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

BILL.

This bill went through committee.
The County Ces,4 (Ireland) Bill and the Grand Juries
(Ireland) Act (1836) Amen'iment Bill rant through
committee.

TOWN BYE-LAWS' REVISION. BILL. •
This bill WAS read a sec,nd
The Police (Scotland) Ball and the C ,iart of Exche-
quer (Ireland) Bill pamsed -Mr:nigh committee.
TLe house adjourned at a quarter after 7 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.---(YEsTBRDAY.)
INDIA.

On the motion for the house going into committee of
supply,

Mr. DISRAELI roes and said,—The house will
hardly feel surprised if, in the present state of public
affairs, before we go into Committee of Supply, or dis-
cuss any of the motions of which notice Lae been given, I
make some inquiry of her Majesty's Government re-
specting the present condition of our Indian empire. It
is only a very few years since we were involved in a
war which, if not of unexampled magnitude, was of au
importance seldom equalled in our history—a war in
which this country made very great sacrifices of blood
and treasure. The public debt and the taxation of the
country were considerably increased, and some of the best
lives of our fellow-citizens were lost in that encounter.
Still the nation never for a moment murmured at that
great sacrifice. The country was enthusiastic, and Parlia-
ment was unanimous in supporting her Majesty and her
Majesty's Government in the late rear wit h Russia. But
I believe that both the, people and the Parliament were
greatly induced to take the high Lae of conduct which
they pursued on that occasion because they believed
that the policy of Russia had a tendency to endanger
our Indian empire. Well, sir, no sooner had peace been
proclaimed, and happily proclaimed, between Russia and
England, than we found ourselves involved in another
war—a war with Persia. For a long time the cause of
that war was unknown, and its object, to say the least
of it, perplexing. Bat the country and Parliament sub-
mitted with great forbearance to the want of initreea-
tion which then prevailed upon the subject, because
there was a general impression that the relations between
Persia and England were of a nature very difficult and de-
licate ; that the interests of our Indian empire were in-
volved in a right appreciation and management of those
relations ; and that the independence of Persia must be
maintained in order to for m a barrier between our rivale and
our Indian empire. Well, sir, the last document which
completed the peace bet ween this country and Russia has
only recently been signed ; the ratification of the peace
between this country and Persia has been only recently
laid on the table; and then we found ourselves involved
in a third war—a war with China. It c uld not be said
that the Chinese could invade our Indian empire ; it
could not be said that it was necessary to maintain
China as a barrier between our rivals—our enemies—and
our Indian empire. But it was said to be of the utmost
consequence that we should not permit for a moment the
slightest indignity or supposed indignity to be endured
by our flag in China, became it was of the first import-
ance that the reputation of England in all Eastern coun-
tries should be maintained inviolate, otherwise our In-
dian empire would bo endangered. Influenced by this
policy and by these reasons, the majority of the house,
and perhaps of the country, have contentedly been in-
volved within the last five years in three great Eastern
wars ; because, however great the sacrifice, however
great the exertions necessary. however great the call upon
our resources, there was a generel opinion that nothing
could be shunned or spared when the safety of our
Indian empire was at stake. Well, now, after these