The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-09 00:00:00

Years, 51
len place.
; that five
,thee had
accept the

previous session of Parliament made a long—he feared a too
I"g—defence of the Affghanistan expedition, and the
attempt which had been made by two Honourable
Members to impugn that policy having received so
cold a reeep'ion from that House—he did not think it so
very likely that the subject would, in the last session of Par-
liament, nave been again brought on. This was his sincere
excuse for not being present, though he did not choose to admit
t a man was to be bound un a notiae given by an Hon.
Member to attend, or, failing to do so, was to be looked upon,
ors charged, with shrinking from taking part in the defence of
friends or colleagues.—( Hear, hear.) For he found that
the Hen. Member for Bath, last session of Parliament, gave
ustiee that he would bring the subject before the House,
Ind he appeared somewhat to complain of the Noble Lord
the Member for Dorsetshire for taking up the subject, and pre-
skuern(ir.rt.o poach on his manor—( Laughter and cheers )—as if
Reebtica) had a sort of freehold in grievances—
f7aughter)—and as if it was a kind of uffenee in any one but
nnself to address the House in regard to wron2s or to wrong-
doers—(Cheers and laughter;—and as if he, the Hon. Member
Srf Bath,for_ eo.uld manage 'all thesei sort of things with much more
. e and dignity than either the Noble Lord or Roy, other
auember of that House.—( Loud cheers.) The Hon. Gentle-
nsan (Mr. Roebuck) must excuse him for stating that in
giving his notice the other da it was impossible for him ( Sir
°l'n Hobhouse) or his colleagues to guess exactly what he
Zeantt for kis notice then was something to the effect—that
thee House, while giving the due meed of praise to the skill f
. Generals and the valour of the troops by whom the terri-
netO
cif Snide had been conquered, nevertheless deemed it
,aore'sarY to condemn that selfish and meddling policy which
hs, upon our arms the necessity of euch a conquest. Wttlye,
t notiee was in fact an implied attack and censure upon the
whole history and policy of the East India Company.
/Vehtn he read the motion of the lion. and Learned Gentleman
'ad no idea that he intended to make a long, detailed, and
Perhasa. a
%nay' ue might say able, charge against the late Governor-
t a„`,ral- In all his experience as a member of the House, and
lthaar•ended now over a space of twenty-five years, never was
at House. from a notice of 48 hours, called upon to decide
ti three questions of such importance as the present. The
done °n• and Learned Gentleman asserted that, whatever was
th,bY Lord k.llenborough was done in consequence of the
-PcnicY and injusticeinjustice of his predecessors; an'! lie further
that t restore dominion to the Sindians was im-
i'°sliible• The Honourable Gentleman should not have said
'°r whatever is right is possible. By an ingenious—
poi'epo not term it fraud—no, by an ingenious artifice— .
pupon the table of the House three propositions, which, in
ast of injustice, unfairness, and disingenuousness, were un-
Paralleled in the history of Parliament.—(Hear, hear) And,
anlnti !how or other, the House seemed to )
entertain the same
.1h""n•---( Loud cries of " Hear, hear." The Hon. and
to-Pied Member had room enough for the race—he had no-
-47 to back him. The imputation of injustice, impolicy, or,
Ll': Hon. Gentleman's own language, of monstrosity against
1112.4 Auckland, he thought could have scarcely entered into
Alotieirnagination even of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman.
e Gentleman was, at all events, singular in his opi.
Will and
(turning to the chair) you, Mr. Speaker,
ue freed front the trouble, the disgust, of
ti"outirlhder, listening; to an accusation which has not
in this House, and I believe would not find in this coon-
a ; 'seconder. The Hon. Gentleman made a variety of accu-
tio°°l°!, but they were not founded on fact. Hardly any aster-
"g Made, except a just tribute to the character of the gal-
a.. Napier, were just and well founded. The Hon. and
thorned Gentleman, after the fashion of a certain French au-
itg, said that he would begin at the beginning, and accord.
Siala he went into the history of our early intercourse with
ire !, and mentioned some of the treaties, amongst other
twines that of leo9. Up to that tine he said our policy
iledds Sinde was of a voluntary description, which signi-
Ilia that they might not do anything that they
tirtlit't Wish. The Honourable and L-arned Gentleman
of I:1: stated that our policy towards them was subsequently
lao9 Mvoluntary chat aeter. But what was the treaty of
thee? ft. What was the 4th article of that treaty ? It was to
terrWeet that no Frenchman should he allowed
,to settle in the
tearanraY of Sinde. Was that voluntary the Hon... and
Petle-e° Gentleman said that we deprived Sinde of its inde-
ttisnd-inee, and oppressed it because the Ameers wrote a
tiittrY letter to the Shah of Persia. A friendly letter it cer-
Is% Y Was to the Shah of Persia, but most unfriendly to us.
weatewhat was that but the stronger imposing upon the
'ertrai Surely no country would voluntarily adopt such a
nation."' The fact was, that Sinde was not then an independent
tauserts;aln. 1820, at a suggestion of 6hah Mahomed, a clause was
tureaa" in the treaty with the Indian Government, that
tort' peens and Americans should not settle in the Sinde tern-
Siadia°This country had all along in their dealings with the
lUbjeet People, treated them not as an independent tribe, but as
urstil t° the King of Caubul, and they were subject to him
the "e Made them independent. They never were tree from
QeriTntrol of Shah Mahomed. The Honourable and Learned
la,34`:eraan after going through the treaties of 1829, 1832, and
koscathe to the treaty of 1836, of which he gave
end t completed misrepresentation from beginning to
tricker( Hear, hear.) He charged Lord Auckland with
de ice
he'd treachery, which if his Lordship were guilty of, he
detiverve to be instantly impeached, and he pretended to
teak i information from garbled extracts from the Blue
kickla The Hon. and Learned Gentleman said that
Lord
was aisaild had conveyed to the Ameers, that Runjeet Singh
Plieat"tit to invade them, and them. by induced them to sup-
ice %the aid of the British Government. That was not the
Itith th—n.rd wrn• Bentinck, in 1831, had become acquain
tat,-
of ei.intention of Runjeet Singh to take the first opportu-
loarea invading Sinde. The Indian Government had endea-
Sind,' Eton issaude him from it, and in 1336 he marched upon
Loath° aal the Punjaub, and encamped in the neigh-
to eoin of Caubul. Shah Mahomed sent a messenger
*ha onu
el Pottinger in Cutch to require his interference, and,
totsan was very singular in that communication, he did . not
tare w Lis request to Affghanistan, but requested that a British
tre ice
be sent to Shikarpore.! Was that baseness and
QolataerY ? In assisting the Ameers, did not the Indian
astirta'sment assist the weak against the strong ? Did they not
giethti,he Sindians and save them from the grasp. of Runjeet.
tripartite The lion. and Learned Gentleman said that in the
Posed of a,treaty the Indian Government had all at once dis-
posed
0. Sinde by the sixteenth article of that treaty. Dis-
the itor Stride ! Why that wax the first acknowledgment of
infiaeirlsendence of Sinde—acknowledged to be a nation whose
"'atm was paramount in the east. They had been ele-
tiatien nin dependence on Caubul into an ally of the British
kell„: The Hon. and Learned Gentleman had asked what
guilt Vas there to suppose that Lord Ellenborough could be
reason any baseness. He (Sir John Hobhouse) knew no
tad -Ll' Why Lord Ellenborough should be guilty •if baseness,
of
ue knew no reason why Lord Auckland should be guilty
't He believed they were equally free from the charge of
..!lerteas and he believed Lord Auckland to be as honourable
`aid as upright as Lord Ellenborough, and at !east as well ac-
qttaltited with Indian affairs as the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
ASlat, He said that Lord Auckland took money from the
meers of Sinde. Twenty-one lacs of rupees were received, but
11 should not be forgotten that the Ameers obstructed
a"',ur march into Affghanistan, which was delayed five weeks by
them. Fifteen lacs of rupees had been given to Shah Soojah,
'n'l if
•eShah Soojah had remained upon the throne, as Lord
S'saria kland contemplated, that payment would effectually have
prevented future demands on the Ameers. He considered that
,°e independence of Sinde, and freedom from the control of 14°e_ Affghan Sovereign, was cheaply purchased by twenty .one
Si, f
arupees. The other six lacs were paid to Runjeet
13,0,18,0 ind were no more than sufficient to liquidate the ex-
ame:ie , one regiment. The Learned Gentleman reeapitu-
wnat he termed the horrors of the Affghan expedition,
s.i„eesprinkled himself and his Noble Friend Lord Auckland
fully
dblood. The policy of that invasion had been already
41"ri his The
and he would not revert to it further, than by de/eireg,dthat it was then deemed judicious, and, having been
/a,,arehin 'O, Lord Auckland was perfectly justified in
are h g his troops through the Sindian territory.
~,zillea:sthe same right to call for the assistance of the people of
the from the others of our allies ; and we were justified
-n;its"? course which we had taken. But the Learned Gentle-
te n had
()said that Lord Auckland took the wrong route—that
aorienght
ofto ha.ve passed into Affghanistan through the terri-
to sa ~as a
i y friendly
with whom the British (government in
th relations. He (Sir J. H.) had a right
Inept at Lord Auckland was bound to consider his Govern-
S hem i
a_'9de as
IS in as friendl relations with the Ameers of.
pusina ith Runjeet Singh—( Hear)—who, instead of
thne Leßarnuea'a Gentleman
doing all he ceuld to oppose us.—( Hear.)
way kuentleman said that they ought to have taken
Khyber Pass ; but he might as well have said that
41,th1.YianZht to have taken the way by the Gulf of Mexico.—
iarndath:pe'roentha.te.otf the time, Runjeet Singh had a large army,
was no more reason for relying upon his friendship
the people of Sinde. Besides, the British
gYretZotekahe route through the countries in which there was
leY re' Prospect Prospect of a sufficient supply of provisions, and
ae!arned
used the other route, because, in the words of the
aanegter. s en,llemen himself, it was impos,ible.—( Cheers and
;41 nt, anti he course taken by Lord Auckland's Govern-
im hy titiene measures taken by them, were forced upon
a7Pect to sir geney of the times.—( Hear, hear.) With
iry that he 11_ 1,-lenry Pottinger—he ( Sir J. Hobliouse)—must
~4:ciught aoitr, now heard, for the first time, the accusation
th°"ht " that he was one of those Indian servants
a. he nta too much of their own importanee.—(Hear.)
taariadiatti
serligianhttrsemind the Hon. and Learned Gentleman that
:etl2l:d Otuforitdbheeeri
itra
jkee;tneor!sanyot the only persons who thought too
importanee.—(Laughter and cheers.) more
Ter the Gallant Officer was not more
let:4s than
the into hasty expressions or unconsidered state-
Lzdano cries 1-1, on. and Learned Member himself.—(Laugh-
etrZt
p`ortcggted fittr, hear.") The Government, however,
Ge (Sir nopffioneewehsicchomhims
suungic,aetsotaionns;
were
the groiandst offered.
iti3Ogteleasntoan,'ll,.aci )sahidad;
and,not distinctly heard all that the Hon.
therefore, it might be that he was
laban (lUestinr." over some of his assertions upon that part of
la"44.r:ally to, He could, therefore, only say, that, what they
ti a'a t, ,_),°k to, was what the Governor-General had dome.
,
1 hut,'a(ol not acted upon the suggestions of Sir H. Pot-
ta_ to t n the de arted from them as a refer-
•alle Blue Bo k ' . '
ged aaar -would show. Now, with reference to
1,43ir
anemanecaeewssitiohtn.tshtoelf, Lord Auckland in Snide—the Hon.
• "tog
an seemed that. they consisted not only in
katterfere n'Y across the territory of the Ameers_i but in
ftertrrou_rable and , navigation of the Indus. Now, the
Learned Gentleman would see, by re-
',ra "° th
Wer, Aueldanl
_,Papers (pages from 110 to 180), that
th not bound to not ask •at abet ound to anything, which the Ameers
pro ey neva_ y( Hear hear. ) And, further, er bedobjec to that treat 'or ob'ected to carry out
Siithesi...,More than that, the Indian Government did
qitib aPpre,vee3r, hear rore'ts of Noor Mohamed, and the people of
taeas aaTdalbletehnat had been done by the Government.
qae t° what h he Learned Gentleman was entirely misa
cio W • Lever d'd done in respect to the ports of Ku a-
'tette.'" was ha I take with
of them. All that we
agreement with the Ameers that we should
Jur
e:1-'ig Oh: teiZtil
-"g the
i;Lver niadelri.e,riod When buto that we should have troops there
ccytiownetre nechessary. The AMeers
g troops there. The
Vi'tZession said that when Lordeer Ifleinnboroug h came into
aq,,grat di,te the said
of India, he had to contend
tvilanou,e) ulttes. Certain] I,e had, and
.he (Sir John
. taut' W
hal'nleede heel
the lion.paerindtoLes
taat' Was pro'q nut feel called u jr
•
114
queLee n reference to
h:tiessary eonse done by Lord Ell b oueh was net the
aayrnmedorGe ntleman than
en or
t '1314 did ers• Thof what had been done by Lord uc - A k
oadiia, hat b__r
..e dates of the Hon. and Learned Gen-
C " Lord's out in his own statement that
_the
aulatd. /, Ellenboroue
vaVhslan c'e had received ah was occasioned by the affair
had the
Ce 'eh the e're henews of the success in Aff-
Ti rtainly rtic)ti" of the in those steps respecting Sinde
,a ere e Govern_ Pat°hle Lord was intended to impugn.
:here
a.eat; persons
st L'urn-:aeneral had much to contend with.
hew ere _
aat
onelrup,ulous Press that ever existed.
IS() tc, e ho were scarcely less scrupulous;
‘tol,se ",l.t pro "e d with gentlemen in Parliament who
Wia_ Merit, snort, atter four
If-Jh might
did nr,t
,Possibly
s Public, to bring forward charges
duct th tel ealled u oreled.—(Cheers and laughter.)
hekl ,an that it pon to say more of Lord Ellenborough's
of a and 3. L was not the same
gems_ _ ord Ellenborouehor continuous with Lord
t,;iarles lavvieen to that of " objected to the employment
such
.„rrspep, r, „hose
name
co al
idistinguished man as Sir
;at r
al:Ot Only accost tu never be mentioned but
11
Tieanrotahn
.ssoolations n
.of his own merits, but on ac-
bet office, In that HouQ, witn which that name was convected,
„wad!
t,
a- could deny that we owed more to
tuightg what he nhand to any other in India.—( Cheers. ) ts,e„,are allowed to taken the liberty to say to the House
41„..,0nid yo d,efenee
againasttate that he had risen to give an
aorn'Y Put it to theentrecessarY attack.—(Laughter.)
the Arne ou,e whether when justi •
ers, they Le was
were to forget what was

rose t°,-
,sse'hef the
ns, ° he
buck), a
"
which •ocr
nebet n
t;009.:
%Oleo thi
t apolog;
vg In

7`.

due to our own functionaries who took upon themselves r the Affghan war, but be could not join in a vote of censure on
those tremendous duties, and who were distant from the per. that enlicy at the present moment, and to bring the whale
sons who could advise them.—(Cheers.) They held in their weight of Government to bear against those whom he had
hands the balance of the fate of this empire, and in justice to succeeded in office.—( Cheers. ) It was not necessary for his
them, those attacks which had no object, and could purpose to question the policy of Lord Auckland, but in vindi-
serve no purpose but the gratification of spleen eating the policy pursued by Sir Charles Napier and Lord
and vanity should be received with caution at the least Ellenborough, it was impossible to forget the position in Which
Indeed, he believed that the time had come when they would they found themselves placed at the close of 1842. What
never hear of such charges brought forward after the lapse of was the position in which the British Government was placed
years, except from the Hen. ant Learned Member himself.— , with regard to the Ameers of Sinde ? It was described in a
(Hear, hear.) Let them only see when this charge was j dispatch which Lord Auckland addressed to the Government
brought. In 1839 the treaty with S.nde was laid on the table; at home. That dispatch was No. 166, and in it he stated that
in 1840 it was discussed, and in 18-14 the Hon. Member : he co tgratulated the Directors of the East India Company,
brought forward his charge. The only reason why the charge I upon the results of the policy of the Indian Government as the
was not sooner m- de was, that it was not tenable. It required political and military ascendancy of this country was esta-
more special pleading than an every-day Member of Parlia- blished in Sinde. he said that the confederacy of the
ment could make anything of.—( Cheers and laughter.) With ' Ameers was dissolved; and now that each would be respon-
res•,ect to the motion of the Noble Lord opposite (Lord sible for his (yen individual acts. A change had been produced ,
Ashley), he was inclined to think with the Right Hon. Secre- in the constitution of Sinde. It was placed under British pro-
tars for the Board of Control, that it was not right to inter- 1 tension. It was brought within the circle of our Indian relations,
fere with these matters, and that, in the present situation of and a British force was to be placed in Tatta, or to such
the Ameers, every attention should be paid to them, and other place west of the Indus as Government might think fit.
their personal liberty should not be interfered with more than Lord Auckland stated that their empire would be consolidated
was necessary for the preservation of the peace of India. by, and their cammerce extended through, Affghanistan
As a general rule the less interference there was on the part of thereby. He recommended to have 2,500 men placed in Sinde,
the Members of Parliament, or of that House, with the Indian which might then be looked upon as a frontier station, These
Government, the better. That was his oeinion ; but at the 1 passages from Lord Auckland showed that the independence of
same time he would not say a case might tint arise, and if such Sinde was at an end, for he says, " your military and political
a case should arise he would go a great deal farther. He supremacy is established." But they gains,) these great :silvan-
should not content himself with casting a side-wind upon the tares, not only for themselves but for the sake of
civilisation,
Government. He should make a positive charge which should which would be advanced in consequence of the opening of the
end with something like a conclusion, and a serious Indus. Such were our relations with Sinde when Lord El-
one too. But he owned he would not interfere while lenbourgh went to that country. They had met with reverses in
there was a Government to regulate the affairs of India. On Caubul, and Lord Ellenborough intr.:lit necessary for the security
this account he was sorry to say, and with the greatest respect of their Indian Empire to make a retrograde nicesement, and
for the Noble Lord who made the motion, that it was irapos- to evacuate Cauhul. They could not do that without raising
sible to come te the conclusion that he ought to vote for it. an opinion, through the Nepaul, Bundelkund, and Gwalior coon-
Sir C. NAPIER. said that he rose, not to pass any juries tries, possessing betwixt 30,000 and 50,000 troops, that their
I
meat on the conduct of Lord Ellenborough or Lord Auckland, military supremacy was drawing to a close. How was Lord
he left that to gentlemen who were better acquainted with India I Ellenborough to deal with Slade in such circumstances ?
than he was; but he was abeut to say a few words relative to i Caubul was evacuated by the Khyber Pass, an operation of
what had fallen from the Noble Lord (Ashley) respecting j great danger. There was at the same time a simultaneous
his (Sir Charles Napier's) gallant relative. The Noble evacuation of the Lower Indus. What impression would this
Lord hail stated, in ore of his observations that had I leave upon the minds of the public of India, if they saw them
Sir C. Napier followed the advice of Major Outram, there I thus abandoning their hold upon the Indus? Could they, under
would have been no war in India—that things would have been these circumstances, make their retreat insecurity.s—( Hear,
brought to a safe and satisfactory conclusion. He ( Sir C. hear.) Would not their rear be on by an
Napier) differed entirely from the Noble Lord, and he was enormous force, which would have rendered their retreat
decidedly of opinion, after having read all the correspondence, difficult ?—( Hear, hear.) They must have abandoned all the
that he could only compare his conduct to that of Mr. Frere, advantages which the previous policy of Lord Auckland had
relative to Sir John Moore, when the latter commanded the obtained. They must have abandoned Kurachee, and given
army in Spain. He was astonished that a military officer like up their security for the free navigation of the Indus.—
Major Outran should have given the advice he had to Sir C. ( Hear, hear.) The treaty had been violated by the Ameers.
Napier. He was of opinion that if any blame whatever was Sir Charles Napier gives an account of their constant oh-
to be attached to Sir Charles Napier, it was for his struction of boatmen—of the duties imposed on the traffic, arid
having delayed his march on Hyderabad so long. It was there was a disposition manifest to close the Indus. Suppose
clearly stated that Major Outran had asked him to the country had been abandoned, would it be contended that
delay three days, and it appeared he had delayed there was any guarantee that the Ameers would observe the
four days with the prospect of hot weather coming on, and .tipulations of the treaty. It became absolutely necesaary for
thus exposing his army to destruction. In another part of his L.rd Ellenborough to do what he had done, as a means of
speech the Noble Lord had fallen into error. There was not securing the observance of the treaty. The violation
an Hon. Gentleman who admired the Noble Lord more than he of the treaty on their part justified him in
iu-
(Sir C. Napier) did, as a just and humane man ; but still it flitting a penalty on the Ameers, which left them
showed how even such a man, when he took up such a sub- no alternative but to submit. His Noble Friend said that the
ject, might be swayed by erroneous opinions. The Noble charge brought against the Ameers, and the treachery of
Lord had quoted the letter of Sir C. Napier to the Ameers ; Roostum Khan, was not proved, because it was not satisfae.
but the Noble Lord ought also to have quoted another letter torily shown that the letter which was said to convict him
of the Gallant General to show in whet condition he was when was written by him and that it would not be satisfactory in
he penned the letter to the Ameers. On the 18th of a Court of Justice. That might be so, but if they were to
March, 1843, the position in which the Gallant General, wait in their dealings with Indian Governments till they had
as appeared from his letter to the Governor-General him-elf, proofs which would be satisfactory in a court of justice, he
was that he had but 1,500 men without any reinforcements ar-
was afraid they must be prepared to receive very serious blows.
riving.He was in the midst of an insurgent population with —(1-leer, hear. ) His Nobie Friend would find in the papers
that, the Minister of Roost= Khan was disposed to act
all the magazines and hospitals filled with wounded nice, and
having a large fortress and immense treasure to guard, arid treacherously to Englan-l. And would they establish the prin.
treacherous Ameers to deal with. Now, he (Sir C. Napier) elide that the Minister may intrigue as he pleased, but that the
would ask the Noble Lord, placed in the situation in imbecile Ameer was never to be punished unless the guilt
was brought home to him a if that principle were once
which the Gal!aot General was, with only 1,50 e men,
in a hostile country, and in a climate enough to destroy established, he was indeed afraid that their supremacy in India
rt as held by a very slender thread. If the doctrine was este-
my army—whether it was fair or just to excite the
Wished, that an old Ameer of 85 was to be considered innocent,
feelisig of the House against him in the manner in which he
while his Mittister was engaged in intrigues hostile to them,
had (tone ? He eompsred the conduct of Sir C. Napier to•
wards the Ameers to that of Lord Cornwallis with the sons of they might take us by surprise and overwhelm us. —( Hear,
hear.) When a charge was brought, in 1839, against the
cippoo Saib. It was impessible for a -Ingle moment for any
Hon. Gentleman in that House to make the slightest compare-
same Ameer for treasonable correspondence with Persia, it
son between the conduct of the two. Tne Noble Lord had
was very difficult to b: ing home the fact to him. There could
defended the intentions of the Ameers. New, had the Ameers be no doubt that one of the Ameers was guilty, and strong
stained the victory, what would have been the fate of the 13ri- suspicion rested upon the others. With regard to questions of
riot forces ? Every one of them would have been treachery, they should act upon moral conviction, arid unless
massacred. —( Hear, hear.) So the confidential. servant of 'hey did so they would not be able to carry on the Government
of (ore of the Ameers stated, on his examination before otirldta.theLboerdstEelvliednebnocreouhg,h,
couldwrote
ofto the Sir Charles rapier o
ftn
Captain Browne. He believed that to be true Every soldier procure the
would have been put to death with the exception of the Gallant Ameers, and he did not know what better means they could
General, who would have been Owed to Hyderabad with an adopt than the course Lord Ellenborough took on that occa-
iron ring in his nose.—( Laughter.) The House of Commons Mon. With regard to Sir Charles Napier, he should have oc-
would then have said that General Napier was a vacillating, casion, on Monday, to move a vote of thanks, which was justly
undecided man, th-t he had not courage to go no, and that he due to the character of that most distinguished individual. he
had foolishly listened to the political agent, who ought shout(' only say on this occasion that, if he took the advice
never to be employed in war. For God knows, said the given him, and trusted to the information of the
Hon. and Gallant Member, those political agents do nil!. Ameers to displace his force —it he separated himself
chief enough in peaceable times.—( Laughter.) After having from that army, which he not only led to victory under the ex-
read all the papers, he was surprised how the Noble Lord traordiaary and unparalleled circumstances in which he was
could have made the declaration that the Ameers had no in- placed, but to whom he set an example not only of military
tention of attacking the Resident's house, but that they were skill but of personal courage—(Cheers)—and of desperate
unable to control the Beloochees. The contrary was the case. fidelity to the cause of his country—( Continued cheering)—
He would not detain the House longer, nor would he have His firm belief was, that not a men of that army would have re-
made any observations, but for the attack that had been made turned alive. Throughout the whop, of these transactions Sir
upon his gal ant relative. He did not think he would have Charles Napier shooed not only the highest personal courage
been doing his duty if he had not made these observations. and the greatest military skill, but au admirable civil capacity;
With respect to the motion before the House he thought the but, as he had said before, it would be his duty on another ocai-
Ameers had been sufficiently punished—that they ought to be sion to attempt to do him justice, when he trusted they should
detained at Bombay, but with perfect liberty, and a sufficient all come to an unanimous vote, for it was his intension studiously
allowance, but he certainly would not allow them to go back to
Sinde. to avoid any reference to political matters.—( Cheers.) With
respect to the motion of his Noble Friend, it was
Lord JOCELYN said that if he had been aware that the quite out of the power of the Government to acquiesce in it.
His Noble Friend (Lord Ashley) did net propose a condemns-
letter of Sir C. Napier to Major Outram would have been
tion of the present Government, or of the policy of Lord El-
read he would have been preared with an answer, which he
lenborough, but to address the Crown to take into its conside-
trusted he would have an oppertunity on a future occasion of
reading. He would support the motion, because he thought it ration the condition of the Ameers, with a view either to give
a just one. The Noble Lord then entered at some length into a them their liberty and the enjoyment of their estates, or such a
defence of the conduct of the Ameers, whom he thought ought maintenance as might make an equivalent for their lOSs. He
not to be made responsible for the acts of their Ministers. (Sir Robert Peel) trusted the House of Commons would not
He could not pass over the treatment which had been experi- consent to lay down rules which would have to be followed out
enced by the unfortunate Meer Roostum. He had been our at a distance of five thousand miles.—he sincerely trusted they
trusty friend in times of danger—and he, an old and unfortu- would not sanction a course so fraught with inconvenience iand
nate man, when he asked for the protection of the British Ge- danger. In respect to the proposed measure, the immediate
neral, was refused it. The terms which we had sought to restoration to liberty of the Ameers must be the necessary con-
exact from the Ameers were such as it was impossible that they sequence of passing this resolution. Why, he (Sir R. Peel)
f:co,fes.tsitidboireyrhaeltis.t
ulpt had
thebeaellioi
wsahnoewenwthhicaht twhoeulAdmtheeenrsheaovueldbeneont declared that he could not profess confidence even in their
frie Ameers had signed the treaty, which was present allies—(Cheers)—but the result of the adep-
all but ratified, when Sir Charles Napier made fresh demands tion of this
,resolution must be the release of these Ameers,
whose first act, on their return, would, perhaps, be, to coalesce
Upon them. He demanded that the Ameers should quit the with those already not too faithfully disposed towards us, in
country. What right had ho to snake such a demand? order to re-commence intrigues which must again end in tree
He then marched upon one of their forts, and committed son against us.—( Cheers. ) He trusted the House of
Corn-
other acts of aggression. He (Lord J.), however, made no mans would undertake no such respoesibility.—( Loud cheers.)
charge against the General, he was merely carrying out the But the Noble Lord propo,ed, not only that they should
policy of the Governor-General of India at that time. Sir be restored to their liberty, but to the enjoyment of their
Charles Napier had received a letter from Lord Ellenborough estates also. It might be fairly open to consideration if they
congratulating him upon what he had done, and urging him would establish these Ameers in coins humbler station that;
to the commission of fresh aggressions. The history of our that they formerly enjoyed, and so allow them liberty ; and to
connexion with Sinde was the history of a continued series of this an earnest consideration had already been given by the
unjustifiable acts. Lord Ellenborough in his letters Executive, to whom he thought the subject had much better be
brought it as an accusation against the Ameers, that left. The opinions which he (Sir Robert Peel) had
they were collecting troops without legitimate cause ; formed on this point, were that it would not be safe
but he had forgotten the letter of the 19th February, which to allow the Ameers to return, in this humble capa-
stated that these troops had been collected solely for the pur- city, to their native country. The restoration of their
pose of defence. Lord Ellenborough's letters were full of estates, depriving them of political power, might leave them
vague generalities, intended to draw away public attention from with feelings of mortified pride to suggest, and the means to
the real question at issue.—(Cries of Hear, hear.) How work out fresh intrigues. But the Noble Lord proposes an
were those great lines of communication of which he had alternative—to give them a just equivalent for their estates.
spoken to be formed? the expense of their formation Ile ( sir Robert Peel) answered, "No I ' and he called on
could not be defrayed from the revenues of Sinde ; the douse of Commons to give them no power, no means, no
for while the revenue of that country was only forty Lacs, the opportunity by which they might again involve the British
expenditure amounted to eighty lays. He trusted the House arms in fresh struggles.—( Hear, hear.) One sentiment there
would see the same justice administered to Asiatics that was was of the Noble Lord's, in which he entirely concurred, and
ad -ninistered to Englishmen,—( Cheers.) that was that they should yield to these Ameers every corn-
Sir EDWARD COLEBROOKE had expected that the fort and consideration that was possible. Whatever were
Secretary of the Beard of Control, in supporting the case of the their misfortunes they ought net, and they should not be ex-
Gevernment would have relied for the defence of Lord eluded from every indulgence and every species of liberal
Ellenborough upon something more than the vague treatment consistent with their proper custody.—( Hear, hear.)
and general statements of Major Outram. He did The height from which they had fallen would not, he could
not believe that the Ameers had been anxious venture to assure the House, be forgotten either by her
for the overthrow of the British power, and he did not believe Majesty, the Government at home, or the Government in
that any of the more enlightened of the natives of India, who India—(Loud cheers)—and there should be no restraint on
were aware that it was necessary that that country should be them far the mere purpose of punishment, and no restraint on
under the rule of some great power, were really desirous that their personal liberty which was not justified by considerations
the British empire should be overthrown. He had been in of policy.—(Hear, hear.) It was now the subject of their
India in 1e36, and he had then wondered how it had happened consideration, whether their removal to some other part of
that the Ameers of Sinde had remained independent so lmig. India, distant from Sinde, might not admit of less restraint
Those Ameers formed a confederacy, divided by family guar- being placed upon them.—( Cries of " Hear, hear.") With
rels. In 18.343, if they had not received our assistance, they respect to their personal treatment, he would with truth de-
must have been conquered by Runjeet Singh, and after 183 e Clare that no narrow notions of economy should be permitted
any attempt of theirs to achieve for tnemselves independence to interfere with their comfort and happiness.--(Cheers.) At
was regarded by themselves as hopeless and impoisi'ole. On present the sum allowed to the officer for the expenses of the
our meditating an hostile attack on Affghenistan, the occupa- aggregate of them was not less than twenty thousand pounds ;
tion of Sinde was necessary as a basis for our military and if that were deemed by them insufficient to obtain any of
operations beyond the Indus. Shortly afterwards our the comforts they had heretofore been accustomed to, he
Resident was withdrawn from Hyderabad, the Ameers could assure the House that a further sum should be allowed.—
were at a loss to understand the meaning of this—some of the ( Hear, hear.) Trusting he had satisfied the House that every
Ameers thought it was preparatory to a hostile attack upon them thong that could be done consistently with prudence would
—while others, knowing that we were withdrawing our troops be done for these unfortunate Princes, and warning the
from Affghanistan, imagined,that we were about to withdraw House, above all things, not to assume a responsibility
from Sinde also. Here was independence within their reach which they might hereafter deeply deplore, he should con-
had they desired it, but so mar from desiring it it appeared elude the observations he felt it his duty to make, by giving
that every day Major Outram was receiving a message from his decided opposition both to the motion of the Noble Lord
one or other of them, begging that some English Resident ( Ashley) and the amendment of the Honourable Gentleman
might be left at Hyderabad, because if the English were the Member for Bath.—( Hear.)
to withdraw entirely, the Ameers felt convinced that they Lord J. RUSSELL said, the Noble Lord who had brought
must soon come to a rupture amongst themselves. He could forward the resolution before the House, had done so entirely
not but recollect the great services they had rendered to us irrespective of the original policy of the war, and of the annexe-
during the war in Affghanistan, and how any one could believe tion of the territory of Sinde to the British empire. In what
that they were plotting our overthrow while they were fur- had fallen from the Right Honourable Baronet in refer-
nishing us with the means of carrying on a successful ence to it, he pretty generally agreed, and he was
warfare was quite beyond his comprehension.—( hear.) highly pleased to hear his declaration that no con-
Sir ROBERT PEEL cordially agreed in the sentiments siderations of economy should stand in the way of every
which had been expressed by the Right lion. Gentleman, that safe indulgence being conceded to the unfortunate Ameers.
in discussing questions relating to Indian policy the House He quite agreed_ that it would be most inconvenient fer the
ought to put a liberal construction upon the motives and the House of Commons to require from the Government any as-
conduct of public men who were entrusted with such immense surance that the Ameers should be restored to the enjoyment
responsibility, and who had the destinies of an empire com- of their liberty and their estates. He was not aware what
nutted to their charge.—( Hear, hear.) No consideration on might be the actual state of Sinde at that moment. The
earth should induce him to rest the vindication of Lord Ellen- Hon. Member for Bath had read a letter to the House, from,
borough on the charges which had been preferred against Lord he believed, Sir Charles Napier, in which he said
Auckland.—(Cheers.) He could not, therefore, support he had found it necessary to disarm a considerable
the mot ion of the Hon. and Learned Member for portion of the inhabitants of that country. Why
Bath.—( Cheers. ) He must extend to Lord Auck- they could not be sure that if the immediate liberty of these
land the sane credit which he asked for Lord Ameers took place, that, although the country might be getting
Ellenborough.—(Cheers.) He had not hesitated freely tolerably quiet, their re-appearance might not be the signal of
to express his opinion of Lord Auckland's policy in invading immediate anarchy and confusion ; and, therefore, he (Lord
Affghanistan; but from his own personal knowledge of Lord John Russell) for one would have nothing to do with a re-
Auckland he felt bound to say that he believed that Lord sponsibility which might have such consequences.—( Loud
Auckland had always exercised his political functions to pro- cheers.) After the assurances of the Ministers of the Crown,
mote that which he deemed to be the best interests of the he could not give his support to any portion of the resolution
country—(Cheers)—and that Lord Auckland's motives had of the Noble Lord, though he gave to him (Lord Ashley) the
always been of the highest and purest nature. —(Cheers. ) But fullest credit for his motives, and concurred in several of the
although he would not vindicate Lord Ellenborough by attack- observations which had fallen from him. The Right
ing Lord Auckland, yet without giving any opinion on Lord Honourable Baronet (Sir Robert Peel) had, however,
Auckland's policy, he had a right to consider the position in entered into another question which was not before
which Lord Ellenborough found himself placed with regard to the House—the question of the policy pursued in
the Ameers at the time that he assumed the office of Go- India by the present Governor-General, Lord Ellenborough.
vernor-General of India. It was impossible to regulate Indian He felt the force of the observations made by the )Yon. Gen-
politics by European rules.—(Cheers.) They might pass tleman, the Secretary to the Board of Trade, that the supple-
Acts of Parliament interdicting Governors-General from ex- mentary papers had been only a month in the hands of the
tending their empire, but he was afraid there was a great Members. Those papers threw great light on the occurrences
principle at work whenever civilisation and refinement came in India, and it was very difficult to come to a conclusion
into contact which made it difficult to apply those principles.— justificatory or condemnatory of the policy of Lord Ellen-
( Hear, hear.) He was afraid that there was a necessity for borough at the present time. He wished to avoid giving any
the extension of our empire in India—( Hear, hear)—and that opinion regarding policybyEllenborough.
it pursued Lord
it was utterly impossible to adopt the same principles with re- The Noble Lord, assuming the Government of India w-as
gard to the independence of small States in India on which we placed in a position of great difficulty, he might have con-
acted here. Let them take the case of Affghanistan. Let ceived it necessary
tocrake an impression itr order to
them assume that it was necessary for the security of our Indian remove the opinion
then prevalent that British power
empire, and to counteract the designs of Persia and Russia, that in India was on the decline. On the other
that expedition was necessary. They found Sinde a country no- hand. he must
say
minally independent, interposed between them and Affghanistan. present Governor-General that hishad been no
nfidne in
greatlyen shaken thehy
Would rt be possible for the Governor-General to act on the the inconsistency o f his policy with the declarations which he
principle that unless the people of Sinde voluntarily permitted made on arriving in India.—( Hear, hear.) One of his first
the troops to pace, their territory was to be preserved inviolate? declarations was that his policy was to keep within the Indus,
—(Cheers.) Would it be right for the Governor-General to which he said was the natural boundary of the British empire,
look to his Vattel and Pufiendorff for precedents, and if he but as far as he (Lord J. Russell) knew, our empire was not
could not find them there, to give up the expedition?— natural there in any seuse of the term. On the let of October
(Cheers.) There was a principle at work by which the small he made this proclamation • but month after, on the 4th of
States in India were necessarily absorbed into our emi,ires November, he decided Upon seizingn additional territory
Perhaps we did not conquer them by force, but we took posses- j West of the Indus,hear.) It seemed Lim
sion
sion of them by means equally effectual, we had Reorients at ' perfectly clear that Sir Charles Napier had acted accord-
' their Courts, we subsidised their troops, and then gained a con- big to his instructions, and with amoral courage, and a
trol over their territories, and if they looked to the proceedings of personal bravery, which deserved nothing but commendation.
of other civilised nations when they came into contact with He acted with regard to the safety of the army and maintaining
savage nations, it would be found that the same principle. which the supremacy of British arms—(Hear, hear)—and he be-
forced us to extend our Indian Empire applied with equal truth bevel the Gallant Officer could not with those considerations
to other countries.—( Hear, hear.) He would not rest his ern_ have acted otherwise than he had done ; and as an humble
dication of Lord Ellenborough upon the inculpation of Lord Member of that. House,_ he was willing to bestow upon him
Auckland. He had already given his opinion of the policy of j ample commendation. The Right Hen. Gentleman had laid