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London, England, 1859-08-02 00:00:00

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UN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVE NIN G, AUG UST 2, 1859.

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1 Closing
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ITIES.

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14

49i so 49

MAJOR RHODES' PATENT TENTS.

etohferMpaujropresßesh,oadneds'
I In our last volume we published an elaborate
eimproved
otue
rn t
highs for
'Pscrip:ltnidon
army
sense of their value. These tents having recently
been brought under
the notice of the authorities at
the Horse Guards, the Duke of Cambridge gave
directions for two of the tents to be pitched at Chat-
ham garrison, in order to put to a practical test
the superiority of the invention over the ordinary
military tents now in use by the army when
encamped at Aldershot, the Curragh, Chatham,
and other military stations. Two of the tents
have accordingly just been erected on the grounds
adjoining the Garrison Hospital at Chatham,
under the personal superintendence of Major
Rhodes. " During the storm and hurricane which
swept over Chatham on Wednesday night," says
the Times' Chatham correspondent, " they were
found to be in every respect superior to the ordi-
nary tents erected near the same spot
After the tent had been fixed on Wednesday after-
noon, ten of the portable bedsteads from the hos-
pital were moved into it, and as many patients di-
rected to take possession of them. Notwithstand-
ing the tremendous storm which raged early yes-
terday morning, not the slightest inconvenience
was experienced by the inmates, who slept as dry
as in an ordinary room, while many of the other
tents admitted the water, which poured in as
through a sieve. Major Rhodes' hospital tent can
be pitched by eight men in 12 minutes ; and,
whereas in the present tents there are about 150
pegs and 70 ropes to each, the new invention
has only about 40 pegs and 12 ropes to secure it,
there being no necessity for the men to turn out in
the rain during the night to slack' the ropes as
with the present tents—a serious matter when that
duty has to be performed by sick patients."
The advantages of Major Rhodes' tents over
those of the Government may be briefly noticed.
His hospital tent weighs about 1121bs. less than
the Government hospital-marquee, and its cost is
about £3 under the Government contract price.
The ventilation is most efficient, and subject to
the control of the medical officer—impervious to
wet, and the strong rays of the sun—can be
pitched in 12 minutes by eight men. The Hanove-
rian Government (who have practically tested this
tent) pronounce that Rhodes' hospital tent affords
the best shelter hitherto obtained in camp
hospitals, &c. The price of a Government hospital
marquee, 30 feet wide by 141 feet, and 14 feet in
height, is from £33 to £35, and weighs (in three
packages) from 5071b5. to 6521b5. (the latter weight
includes 4 ground sheets.) It affords accommoda-
tion for from 18 to 20 patients. Major Rhodes's 20-
feet diameter field-tent costs £24, viz., about £l2
cheaper, and weighs (in 2 packages) 2301 b., viz. 277
lbs. less than the Government hospital marquee. It
offers accommodation for from 18 to 20 patients.
Two of Major Rhodes's 20-feet diameter field tents
can be pitched by 4 men (in about 8 minutes for each
tent), on about the same space of ground as is requi-
site for only one Government hospital-marquee ;
and further, from 10 to 14 men require from 15
to 20 minutes to pitch the latter tent. Major
Rhodes' tent provides detached accommodation for
24 rifles, 24 sets of accoutrements, and 24 knapsacks,
with a perfect system of ventilation ; in which very
important points the Governmtnt hospital marquee
is deficient. Irrespective ofcost, &c., it results that
by adopting Major Rhodes's tents into the service,
healthy shelter can be provided for about 45 men,
allowing the same amount of transport as is at pre-
sent necessary for conveying only one Government
hospital marquee, which latter only affords accom•
modation for 20 men ; thus showing a clear saving
of more than one hundred per cent. in cost of trans-
port, which with an army in the field, would be a
very great relief to the Commissariat Department.
We now learn that the officers appointed to ex-
amine Major Rhodes's tents at Chatham are about to
report most strongly in their favour to the Com-
mander-in-Chief.—Mechanics' Magazine.
[P.S.—We are glad to hear that the merits of
Major Rhodes's invention has already met with the

approbation and patronage of one of our ablest
scientific men, viz., Professor Doctor Tyndall,
F.R.S., &c., who has ordered one of Major Rhodes's
. _

" Guard tents," for the purpose of taking with him
to the top of Mont-Blanc, where a scientific mission

We trust that the results of

scientific research will amply repay the learned
Professor, and that his report will bear favourably
on Major Rhodes's invention.—ED.]

" THE LONDON," FLEET-STREET.

One of the personal greivances of the present
day is found in the continual complaints that are
made against hotel-keepers in their unreasonable
and extravagant charges. It is a reality in which
we can fully sympathise,inasmuch, as travel where
you will, locate ourselves at the best hotels, or at
the " Commercial and Sporting Houses," the nume-
rous items for accommodation and refreshments (no
matter how humble and unpretending they may
be) make a grievous onslaught on our pecuniary
resources. The charge varies in direct proportion
to the definition of the meal. There is the break-
fast, with or without ham and eggs, or meat. The
lunch, which is usually, with the omission of vege-
tables, a shade removed from the substantials of
dinner ; but the charges for these respective re-
pasts seem to depend upon the fact of whether one
or both are taken on the same day, and whether
you happen to be an occasional or regular frequen-
ter of the house. Waiters, as well as landlords,
have a shrewd recollection of the physiognomy of
their customers, and the former has an infallible me-
mory on the point whether or not you gave him a dou-
ceur in addition to the payment of the usual charges
in your bill for attendance. These are some of the
reminiscences of a traveller's life, fraught with a
fair admixture of pain and pleasure. A little trip
from home is always an agreeable variety and
episode in the ordinary avocations of daily life, and
we can recount with much pleasure all the inci-
dents of some enjoyable excursion, but the wasted
exchequer has too often proved that if you would
save your money you must not leave your home.
Nevertheless, business will frequently call all
classes from home, and London in England is gene-
rally the central spot for business negotiations,
whether they partake of the professional, the plea-
surable, or the commercial. Now a great de-
sideratum in London, to meet the requisites of
these three respective classes of travellers, is a good
home, where luncheon and dinner can be supplied
with every comfort, and in all abund Ince, on terms
commensurate with their own views. Nor is this
desideratum only to travellers or visitors from the
country. Those also who reside in London,
and whose avocations keep them so much
from home need such a restaurant as we have de-
scribed. In cur inns of court especially, how truly
is appreciated some neighbouring hostelry, where
the cravings of an excited appetite can be supplied
with all the details of celerity, cleanliness, comfort,
and substantiality, near to their own chambers.
Now "The London," a well•established restaurant
in Fleet-street, at the corner of Chancery-lane,
answers every such requirement of the public, and
in its every department will be found those conve-
niences and desiderata which will satisfy the
most fastidious and suit the most economical.
Daily, at one o'clock, there are but joints in every
variety of meats, where either a substantial luncheon
or an equally substantial dinner can be obtained—
inclusive of all extras except wine, spirits, and
beer, and at the small charge of ls. 6d. each person ;
and where "The London" dinner for 2s. 6d. chal-
lenges in vain a rival for its excellency and cost.
The same routine is observed throughout the re-
mainder of the day, up to nine o'clock p.m., prices
set
e a
classatitv e no
only varying in accordance with the expensive or
ordinary cost of the viands which may be ordered.
Tscale
lael
fictitious
okf c
i n of.s:adisargl
u charges
s, which
a but nadt
he porter, irs,a ntrdhe en
tiuh bene
t
regulates, not West-end, but City houses. The
wines, for which the proprietor (Mr. Sawyer)
is so justly celebrated, are of a class
which requires not a connoisseur to pronounce on
their excellence, but which the least susceptible
palate is equally enabled to appreciate with the
bon vivant who daily drinks the best of Rhenish
wines. Whether the produce of the Rhine, or
Epernay, of Spain, or Portugal, they cannot be
surpassed ; and the best proof of their excellence is
found in the absence of any complaint whatever
from customers, who now crowd that favourite
restaurant in such daily increasing numbers.
Ladies as well as gentlemen experience the same
accommodation and enjoy the same advantages.
There are private as well as public rooms, and it is
at the option of the party taking refreshment to
select their own room or table amid the guests who
are invariably found at " The London.' There is
another recommendation, which affects gentlemen
only, and that is the spacious smoking saloon, fitted
up in a most elegant manner. Almost every daily
and weekly journal is to be found there. Luxurious
sofas and ottomans tempt one as much to read as
to smoke, and to enjoy, whether in the process of
digestion, or in the calmness of one's own thoughts,
in the very heart of London, the soothing influ-
ence of a cigar, which, if the price be given, the
Havannah cannot surpass in quality or flavour.
We have not a better recommendation for these
facts than the indisputable testimony of constant
frequenters at " The London ;" and thinking such
testimony to be of service to visitors to the metro-
polis, we recommend them to pay a visit there and
judge for themselves of the truth and accuracy of
the statements we have made.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.
ADMISSION OF BRITISH SALT. INTO 'CHINA.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY rose to call the atten-
tion of the Government to the question of the admission of
British salt into China, and to inquire what steps had been
taken for bringing the subject before the Government at
Pekin. He observed that hitherto salt had been a monopoly
in•the hands of the Chinese Government, from which they
derived a large revenue. Formerly the Indian Government
stood in a similar position, and had not only a monopoly of
the importation, but also of the manufacture of salt. That
article was now imported into India at a considerable profit
to the British manufacturer, and under the new system the
revenue in India had been collected at a cheaper rate than
H
under the old system. e believed there would be no diffi-
culty in making such regulations for the import of salt into
China as would leave to the Chinese Government the same
amount of revenue which they at present realised from that
article.
The Earl of ELGIN felt some difficulty in giving a ful
_•

and complete explanation of the transactions in which he
had been engaged on the coast of China. He went to that
country with certain instructions, and was in the habit of
communicating with the Government and with parties in-
terested in trade and commerce; but neither his instruc-
tions, nor the treaty, nor the arrangements consequent upon.
that treaty, nor the correspondence on the subject, had yet
been laid before Parliament; and therefore he trusted if their
lordships should consider his explanations imperfect and in-
complete, they would net imagine that he had wilfully or
through carelessness neglected the commercial interests of
the country. It should be borne in mind that he went to
China at a period of considerable difficulty,with a desire
to bring hostilities to a close, and that it was his duty to
consider along with other interests the interests of the
Chinese Government, for nothing could be more prejudicial
to the interests of this country than that the resources of
China should be 33 crippled as to prevent that Government
from occupying its proper position. He had perhaps been
prevented from pressing on the Chinese Government some
of those commercial changes which he should have done if
he had thought the interests of the Imperial Government of
no consequence. With regard to the introduction of salt,
he foUnd it utterly impossible to induce the governor at
Shanghai to enter into the matter ; but he did not despair
of the eventual result. All that was necessary was to per-
suade the authorities that the revenue would not suffer from
the change. It was not until the Ist of January last year
that he received the first representation in favour of the in-
troduction of salt into China, and he believed that if Mr.
Bruce could succeed in convincing the Chinese Government
that their revenue would not suffer, they would break
through the salt monopoly. That monopoly had the
prestige of great antiquity, and it was said to have existed at
least 1,000 years before the Christian era. The system
under which the tax was raised very much resembled that
under which the opium tax was levied. One of his great
objects was to improve the custom-house system in India,
and if guarantees could be given to the Chinese Government
for the regular collection of the revenue, it would greatly
facilitate the object which his noble friexd had in view.
With regard to the treaty between China and Russia, he
must speak with great reserve ; but the only treaty which
sectir4dthe right:of apermament residence'atlPekin was the
English treaty. Other countries, under the most favoured
nation clause, could obtain the same right, but the privilege
most certainly belonged to this country. He had thought
it his luty to represent to the Government that it might
perhaps not be advisable at the present moment to press
with too much stringency on the Chinese Government the
right to insist on a permanent residence at Pekin; but, of
course, if any other nation was permitted to maintain an
ambassador there, the Government of this country would
insist upon exercising the same right (Hear, hear.)
Lord WODEHOUSE said that distinct instructions had
been given to Mr. Bruce to bring the salt question under
the attention of the Chinese Government, and to press it
upon their consideration.
The, Admiralty Court Bill was read a third time and
passed _

The Jury Trial (Scotland) Act Amendment Bill was also
read a third time and passed.
The Boundaries (Ireland) Bill was read a second time.
The Diplomatic Pensions Bill was read a third time and
passed.

The Criminal Justice Middlesex (Assistant Judge)
Bill was also read a third time and passed.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
ELECTION PETITIONS.
Mr. EVANS, the chairman of the committee appointed
to try the merits of the petitioners against the return of
Lord Bu y and Mr. Sneider, announced that the com-
mittee had decided that these gentlemen were not duly
elected. for the borough of Norwich, and that bribery had
been committed in several cases, but it was not proved that
it was with their knowledge.
The' CLERK read a letter from the petitioners against
the return of the sitting members for the western division
of Kent stating that the petition had been withdrawn.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Lords' amendments to the following bills were
agreedito :---Charing Cross Railway, Dublin and Wicklow
Railway, Lands Improvement Company, and Scottish Cen-
tral Railway.

SECOND READINGS.
The following bills were read a second time The
Hereford and Brecon Railway, Earl Vane's Estate, Robins's
Estate, and Thames Watermen and Lightermeta.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOLYHEAD AND

DUBLIN. ----
--
Mr. CARDWELL obtained leave to bring in a bill to
facilitate the communication between Holyhead and Dub-
lin.

PATENT LAW AMENDMENT ACT.
On the vote of £20,095 for the salaries and expenses pay-
able under this act,
Mr. BRADY strongly protested against this vote, and
said that under the present system the money for these
salaries came virtually out of the poor man's pockets. The
hon. member urged further objections, and concluded by
moving the rejection of the vote.
Mr. LAING said that with the exception of the pay-
ment to the law officers of the Crown, the hon. member
would be defeating his own object if he curried his motion.
Mr. WILLIAMS said that at present the law officers of
the Crown received £8,300, while they actually rendered no
service, the clerks doing all the work. lie proposed, there-
fore that their payment should be reduced to £1,150.
Colonel SYKES contended that the operation of the
patent law was very injurious to the inventive genius of
the country.
After some discussion, in which, Sir J. Shelley, Mr.
Grogan, Mr. Wyse, Mr. Briscoe, Mr. Brady, Mr. E.
James, and other hon. members, the amendment was nega-
tived without a division.
Some discussion ensued upon some of the other items,
but the vote was ultimately agreed to.
The vote of £9,254 for the Board of Fisheries in Scot-
land was agreed to, as well as a vote of £l,OOO to the Board
of Manufacturers in Scotland under the treaty of union.
A vote of £5,000 for highland roads was agreed to. After
some discussion, in the course of which
Mr. LAING explained that the money was applied to the
purposes of providing roads in the poorer districts of the
highlands of Scotland, and he added that he would make
inquiries to ascertain if any reduction in the item could be
made.

£9OO was voted for the commission for the publication of
the ancient laws and statutes of Ireland.
The following votes were also agreed to :---£5,000 for
guarantees, £58,000 for the pensions of officers in the mer-
chant seamen's service and their widows and children,
£15,000 for the relief of distressed British seamen abroad,
£4o,ooofor dues payable by British or foreign vessels under
the reciprocity treaties.
Qn the vote of £15,000 to pay bounty &c.,
Mr. CLIVE said that it was believed they were not sin-
cere in their expressions of a desire to put down the slave
trade, and it was asserted that their only object was to cap-
ture vessels with slaves.
Mr. LAING denied the imputation, and defended the
conduct of our officers employed in the suppression of the
slave-trade.
The vote was agreed to.
On the vote for £36,700 for lighthouses,
Mr. A. SMITH objected to payment out of the votes of
the house for the erection of lighthouses in the colonies.
Mr. LAING explained that where lighthouses in the
colonies were erected and maintained for local purposes,
the colonists defrayed the expense, but where they were
for general benefit it was borne by this country.
The vote was agreed to ; as well as a vote of £l,OOO for
payment of half the salaries of the officers lately employed
at the settlement of the Orange River territory.
On the vote of £40,000 for promoting the improvement of
the Kaffirs and for the settlement and government of Bri-
tish Kaffraria,
Mr. WYSE inquired for some information as to how the
money had been expended, and with what result.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE said the money had been ex-
pended on public works, and with much profit to the na-
tives. It was not, however, intended to retain. the vote at
the same amount.
It being ten minutes to four o'clock the discussion was
interrupted.
VEXATIOUS INDICTMENTS BILL.

This bill was read a third time and passed.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHARITIES BILL.
This bill went through committee, and was ordered for
:hird reading.
DUBLIN POLICE BILL.
This bill was read a second time.

CHARITABLE AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES

BILL.
This bill was read a second time.

CHELTENHAM ELECTION PETITION.
Lord STANLEY, chairman of the committee appointed
to try the merits of the petition against the return of
Colonel Fitzhardinge Berkeley, announced that the com-
mittee decided that the hon. and gallant member had been
duly elected.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Usher of the Black Rod summoned hon. members
to the House of Lords to hear the Royal assent given by
commission to several bills (for which see Lords' report).
The house did not resume till six o'clock.
MERIONETHSHIRE ELECTION PETITION.
The SPEAKER announced that he had received a letter
from the agent for the petitioner, complaining of an undue
return for the county of Merioneth, stating that it was not
their intention to proceed with the petition. (Hear, hear.)
The order referring the petition to the committee was then
discharged.
NEW WRITS FOR VACANT SEATS.
Sir J. SHELLEY gave notice that in the event of any
motion being made for the issuing of a writ to supply a
seat declared vacant by a committee on the ground of bri-
bery, he would move as an amendment, that no writ issue
until the house had an opportunity of considering the evi-
dence taken before the committee. .
EDUCATION IN IRELAND.
Lord FERMOY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether it was the iptention of her Majesty's Government
to introduce, in the next session of Parliament, any mea-
sure dealing with the subject of the endowed schools, and
of intermediate education generally, in Ireland.
Mr. CARDWELL said the noble lord was well aware of
the difficulties attending the general system of education in
Ireland ; no portion of it presented greater difficulties than
the subject of intermediate education ; he could only say
that the matter would have his best consideration.
FISCAL EXPENDITURE IN IRELAND.
Mr. DAWSON asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
what provision it was proposed to make for carrying out the
recommendations of the select committee of last year (1858),
for defraying the expenses, in county gaols, of the mainte-1
nance of felons and misdemeanants convicted for serious
offences; the expenses of witnesses at assizes and sessions ;
the increase of the salaries of schoolmasters in workhouses;'
and the half medical relief in poor-law unions ?
Mr. CARDWELL said the recommendation of the com-
mittee on the first two points was being carried out, but no
change would be made with regard to the two latter.
Mr. DAWSON gave notice that on Friday next, on the

motion for adjournment, he would call attention to the
voncluding paragraph of the report of the committee:
SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CONTRACTS.
Lord ASHLEY asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government
to. suspend •fu- her proceedings with regard to submarine
telegraph contracts until the report of the select committee
now sitting upon the packet and telegraph service was laid
upon the table of the house ?
'The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had' on a
previous evening stated it was' the intention of the Govern-
ment to suspend generally all proceedings with regard to
packet contracts until the committee had an opportunity of
considering the subject. They entertained a similar inten-
tion'with regard to telegraphic contracts ; but it was pos-
sible circumstances might arise under which an exception
should be made. There was one case in which the manufac-
ture of the cable 'had commenced before the, present admi-
nistration came into office, and which would go on. Some-
thing would depend on the time occupied by the committee
in their inquiry, but as a general rule, so far as the Govern-
ment were able to do so, no further proceedings would be
taken.

ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION, BILL.
Sir G. C: LEWIS said that when he brought in the Ec-
clesiastical Commission Bill, he stated his intention to con-
fine it exclusively to pointsnotlikely to provoke any contro7
versy, and subsequently stated his readiness to abandon the
clauses which were objected to. No notice had been given of
any amendment to any of the clau es, but notice had been
given of a long Beries ofnew clauses which were tantamount
to a new bill ' he saw no prospect of dealing with the many
disputed points they raised thissession and it Was therefore,
not his intention to proceed with the bill. lie proposed to
take the Police Bill first at the morning sitting, on Tuesday
(this day), and the,ltornan Catholic Charities Bill second.
The order for the committal of the bill was then dis-
charged.

- THE ROYAL HIBERNIAN ACADEMY.
Mr. MAGUIRE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether any and what steps had been taken to effect Certain
reforms in the administration of the Royal Hibernian
Academy, and why there was no vote in the estimates this
year for the Acadetny.
Mr. CARD WELL said the report of Mr. MacLeod re-
commended that the schools of the Royal Hibernian Aca-
demy should be united to those of the Royal Dublin Society.
That had since been done. A correspondence then took
place between the Academy and the Government in refer-
ence to the Continuance of the grant for other purposes.
The Academy asked for £5OO. The Government were will-
ing to give only £3OO. No conclusion had been arrived at,
and therefore no vote was proposed in the estimates.

EAST INDIA LOAN..
The house then went into committee.
Sir C. WOOD said—lt has often been my duty to address
he house on questions of great public importance, and more
,han once on the subject of India, but I confess I never ad-
dressed it under feelings of such deep responsibility as those
under which I nowrise to bring under the notice of the com-
mittee the state of India with regard to its finances. Ido
not think the hon. member for Birmingham overstated the
importance of the question when he told us it was second,
or hardly second, to none of those subjects of domestic and
foreign policy which have occupied our attention during the
last few months. When we consider not only the importance
of India to England, but also the millions in that country
now under the sway of the British Sovereign, with regard
to whom we have undertaken the solemn duty of providing
them with good governinent, it is not possible to overrate
the task imposed, on the Government and Parliathent of this
country. It is not my intention on the present occasion to go
into the general question with regard to the welfare and the
state of India—the state of its finances, and its financial po-
sition are grave enough to occupy the attention of the Go.
vernment and of Parlianient. Certainly, no responsibility
more grave was ever imposed upon the Government and
Parliament of this country, and it will need all the wis-
dom and all the energy which the Government can bring
to its consideration, and they will require all the aid and
support, which I doubt not they will receive from Parlia-
ment in dealing with a question of suchwital importance.
It is not necessary for me to remind the committee of what
vital importance to all countries is the state of their finances.
If the financial state be good, there are no dangers she may
not confidently face ; if the financial state be bad, there are
few dangers she can hope effectually to overcome. The
financial state of India is to us a subject of the most anxious
consideration. In saying that, however, I am not to be un-
derstood as saying that her future prospects are in my
opinion gloomy and hopeless. I confine my statement to the
present lime, when she has not yet recovered from the
effects of an overwhelming and unforeseen calamity. If she
surmounts the difficulties of the next two or three years, I
see no reason why she should not be restored to the state of
prosperity, material and financial, she was in before the mu-
tiny. I see no reason to anticipate that she will not be re-
stored to the state in which it was my good fortune to leave
her when I quitted the office of President of the Board of
Control. It is about four years and a half since I held the
office, substantially that of the Indian ministry, and a more
grave and more melancholy contrast there could not exist
than I. found between the state in which I left India and
that to which I returned. At the time I held office before,
we had closed the career of war and conquest, universal
confidence prevailed in the army, it was felt by everyone,
and those best acquainted with its offices would have an-
swered for it with their lives; we had a surplus revenue,
and our only object was to improve the natural resources of
the country, to devise an improved system of education, a
better administration of justice, and, by the more rapid pro-
gress of railroads, by the extension of the electric telegraph
by the improvement of the navigation of rivers, and of the
means of irrigation, to bring out the resources which
India so abundantly possesses, and make them sources
of wealth, not only to herself, but also by the produc-
tion of raw materials to support the manufactures of this
country. Since that time, the whirlwind of mutiny has
swept over the land, marking its course with murder
and bloodshed. Confidence has been destroyed ; the
trusted army has proved unfaithful ; public works have been
checked ; financial difficulties have gone on increasing, and
new ones have, arisen within the last few weeks. To this I
grieve I must add disaffection, and from the accounts to-day
I fear I must say mutiny, amongst one portion of the Euro-
pean troops. These, sir, are difficulties grave indeed, and to
grapple with them will require the most careful considera
tion on the part of Government and of Parliament. Ido
not, sir, intend- on the' present occasion to go beyond the
financial position of India. At the early period of the year
the noble lord the late Secretary for India went at consi-
derable length into the general question connected with the
state of the country, but considering not only the importance
but the vastness of the subject, I think I shall best consult
the wishes of the house and enable them to form a clear
judgment on the question of finance, by abstaining from
going into questions that abound with material for discus-
sion, and on which I cannot now throw any additional
light. When the noble lord made his statement at an early
period of the session, be necessarily spoke from imperfect
information ; since then we have received further informa-
tion with regard to the finances of India, but if he then ex-
aggerated the evil, the accounts since received present no
very promising aspect for the next year or two at least. I
have laid on the table every despatch I have received. No
information has been withheld from this house ; all the
papers were printed and delivered last Thursday, except
the general account up to April, 1858, which has not yet
been printed. I think the house is in possession of all
the information lam able to place before it. I will, sir,
only make one observation before I proceed to place the
figures before the committee. They must remember it
was perfectly impossible to arrive at great precision with
regard to the sums. Since April, 1858, all the sums I will
have to refer to are matters not of account, but of estimate
--estimates applicable to the present year. This will
account for any discrepancy there may bo in the figures
as compared with former statements. The noble lord
made a certain estimate in April, but since that a material
alteration has been made by a despatch of the 14th of May.
I cannot venture to go into a very precise statement—l will
deal with the subject in round numbers. Another point is,
that in making the estimate I will always take the rupee at
2s. ; it was, formerly taken sometimes at Is. 10fd., but the
noble lord directed it should henceforth be always taken at
2s. This may proauce a slight discrepancy in some of my
figures, and I therefore warn the committee beforehand. I
will take, sir, for comparison, the last financial account
which has been printed and distributed to the house, that
for the year ending the 30th of April, 1857. That wi:l afford
a good subject of comparison (as it was the last complete
year of peace, the mutiny having broken out in May, 1858),
and I will take it as my starting point with the committee.
At this time the debtof India was £59,462,000, the annual in-
terest £2,525,000. The military expenditure wa5£12,561,000,
of which £12,196,000 was the ordinary, andX36s,oootheex-
trasrdinary expenditure of the year. That was the state of
affairs. From the year 1857-8 the expenditure considerably
exceeded the income. In that year the expenditure was
about £40,226,000, exclusive of a sum of interest on the rail-
road account, and the revenue was £31,706,000, leaving a
deficit of £8,520,000. In the next year, 1855-9 (the house
will bear in mind that the Indian financial year expires on
the 30th April), the expenditure amounted to £48,978,000,
andithe revenue to £33,800,000, being adeficit of 414,000,000,
or thereabouts. The deficit for the two years to which I
have last referred, therefore, amounted in the whole to
£23,221,000. That deficit was provided for by a loan • we
have borrowed in India, in 1857-8, £5,157,000, and in
the year 1858-9, £5,398,000, making for the two years a
total of £10,555,000 borrowed in India We borrowed in
England in the year 1857-8, £4,758,000; and in the year
1858-9, £6,7o3,ooo—making for the two years a total bor •
rowed in England of £11,562,000. The house will see that
the total amount borrowed was £22,118,000. There is made
up by the diminution of balances up to this time a sum of
£1,103,000. The sums made up by the diminution of balances
and the amount raised on loan together make up the defi-
ciencies to which I have referred. This is the state of
things up to the 30th April last. On the 30th April last
the Indian debt amounted to £31,564,000, the interest on
which was a sum of £3,564,000. I now come to the year
1809-60. Hon. members who may have in their hands the
despatches lately placed before the house, will see there a
paper containing estimates for 1859-60. Subsequent, how-
ever, to this a further statement has been made out out,
and a rough estimate will alsobe found amongst the papers.
I propose to exclude from our consideration a great deal
which is in that account, because that account is not one
of revenue and expenditure only, but it contains balances
on the one side and the other. The expenditure in India I
estimate at £38,380,000; it appears in the account as
£38,900,000; but then that gives credit for stores on the
one side, in respect of which it takes credit on the other,on
account of their being in this country. The charge then
for India, inclusive of these stores, but including the pay-
ment of the Tanjore debt, amounts to £38,380,000, and the
charges at home, including war stores, amount to
£5,851,000. I then take a sum which is a large sum, viz.,
the interest of the railway capital paid into the treasury,
the interest on which is a charge on the Indian revenue,
and I find its amount to be £1,114,000: Of this we expect
to receive as revenue of the railway already finished the
of £200,000 in the course of the year, which will leave the
sum of £900,000 as the real charge on the Government. T
will next add the charge to which the noble lord on a for-
mer occasion referred, viz., the charge in consideration of
compensation for losses during the Indian mutinies. With
from these officers—in
regard to the greater portion of claims on this account offi-
cershad beenh a have
receivedbeen
appointed
thinvestigate
ithtseaturAe orneryrat
prima facie report—for as to many claims no evidence was
sent. I must say that I cannot admit those claims for
compensation as a matter of right. In many cases of simi-
lar disturbance no compensation had been allowed, though
in others such an allowance has no doubt been made, but as
a matter of favour as distinguished from a matter of right.
The view which the Government takes of the question in
this particular case is that a distinction should be taken
between property which could not and that which
could have been removed out of harm's way. In the former
case we haye fixed the compensation as at one-half the
value, and in the latter at one-third the estimated worth.
I have stated the amount at £BOO,OOO ; but, presuming that
there may be yet some claims to be brought in, I think it