The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-30 00:00:00

the Puejab, Ferozepore, and in almost every part of Ben-
gal that this disposition to mutiny has been evinced. I
regret to say that I fear we cannot at the present moment
with any degree of security rely on the fidelity of any of
the regular regiments of the Bengal army. The ir-
regular troops ,will, I trust, remain faithful, and I
hope we also may depend upon the artillery, although it
is said that some have been seduced or threatened into a
junction with the mutineers at Delhi. I nevertheless
ti ust that we may rely on the fidelity of the artillery. I
believe we may place implicit confidence in that of the
Ghoorka regiments, as well as in the good faith of the
native princes whose territories approach Delhi. In fact,
we possess in the neighbourhood of that city but a very
small extent of territory. It chiefly belongato the native
princes. Our position, then, is such as I have described.
The Government have drawn troops to Bengal, as it seems
to me, very prudently and very properly, but in doing so •
they have left both Madras and Bombay almost defence.
less. We know not the danger to which such a state of
things may give rise. In short, my lords, we are really--
and I trust her Majesty's Ministers are alive to the full
extent of the danger—we are rea:ly in a position in which
it becomes necessary for us to use every effort which this
country can make to maintain--perhaps it may be to re-
cever—that great empire which we have acquired in the
East. (Hear.) Well, let me ask how do we stand !
We have at this moment upon our hands three wars in
Asia. Those wars we are reduced to the necessity of
prosecuting with a reduced peace establishment. We
have sent to China that naval force which shouli, in my
opinion, be left upon the shores of England, to give se-
curity to this country even under the auspices of the
meet profound peace. The whole of that naval force,
however, hasbeen despatched to the waters of China ;
and for what ?—to carry on a contest between Sir J.
Bowring and Commissioner Yeh. (Cheers.) Six bat-
talions of troops have been sent out there for the same
purpose, and I cannot help thinking that those six bat-
talions will be found insufficient to bring under our con-
trol the numerous population of Canton. Tee conse-
quence will be that we shall find ourselves under
the necessity of sending out further reinforcements,
which should have consisted, in my humble
Judgment, of native troops. But are we, with India
in danger, to fight the battle of the Government ?
(Hear, hear.) Are we, my lords, determined,
happen what may, to persevere in that fatal policy which
her Majesty's Ministers have adopted Are we to strain
every nerve to enable Sir J. Bowring to seize upon the
residence of Commissioner Yeh I hope not. I main-
tain that, if the war with China were as sound in prin-
ciple as I believe it to be the contrary, comet m sense
and the dictates of the simplest policy ought to have
induced the Government to remain for a time on the
defensive, and not at once to involve the country in two
wars contrary to all the principles by which the proceed-
ings of a military State ought to be directed. I have
spoken of three wars, my lords, but my noble friend the
Secretary for Foreign Affairs will probably tell me that
we have brought one of them to a close. He will say
that the war with Persia has been concluded. The noble
earl, it is true, has brought about a treaty with that
country. He has not as yet got a peace. (Hear.) The
treaty is one which I cannot help regarding as unsatis-
factory. No, my lords, I cannot deem it satisfactory
that we should have entered into such terms with
the King of Persia as that treaty contains after
the insults which he heaped upon the British Minister.
(Hear.) We have, however, entered into that to aty, but
even under better auspices than the present we should
experience great difficulty in carrying it into execution.
Persia may withdraw her troopefrom Herat, but that will
be of little avail unless some other Government be estab-
lished there. If Persia will not yield it up upon those
terms, the evident objects of the treaty will be almost
entirely defeated. The noble earl must be aware that
the British force now remaining in Persia is tot ally un-
able to boll Bushire and Mohammerah if there should be
the slightest chance of any attempt at opposition on the
part of Persia, and can anyone who ivacquainted with the
national character of native States for a moment doubt that
this tereat calamity in India may have a very material in-
fluence in changing the policy of the Court of Persia T
(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") Our position in India at
the present moment is that of being compelled, not only
by a sense of interest, but by our sense of honour as a
nation as well as of individuals, to protect our empire
in that country. It is as much the duty of the
Government to protect our empire in India as it would
be to protect the county of Kent, if attacked ; and I
trust that there will never exist in tbis country a feeling
that, under any possible circumstances, that noble em-
pire shall be abandoned. We millet therefore send to
India a sufficiency of force, but while doing so we must
consider in what position we leave ourselves. I fear that,
under present circumstances, the noble earl the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs would feel his hand paralysed if any
material force should be despatched to the East. How,
under such circumstances, would he be able to speak
with ordinary firmness and dignity; or could he avoid
temporising if he felt that England was powerless to
defend herself in case any foreign Power should choose
eta take the opportunity of attacking her! (Hear.) Even
before this calamity occurred I entertained a distinct
opinion that by reduced establishments we were leav-
ing this country in a state in which it ought not to
be as regarded its power of defence. We have now,
however, a new war upon our hands, which will
require an expenditure approaching that which was
necessary for the contest in the Crimea, and which will
require, in addition to the force which iris now proposed
to send to India, an additional force of at least 10 regi-
ments of infantry, three regiments of cavalry, with their
horse, for it will not be possible to horse them in India,
and at least six batteries of artillery, 'because at present .
in some provinces the artillery force is very small, and
no troops can possibly move without glans. When I
look to these circumstances, I am brought to consider
ho w it can be expected that any material increase can be
made in the military force of this country. I would re-
commend her Majesty's Government to look the danger
fairly in the face—not to take any exaggerated view of
the case, but at the same time not to attempt to deceive
themselves, and I think that the course they ought to
adopt is to place this country under arms. (Hear, hear.)
While we are fighting battles of such interest in the East
we must be secure at home, and I know of no mode of
suddenly obtaining that security but to adopt the same
means as those which were adopted during the Crimean
war—namely, to embody the militia. (Hear.) That.
step should be taken at the earliest period possible, as
well as that of calling together the yeomanry, which has
never before, since 1814, been allowed to go for a year
without exercise, and *e should adopt any other mea-
sures which the Government may consider necessary for
placing at their disposal the whole military force of the
empire. (Hear.) I have read in history that HyderAli,
the great rival of the British power in Deccan, used to
say, with regard to the British power, that he was not
afraid of what he did see, but of what he did not see ;
and it is for us now to show to the natives of India that
which they have not yet seen. We must come forward
with increased strength upon every point, and teach
them that to contend successfully against us in the field
is a thing impossible. (Hear.) I wish, therefore, to
ask the noble earl what are the measures which the Go-
vernment intend to adopt for reinfoicing the troops in
India, and at the same time for placing us at home in
security while we cope with that great empire. (Loud
cheers.)
Earl GRANVILLE— The noble earl has taken a very
large view of a subject which is unquestionably of great
importance—of so much importance, indeed, that I
should feel myself to be almost trifling with your lord-
ships were I on the present occasion to attempt to go
seriatim through all the events which have been lately
going on in India. I may say, ho ever, that with re-
gard to the disbanding of the 34th Regiment, it appears
to me quite clear that a short delay was wise and judi-
cious, when that delay gave an opportunity for com-
manding such a European force as might prevent what
would have been a most severe disaster. It appears alto
to me that on the information which we have received it
may be thought that some mismanagement may have
been shown at Meerut, but I am quite sure that it is
wiser—l will not say for individuals of your lordships'
house, but it is wiser and fairer for the Government to
give no opinion whatever upon the subject until the
whole of the facts of the case have been placed before
them. I quite agree with the praise which the noble
earl has bestowed upon Sir H. Lawrence, and admit
the complete success which attended the movements
which he made, and without doubt a decided and ener-
getic course of action may often solve a difficulty of that
description. The great difficulty, however, in dealing
with disaffection among the native troops lathe difficulty
which arises from not knowing to what extent it has
reached, and where it is likely to break out ; and I may
inform your lordehips that up to the last moment the
most confident assurances as to the loyalty and good
feeling of those troops was received by her Majesty's
Government from the colonels of those regiments. The
noble earl has praised the steps which have been taken
since the juncture arrived, but I regret that be thought
it his duty to follow up that ( xpression of praise by a
tsthaotreimve,nwt comingiwli,hicp,fear,create unnecessary alarm. The' from a person of his high aa.
forces which be mentioned as being gathered together by
General Anson will be met by the English troops com-
ing from Meerut ; they will also be met by the troops of
the native princes; who have shown a most cordial and
praiseworthy desire of co-operating with the British
troops, and I thick that this is a very important circum-
stance not only from the material advantage of their as-
sistance, but also as showing ti e opinion which prevails
in India as to the result of such a conteet, I thought
also that the noble earl somewhat exaggerated the
amount of discontent which exists in two of the presi-
dencies. (Hear.) Even in Bengal, where no doubt the
spirit of disaffection prevails the most, some regiments
have remained faithful to their colours, and have shown
their loyalty by operating against their disaffected com-
rades. Now, with regard to the movements of General
Anson, I do not like to place against that of
my opinion
n
the noble earl, but I know the opinion of Lord Canning.
Lord
elil Generalo nthewould
26tbh, be atad be
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i
b
looked forward wile the most confident expectation of
alda O Caan thneinig 18th
antdhaattthDe
having a force at his command suffic:ent to enable him
to deal in a satisfactory manner with those unhappy and
• I think your lordships will agree
th t th fid • •
ex-
withlnisgumideedinm thinking a e con ent opmton thus
carries with it some consolation, and should
teach us not to thoroughly despond with regard to the
present state of affairs. The noble earl, my lords, has
asked me two questions ' • and the first one, with regard
to what reinforcements her Majesty's Government in-
tended to send out to India, I can answer in a few words.
Before the arrival of the late news 10,000 men, consist-
ing of four regiments and of reinforcements for Euro-
pean regiments, whether belonging to the Queen's ser-
vice or the Company's service already in India, aod
since the arrival of that news, after communication
with the Court of Directors, four more regiments
have been placed under orders to embark. With