The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-26 00:00:00

EVENING, MARCH 26, 1859.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY).
Their lordships assembled at half-past four.
ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal Assent was given to the Consolidated Fund
Bill, the Mutiny Bill, the Marine Mutiny Bill, the
Enclosure Bill, the County Courts Bill, Anniversary Day
Bill, and the Burial Places Bill.
The Lords Commissioners were the Marquis of Salisbury,
the Earl of Hardwicke, and the Lord Chancellor.
Their lordships adjourned during pleasure.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

the sth of February, which took a much more gloomy view
of the state of the Indian finances. According to that de-
spatch it appeared that after allowi gig for an increase in the
revenue as compared with the pri 'sent year to the amount
of 280 Lacs, upon which it was V nought they might fairly
calculate, on the 30th of April, 1.869, there would be a defi-
ciency of 1,140 lees, that was to say- in round numbers, 11
'Willem and a half sterling. he ma de out the statement at
the rate of 2s. the rupee. And deducting the million which
would be received from .England, that would leave a defi-
ciency to be provided for of 'lO millions and a half. But
that 10 millions and a half proceeded on the assumption
that it would be necessary I,y the 30th of April, 1860, to
raise the immediate balane' ain hand up as high as 12 IW--
lions. The estimated b alance in hand of the Indian
Government on the 30th of April, 1859, was £8,860,000.
The deficiency would be reduced to about £9,500,000, and to
provide for it the Indian Government had felt it to be their
duty not to depend alter nether on loans, but to make an effort
to ascertain whether it was not practicable to increase the
amount of local taxatimn in India. And by the despatch sent
on the sth of Febrrinry the Governor-General in Council
announced his intention of raising a certain amount partly
by taxation on imports, partly by extending the system of
stamps to the towns of the presidency to which it had not
previously applied, and partly by a species of excise duty
upon home-grown tobacco. It was estimated that these re-
sources would produce about £1,500,000, and thereby reduce
the deficiency to be provided for to £8,000,000. Of that
amount £5,000,000 would be raised by means of loan in
India, and the remaining £3,000,000 would have to be found
by the British Government, so that £3,000,000 would be re-
quired to be sent out to India over and above the £1,000,000
already transmitted. The Government had, therefore, come
to the conclusion that it would be necessary in the course of
the present year to ask the sanction of Parliament for rais-
ing a further sum of money beyond the £7,000,000 already
voted. He could not state the precise sum at that moment ;
but certainly it would not be less than £3;000,000, and
might probably amount to £5,000,000. He ought to observe
that in calculating the deficiency the Indian Government
had altogether excluded any claims for prize-money that
might hereafter arise, or any claim that might be made for
damage or injuries sustained during the mutiny. It was
impossible at present to make any calculation upon either
of these heads ; but there was this to be said, that claims
for compensation might be met to a considerable extent out
of the proceeds arising from confiscated territories. With
regard to the question of prize money, it was difficult to esti-
mate what that amount would be; but, on the other hand, it
was only fair to bring into the account the deposits received
in this country for meeting the railway expenditure of India.
This year about 4500,000 would be remitted to India for
that purpose ; and next year it was calculated that the
amount would be considerably larger. Their lordships would
observe that the Indian Government had debited themselves
with the charge for railway works; but they had taken iv J
credit for the £4,500,000 remitted. He thought he had n
placed before their lordships as clearly as they could d(asire
the present financial state of India, and in doing so het had
put their lordships in possession of the latest intelligence
the Government had received on the subject. Hi:4 noble
friend who had introduced the 'subject had given '.rotico of
his intention to ask whether the Bank of Bombay had been
compelled to limit its accommodation, and whet)Aer the offi-
cials had in any degree suffered, from part of their allOw-
ances being kept back. He could only say th At the Govern-
ment had not received any information on :,be subject. The
only intelligence they had received came by telegraph from
Bombay, and it contained only an Intimation of the Govern-
ment intention to raise a 51 per cent, loan, commencing
from the 30th of April next. It did not make any mention
of further embarrassments. With regard to the motion of
his noble friend, he should not have the least difficulty in
laying on the table the various communications that had
been received; and he would lay on the table the despatches
to which he had referred cf the 26th of January and tho sth
of February, and the answers sent to them by the India
Board on the 9th awl 16th of February. It was exceedingly
desirable ti a the Indian Loan Bill, now before Parliament,
should be passed as speedily as possible; and he might, per-
haps, be allowed to express here a hope that, after the ex-
planation he had given to-night, no imputation would be
thrown upon the Government of their having in the first
instance intentionally raised an insufficient sum. If the
Government had been in possession of the same information
which they had now when they introduced the bill, the pro-
bability was they would have asked for power to raise
£12,000,000. As, however, the bill had made some progress,
it would be more convenient to proceed with it as it stood,
accompanying it with the intimation that in all probability
an appeal would have to be malle to Parliament for a fur-
ther sum. (Hear, hear.)
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE did not think the
noble earl could have made his statement more clear than it
was. No one could doubt that if India were properly go-
verned the revenue would yield a far greater amount than
It does now. Under the existing form of the Government,
which was in his opinion no improvement upon the old, ha
saw nothing to hope for in the future of India.
The Earl of ALBEMARLE said the present system of
raising Indian loans was radically bad---it excluded the na-
tive capitalist from contributing towards the exigencies of
his country. In his opinion the entire system should be
changed, and India made to raise and support her own
loans.

Lord MONTEAGLE acquitted the Government of all
intention of concealment in this matter, and suggested that
the bill for raising the £7,000,000 should be advanced with
as much despatch as possible.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH reminded his noble
friend that there was a clause in the India Bill originally
by which it was proposed that certain commissioners should
be appointed to investigate the accounts of the different de-
partments in India. The clause was omitted in the House
of Commons. He thought that there was necessity for some
such arrangement.

The Earl of DERBY said he, to a certain extent, agreed
with his noble friend, and a question was now under the
corsideration of the Government whether some competent
persons should not be sent out to investigate the state of the
accounts in India.
The motion was then agreed to.
BARON PENNEFATHER.
The Earl of LEITRIM rose to ask the First Lord of the
Treasury if it was his intention to recommend to her Majesty
to confer any honour, distinction, or dignity on the Hight
Hon. Richard Pennefather, late Aaron of the Exchequer in
Ireland, for his long and meritorious services? He stated
that the learned judge had been 38 years on the bench, and
had performed his duties in such a manner as to gain the
esteem of every class in Ireland. He was glad that the noble
earl (Carlisle), late the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and the
noble:and learned lord (Campbell), formerly Chancellor of
Ireland were present, as they would be able to add their
testimony to the merits of the learned judge.
The Earl of DERBY said, if the object of his noble friend
was to offer, as he had done, a grateful tribute to the merits
of Baron Pennefather, and to elicit similar marks of admire-

as•aaaaaa
tion and respect from-those noble lords who were present,
and especially the noble earl opposite, the late Lord Lieu-
tenant of Ireland, and the noble and learned lord who during
his tenure of the Irish chancellorship had such long and
ample opportunity—(laughter)—of appreciating the services
of Baron Pennefather, he had attained his object, and he
(Lord Derby) would be the last to refuse his tribute of re-
spect to the distinguished gentleman who had sat so long on
the bench, who had been so universally esteemed and re-
spected, and who, notwithstanding infirmities which might
have incapacitated other persons, was acknowledged to have
performed the duties of a judge better than most men. Wit'a
regard to Baron Pennefather's uprightness and high cha-
racter, as well as with regard to his abilities and conduct as
a judge, he never heard but one opinion; but ho wars not
aware that Baron Pennefather or his friends expectfxl that
in his honoured retirement any peculiar mark ~tf favour
should be conferred on him by the Crown • and, he hoped
his noble friend would excuse him if he said tlott this was
not a subject that could be dealt with by that house, but by
the Crown alone, and therefore he must respectfully decline
to give any further answer to the question.
THE TRADING COMPANIES ACT (1859) BILL.—
THE MEDICAL ACT (1858) AMENT)MENT BILL.
The reports of the amendments to thet,.3 billswere severally
received.

OATHS ACT AMENW,IENT BILL
This bill passed through ertnriiittee.
The house then adjoiumed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKEF. took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The P:Avistock Markets, Streets, and Improvement Bill,
and Warrington and Stockport Railway Bill were read a
tlArd time and passed.
The following bills were considered and ordered for third
reading:—Central Wales Railway ; Mid-Wales Railway ;
and Red Sea and India Telegraph Company (No. 2).
The report on the Atlantic Telegraph Company was
brought up and agreed to.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The members of the house were vummoned to the bar of
the House of Lords, to hear the Royal assent given by
commission to several bills.
PETITIONS.
Several petitions were presented against the Government
Reform Bill ; for the abolition of church rates ; for the repeal
of the duty on paper; against the Local Rates Exemption
Bill ; in favour of a comprehensive and satisfactory Reform
Bill being introduced with as little delay as possible ; for
the exemption of charitable institutions from local taxation;
against the Highway Bill, &c., &e.
THE GOVERNMENT REFORM BILL.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH gave notice that on Monday he
would ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether uni-
formity of franchise was a principle or merely a detail.
(Hear, hear.)

Mr. W. 0. STANLEY gave notice that, in the event of
the Government Bill not being read a second time, he
would move that this measure, not being satisfactory to the
country, the Government were not entitled to the confidence
of the house. (Cheers.)

SALUTING THE HOST AT MALTA.
Major S. KNOX asked the Secretary of State for the Co-
lonies whether he had any objection to lay on the table of
the house a copy of any orders that had been sent to the
authorities at Malta relative to the garrison orders in force
in that fortress ; also, what instructions the Government
proposed to issue in regard to soldiers being called upon to
salute the Host, or any religious personage or procession,
either in that island or any other part of her. Majesty's Co-
lonial possessions?
Sir E. B. LYTTON said that there was au old garrison
order directing the Host to be saluted, but subsequently
another order had been issued by Lord Hill, and he (Sir E.
B. Lytton) had given instructions to the Governor to obey
that order, and in future the salutation alluded to would be
discontinued. The Bishop of Malta received the same
honours as a brigadier-general, and it would not be politic
to discontinue such honours.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE TRANQUILLITY

OF INDIA.

Sir H. VERNEY asked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer whether her Majesty had been advised to appoint a
day of general thanksgiving to the Almighty for the resto-
ration of tranquillity in India ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Government were of opinion that there should be some re-
cognition of the Divine favour, but her Majesty's instruc-
tions on the particular form had not yet been received.
FEES IN I'HE TRANSFER OF LAND COURT

(IRELAND).
Mr. GRIFFITH asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether it was the intention of the Government to equalise
the per-tentage fees upon the sale of property in the Trans-
fer of Land Courts in Ireland, to the amount payable on
value under £10,000?
Lord NAAS—The gubjeot is now under consideration,
with a view to equalise the fees in question.
NAVIGATION OF THE DANUBE.
Mr. DODSON asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether the European Commission, ap-
pointed under the 16th article of the Treaty of Paris, 1856,
' to designate and cause to be executed the works necessary
below Isatcha to clear the mouths of the Danube as well as
the neighbouring parts of the sea, from the sands and other
impediments which obstruct them, in order to put that
part of the river and the said parts of the sea in the best
possible state for navigation," had designated the works

which in its opinion were necessary ; whether those works,
or any others;for effecting the same purposes, were being
carried out ; and, if so, who were the persons charged with
the direction of such works, and when it was probable they
would be completed ?
Mr. S. FITZGERALD explained that by arrangement
between the five powers concerned, the matter had been re-
ferred to a commission of inquiry sitting in Paris, at
which this country was represented, and it was the opinion
of that commission that the St. George's mouth should be
improved. . When all the works necessary for improving
the navigation of the Danube were carried out they would
[cost about 8500,000, which would be repaid by a tax on
ships using the river.
THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL corrected some' errors
in a statement made in the course of the debate on the
Government bill last night by the hon. member for Dover
with reference to a hustings speech delivered by him (the
Solicitor-General) at Belfast.
THE PICTURE OF "THE APOLLO AND