The Sun.
London, England, 1850-06-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 194 1850.

sorts of Tallow prices tend downward, as large parcels are
on offer. At auction 832 pkgs of South American were
principally disposed of at 34s to 365; 36 pkgs Greaae 30s;
460 pkgs Sydney were sold at 33s to 36s for common to
fine; 86 cks and 735 mats wrecked P. Y. Candle 34s to
35s 6d, and 8 casks East India at 395 3d to 393 6d for fine.
OiLs.—A. much better demand has been experienced for
Linseed Oil from shippers and home dealers. For delivery in
the last three months of the year operations are upon an ex-
tended scale at 29s 6d to 30s. Rape Seed Oil is not much
wanted, pale is offered at 36s to 375, brown 35s to 35s 6d and
Foreign pale at 37s to 3ls per cwt. Cocoa Ntr, Oil 29s to
32s for Ceylon and Cochin of fine and good quality ;
whilst about 300 tons have been sold. Palm is not
much wanted; there are sellers of fine at 30s to 30s 6d.
Olive Oil is still purchased with caution, and sellers
are willing to accept 411 to 42/ for Gallipoli, and
39/ to 40110 s per tun for other sorts. Southern Oil is held
for 32/ to 341 for common and fine, but few buyers are to be
met with, and the market will be better supplied shortly.
Sperm Oil is yet in good request, supplies are not larger,
and the rates obtained for fine Colonial are 841 to
861. Seal has been sold to a fair extent at about
previous terms, pale realising 30l to 31/, other sorts 281 lOs
to 29/ 10s, but several arrivals are near at hand. Cod met
with little attention, and holders are more disposed to sell at
34l lOs to 35/ per tun. Of Teel Seed Oil 70 casks at auction
' were taken in at 34s Gd per cwt.

THE COUNTRY MARKETS.
IPSWICH, JUNK 18.
The market was scantily supplied with wheat, awl the
growers are reluctant to sell at any reduction in price, yet the
market must be within 6d to is cheaper than last week. Beans
dearer.

PER QUARTER.' PER QUARTER.
Wheat, red
Ditto, white. 43s to 45s Oats oos to 00s
Barley, malting ... 00s to 00s Rye oos to ON
Ditto, grinding ... 00s to 00s Malt ...... ....
Beans ...
♦YERAGES FOR THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 15, 1850.
Wheat
Barley
Oats ....... —. ...
Beans. — If —s. Od.
Peas
HULL, Jults 18.
__ .

Messrs. Taylor and Bright's Circular states :—We have
again to report a favourable week of weather, and all accounts
agree in representing a much improved appearance of the crops
of spring crop, and continued favourable prospects for wheat.
The trade has continued in the same quiet yet firm state that
we had occasion to report in our last circular. For fresh
quail+ ies of red wheat we have had a good demand and ready
sale at full prices ;'white wheats and danzig are less in request,
and inferior, out of conditioned, or long chambered parcels are
difficult to turn into money; at the present low price of flour
quality is more than usually looked at by the lower classes, and
hence second descriptions of wheat are less needed than when
the average price is higher. To-day's market was tolerably
supplied with farmers' wheat, which met a free sale at fully
the rates of last week. Foreign of good fresh quality in fair
demand, and at full late rates. But little doing in malting
barley ; grinding meets ready buyers at quite up to our quota-
tions. A good many of the cargoes now arriving fall short in
condition. Only a slow sale for beans, and no notable change
in the value of peas, of which article arrivals are moderate.
Very little business passing in linseed, but prices are well sup-
ported, as is also the case with cakes, the stock of which, both
English and foreign, is much reduced. No rapeseed on the
market; the above import is for inland account, and from
Taganrog. Rape cakes are held at 80s per ton. Bones
rather lower.
The following are the present prices of grain :

8. 8.
Wheat, English, red 39 to 41
Do. white ......
Dantzic and So-

S. 8.
Peas, white and yeL 24 26
Do. grey
, Linseed Black Sea. 42 44

- -
nigsberg 4O 45
Pomeranian and

Do. Petersburgh ... 38 42
Do. I.!.iga&Archn. 38 40

liamburgh . 37 40'
Danish, Holstein, &

Do. Konigsberg .... 34 38
Per ton.

Friesland
Russian and Odessa 30 —36 Do. fine foreign ...... 61 bs
Oats, English •l2 16 Do. inf. foreign...ol Os to Si 53
Do. Danish.... l2 16 Rapeseed
Do. Friesland l4 18 Rape cakes...oos Od to 804 01
Do. Russ. & Odessa 12 16 Tares, English 2Bs —00 s
Barley,malting...... 20 23 Do. foreign 20s —26 s
Do. grinding.. ....•• 17 19 Guano 61 to 101 10s
Beans 2l 24 Bones, do 95s 01 to 97s 6d
Do. foreign ...........21 23 Rye meal sllos
Coax, Julia 17.—Flour—First 123 6d to 13s ; extra 14s ;
seconds, Ils 6d to 123 6d ; households 9s to 118; thirds, 7s to 9s
per cwt. Oatmeal lOs 6d to 11 s; Indian meal 75 6d to 8s Od; wheat-
meal, lOstolOs 6d per cwt. Indian corn 140 s to 150 s Od per ton
Bran 3/ 1286c1 to 3/15s per ton. Hay—Farmers 33s to 40s; average
363; dealers 408 to 48s Od; average 44s per ton. Stzaw—Farmers
25s Od to 37s Od ; average 28s ; dealers 00s Od to 00s Od;
average 00s Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf 6d to 61t1;
household loaf 5d to 56d per 41b. Fresh butter, 8d to
9d per lb. Eggs-3s 10d to 4s Od per hundred. Coals—
Newport 14s; Lydney 15s ; Landore 14s ; Best Neath
Culm 13s per ton. Tallow 40s Od to 00s per cwt.
Whisky, 25 o. p., 5s 6d per imperial gallon. Meat
—Beef 4d to 4id ; mutton 5d to 6id ; veal 4d to
5d ; pork 3d to Od ; bacon 6d to 7d ; sausages 5d per lb.
Flops 6t 10s to 81 lOs per cwt. Bangor slates 312 s 6d to 315 s per
ton. Bark—Barbary 71 5s to 8/ 5s ; Valonia 141 to 0/; French
715 s ; Spanish 9/ per ton. Fleece Wool 10s to 12s per stone.
Hemp 331 to 00/ per ton. Fish— Scotch herrings 13s to 14s ; red
ditto 15s to 20s per barrel ; Newfoundland 9/ Os to 10/ per
ton. Timber—Memel, 85s per ton ; deals, first quality, 18s,
second quality, 16s per 100. Hides—Market 14s to 20s;
salted 15s to 21s per cwt ; calf skins lid to 21d per lb.
Potatoes, white 10d to 12d ; Minions 14d to 16d ; Guano—
Peruvian, 111 lOs; Ichaboe, 91 per ton; Tar—Archangel.
19s per barrel.

RAILWAY SHARE MAR TS.
LIVERPOOL, Juxx 18.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was very little business done
to-day, and prices were lower. The transactions were as
follow : Birmingham and Oxford, guaranteed, 27%—Lan-
caster and Preston, Quarters; 1334—London and North-
Western. 109'i—Ditto, New Quarters, p.—Ditto, Fifths,
1 p.— Midland, 26 cis.—York, .Newcastle, and Berwick
(G. N. E. Purchase), 6 per cent. till 1830, 5 dis.
Ditto, .“fi dis.
MANCHESTER, JUNE 18.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was but little business doing
to-day, and prices were on the decline.
BIRMINGHAM, JUNE 18.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share market was buoyant to-
day, and prices had a tenthncy upwards. Shropshire Unions
were done at 3 dis.—London and North-Western, 109
Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 9 dis.—South Stafford-
shire, 4 dis.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, June 18.
Their Lordships met at Five o'clock.
The Ear! of WICKLOW presented a petition from eel.-
ain Irish solicitors against the Process and Practice Ire-
land Bill.

ENCUMBERED ESTATES ACT AMENDMENT

BILL.
The Marquis of WES MEATH moved the third
reading of this Bill, and repeated his former complaints
against the proceedings of the Commissioners for the sale
of Encumbered Estates in Ireland. He had in the

streets of Dublin overtaken a group of drunken fellows
who had declared that their wish was to uproot the
Irish landlords; and he believed such to be the wish of
the Ministers, with the exception of the Noble Marquis
opposite. He believed that they had indulged in the
abominable and wicked wish of changing, the whole pro-
prietary of Ireland. They had indulged the wicked
wish of selling the estates of the Irish proprietors,
in order to introduce capitalists who would advance
money to the tenants, and it was upon speculations of
this sort that this measure for the sale of encumbered

estates had been propounded. The highest legal authority
had said that there could not be a greeter calamity than
the establishment of a court from which there should

be no appeal, yet such a court was this court for the dis-
posal of encumbered estates in Ireland. He could
not believe that the Commons of England would consent
to let the present law remain unamended in the statute-
book. The Noble Marquis concluded by moving two
additional clauses. _ _ _

The Esrl of CARLISLE considered the whole Bill
unnecessary, and ho thought the clauses would still fur-
ther tend to militate against its progress in another
place, and therefore he must oppose them. One of those
clauses tended to circumscribe the powers of the Commis-
sioners in dealing with leases. Now, in many instances
neither tenants nor landlords could settle what were their
respective rights without extensive litigation in the courts
of equity. The Commissioners had now the power of
dealing with those rights, which had prevented extensive
litigation. If the clause were agreed to it would not only
prevent any sales for the future but, as it was retrospec-
tive, would vitiate those already made, which perhaps
was the object of the Noble Marquis. It would only
produce more mischief.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH had no objection to
withdraw the words which made it retrospective.
The Earl of GLENGALL supported the clauses.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH denied that the
lessees and landlords of Ireland did not know their
rights.
The Earl of CARLISLE said that the clauses pro-
posed would obstruct the working of the Act. •
The Marquis of WESTMEATH did not care one
straw for the working of the Act. He wished to obstruct
its working, and to prevent its working altogether. He
wanted to put a drag•chain upon the working of the
Act, and he did not care if the Act and its machinery
was sent he knew where.
The Duke of RICHMOND wished to know, if the
parties did not know their rights, how the Commissioners
should know them?
Lord BEAUMONT would have no objection to the
clauses if the grievances existed of which he complained,
and if the clauses would furnish a remedy, but he belibved
that both the Noble Marquis and himself had laboured
under a mistake with regard to that matter. The effect
of the rule made by the Commissioners was not, as he
and the Noble Marquis had thought, to diminish the
term of notice, but to extend it. The old law made six
months' notice requibite for the renewal of leases,
but the regulations of the Commissioners gave the six
months and something in addition. He would suggest
that the clauses be withdrawn. _ _ _

The Marquis of WESTMEATH still maintained his
own opinion on the matter, but as one of the clauses did
not seem thoroughly understood he would withdraw it.

The clause was then withdrawn.

The Marquis of WESTMEATH then proposed a
clause forbidding the sale of any encumbered estate unless
it should produce fifteen years' purchase. Persons had
been driven mad in Ireland by the operation of this law,
and had committed murder while in that state.
The Earl of CARLISLE was constrained to oppose
the clause even at the risk of being taunted with pro-
moting madness and murder. It was contrary to the
spirit of the Act, which was to leave the deci-
sion in all such cases to the Commissioners, who

were men of acuteness, honour, honesty, and
learning, and to pass this clause would
be to take a wrong estimation of the character of these
gentlemen, and to withdraw from them the confidence of
the House. The Commissioners, and he spoke by their
authority, were anxious to give an explanation of every
case which could be made matter of accusation against
them. If their Lordships chute to make this House a
court of appeal against their decisions' they would be
anxious to afford their Lordships explanations on any
individual case that could be brought forward against
them. He would supply their reasons, and explain to

Parliament the groiiiids on which they had decided.
The Noble Marquis had not thought proper to wait for
the production of the returns which had been moved for
—probably it answered his purpose best not to do so;
but he had been in communication with the Commis-
sioners. One of the cases brought against them was
that they had disposed of one estate for one and a half
year's purchase. That estate had been sold with the lull
concurrence of the creditors and the owners, and it was
doubtful whether the estate was worth the head
rent of two hundred pounds a year, and all parties
were agreed that it had fetched its full value. Another
estate had been sold at seven years' purchase; it was sub-
ject to a head rent of 4091.; it was let at 7321., and %as
sold for 2,2001. The holder coniented to the sale,
the creditors consented to the sale, but the proprietor
of the head rent opposed it. Dr. Layfield, one
of the Commissioners, whose political opinions dif-
fered from those of the Government, and assimilated
with those of the Noble Marquis, declared that the es-
tate had been sold fir its full value, and owners of pro-
perty were now anxious to bring their estates under the
jurisdiction of the Commissioners fur Encumbered Es-
tates.

The Earl of WICKLOW hoped that the Noble Mar-
quis would exercise the same sound discretion respecting
tnis clause, which he had exercised about his former
clause. It would be quite absurd to fix such a minimum,
for there were many properties in Ireland which would
be well sold for less thin fifteen years' purchase.
The Earl of DES ART proposed to add to this clause
the words, " without the consent of the proprietors."
'The Earl of CARLISLE must resist every amend-
ment which proposed to limit the powers of the Com-
missioners.
Lord STANLEY argued that, after the observation
of the Noble Earl, the question clearly resolved itself
into this—would the House leave the Commissioners
without restriction, or, in other words, would it allow
them to sell estates at five.or seven years' purchase, to
the ruin of the proprietors? If the Commissioners had
sold estates either for that or for a lower sum, it was a
complete justificardon for the Noble Marquis's introduc-
tion of this clause.. No man could say that in some cases
fifteen years' purchase might not be a reasonable rate,
but the whole question was, whether or not they would
fetter the Commissioners?
Earl FITZWILLIAM, though in some respects
friendly to the alteration which the Noble Marquis in-
tended to introduce, felt rather disposed against the
clause.
The Earl of CARLISLE observed that the Noble
Lord had mentioned sums paid for properties in Ireland,
but he did not relate the circumstances under which
those sums had been paid. In a case where the land
.vas let for 7301., the profit rent being the difference be-
tween that and 4001., the Commissioner said that in
England the estate might sell for, perhaps, 4,oool—it
actually sold for only 2,2001.
The Earl of STRADBROKE said that, no doubt,
estates had been sold in Ireland fur eight and ten years'
purchase; and if they. took what. those estates once let
for, it might be easy enough to show that many estates
were sold for eight or ten years' purchase; but such in-
stances should nut guide the legislation of Parliament.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the clause ... ... 32
Against it ... ..• 30
Majority in favour of the clause —2
On oar re-admisSiOn we found
The Marquis of WESTMEATH addressing their
Lordships and moving a clause, the object of which was
to give owners of estates, pending the proceedings con-
nected with sales of those estates, the same protection
from arrest as in cases of bankruptcy.
The Earl of CARLISLE observed that the Commis-
sioners had no power over all the estates which a man in
such circumstances might possess, but only over the par-
ticular propert7 then brought to sale. The party to
such a proceeding might possess other estates in Ire-
land, or several estates in England, and he was at a loss
to understand why such persons should be protected
from arrest. According to the law of this country, none
but those who gave up the whole of their property were
protected from arrest; therefore, on general grounds,
he advised the Noble Marquis not to insert such a
clause; he did not, however, wish to interfere further,
but to leave the Noble Marquis the entire responsibility
with reference to this Bill which he had taken on him-
self.
The clause having been agreed to, the Bill was read a
third time and passed.
THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN MINISTERS IN
THE HOUSE.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that in conse-
quence of an occurrence which took place yesterday it
became necessary that ho should give notice of a motion
for Friday next. That occurrence afforded the strong-
est possible proof of the necessity there was that they
should come to some positive arrangement for the accom-
modation in that House of the Foreign Ministers. He
need not add that the circumstance to which he referred
had taken place altogether under the influence of mis-
apprehension and mistake. It unfortunately happened
that a Foreign Minister of high character, of high re-
spectahility not only on account of his own personal
merits and worth, but on account also of the situation
which he held in this country, was obliged to leave a
place that he had occupied ;in that House during the
early
part of yesterday evening, a place which be had
some reason to think himself entitled to possess, but
which, according to a strict interpretation of the orders
of the House, must be regarded as set apart exclusively
for ladies. If the Foreign Ministers were excluded from
that position there was no place for them at present, ex-
cept a mere standing place. Now, there were many
people who could not stand throughout the whole of a
long debate. For these reasons, then, he hoped that
they would be able to consider of a place, a small place
certainly, but one in which the Foreign Ministers might
be satisfactorily accommodated; and he now begged to
give notice that on Friday next be should move for the
appointment of a Select Committee to make the arrange-
ments necessary for the accommodation in that House
country. He only
of the Ministers who represented foreign states in this
desired to add that abroad such ac-
commodation was provided in all public assemblies.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented potitiont coin,

plaidng of agricultural distress, from Taunton, trom
Jedburgb, and other p aces.
JUDGES OF ASSIZE BILL.
On the motion of the Earl of CARLISLE, the Judges
of Assize Bill was read a third time and passed.
Their Lordships then adjourned to It dq neat.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 18.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
PRIVATE BILLS.

The Bilston Improvement, Market, Waterworks, and
Cemetery Bill was read a third time and passed.
PETITIONS .

Mr. WD.I. BROWN presented a petition signed by
7,300 members of a Friendly Society at Liverpool (as
we understood) in favour of the Friendly Societies Bill
Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from the
managing committee of a Friendly Society, at Bristol,
against the Friendly Becieties Bill.
Mr. BRAMSTON presented a petition from a place
in Essex against the admission of Jews to Parliament.
Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD presented petitions
from the Presbyteries of Balleinana and Coleraine, pray-
ing for a better system of tenant right in Ireland.
Mr. LUSHINGTON presented a petition from the
Floral Unity Lodge of Odd Fellows against the Friendly
Societies Bill.
Sir C. BURRELL presented a petition from a place
in Sussex against, the admission of Jews to Parliament

Colonel TFIOMPSON presented a petition from the
South London District of Odd Fellows against thi
Friendly Societies Bill.
Mr. PORTAL presented a petition from Hampshire
against the admission of Jews to Parliament.
Mr, P. MILES pretented a petition from the managers
of the Savings' Bank at Bristol against the Savings Bank

Mr. PETO presented a petition from certain Dissent-
ing congregations in London against the compensation
clauses in the Metropolitan Interments Bill.
Mr. STUART presented a petition signed by 250 of
the respectable inhabitants of ...Newark against the spread
of beer shops.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH presented nine petitiors
from lodges of Foresters and Odd Fellows in favour c f
the Bill relating to friendly societies.
Mr. WALPOLE presented a petition from Midhurst,
as we understood, against the admission of Jews to
Parliament.

Mr. ADDERLEY presented similar petitions from
places in Staffordshire.
Mr. B. OSBORNE presented a petition from Cong,
in the county of Ray°, praying that the House would
pass a Bill providing for the revenues of the Protestant
Church in Ireland being applied to their original pur-
poses.
Mr. MACKINNON presented a petition from
Newington in favour of the Marriage Bill.
Mr. BANKES presented a petition from a place at
Dorset praying that the Savings Bank Bill be referred
to a Select Committee; also petitions from the same
place iu favour of and against the Ten Hours Bill.
Mr. COLVILE presented a petition from Derby
against the Savings' Bank Bill.
NOTICES OF MOTION.
Mr. THORNELY, in the absence of Mr. Ewart,
postponed the motion on the abolition of capital punish.
ment until the 13th of July.
Mr. O'CONNOR postponed his motion on the
People's Charter until further notice.
Mr. BOUVERIE postponed his motion on the subject
of divorce by private Acts of Parliament until the 11th
of July.

alter a great interruption would take place in the pro-
duction of cotton, and a great blow be inflicted on the in-
dustry of this country. To what other country could
they turn for this supply? Neither Australia nor the
new colony of Natal could be expected for some time to
be able to furni,h any facilities; the growth of cotton in
the West Indies had bten virtually extinct
for some years, and the British possessions in India
Sere the only places left to which they could
turn their attention. That this idea was by no means a
vain ore was proved by the efforts of the East India
Company, fur the last sixty years, to promote the growth
of cotton in their territories, at an expense of not less
than 100,0001. a-year, and the Select Committee of that
House had reported that all the natural circumstances
of that country were favourable to the experiment.
Ele did not mean to encourage the growth of cotton by
depressing any other branch of industry, but he intended
hat they should do so by those lawful means of which
a Government might properly avail itself for the
purpose of stimulating the energies of the
people. Now it was an extraordinary fact
that notwithstanding all the exertions of the

Government of India to encourage the growth of cotton,
no satisfactory results had been arrived at; and he
wished to know who it was that had been in error—

whether that House, the East India Company, or the
Manchester Chamber of Commerce, had been in error. He
knew not whether the Government would grant the Com-
mission of Incpiry which he proposed, but if they did
not, he thought they were bound to hold out some hope
to the country, that they would propose some measure
which would he at least as effectual as that which he now

proposed for the adoption of the (louse. Now it could al-
ways be ascertained from the condition of a people whether
the Government of their country was favourable or
unfavourable to their progress and prosperity. That was
fact which could not be too universally known; and
no should be able to show that the condition of the cul-

ivating population of India was by no means satisfac-
orv—that they were in a condition of extreme,

•abject, and almost universal poverty. He had
never yet met with any person acquaint-d
with India who denied that the condition of the culti-

vating population was unsatisfactory. All testimony
wai concurrent on that point. A celebrated Raja, who
visited this country twenty years ago, stated in a pam-
phlet which he published that such was the melancholy
condition of the agricultural labourers in India
that he always alluded to it with great
pain. Three years afterwards a distinguished gentle-
man connected with India, Mr. Shaw, who was a judge
AS well as the author of a standard work on India, said

he British Government was not regarded in a favourable
ight by the native population, and among the rea-

ions which he mentioried as giving rise to thi,

state of things, was the gradual impoverishment of the
country by a system of taxation and extortion un-
paralleled in the annals of any country.—(Hear.)
rhe Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to quote similar
suthorities for his opinion of India, and then went on to
state that he did not read these extracts for the purpose
of throwing obloquy upon the Government of India,
nor did be wish in the slightest degree
to exaggerate in colour the evidence he should adduce
in support of his motion. He brought that evidence
forward because ho intended to found his chief argu-
ments upon it. He did not say, nor could it be said,
that this miserable state _of things was the

fault of the people of India themselves, nor
did he wish entirely to attribute it to the
suits of their government, their fiscal system, or the
Idministration of their laws. There was nothing in the
tharacter of the people of India which should induce
his country to believe that they were not capable
of producing large and increasing supplies of
cotton, the result of their own industry. He came
next, then, to the question of government, and he might
,tats in the beginning he had no hostility to the India
Company, no portion of feeling against them mixed with
~he motives which bad induced him to bring forward this
question. He believed he should have from
,hem and the House an acknowledgment that he

tied kept himself from bringing charges against them
He had contented himself, and should continue to do so,
with bringing the simple facts before the notice of the
House. Now there were two main points upon which
dl the evidence concurred. With regard to the present
londition and future prospects of the people of India
here was no dispute whatever, but with regard to the
internal improvement of the country there was consider-
able difference of opinion. The Hon. Member read
several letters from gentlemen in the civil and military
-ervice of the East India Company, from a soldier in a
regiment of Fusiliers in India, from Colonel Grant and
Nlajor Coffin, describing the wretched means of rued
communication in the districts of Ghoozeran and
tlhooaerat, the great cotton growing districts of the East.
fie would recommend to the attention of the Indian
Government the account given by Mr. Dalrymple, in
1798, of the ancient Gentoo Government, and the
means adopted by them to ensure a continuity of
'avourable crops. He would also mention a report
,resented to the Governor-General, Lord Delhonsie
oy the merchants of India, which, he thought, showed
be great inattention which had been shown to the :re-
quirements of British India, which contrasted strongly
with the great and liberal public works of the ancient
princes. There was only another document to which he
would refer, and that was to the evidence of Mr. Mangles
,afore the Select Committee, who admitted that while the
dross revenue derived from India was at least
280,000,0001., something under 4,000,000/. had been
spent on internal improvements. He thought he had
made out a case against the East India Government for
ot attention to the internal improvement of those. provinces.
de would call the attention of the House to the manner
us which the revenue was raised by assessment on the
and. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to quote the
'vidence of Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Crawford, and Mr. Tucker,
o show that the land assessment interfered with the
3ultivation of cotton, and of the produce of the land
4enerally—the tax in many cases rising from fifty to
seventy per cent. on the value of the produce. The
dumbay merchants said they could not penetrate into the
nterior of the country, and the people of the interior
.aid they could not reach the out-ports, because of the
want of railways to aid them in communicating. As-
aiming, therefore, that the motion he was about to sub-
nit would be opposed by the Government, still he
thought they bad so far advanced in commercial matters
.n that House, that they would not be told by the Right
(ion. Gentleman that the merchants of Manchester had
,otter go to Bombay themselves to purchase their cotton.
the Right Hon. Gentleman pointed to the two blue
looks on the table, but he ought to know that
he Committee expressly stated their inability to
decide the question from want of sufficient infor-
mation. It was, indeed, for that reason that he now
proposed to have a royal commission to investigate the
subject further. A Commission had been appointed for
Ceylon„whose modes operandi was described in a report
made in the year 1831 by Lord Colebrooke to Lord
,Joodrich. When the Commissioners arrived in Ceylon
they published their commission in the English, Cinga-
ese, and Malabar languages. Numerous communica-
ions were immediately received from all parts of the
Aland, and from all villages, classes, and castes, and from
hese the Commissioners were enabled to draw up a list
f interrogatories, which led in the end to the accumu-
estion of extensive and valuable information respecting
ho cultivation and productions of Ceylon. In the same
manner he conceived that a Royal Commission appointed
at the present time would be attended with equal advan-
-ages. That they had the power to alter this state of
things there could be no doubt. The 95th section of
he Charter Act gave the Board of Control the power of
controlling all those Acts of the East India Company
which related to the government or revenue of their
territory, and the 51st section reserved the power of
supervision for Parliament. He would now call their
attention to the important subject of Indian finance,
which the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tam-
worth, in a speech which he made in the year 3842,
showed the House was intimately connected with that of
imperial finance, and it was in that imperial bearing that
he contended that Parliament had a direct interest in
the objects of his motion. The revenue of the United
Kingdom for the last nine years had not exceeded, on an
average, the sum of 56,000,0001. per annum; deducting
rom which 29,000,0001. for the funded and unfunded
lebt, they would have a net disposable fund of
25,000,000!. per annum. Now the Indian Government
received a gross sum of 22,500,000/., and the interest on
its debts and its dividends did not exceed 500,0001. So
that it left a net revenue of 22,000,000/. to the company,
against the 25,000,0001. that -belonged to the Govern-
client of the United Kingdom. Ho could not conceive
what the arguments would be, by which it would be at-
tempted to gainsay the impolicy of the condition of
things which he had pointed out. The Noble Lord
might say it was proved that cotton could not be had
from India, or that the condition of India was satisfac-
tory, or that a Commission would give no valuable in-
formation; and he might refuse the Commission.
But he (Mr. Bright) had shown that there was
a vast amount of industry. in this country sur-
rounded now by great perils, and that every
individual engaged in that industry would support
the proposition which he was now making. Let them
not say that they felt bound to reject this measure out
of a sentiment of delicacy towards the East ladie Com-
pany. Their Charter Act would expire in 1854, and
next year they would have to give notice of their desire
to have it renewed. Now Parliament, unfortunately,
did not know much about these Indian questions, and
hence it would be a great advantage to every Honour-
able Member to approach the subject, when ready for dis-
cussion, with the knowledge which would be derived
from the report of a Commission. Hence on all grounds
he thought the motion worthy of being carried. If it
were rejected, it would not be the rejection of the East
India Company, nor of the Right Honourable Gentleman
the President of the Board of Control, but of the Noble
Lord himself who was at the head of the Government.
If the Government were incapable of appreciating' the
importance of this matter, he would turn to the House
of Commons, in the belief that it would sympathise, if
not with the interest which this country had ita it, at
least with the condition of the countless millions by
whom India was peopled.—(Cheers.)
Mr. M. GIBSON seconded the motion.
Sir JOHN C. HOBHOUSE said he bad to request
the indulgence of the House while he attempt, d to
recur to the various topics which the Hon. Member had
just brought under the consideration of the House, and
t the outset he might assure the lion. Member that he
was not himself (Mr. Bright) more sensible of the mag-
nitude and importance of the subject, and of its various
bearings, than he was. He conk. assure him that since,
and, indeed, before he gave nis notice of motion, his at-
tention had been drawn to the examination of the ques-
tion, and he could add to this assurance this further
one, that if he (Sir J. Hobhouse) thought the Hon.
Member's plan would effect the object it professed to
have in view, he would say at once " take a Royal Com-
mission and make the best use of it." But the Hon.
Member'a motion involved, not only the question which
he had so promptly and so ably brought forward, viz..
the beat mode, of securing a large and constant supply of
cotton, but to a great extent also, the industrial and
OCOWILIiC3I condition of the people of India.' Who

Honourable Gentleman admitted that the E tst India

Company were not to blame. Since tie year 1783 there
were reports o❑ this subject, which were contained in
five hundred and fifteen pages, of which a summary had
been made by Dr. Boyle, from which it appeared that
the greatest attention had been paid to this subject since
that period, and, in fact, from the year 1788 to 1839,
there had been eight different measures to promote the
cultivation of cotton, and this course was pursued up to
1839, when Lord Auckland esiablished his experiment
by sending ten American planters to the country fur the
purpose of improving the cultivation. Four were sent
to the presidency of Madras, three to Bengal, and three
to Bombay. Even last year the company offered a re-
ward of 5,000 rupees for improved cotton cleaning.
Then there was the Committee which sat in 1847 and
1848, of which the lion. Gentleman was chairmati, and
certainly there was no objection made to the appointment
of that Committee. It made its report in July. The
Hon. Gentleman took no exception to the evidence, but

he Ras not pleased with the report, and he considered

at it was a fair reduction from the evidence. It cer-

;ainly did not recommend a Royal Commission, as the

H n: Gentleman had now proposer]. It is true the

Committee expressed their apprehension tbat the
growth of cotton would fall into its old course
if Government relaxed its efforts to improve it.
Now, he would ask, why had not the capital
and intelligence of this country been applied to the cul-
tivation of cotton, as it had been to that of other pro.
ductions of India? The Honourable Gentleman re-

sorted to the vexed question of the land assessment to
account for it, but several of the witnesses who had been
examined by the Committee stated that it had nothing
to do with the question. He could only deduce one fact
upon this point—that the Committee did not report
upon it all. The Committee, however, did justice to the
East India Company, and he hoped the House would do

the same. It should be observed that an improvement
had been made with regard to the assessment which was
now taken on the character of the soil, instead of the na-

tare of the produce. The company were making great
efforts for the promotion of the cultivation, and were
alive to its importance; but he doubted whether we
could compete with American cotton; still every effort
should be made to improve the cultivation in India.
There was something in the produce which prevented
such competition, an opinion which was confirmed
by tho testimony of Doctor Boyle, though he was
acquainted with the sentiments of Mr. Crawford upon
the subject; and after quoting that gentleman's
opinion, he said he thought the cotton of
India, on account of the shortness of the staple
and the quantity of dirt it contained, was not so fit for
British manufactures as the cotton of America. The dirt

in India cotton amounted to 25 per cent., while in tha
of America it was not more than 121 per cent. There
was the same difference in the comparative produce per
acre. In India it was fifty to a hundred pounds an acre,
while in America it was from two hundred and fifty to
three hundred pounds an acre. Besides, a great deal of
the produce of cotton in India was required for clothing
the population, which amounted to 120 millions, so that
they would never expect a large supply from that
country. Other products, such as indigo and opium,
had greatly increased, and there was no reason for sup-
posing but the same result would take place with regard
to cotton, if it was profitable. The land assessment was
not the obstacle. The ryots were not the serfs the Hon.
Gentleman represented. The Hon. Gentleman charged
the East India Company with neglecting the roads and
irrigation. He would say nothing with regard to what
had been done towards the formation of railways. The
Hon. Member for Westbury had the other night fully ex-
plained that; but with respect to irrigation, the Company
had expended, in the presidency of Bengal, 586,001. for
canals; besides, there was the estimate for the Ganges
Canal, which amounted to a million.—(Hear.) And in
Bombay there had been an expenditure of 230,0001., be-
sides an annual sum of 50,0001. in clearing canals, and
another annual expenditure in the Punjaub of 50,0001.
for the purpose of irrigation. The Hon. islember com-
plained that larger sums had not been expended, but
he should consider the great expenditure occasioned by
the wars they had been recently engaged in; which,
however, it was to be hoped would not be required again,
and that a larger balance would in future remain for
these purposes. Another point urged was the condition
of the people. No doubt in India, as in other countries,
there would be found great distress. The cultivation
of cotton had greatly increased according to the state-
ment of Mr. Hamilton Bell. The increase was in the
north-west provinces, and there the condition of the
people had greatly improved—wages had increased.
The people were better fed, and this improvement
would lead to their requiring better clothing. The peo-
ple were indisposed to make accumulations, except for
their marriages and the expenses of their religion. The
Right Hon. Gentleman read largely from a private letter
of Mr. Frier, to prove that even marvellous changes for
the better had taken place in the Sattara district in the
Deccan. After an absence of some years, the writer
could scarcely recognize the people, so much were they
improved in condition and circumstances. That district
had bad no special advantages. The whole was the effect
of good revenue administration. There bad officers
could be found he did not deny, but he could make the
same admissions with respect to other departments.
Generally speaking there was every sign of improve-
ment morally and socially. The abominable practice of
Thuggee, which no former Government had attempted to
grapple with, was now almost wholly done away with,
Life and property were generally and permanently secure.
That never was the case before. The Right Hon. Gentle-
man read from a very learned work by Sir Henry Elliot
up in Mohammedan history. In the preface to that book
Sir Henry had asserted, that within the last half century
the English had done more fur India than had ever been
done in ten times the period before. Now, with reference
to the cotton commissioners, if any gentleman went from
Manchester, they would have to spend five years in In-
dia before they learned what they had to do, and then
they must go to the servants of the company for the in-
formation they required. They kcal, in fact, at the pre-
sent time every information that these gentlemen could
require. He did notsee, there fore, what a Commission
could do more than the company had done, or were wil-
ling to do. If the Manchester capitalists would ensure a
certain price, the growers in India would ensure them
any amount of supply of that article.—(Hear.) There
was, he would remind the Hon. Gentleman, a commercial
association in Manchester,which bad fora long time been
in communication with the East India Company respect-
ing the best mode of improving the quality and increas-
ing the quantity of cotton grown in India. -The board
of that association a ere opposed to this suggested
Royal Commission, entertaining grave doubts as to its
useful operation. The experienced members of that
board were inclined, from experience, to trust to the
efforts of the East India Company. The Hon. Member,
therefore, did not represent the whole commercial in-
terests of Manchester. Ho represented the Manchester
Chamber of Commerce—a very important part, no
doubt, but not the whole. Then with respect to the
commissions sent to the other parts of the world, if in-
quiry was made it would be found that they were newly-
acquired territories, and that their object was to inves-
tigate the laws and customs of the people. Ho objected
to the supersession of the East India Company by the
issue of this Royal Commission. It would be implying
a reflection upon all that the company had done for the
promotion of this great object. What more could a
Commission do that had not been done? They could
ask questions, but questions had already been asked.
The nook contained thousands of questions, and both
the Governors-General of India and the officers of the
company were a illing to do all that was desired for the
advancement of cotton cultivation. As neither the
Government at home, nor the officers and servants of
the company abroad, had neglected their duty in this
respect, he did recommend the Hon. Gentleman not to
press his motion.—(Hear.)
Sir EDWARD COLEBROOKE said he admitted
the difficulty of forming a Commission such as that sug-
gested, without the concurrence of the East India Com-
pany and the Government, but be would suggest that
these Commissioners should not come altogether from
this country. The servants of the company might form
an important element in the Commission, and if they
entered into an inquiry with a proper spirit, no doubt
everything anticipated as desirable would be obtained.
The Hon. Gentleman who had brought forward this
motion had spoken too sweepingly respecting the results
of the Indian revenue system. In the north-west the
settlements had been periodical, and the instructions
under which he had acted in India as a revenue officer
when carried out, did not leave the land valueless.
Far from it. At the same time, the revenue had im-
proved 75 per cent. Up to last quarter the value of
land had doubled. The Government were guilty of gross
neglect with respect to the internal communication in
India, and therefore hoped that the House would take
this matter into their serious consideration, as such neg-
lect tended not only to the injury of the British empire,
but to the colonies individually, which, he regretted to
say, was a source of complaint with other colonies as
well as this, to which he more particularly referred, for
he felt assured that such a line of policy tended to inter-
fere with the revenue of this great empire. .
Mr. NEWDEGATE could easily believe that as far
as the internal administration of India was concerned.,
there was a great improvement; but locking at the diffi-
culty of communication between the interior and the
coast, he thought that the Hon. Gentleman Mr. Bright
need not look for any great supply of cotton from that
country. He (Mr. Newdegate) thought it deserving of
consideration to inquire what were the causes which
operated to produce the falling off of the production or
supply of cotton from India. The question was worthy
of inquiry. He believed the real cause was attribut-
able to the low price given in the markets of this coun-
try for it. He had a letter in his possession from a
large and respectable house in the trade, which would
show that, and prove that the discouragement given
to the cultivation of the article was owing to the low
prices given by the spinners for it. The Hon. Member
read returns which had been furnished him in support of
his argument; and then directed the attention of the
House to the article of sugar, with a view of showing
that the alteration of the tariff in this country, and the
throwing open cf the trade, had caused large tracts of
cotton-growing countries* in the United States to be di-
verted from the production of that article to that of en-
g'-tr. How, he would ask, were they to get out of the
difLulty ? He thought it would be wise in the House to
reimposo one penny per pound on cotton, as a muses of
getting out of the scrape into which the Free-traders had
brought the country, for as the Free-traders had got the
country into a scrape, so they must get:it out of t
Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON said that the tranel.n co
ton engrossed a capital of 70,000,0001 or 80,00000:1; and
gave employment t 02,000.000 people in the British io6l l ?
fhey were chiefly dependent on one country—the Untied.
States—forin possession
their chief
He waa,
however,
would show that India afforded not only an ample but a
n f supplyia d
oonfbtthe the article.
authority,
rich field for the cultivation of cotton, and that, if pro•
perly attended to, the cultivation of the article
would become so profitable in that country, as to render
England, for its supply of it, independent of the United
Ststes.—(Hear, hear.) There were, it was true, diffi-
euitieo in the -w Y+ but they were of a nature which 134-