The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-07 00:00:00

had written a letter desiring that certain wit-
nesses should he summoned, but without stating
any reason whatever for their being called.—(Hear,
hear.) He (Lord J. Russell) had then himself asked
Lord Grey whether any reasons ha l been assigned for
summoning those witnesses, to which he replied,
noes, whatever. Without, however, adverting to the
fact that it would be quite unconstitutional for any
Secretary of State to be subject to a Parliamentary Com-
mittee, he might observe that this letter was written at
the end of November, and that Parliament met at the
end of January, so that there was clearly not sufficient
time for calling these witnesses, even if their presence
had been necessary.—(Hear, hear.) He did not be-
lieve that either the Honourable Member who made
this motion or his Honourable Friend the Member for
Montrose was at all aware of what the effect of this die-
cussion might be. Not only was it important as affecting
the character of Lord Torrington, but it was ca'culated
to unhinge authority in their colonies in every part of the
world, and to entirely destroy it in the island of Ceylon.
They had spread among the natives that they had the
greats ,t authority, that the Governor was not to be at-
tereled to, that their communication with the Member
for Montrose would be sufficient to procure the recal rf
Lord Torrington. He thought that it was no small matter
to spread such reports in that colony. The Hon. Gentleman
ought to remember that he had higher duties to per-
form as Chairman c f this Committee than to spread in-
flammatory reports in a distant and disturbed colony.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that though upon many
occasions it had been his lot to be brought into cull:-
sion with the Noble Lord at the head of the Government,
yet from his knowledge if that Noble Lord be was sure
that there war uo man less capable of breaking any pledge
which he had once given, nor did he think there was
any man in the House who, from his constitutional
principles—persevered in through so long a career—was
less desirous of impeding any inquiry prosecuted by the
Commons House of Parliament.—(Cheers.) This was
his general belief, but his special remembrance of what
took place upon the occasion would confirm his belief.
As far as he recollected, the Noble Lord, when the matter
was discussed before the House last session, proposed the
Committee should name the witnesses which it required,
but the Committee passed a vote by which it delegated
to its chairman the right of nominating the witnesses,
thus clearly going beyond the bounds of the Noble
Lord's proposition. The more he heard of this
matter the more he wished to see it in-
quired into, nor did he think it was the
with of the Government to stifle any inquiry. Little
time had been lost, two months at the most, and he
should propose that the Committee should be to-day ap-
pointed, should set to-morrow, and settle on what day
it would proceed to examine witnesses.
Mr. FOX MAULE wished to explain to the House
that Colonel Droff, who was represented to be an
officer of no standing in the service, was, in fact, of no
less than thirty-five years' standing.
Mr. BRIGHT thought that the course adopted by
Lord Grey, if not taken to avoid inquiry, certainly
laid him open to strong suspicion. He (Mr. Bright)
did not entirely approve of the amendment, for
it went directly to censure the Government,
while the course which was condemned was
most likely taken by one member of it,
through some misapprehension, who was not in his seat
to state the grounds upon which he acted. He thought
that Lord Grey had acted entirely wrong in the matter,
and that it was unfortunate, both for himself and Lord
Torrington, that he hesitated as he did. The Noble
Lord (Lord J. Russell) had said that this was an excit-
ing topic in the colony, but the best way to put down
and prevent agitations of a similar nature in this and
other colonies, was for the House to show a determina-
tion, when colonial grievances came before it, to have
the speediest possible inquiry into the circumstances.
Major BLACKALL bore testimony to the truth of
the remark made by the Secretary-at-War, that the
command of the army and the safety of the colony could
not be com.mitted to better hands than it was.
Mr. DISRAELI said he could not recognise what
had been stated in the course if the discussion, that all
the members of the Government would not share in the
expressions of disapprobation contained in his amend-
ment, and he was ready to admit that it
amounted to a censure of the Government.
He acknowledged the justice of the observation
that fair notice bad not been given of an amendment
which amounted, and was equivalent, to a vote of cen-
sure; but the fault rested not with him but with the
Government, fur they bad brought firward a motion
which called for an expression of opinion from Members.
If, however, it was thought that fair notice had not been
given, ho was ready to withdraw it.
Mr. VERNON SMITH did not agree with the
amendment of the Hon. Gentleman. He trusted that
the Hon. Member for Manchester would withdraw his
suggestion, and allow the Committee to be appointed
forthwith.

Mr. HENLEY was convinced that the whole question
could not be properly settled without an open and full
inquiry.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL could not allow the amend-
ment of the Hon. Member far Buckinghamshire to be
withdrawn, because he looked upon it as a vote of cen-
sure upon his Noble Friend (Lord Grey) and himself.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the
House divided, when there appeared—
Fur the original motion ... ... 140
For the amendment ... ... ... 68
Majority against the amendment ... —72
The amendment was consequently lost.
Mr. HUME then moved, as an amendment to the
original motion, that certain persons should be examined
before the Committee.

Lord J. RUSSELL thought if the last amendment
was a censure on the Government, the present motion
was a censure on the Committee, and he therefore must
oppose it.
After some observations from Mr. HAWES,
The House a4ain divided, when there appeared—
For the original motion ... ... 109
For the amendment ... 100
Majority against the amendment --9
The House then adjourned, it being now Six o'clock.