The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-29 00:00:00

EAST INDIA WRITERS' BILL.

Mr. C. WYNN moved the Order of the Day for going into
a Committee on the East India Writers' Bill.

On the question being put, that the Speaker leave the Chair,
Mr. DENMAN said it was well known that the imperfect edu-
cation of those who had been sent out to India through the in-
fluence of patronage had done considerable mischief. The esta-
blishment of the llayleybury College was found to he the most
efficient remedy for the evil. Yet notwithstanding the com-
plaint made by Mr. Burke and several Governors of India re-
speeting the deficiency of eduction in the writers who had been
sent out, the clause now sought to be repealed was that which►
required that no one should be permitted to go to India without
a certificate front the College of his being properly qualified.
It would be more satisfactory if the Rules of the College were
ineerporattslin.the Bill, and if matters so important were not
left to the discretion of the Directors, who must naturally be
anxious for the extension of their patronage. For the beneficial
results of the College education, he appealed to the testimony
of Lord Basting*. The remedy now proposed for a deficiency
in the number of writers was, he thought, snore extensive than
the evil ; and by adopting it, they got rid of the only effectual
remedy which had yet been discovered to prevent that wont of

proper qualification of which the Marquis Wellesley complained..
Even the papers on the table, which complained of a deficiency
of writers, must yet acknowledge the usefulness of the College.
It was, in fact, the only security that existed against the East,
India Company, with regard to the Government of India. He'
thought that it was well worth while to consider how far it might
.be adviseable to suppress a College, which had been distinguished
by such names as Mackintosh and Malthus, and in which Pro-
fessors laboured who, though not equal in celebrity to those
names, were yet of great learning and worth. He did not un-
dertake to defend the College against some imputations of
misgovernment. There might have been rebellions among the
Students, perhaps; hit then their youth should be taken into
consideration, and it should also be recollected that they were full
of the idea of having vested rights in their future appointments.
In such circumstances, boys were but too likely to entertain
notions of privilege. •
Mr. TRANT denied that the Writers had been uneducated pre-
viously to the establishment of the College. They were usually
sent out from the most respectable schools in the kingdom, and
whatever abuses might have occurred, arose not from a want of
education, but from the system pursued. He insisted that there
were radical defects in the constitution of the College, and
that it was necessary to enlarge the provision for civil services in

Mr. Secretary CANNING agreed with the Hon. Member (Mr.
Dorman) in some of the views which he hail expressed. He
thought that the country had a right to expect competent instruc-
tion for those who were sent out to' India. It was indeed a matter
in which the British name was concerned. He considered the
usual course of education for an English Gentle►nan as the best
preparation for an intercourse with the world ; and if the College
were to be established over again, he would wish it to be under the
superintendence and local jurisdiction of one of the Universities.—
There would be considerable advantage if, during the period of
their studies, the youth were to mix with those destined for other
professions. The duties of the College, he thought, were dis-
charged with great,success and ability. He much regretted its
suspension ; but it was not an entire suppression, for the College
was to take effect at the close of the suspension, either in its pre-
sent state, or with such imptdvements as might be deemed expe-
dient.

Mr. LUSHINGTON objected to the state of the law, which
did not allow youth to be sent to the College at an age sufficiently
early to render them amenable to discipline.
After a few words from Sir T. BARING and Colonel Hamm,
Mr. DENMAN explained.

Mr. C. WYNN spoke highly of the advantages of a Univer-
sity education. He urged the necessity of enlarging the time of
study at the College from two to three or more years. The Bill
was certainly a temporary expedient for a difficulty, and he
Irked its operation to three years. However, he would not pledge
himself as to ulterior meastire:,, until they had the benefit of expe-
rience. •

Sir T. BARING proposed that a clause should be introduced,
making it unnecessary that persons who had resided two years
in India, and had passed examinations at the College of Fort
William, should he obliged to return to England to qualify
themselves at Hayleybury College, under the provisions of the
Act.

After a few words from Mr. TRANT, Mr. ASTILI., Mr. LUSH..
INOTON, and Mr. C. W. WYNN, the Hon. Baronet consented to
withdraw the clause.

The Chairman reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.
INDIA NAVAL FORCE. BILL.

The Order of the Day for the second reading of the Indian
Naval Force Bill being read,
Mr. BRIGHT observed, that before he could consent to the
motion he felt it necessary to state, that it behoved the Right
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wynn) to afford the House some explana
tion as to the causes and the progress of the war now carrying on
in the Burmese territory, He had ineffectually called for infor-
mation on this subject on a former occasion, and he professed it
was now his intention to divide the House on the question before
them, if that information were any longer withheld. The public
was altogether in the (lark as to the war now carrying on in India,
except from private sources of information (—and in fact he must
confess that the documents which had appeared even in the
Gazette were, muc'h to his surprise, not official. Under these
circumstances, however unwilling he might be in so thin a House
to press it to a division, he must, unless the explanation were
satisfactory, deem it his duty to oppose the motion in all its future
stages.
Mr. C. W. WYNN observed that the settled force of India
was about 20,000 troops ; if war required it, the addition was to
be supported out of the territorial revenues of India. The pre-
sent flotilla, requisite under the present circumstances of the war,
was no part of the standing force of India, and, of course, would
be discontinued after due termination of hostilitim
A conversation ensued hetween Mr. Bawler, Sir Joins Nric-
roar, and Mr. Amu, the Bill was read a second time, and
ordered to be committed on Monday next.
The Irish Petty Sessions Bill was committed, the report
brought up, and ordered to be taken into further consideration on
Tuesday ne::t.
The Irish Prison Laws Amendment Bill was committed.
The Resolution being read,

Mr. S. Rica mover, as an amendment to the resolution, that
the su►n of 6001, should be inserted in place of 900/. as the
amount of salary for each inspector of pr►sons in Ireland.
Mr. Gat/LIMN reskted the amendment, and argued at
some length in fiivour of the original clause.
After a few words from Sir J. NEWPORT and Mr. Si RICE, the
further consideration of the clause was postponed. The other
clauses of the Bill having been agreed to, the Howie resumed. The
report was received, and the Bill was ordered to be recommitted on
Monday.
The Excise LaWs Amendment (Ireland) Bill, and the Exche-
quer Bills' Bill were severally read a third time awl passed.
The other Orders of the Day having been disputed of, the
House adjourned at a quarter past Ten o'Cloek.