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

the Perejeb, Ferrzspore, and in almost every part of Ben-
, gal that this disposition to mutiny has deer evinced. I
reeret to say that I fear we cannot at the present moment
with any degree cf sec'iriiy rely on the fidelity of any of
the regular regiments of the Bengal army. The ir-
reguler 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
trust that we may rely on the fidelity of the artillery. I
btlieve we may place implicit confidence in that of the
Glioorka regiments, as well as in the good faith of the
native princsa whose territories approach Delhi. In fact,
we possess in the neighbourhood of that city but a very
small extent of territory. It chiefly belongs to the native
princes. Our position, then, is such as I have described.
The Government have drawn troops to Bengal, as it seems
I to ma, very prudently and very properly, but in doing so
they have left both Madras and Bombay almost defence-
lees. We know not the danger to which such a state of
things may-give rise. In short, ray lonls, we are really—.
and I trust her Majesty's Ministers are alive i.e the full
extent of the danger—we are realy 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
Ea:t. (Hear.) Weil, let me ask how do we stand ?
We have at this moment up in our bands three wars in
Asia, Those wars we are reduced to the necessity of
prosecuting with a reduced peace eNtablishmeet. We
have sent to China that naval force which should, in my
opinion, be left upon the shores of England, to give se-
curity to this country even under the auspices of the
meet profonetil peace. The whole of that naval force,
however, has been despatched tot the waters of China ;
and for what ?—to carry on a contest between Sir J.
Bstvring 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 imeifficient to bring under our can-
trel the numerous population of Canton. The cense-
queues 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 Lelia
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. Bo wring to seize upon the
residence of Commissioner Yoh ? I hope not. I main-
tain that, if the war with China were as sound in prin-
ciple as I believe it to bo the contrary, common sense
and the dictates of the simplest pcl;cy ought to have
induced the Government to remain for a time on the
defensive, and not at once to involve the conntry.in two
wars contrary to all the principles by which the prlceed-
ings of a miiitary State ought to be directed. I have
spoken of three wars, my lords, but my noble friend the
Secretary felt Foreign Affairs will probably-tell me that
we have brought one of them to a c'ose. 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.) ‘Ve-have, however, entered into teat treaty, but
even under better auspices than the present we should
experience great difficulty in carrying it into execution.
Persia may withdraw her troops from Herat, but that w:11
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 totally un-
able to hell Bushire and Mohanirnerah if there should be
the slightest chance of any attempt at opposition on the
part of Persia, and can anyone who is acquainted with the
national character of native States for a mornentdoubt that
this great calamity in India may have a very material in-
fluence in changing the policy of the Cent of Persia ?
(Loud cries of ," Hear, hear.") Our po-ition 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 this country a feeling
that, under any possible circumstances, that noble em-
pire shall be abandoned. We must therefore send to
India a sufficiency of force, but while doing so we must
con-ider in what position we leave ourselves. I fear tbir,
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 t.
defend herself in case any foreign Power should choose
to take the opportunity of attacking her? (Hear) Even
before this calamity occurred I 'entertained a distinct
opinion that by reduced establishments we were leave
ir g this country in a state in which it ought not to
be as reetardecl 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 lie possible to horse them in India,
and at least six batteries of artillery, because at present
't
in some provinces toe artillery force is very small, and
Ino troops can possibly move without guns. When I
look to these circumstancee, I am brought to consider
Iho 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 came time not to attempt to deceive
themselves, and I think that the course they ought to
a•lopt is to place this country under arms. (sear, hear.)
V;hile 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
ear—namely, to embody the militia. (Rear.) That
step should be taken at the earliest period possible, as
well as that of calling together the yeomanry, which has
e ever before, since 1819, been allowed to go for a year
without ewercise, and we should adopt any other mese
sures which the Government may consider necessary for
pacing at their disposal Ursa whole military force of the
empire. (Hear.) I have read in history that Hyder Ali,
the great rival of the British ewer 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 tbat
which they have not yet keen. We must come forward
with iecreased etreagih 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 reinforcing 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 Gil ANVILLE— 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
ehoull feel myself to be almost t:ifling with your lord-
ships were I on the presenl-, occasion to attempt to go
seriatim through all the events which have been lately
going on in India. I may say, hoe ever, that with re-
gent to the diebanling of the 34th Regiment, it appears
to me quite clear that a short deley was wise and judi-
cious, when that delay gave an opportunity for corn-
inlnding such a European force as might prevent what
would have been a most severe disaster. It appears al o
'to me that on the infeimation 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 tail not say for individuals of your lordships'
hoUse, but it i 3 wieer and fairer for the Government to
give no opinion whatever upon the subject until the
allele of the facts "of the case have been placed before
them. I quite Lame with the praise which the noble
earl has bestowed upon Sir H. Lawrerrce, and quilt
the complete success which attended the movements
which he made, and without clonbt a decided and ener-
getic course of action may nfren solve a difficulty of that
description. The: great difficulty, however, in dealing
with disaffection among the native troops is the difficulty
which arises from riot knoeing to what extent it bee
reached, and where it is likely to break out ; and I may
inform your lordships that up to the last moment the
most cenfident assurances as to the leyalty and good
feeiirg of thoecitroops was received by her Majesy'a
Government from the colonels of those regiments. Tee
noble earl has praised the steps which have been taken
since the juncture aerived, but I regret that he thought
it his duty to follow up that t xpression of praise by a
statement which, coming from a person of his high au-
thority, will, I festr, create unnecessary alarm. The
ferces which he 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 think that this is a very important circum-
stance not only from the material advantage of their as-
eistanee, but also ha showing tee opinion which prevails
in India as to the result of such a contest, I thought
also that the noble, earl somewhat exaggerated the
amount of discontent'which exists in two of the presi-
dencies. (Rear.) Even in Bengal, where no doubt the
spirit of disaffection prevail; the most, some regiments
have romairiedleithtill to their colours, and have shown
their loyalty by operating against their disaffected com-
rade?. Now, with regard to the movements of General
Anson, I do not like to place my opinion against that of
the noble earl, but I know the opinion of Lord Canning.
Lord Canning knew that the General would be at Um-
batia on the 18th, and at Delhi on the 26th, and he
locked forward wi h the most confident expectation of
having a force at his command sufficient to enable him
te deal in a satisfactory manner with those unhappy and
n isguided men ; and I think your lordships will agree
With me in thinking that the confident opinion thus ex-
pres,ed carries with it some consolation, and should
teach us not to thoroughly despond with regard to the
present state of affairs. 'file noble earl, my lords, has
asked me two questione ; and the first one, with regard
to what reinforcements her Majesty's Government in-
tended to %end out to India, I can answer in a few words.
Beene the arrival of the late news 10,000 men, consist-
ing of four regiments and of reinforcements for Euro-
p, au regiments, whether belonging to the Queen's ser-
vice Company's service already in India, an
sinc o
e the the
eaernval of that news, after communication
with the Court of Directors, four more regiments
h ye been placed uuder orders to embark, With