looked anything calculated to preserve the health of the
troops. With regard to the cultivation of cottcn in
India, there was ample scope for speculation in that mat-
ter, and if Manchester gentlemen, instead of railing at
the East India Company, would only bring their capital
and enterprise to bear on the cultivation of the cotton
plant in India, their industry would bejamply rewarded.
It was quite as easy to grow cotton as indigo, sugar, or
oil seeds in that country.
fllr. KINNAIRD thought the matter should not be
deferred until the promised bill for India was introduced.
The motion of his hon. friend (Mr. Ewart) was as to the
best mode of colonising India by Europeans, and the
dissertation on the growth of cotton in that country had
nothing to do with th question. He hoped the intro-
duction of railways in that country would tend greatly
to iteluce Europeans to settle there, and promote civilisa-
tion in and improve our commercial relations with India.
He thought his hon. friend would act wisely is persever-
ing in his motion.
Mr. D. SE YMOUR said be regarded the motion as an
importaut one. Coffee had been cultivated with great
success on the Cheveroy hill, but there was a difficulty in
procuring the laud on advantageous terms. The tenure
proposed was such that the tenant could not derive suffi-
cient remuneration fur his outlay of capital. He was glad
of the appointment of the committee, because he thought
investigation would show tkat a low assessment, such as
one rupee an acre, and the land itself a p iund an acre as
rent, would enable parties to cultivate the land with
profit to themselves and advantage to others. In Eng-
land, as the land-tax was reduved the country increased
in wealth. Why should not the same results be expected
in India from a similar precess F He believed the true
reason that cotton was nut cultivated in India was the
low state of cultivation which existed among the people
in general. Ile believed a committee of that house would
bring out these facts. The planters, too, were also dis-
sati,fied with the system, and had many of them emi-
grated to Ceylon, hopeless of a better state of things in
India. The chairman of the East India Company might;
say that all this complaint arose from the prejudices of
the independent Europeans ; but look at the memorial
from the Neilgherry Hill?, signed by many of the com-
pany's servants, praying for a reform of the judicial sys.
tem. He, like his friend the hon. member for Dumfries,
wished fur the introduction of more lawyers into India.
(A. laugh,) It was true that plain common sense would
do in a newly-set‘ led district, but in highly cultivated
districts, like Delhi, Agra, or Benares, it was highly
desirable to have trained lawyers. He considered the
latter portion of the resolution was important, because
the more they endeavoured to develope the resources
influence
in India, the more would we extend our political
in that country. He rejoiced that the committee was
granted, as he anticipated good results to Iniia from it.
Mr. TURNER said the cotton manufacturers had
often been told that if they were to go to India and grow
cotton there would be plenty for them ; but the Man-
chester manufacturers did not consider it was their pro-
vince to go to India, but they were of opinion that if
that country was capable of supplying the raw material
for which we were now almost wholly dependent on the
United States, the Government were bound to procure
it in a state for that purpose. The high price of cotton
of late years had overcome the obstacles to its cultiva-
tion in India, and if this were so now, might it not be
asked how it was that the East India Company bad not
moved in this direction before I
Mr. WALPOLE recommended that the words " for
making of military stations" be left out of the resolution,
as they might give rise to political considerations.
Mr. CHEETHAM agreed in the views taken by hie
hon. ft iend (Mr. Tamer) on this subject. He contended
that India had been neglected and misruled, and that the
want of roads and irrigation in India showed the way
in which that country had been governed by the East
India Company, and the result was that the people of
India had lost all confidence in the cempany.
After a few words from Mr. NISBET,
Mr. EWART agreed to withdraw the words referred
LO Mr. Walpole, and the motion was agreed to.
MEDICAL REFORM.

Lord ELCHO obtained leave to bring in a bill to
amend the laws relating to the medical profession.
Mr. WALPOLE agreed that leave should be given to
bring in a bill, but hoped he would appoint a day when
another bill to the same effect before the house would
be dicussed at the same time.
Lot d ELCHO replied that he would do so.
The house then adjourned at a quarter to nine o'clock.