The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-30 00:00:00

INDIA.

Lord ELLENBOROUGH reminded the noble
earl that when he real some days ago the des-
patches connected with India, he said that
if the papers furnished to their lordships were
not considered sufficient the Government would grant
others. Now there was one important document which
was not produced —it was the despatch issued
on the 16th of May by the Governor-General, in which
attention was drawn in strong terms to the deter-
mination of the Government to adhere to their former
practice of not interfering with the religious
opinions of the natives of India. As this paper did not
form a part of those produced, he should very'
much wish its production, and he did not think
there could be any objection to its being hid on the
table of the house. (Hear, hear.) He also wished to
call to the recollection of his noble friend that as far
back as the 28th of January, General Hearsey
had communicated to the Governor-General that
amongst the sepoys there was evidently an impression
that they were to be forced into the profession
of the Christian faith. Notwithstanding that intimation,
it was not until the 27th of March that the Governor-
General issued a general order upon the subject, and it
was not until the.3lst that it was read to the troops at
Barrackpore. Although it was declared that the prac.
tice of the Government bad ever been not to interfere
with the religious feeling of the natives, it said nothing
with respect to the future. The proclamation was not
publ'shed until after the events at Meerut. Thu noble
earl then called the attention of the house to the manner in
which the Go verseaent of India was at present conducted.
Fort xarnple,theete was a strong feeling amongst thesepoys
that it was impossible for them, consistently with their
religious feelings to use the cartridges that were distri-
buted to them. A correspondence took place on the
27th, and 4 days (hissed before the Government at Cal-
cutta became acquainted with this most ominous event.
Three more days elapsed before any steps were
taken to remove those objections of the troops
at Barraekpore. As another example of conducting
Indian business, be might mention Gen. Hearsay corn-
pl tined of what he considered was an improper order,
and an explanation was then demanded, hut eigtt days
elapsed before such was received, although the distance
was hut eight miles between the respective parties.
The noble earl having mentioned other int,tances
of delay, said that it appeared to him that the
government of India was not conducted by 'the Gover-
nor-General, but was administered by secretaries and
clerks, and be warned her MajeFty's Government that if
such a course was continued • before Lag calami-
ties of the most serious description would arise.
Earl GRANVILLE said the Government had no ob-
jection to the production of the documents alluded
to by the noble earl, but with regard to the
.ti
criticisms on the mode of conducting business
in India he confessed he bed not received anything lik
the information which his noble friend bad communi-
cated. Bet it was clear that the service of Government
could not be perf •rmed with greater zeal than under the
direction of the present Governor Gsnfr al. Where the
none lord had obtained his irf eonation to justify
his ( boervations that the Government. f India was carried
on by cltrks ho wn at a loss to conceive. All he could
sly was that the Gcvernor•General was acting in the
most admirable manner, a::d was proving himself fully
equal to the emergency. Be had teen a great number of
h-ttore from perFoos residing in India, and who were fu;ly
competent to expre,a an opinion : without one exception
they all concurred in the opinion that Lord Canning had
ri:,,en in the estimation of all the cmimunities in India.
The Duke of ARGYLL was of opinion that the noble
earl opposite had. greatly exaggerated the facts, and re-
ferred to certain documents with a view of maintaining
his opinion.

Lord PANMURE thought the statements of ti,e
noble earl wt re calculated to do much mischief in the
present state of affirs. He thought that General Hear-
fey ought to have despatched his aide-de-camp with
documents of such information, arid not waited for
the post, he w( cid then have acted in a
proper manner. All the delay, if any had
occurred was owing to General Hearsay haviog waited
for Vie post.
The sulject then dropped.