The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-09 00:00:00

COUNTY VOTERS.

Sir E. COLEBROOKE gave notice that on an early
day ho would move for leave to bring in a bill to amend
the state of the franchise with respect to county voters.

FORTIFICATIONS AT PLYMOUTH.

In reply to Mr. WYLD,
Mr. BARING said it was discovered that some defective
piles were used in certain portions of the works at Ply-
mouth, but measures had been adopted to remedy this
occurrence.

POOR LAW MEDICAL OFFICERS.

In reply to Mr. BEECROFT,

Mr. VILLIERS said he was not aware that medical
officers attached to unions were not remunerated for their
professional services.
SIR BALDWIN WALKER.

Sir J. PAKINGTON—Sir, I rise to put a question to
the noble lord the Secretary of the Admiralty, of which I
have given him private notice. I have this morning re-
ceived a letter from a gentleman at Dcvonport, who is well
known to me, and who, I think I may venture to say,
would not have made me any statement which he did not
believe to be strictly accurate. My object in putting the
question is to ascertain from the noble lord whether the
statement which I have received is true; and, as I think it
is necessary that it should be understood with the utmost
precision, if the house will permit me I shall read it. (Hear.)
" Devonport, March 7.
" Dear Sir,—lt appears the Admiralty telegraphed to the
authorities here to despatch the Avon to intercept the Nar-
cissus, with a view to recall Sir B. Walker.
"The Port-Admiral replied that the Hinialaya was under
steam, and, being a very fast vessel, whether it would not
be better to send her out to look after the Narcisaus.
" The Admiralty answered, 'No • send the Avon ;'
showing they had no wish to recall gir B. Walker. The
Avon is a mere tub."

(Laughter and cheers.) I merely wieh to ask the noble
lord, is that statement true ? (Cheers.)
Lord C. PAGET—Sir, in reply to the question of my right
hon. friend;perhaps the best thing I can do is to quote the
telegrams that passed on this subject between the Admiralty
and the Port-Admiral. (Hear, hear.) I must, however,
premise these by saying that the Himalaya has been under
repairs in the dockyard of Devonport ; that her cylinders
have been very defective, and that it was very doubtful
whether she might not require new ones. This explana-
tion will make the telegrams more

" March 5.
"From Plymouth to the Admiralty.—The Himalaya has
gone out on her trial.—(Received at 11.42 a.m.)
" To Plymouth.—Send the Avon to the southward of the
Eddystone to endeavour to intercept the Narcissus. Make
the offieer the, bearer or an order to Sir B. Walker to repair
to Dovonport.—(Sent 11.52 a.m.)
"From Plymouth—The Himalaya is just returning into
the Sound.. Shall she also proceed in search of the Nar-
cissus?--(Received 1.21 p.m.)
" To Plymouth—Why does she return so soon ? (Laugh-
ter ) What. is the state of the weather ? (Renewed laugh -
ter).:-(Sent 'l.ls p.m.)
."Ficatirlymouth—l have signalised to the Himalaya to
know why she has returned. in answer to a question pre•
viCuily asked whether trial was satisfactory, she has
Cannot report until to-morrow morning.' Weather,
moderate and overcast ; wind, west by south.—(Received
2.24p-.m.)
" From Plymouth—The Ilimalaya's trial is concluded,
but officers cannot report until cylinders have been examined
inside.—(Received 2.44 p.m.)
"To Plymouth—The Himalaya need not be sent in
search of the Narcissus in addition to the Avon. (Laugh-
ter, and Hear, hear.)—(tient 3 pm.)
"From Plymouth—the Avon proceeded under. steam at
3 p.m.—(Received 3.30 'mi.)"

These were the telegrams received on that day. On the
day following this telegram was received

" March 6.
" From Plymouth—Examination of the Himalaya con-
. eluded. The hull appears perfectly sound; the after
cylinder is so defective that the ship could not proceed to
sea without incurring serious risk. Written report will be
sent by post.—(Received 11.27 a.m.)"

(Hear, hear.)
Sir J. FAKING TON—I wish now to put the question
Which lasked yesterday, and which the noble lord slid he
could not answer without notice. I want to know whether
there were not other steamers—fast and powerful steamers,
one of them being the Jason—in Plymouth harbour, at the
disposal of the Admiralty, at the time they sent out the
Avon to bring back Sir Baldwin Walker? (Hear, hear.)
Lord C. PAGET could only say that, under all the circum-
stances, the Admiralty considered that the best vessel that
could be sent was the Avon. He regretted those constant
and unremitting attacks on the Ad miral ty— (cheers from the
Ministerial benchee) Made it necessary for him to go parti-
cularly into the circumstances of the case. The Avon was
ordered to go out into the Channel b cut off the Narcissus,
fled to follow her. (Hear.) No vessel lying at Devonport
could possibly hsve followed a smart-going steam frigate
like the Narcissus. (Hear, hear.) The order given to the
Avon was to cut her off, and she had endeavoured to do eo.
aehad peen the log of other vessels of war coming up the
Cheanel—that
_of the Penguin for example—which fell in
with the liaroissu.S, and it was a curious fact that the Avon
ni
Ixtit have been very close to her. (A laugh.)
‘I.I)TIII.GHAM wished to know whether the Go-
admitted that it was impossible to bring back Sir
Walket Pi -
verlgtaki;LitePtill.
aIteNnSTONE looked upon this as a matter of
ealled'on. ehrte On Friday night several members
:em.ent to recall Sir B. Walker. (Cries
of " OrderP
conclude with a motion, in order
that he might.b4 °Z ell
the r. Sir B. Walker was then in Yar-
mouth Roade;,...,hire
Narcissus lay till 10.30 on slon-
day morning, When she ,e
pisatioe:fieedded to sea. The weather was
then such ithat he was"
no
man would have pro-
ceeded to sea of his own free wlt_
h(hebeeer)--and the inference
caught.
he drew was that Sir B. Walker
(ebn forced to go to seat.
And with orders not to be
Lord C. PAGET
.rose to order. ,
theeers and laughter.)
gentleman's statements were- totall hon. and gallant
gen unfounded. S. 13'
Walker had no such orders from the Admiralty. .(
etrr
Si' T. KLPHINSTONE wanted to get at theettaa-.' _
alp friboation. (Cheers.) Ile wished for more informitrf
1114.'0 91 EY rose to order; The time for asldug qua,

tions had not passed, and till then no statement could be
made by any member.
Sir J. ELPHTNSTONE would move the adjoai nment of
the house to put himself in order. (Hear.) It . hoved the
Admiralty to clear up this question. The h a-se had ap-
pointed a committee of inquiry into the doing; of the Admi-
ralty, and Sir B. Walker would be of the r, eatest service
on that committee. He had been for 20 y, rs Surveyor of
the Navy ; he had been concerned in two reconstructions of
the navy,. and understood more of the working of the Admi-
ralty than any other man. (Hear.) He had nevertheless
been sent to the Cape of Good Hope, and his belief was that
the labours of the committee would be futile without the
assistance of that officer. (Hear, hear.) He wished to
know whether Sir B. Walker had not been forced to sea at
a time when no ship, on account of the weather, would
naturally have proceeded to sea, and in a gale of wind ?
(Hear, hear.) He would also ask whether the Himalaya
was not fit enough, even with her injured cylinders, to go
to work in the Channel, though not fit to go to the East or
West Indies ? (Hear, hear.) Instead of employing her the
Admiralty sent out an old used-up paddle steamer worth
nothing. (Hear, hear.) All she could do was to get a little
southwards of Eddystone, off the Lizard, and there stop.
He asked why the Narcissus was ever allowed to pass
llurst Castle on Monday night, after the expression of
opinion in that house on the previous Friday, and he sug-
gested that if the Admiralty were to send a fast vessel to
Madeira, Sir B. Walker could yet be got. (Hear.) He then
moved the adjournment of the house.
Mr. W. S. LINDSAY said the hon. and gallant member
for Portsmouth had on Friday expressed a desire that Sir
B. Walker should be kept at home, The noble lord the
Secretary to the Admiralty then said that the Government
had no objection to that course. The only one he could con-
sult was the hon. and gallant member (Admiral Duncombe),
who had moved for the appointment of the committee, and
that hon. and gallant member distinctly stated that he did
not think the evidence of Sir B. Walker would be required
before the committee. (Hear.) The noble lord, having
no other one to consult, did not then take any steps to
detain Sir B. Walker; (but two nights afterwards the
right hon. gentleman the member for Droitwich expressed
a strong opinion that Sir B. Walker should be detained,
and even went so far as to say that the committee would
be a total failure unless he was detained. Other mem-
bers spoke to the same effect, and then the Government
adopted every means in their power to stop Sir Baldwin
Walker. (No, no.) He must say he was surprised at the
number of telegraphs that had passed to and fro on the sub-
ject, and he doubted whether- even the Himalaya could
have overtaken the Narcissus.. The Admiralty, he believed,
took the only course that was practicable, and he could tell,
gentlemen that it was not so easy a matter to intercept a
vessel at sea. So far es he could see the Admiralty had done
all in their power to carry out the wishes of the house.
' Mr. 141s,TLEY wished to put a question to the gallant
admiral (Duncombe) who had moved for the committee.
Now that thehouse had been informed of the fact that Sir
B. Walker had escaped, he asked whether his hon. and gal-
lant friend would be kind enough to postpone the nomina-
tion of the committee till Monday or Tuesday. He had
agreed to serve on the committee; but hewished to have
time to consider whether he ought now to serve on it or not,
having great doubts whether the .committee could be of any
public utility. They must remember that this was no ordi-
nary committee, but one which, would have to undergo
great and lengthened labour ; and the question with him
was whether, in the abeence of Sir B. Walker, its labours
would be of any use. (Hear.)
Admiral DUNCOMBE begged to state that he had not
the slightest objection to postpone the nomination of the
committee. (Hear.) His desire, however, was, that now
the house had decided to have a committee, no unnecessary
delay in its appointment should take place. Some delay
had already taken place in consequence of the motion
brought forward the other evening by the hon. and gallant
member for Portsmouth. He wasin doubt whether his hon.
and gallant friend, having carried his motion for a commit-
tee on another subject, would be able to serve on the Admi-
ralty committee. He found that his hon. and gallant friend
would still be able to serve on the committee, and he was
desirous that as little further delay should take place as pos-
sible. He should be sorry if anything prevented his right
hon. friend, (Mr. Henley) from serving on the committee,
as his presence upon it would be of the greatest possible im-
portance. (Hear, hear.) He must say that he thought a
great stalking horse had been made of this matter of Sir B.
Walker. (Cheers.) He had already stated, and he was still
of the same opinion, that the presence of Sir B. Walker
before the committee was not necessary, seeing he had
already been examined by the Dock Commission. (Hear.)
That commission was about to report, and nothing would
be easier' than to refer Sir B. Walker's evidence to the select
committee. The fact was that Sir B. Walker was so anxious,
and ho might say over- careful, as to every word he said,
that he was not so good a witness as might be supposed,
and his evidence already in print would be more valuable
than Sir Baldwin himself. 'lt was evident that the Admi-
ralty had made one mistake—in not putting the Avon under
the command of his hon. friend the member for Portsmouth
—(a laugh)—for his hon. friend (Sir J. Elphinstone) said
nothing would have been easier than to have cut him off.
Naval officers sent on special orders were, however, he
thought, usually active and diligent, and he felt satisfied
that if it had been possible the duty would have been accom-
plished. When he understood that the Government ac-
ceded to his commission, and that Sir B. Walker would be
detained to give evidence before it, if the committee thought
it necessary, he expressed an opinion that the public service
demanded that the gallant admiral should leave this country
and repair to his station as rapidly as possible. Sir Baldwin
was appointed to his command before the committee was
thought of, and, as the Cape. of Good Hope station had
been without a commander for six or eight months, he
could not allow the public service to suffer from any sup-
posed necessity for the presence of that individual. (Hear.)
Lord C. PAGET—I am only going to say one word in
answer to the hon. baronet (Sir J. Elphinstcne). I stated
distinctly that the Admiralty had not either publicly or
privately given any order to Sir B. Walker to get away as
soon as he could, so as to avoid any chance of being stopped.
Sir Baldwin's orders were sent to him on Wednesday, and
he did not leave until Saturday. There has been no further
communication with him, and the first knowledge of his
whereabouts was a letter from him received at the Admiralty
on Wednesday, stating that he was under way, and had
left Yarmouth Roads within the Needles on the morning of
the 4th. It is a totally inaccurate assertion that the Admi-
ralty desired to force him of. It is equally inaccurate to state
that the Admiralty, when they had the opportunity of stop-
ping him in Yarmouth Roads, failed to do so. (Cheers.)
Sir J. PAKINGTON—I should not have taken any part
in this discussion—(oh, oh, and laughter)—but for the
speech of the hon. member for Sunderland. As long ago as
the 15th of February I spoke to the hon. gentleman the
Secretary to the Treasury, and also to the noble lord the
Secretary to the Admiralty, and expressed my strong
opinion that the Vence of Sir B. Walker was necessary
for the committee, and that I hoped he would receive an in-
timation that it was necessary for him to stay and be exa-
mined. Then I explained to the house why, in my opinion,
it was of importance that Sir B. Walker should be exa-
mined. Nothing further occurred until Thursday in last
week, when the hon. gentleman the member for Ports-
mouth, in moving his resolutions relative to the Admiralty
made a strong statement of the importance of Sir B. 'Walker's
evidence. I followed, and repeated my opinion to the same
effect. The noble lord the Secretary to the Admiralty then
gave a pledge that if it were the wish of the House of Com-
mons Sir B. Walker should be detained.

Lord C. PAGET—I really must correct the right hon.
gentleman. (Cries of Order.)
Sir J. PAKINGTON—I have stated nothing that is not
correct. (Hear, hear.) The next night my right hon. friend
(Mr. Henley) repeated his strong opinion that Sir B.
Walker ought to give evidence.. On both occasions these
opinions were received by the house in the manner in which
it is the habit of hon. members to express their concurrence.
(Hear, hear.) There was the wish of the hon. gentleman
(Sir J. Elphinstone), that of -my right hon. friend (Mr.
Henley), and my own, all strongly declared, against which
no strong opinion was expressed, except by the gallant
gentleman (Admiral Buncombe) who. told the noble lord
he did not wish to detain Sir B. Walker. This occurred on
Friday night, and on Saturday morning Sir B. Walker went
to sea. Late on Monday evening I called the attention of
the Government and of the house to the circumstances under
which Sir B. Walker was sent to sea, and what occurred
then ? The noble lord, the Secretary to the Admiralty, in
answer to an appeal made to, him by myself and others,
pledged himself that night to take steps which should
secute the recal of Sir B. Walker. The noble lord the Prime
Minister followed, and his expression was "immediate steps
shall be taken," We have now heard from the noble lord
the manner in which that twofold pledge was redeemed.
Nothing was done that night. At nearly 12 o'clock next
I day a telegram was sent down to Devonport, and an order
was given that the Avon, the slowest vessel in the service
—(a laugh)—at least one of the slowest—should be sent
after the Admiral, while two or three of the most powerful
vessels in the service were at the disposal of the Admiralty.
(cries of " Hear, hear I") This the noble lord forgot, or he
would never have said that the Government did all they
could to secure the return of Sir B. Walker. (chum)
Mr. BENTINCK said that occasional discussions of this
kind were very refreshing— (a laugh)—but fair play and a
proper understanding of the merits of the case should not
be lost sight of. The noble lord (C. Paget) had been dis-
tinctly charged with having hroken his pledge to this
house. (No I) Now, having been present at all the dis-
cussions on this subject, and having been nominated to
serve on the committee, he had listened with great atten-
tion to what took place, and he felt bound to say that this
charge against the noble lord was totally unfounded.
(Loud cheers, and a voice from the Opposition benches—
" There has been no such charge.") Yes, the noble lord had
been charged distinctly with having broken his pledge—
(cheers)—and that charge was, he thought, without founda-
tion. (Hear, hear.) An appeal had been made to the noble
lord, and he expressed the willingness of the Admiralty to
detain Sir B. Walker if sueh were the wish of the house.
After consulting the hon. and gallant Admiral, however,
the noble lord found that the committee did not think it
necessary for the gallant Admiral to remain. A suggestion
baitcatainly been made on that (the Opposition) side, but
:It had not been followed up by any distinct motion or re-
§nnenclation on the subject—(" Ohl")--sad the noble
; ,

'IL tit
Asali

lord was therefore, he thought, exonerated from the charge
of having violated any pledge. (Hear.) The noble lord
and the Admiralty had been charged with having trifled
with the house in undertaking to recall Sir B. Walker.
Hon._members had gone on harping on the fact that the
Himalaya was not sent after him. Reasons had been given
by the noble lord. The Avon, it was true, was a very slow
boat, as slow as a tub. (A laugh.) But every man conver-
sant with the subject must know that the object in sending
out the Avon was not to chase the Narcissus, but to cut
her off—(cheers)—and if only three knots an hour could be
got out of her, she was just as competent for that duty as
the fastest steamer. (" Oh, oh I" and' Hear, hear."); He
challenged his hon. friends to disprove this statement. It
It appeared from the log of the Avon, that so far from being
unable on account of her slowness to cut off the Narcissus,
she was actually dodging in the track of the Narcissus at
the time the Narcissus passed Plymouth; but the state of
the weather prevented any communication between the two
vessels. He, therefore, asked what would have been gained
by the sending out a vessel which would go 12 knots,
in preference to one that could only go 7 knots an hour, if
the vessel going 7 knots arrived at her destination in time ?
(Hear, hear.) This entirely disposed of any suspicion that
the Admiralty had not done all that could have been done
under the circumstances. He quite agreed with the gallant
admiral, the member for the East Riding, that the exami-
nation of Sir B. Walker was not necessary, and he could
not listen to the observations made by many hon. members
in total misconception without stating his own views on
the subject.
Mr. CONINGHA NI said that the real question was whe-
ther it was necessary that Sir B. Walker should appear
before the committee, and whether the house expressed a
desire the other evening that that gallant officer should be de-
tained. He had heard the whole discussion and went home
with the conviction that Sir B. Walker's progress to his
station would be stopped. When the position, which Sir B.
Walker had held, was considered, it seemed like trifling with
the house to send that gallant officer abroad on the eve of
an important investigation respecting the navy—(hear,
hear), and he was of opinion that the Government were
bound to produce him as a witness. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. COCHRANE expressed his regret that at the very
time when a committee of inquiry was being appointed, the
hon. member for Portsmouth should have made observa-
tions tending to raise doubts as to the veracity of the Admi-
ralty.
Sir L. PALK said that, recollecting how eager a refor-
mer of abuses at tfie Admiralty the present noble Secretary
to that Board used to be, he should have thought that the
noble lord would have made every effort to bring all the
evidence possible before the committee. (Cries of " Ques-
tion I") He was convinced that the opinion out of doors
would be that fair play had not been exhibited towards that
house, and that the Admiralty had managed to get rid of
one who might have proved a very inconvenient witness
for them.
Mr. PAL LL wanted to know whether or not Sir B.
Walker would be recalled and produced as a witness before
that committee ?

Sir J. ELPHINSTONE stated, in explanation, that he
had not intended to cast any reflection upon the comman-
der of the Avon, for he had no doubt that if that officer
had been on board any other ship, he would have found the
Narcissus. (Hear.)
The motion for the adjournment of the house was then
negatived.
THE ESTIMATES.

In reply to General PEEL, who expressed his intention
to make some observations upon the house going into Com-
mittee on the Army Estimates, before any vote should be
taken,
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the vote for the number of
men for the army would be taken on Thursday, and the
similar vote for the navy on Monday next.
Tho CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER under-
stood that it might probably be necessary to take some votes
on account for the naval service on Monday.
THE INDIAN ARMY.

On the motion that the house at its rising adjourn till
Monday,

- ,
Col. SYKES asked the Secretary for India what arrange-
ment was being made for the medical charge of her Majes-
ty's native troops in India, regular and irregular, to insure
the language of the patients in hospital being understood
by the European medical officer prescribing for them ; and
what number of European officers were for the future to be
attached to each of her Majesty's native regiments in India,
regular and irregular. There would still be a large number
of native troops in India, and he regarded it as of the ut-
most importance that the hospitals provided for their ac-
commodation should be placed in charge of competent
medical men. Every sepoy officer knew that the most dan-
gerous prescriptions had been given from utter ignorance
of the native language. He trusted that greater caution
in the selection of medical officers would be exercised in
future. Upon that point, however, he entertained the
gravest doubts. A system was about to be established
which he might describe as the result of a lust for centra-
lisation. The second part of his question was als*of great
importance. It was proposed, he believed, that in future
there should never be more than six European officers in a
native regiment. He could not help thinking that this
proposal, if carried out, would lead to the most lamentable
results.

Mr. CRAWFORD said the house was aware that there
was a considerable number of natives of India residing in
this country for the purpose of going through a medical
education, with the hope of getting introduced into the
medical service in India by the process of open competition.
Great consternation had been produced among those per-
sons by a statement made by the Secretary for India some
days ago. They were apprehensive that, whatever their
attainments might be, they would in future be debarred
from entering the medical service in India. He hoped that
the impression which prevailed among them was without
foundation, and that the Secretary of State would inform
the house that in future all the services in India would be
open to all the natives of India without distinction of caste
or creed.

Sir M. FARQUHAR asked the Secretary for India
whether, in future, upon the appointment of officers of the
local or line regiments in India to the new Staff Corps, or
any civil employment, they would be struck off the strength
of their regiments, and whether the vacancies so caused
would be filled by the officers next in succession in their re-
spective regiments ; and whether there was to be any dis-
tinction between the services in this respect. It appeared
from a letter which he had received from India, that the
-general impression there was that when an officer was ap-
pointed to the new staff promotion would go in the regi-
ment. He was afraid, therefore, that a statement recently
made in another place, pointing as it did to a different con-
clusion, would cause much dissatisfaction in India. Hitherto
the great complaint had been that officers were constantly
detached on civil and staff appointments, and that their regi-
ments had suffered in consequence. It was evident from
what had been said in another place that'the stun, practice
was to be continued. The result must inevitably be great
inconvenience in regiments, and a serious injury to the
whole service. He wished to know whether the two armies
were to be placed on the same footing in this respect.
Mr. VANSITTART, in asking the light hon. baronet the
Secretary of State for India whether it was his intention to
introduce any bills relating to India during the present
session; and, if so, whether he had any objection to state
the nature and objects of such b lls, hoped the heuse would
permit him to offer a few very brief remarks. It would be
in the recollection of the right hon. baronet that on the 9th
February, 1860, he did himself the honour to submit a string
of resolutions relative to India, which embraced the open-
ing up of the LegisUtive Council by increasing its numbers
and powers ; the abolition of the Supreme Councils at the
different presidency towns; and the amalgamation of the
Supreme and Sadder Courts. These last two measures had
been strongly recommended by successive committees, and
by the noble lord the member for Lynn. His motion led
to a debate, which was brought to a close by the right hon.
baronet replying, " That these several questions were
under the consideration of the Indian Council, and that he
hoped before long to lay before the House such measures
as may become necessary for carrying out the decisions
which may ultimately be adopted. Under these circum-
stances he did not see what advantage would be gained by
referring them for investigation to a committee of the
nature applied for." A twelvemonth, however, having
elapsed since the right hon. baronet gave that reply, and
as it would be convenient to those who took an interest in
Indian affairs to be made acquainted with the nature of
the Bills to be introduced, he begged to draw his attention
to the subject.

Sir C. WOOD—In reply to the first question put to me
by my hon. and gallant friend behind, as to the medical ser •
vice in India, all I have to say is that the whole question is
under the consideration of the Indian Council, and I am
not prepared to say what resolution theyare likely to arrive
at ; but this I may state, that every pains will be taken to
obviate the evils which have been so strongly felt in India
of putting medical officers in charge of the hospitals who
may be unable to converse with the natives under their
charge. (Hear, hear.) In answer to my hon. friend the
member for the city of London, I may say that the state-
ment to which he has referred was made, not by me, but by
the Under-Secretary for War, and related to the competi-
tion for surgeons in the general army of the Queen. What
was said was that there were many cases in which natives
of India and Africa, subjects of the Queen, could not be held
entitled to serve in the general army. I do not consider at
all that natives of India and Africa have a right to enter by
competition generally into the army of the Queen. With
regard•to the hon. and gallant officer's second question, he
is aware that the number of officers usually attached to an
irregular regiment is three or four. The Uovernments of
India recommended that there should be six; and that re-
commendation, substantially, will be carried out. With
regard to regular regiments no change has at present taken
place. My own belief is that regiments would be more effi-
cient, on the irregular system, of six officers, and certainly
it would lead to the economy of the service. With regard
to the question of the hon. • bart. opposite, I have to state
that it is not intended to place both services on identically
the same footing. It is necessary to insure to every Indian
officer precisely the promotion he has a right to expect. That
arrangement must be strictly maintained. When an officer
is taken from his regiment and put into the staff corps ho
will be.precisely in the same position with regard to that re-
giment in which he :s at present on staff employment, and
the effect of the arrangement will be this, that every Indian

officer will attain his promotion precisely as soon—neither
,sooner noT laster than he would have done if no change
whatever had been made in the Indian service. With re-
gard
to officers going from the line to the staff, the Coul-
- has submitted to her Majesty, and her
Majesty has approved an arrangement which will be emi-
nently for the benefit of the Indian army. If a captain in
the line, for instance, goes into the staff corps his position
must be filled up or the regiment would not be efficient;
and the arrangement is that whenever a vacancy occurs
in a line regiment by an officer going into the staff
corps an officer of the Indian army will be placed in the
line regiment, such Indian officer being a person of good
character, recommended by the Governor-General and ap-
proved by the Commander-in-Chief. That will clearly be
to the advantage of the Indian army, and must tend to
obliterate all distinctions between them and the line. In
regard to the question of the hon. member for Windsor, he
has stated quite correctly what I said last year, that it had
been my intention to introduce a bill for the amalgamation
of the Supreme and Sadder Courts. In fact, I had a bill
in draught for the purpose ; but he will remember that
about the month of May there was great indisposition to
deal with these Indian subjects, and I was unwillingly ob-
liged to postpone the introduction of the bill to carry out
the intention of the Government in 1853, when I was Pre-
sident of the Board of Control. I have since consulted the
Governor-General of India, thinking it desirable to avail
myself of any information I could procure on the subject,
and I had hoped before now to have received his observa-
tions. I have again prepared the bill, but have rather de-
layed its introduction, expecting to receive information from
India. The bill is ready in draught, and will be introduced
I hope, at an early period. With regard to the other ques-
tion, which is of still greater importance, as to alteration in
the Legislative Council of India, the subject, as I stated
last session, was under the consideration of the member of
the Indian Council. What had occurred in India, and the
different opinions held on the subject of taxation in India,
had rendered this a matter of more grave consideration than
it was at the early period of last session. I communicated
with the Governor-General of India on the subject, and it is
only to-day that I have received his opinions. All the in-
formation and assistance that could be expected from India
having now come to hand, no time shall be lost in introduc-
ing those measures into the house.
Mr. VANSITTART—Are there any other bills beside
these ?

Sir C. WOOD—There is certainly no other bill of any
great importance.
The motion for the adjournment of the house at its ris-
ing till Monday was then agreed to.