The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-08 00:00:00

those batteries had been made the rebellion was raging in
India, and that there was no prospect of its being imme-
diately quelled. Now, however, that India lay prostrate at
our feet and that her financial embarrassments were so great,
it was, he thought, highly inexpedient to encumber her
with an additional force of 3,000 men, who would be obliged
to go into cantonments and would be insufficiently pro-
vided with barrack accommodation, (Hear, hear.)
Sir IL WILLOUGHBY thought great care should be
taken not to throw any unnecessary expense on the finances
of India.
Sir DE L. EVANS wished to know what was the date
of the requisition which had been referred to, For his own
part, he was of opinion that even one-half of the 12 batteries
in question ought not to be sent out to India (Hear, hear.)
Nobody who was acquainted with the subject could for
one moment doubt the efficiency of the artillery employed
by the East India Company, to the admirable quality of
which both the late Lord Hardinge and Sir C, Napier had
borne testimony. He could not help thinking under those
circumstances that there were strong objections to the dis-
continuance of the local artillery in India. (General Peel.
—" Nobody proposes to do that.") He was under the im-
pression that it was proposed to discontinue the European
artillery now in India, and if he were right in that view lie
should beg the gallant general to bear in mind that any
artillery force which might b 3 sent out from England to
supply its place must for a time be comparatively inefficient,
owing to the non-acquaintance of the officers and men with
the language and habits of the natives. He might also ob-
serve that during the recent rebellion 400 pieces of cannon
and about 1,000,000 stand of arms had been taken fronr the
enemy, that 800 forts had been destroyed—so that the fact,
in reality was that the artillery in India was in excess of
what was required. That being so, it would, he thought,
be a most unwise proceeding at a moment when the aspect
of Europe was so ominous to send out even the reduced
number of 36 guns, as he understood was now proposed.
For his own part, he strongly objected to the diminution of
the artillery force in this country by even a single gun
(hear, hear), and he should suggest the expediency of post-
poning compliance with the requisition of the Indian Go-
vernment on the subjeet until the report of the commis-
sioners on army organisation had been received and consi-
dered. (Hear.) If her Majesty's Ministers were to act
otherwise, and carry out their present intention, he 'must
say that they would, in his opinion, commit a great blun-
der. Having said thus much on that point, he might be
permitted to draw the attention of the Government to the
circumstance that the policy of establishing, at a great ex-
pense, an iron foundry at Woolwich for the manufacture of
large cannon was open to much doubt. There was a con-
siderable number of similar establishments in the country
which furnished excellent cannon of that description at a
fair price, and, besides, there was a large number of those
guns in store. The foundry to which he alluded was,
therefore, unnecessary, and he should suggest that instead
of being maintained for the present purpose, at an expense
of £150,000, it should be handed over to the use of Sir W.
Armstrong. (Hear, hear.)
- Lord STANLEY said he thought some misapprehension
prevailed as to the reason why it was in contemplation to
send out the artillery in question to India. It seemed to
be supposed that it was intended to send it out as a force in
excess of that which had existed in that country before the
mutiny. Such, however, was not the case. The fact was,
that a large portion of the native artillery of Bengal had
mutinied during the recent outbreak. A deficiency had
therefore been created in that province in that particular
arm of the service, and in August last Lord Canning had
written home a statement of his opinions as to what ought
to be the amount of the artillery force which should be
maintained in India. Now, if there was one point in refer-
ence to which there was a greater concurrence of opinion
among military authorities both at home and in India than
another, that point was that the great bulk of the artillery
in that country should be European, and not native. It was
necessary to fill up the void caused by the destruction of
the native artillery of Bengal. There was no question that
that would be filled up by Europeans, but there was a ques-
tion whether it should be supplied by a local European ar-
tillery or by .a reinforcement of the artillery of the line. So
far from prejudging the report of the commission the course
which was pursued had been expressly intended to avoid
prejudging the matter. There was already a certain amount
of the Royal Artillery serving in India, and to increase the
force to some extent was not at all introducing a new prin-
ciple, and the onlyquestion was whether the addition should
be local or Royal Artillery, or how much of each. Pending
the report of the commission it was determined in a manner
to compromise the matter, and to supply the immediate and
at that time pressing demand of the Indian Government
by sending out a nearly equal proportion of artillery
of the line. Since that time, however, the state
of India had so improved beyond what could have
been expected 'in August last, and the military
condition of India was very satisfactory, while, he regretted
to say, the financial condition was just the contrary. For
both these reasons the ,Government had determined, al-
though their decision had not yet been announced to the
Indian Government, to reduce the number of artillery to be
sent out by one half. With respect to the guns, he might
observe that they were not to be sent out. The guns were
in India and would be handed over to the troops on arrival
in that country.
Sir DE L. EVANS asked the date of the requisition.
Lord STANLEY said it was a minute of the Governor-
General, dated in August last.
Sir E. PERRY had heard with the deepest regret that
tho noble lord did not intend to comply with what was the
real requisition of the Governor-General--viz, to recruit
the local European Artillery from this country. (Hear,
hear.) It was quite true that a large portion of the native
artillery mutinied and had disappeared, but the officers still
remained. (Hear.) If six batteries of Royal Artillery
were sent out the officers would, of course, accompany their
men, and thus an additional and unnecessary charge would
be imposed upon the finances of India, besides which the
younger officers sent out would pass over the heads of the
older officers of the native artillery and stop their promo-
tion. (Hear, hear.)
Lord STANLEY observed that even if the 12 batteries
originally intended had been sent out the force of artillery
in India would still be below the usual amount before the
rebellion.
Colonel SYKES reminded tht noble lord that the void
caused in the Bengal army by the destruction of the native
artillery had been already supplied. He hoped for the sake
of the finances of India that the Government would not
persevere in their intention.
Sir DE L. EVANS wished to hear the opinion of the
right hon, O.IA gallant general on the Treasury bench.
Gencnil PEEL hoped that he should be able to lay upon
the table of the house before its prorogation the report of
tte commission on the re-organisation of the army in India.
(Hear, hear.) IHe thought it would not be right to prejudge
the question by entering into details before they had seen
the report. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the hon. and
gallant general's proposition to hand the Woolwich gun-
factory to Sir W. Armstrong her (General Peel) could not
give his assent. So far from there being an excess of guns
on hand, he could assure the committee that requisitions
for 68-pounders from many of our most important garrisons
stilt remained unfulfilled.

Sir DE L. EVANS thought the Government was prac-
tically prejudging the question by sending out artillery
before the report of th 6 commission had been presented.
(Hear.) The requisition of .the Governor-General was
made in August, when India was in the midst of a fearful
struggle, and the Government were now going to comply
with it to the extent of one half when the war had com-
pletely ceased. There were some persons who desired to
get rid of the local force altogether, and the public could not
help thinking the Government must have some other rea-
sons for the course they were taking than those which had
been stated.

General PEEL thought the hon. and gallant member had
no right to impute improper motives to the Government.
Let the gallant general wait until he saw the repoit of the
commissioners before he accused the Government of acting
in defiance of it. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. KINNAIRD wished to know what was to be done
with the officers of the late Bengal Native Artillery ?
Lord STANLEY was not aware that there was at pre-
sent any considerable number of unemployed officers. Ho
apprehended that most of the officers referred to had found
employment, some in the new levies and some in civil
employ.

Col. FRENCH asked whether it was intended to break
up the fine artillery service of the late East India Company.
General PEEL replied in the negative. •
Sir..B.T,ERRY appealed to the G(7cnunent to stOpend
t 4,44 embarkatltir 04-4 ix b4rteri es ttriptbg
queslfoit -bad been conAdered tend 44eided. ?'
—The vote'was then agreed to ; the CHAIRMAN reported
progress, and the house resumed.

MEDICAL ACT (1858) AMENDMENT BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this bill were taken into
siderable, and some of them agreed to and others dis•
agreed to.. -

TRAMWAYS* (IRELAND) BILL.
Thisi bill was read a third time and passed.
SUPERANUATION BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed,
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLEMENTAL- BILL.
This bill was read a second .time.
PAUPERS MAINTENANCE BILL.
This bill was lead a second time.
NAVAL MEDICAL SUPPLEMENTAL FUND .
SOCIETY ANNUITIES &a., ACT CONTINUANCE
BILD.
This bill also was read a second time.
EVIDENCE BY COMMISSION BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered and
agived to.

RAILWAY TICKET TRANSFER BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) ACT AMENDMENT
BILL.
The order for the resumption of the adjourned debate on
the second reading of this bill was read and discharged, and
the hill was withdrawn.

NEWSPAPERS, &c., BILL

The house having gone into committee on this bill,
Mr. S. ESTCOUILT said that the provisions of the
several statutes which it was intended to repeal might be
divided into two classes--those which referred to security,
and those which provided for registration. The Solicitor-
General had on a previous evening stated that he was per-
fectly ready to agree to the repeal of the statutes, or parts
of statutes, which referred to security. With regard to
registration, all persons were agreed that it should only be
maintained so far as it protected the public against the pub-
lication of blasphemous, indecent, slanderous, or libellous
matter; and that all provisions referring to special circum-
stances, such as those directed against Jacobins, which had
now become obsolete, should be repealed. He was, there-
fore, prepared to propose to the hon. member for the Tower
Hamlets that this bill should be withdrawn, and that
during the recess the Government would consider the
matter, and would in the next session of Parliament pro
prose or agree to the repeal of all Acts or parts of Acts
which were not essential to the protection of the public
against publications which all admitted to be centra tonos
mores, and pernicious to public morals.l
Mr. E. JAMES said that the only security required by
the public was that which was provided for by the 6th and
7th of William IV., chap. 76, which rendered necessary
registration, and that the name of the printer should be
printed upon every newspaper, and he suggested that
appending the name of the printer to each publication
would be amply sufficient. lit all cases of criminal infor-
mations he was the party who was made amenable and re-
sponsible.
Mr. M. GIBSON said there was nothing novel in tho
proposition before the house. In 1355 the right hon. mem-
ber for Oxford University proposed a bill, with the consent
of the then Government, to abolish the security and re-
gistration required of newspapers. No rule should be
applied to newspapers that was not to be applied to all
other publications.
• Mr.. AYRTON said that, after the offer which had been
made to him by the Home Secretary, he would not press
the bill further.,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL observed that all parties
were agreed that the statutes which required security to be
given ought to be repealed, and that those which required
the printer's name to be attached should be retained. The
only point for considerldion wa.s, whether the law which
required newspapers to be registered at Somerset-house
ought to be repealed or riot. He admitted that there were
no means of enforcing that law ; but, on the other hand,
it wets possible to provide, some better means of registration.