The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-18 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

PROM THE ZVENIMG PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—A week or two ago our readers may
have noticed the appearance of a bulky pamphlet, en-
titled " India and Lord Ellenborough.' It purports
to be an examination, under Whig views, of his Lord-
ship's recent conduct in India. Within the last few
days another pamphlet, in " reply," has reached us.
The importance of the subject, in reference to ap-
proaching discussions in Parliament, has induced us
to give each a careful perusal. Neither of the writers
has,.iin our opinion, made the most of his case ; but
their • labours have served to bring some of the
leading points within a compass somewhat more easy
to grasplhan the enormous mass of official papers in
which They were previously buried. The author of
the first-named pamphlet, after devoting some twenty-
four pages to a review of the origin and growth of
our political power in India, enters upon a defence
of the power of recal vested in the Court of Directors,
and recently exercised upon Lord Ellenborough.
That the legal right exists, of course cannot be
doubted. It is a part of the original power of
the Company over its officers. It was distinctly
recognised by Mr. Pitt's Act (1784), creating the
Board of Coiitrol, and has been confirmed by every
subsequent Act affecting the powers of the Company,
down to the present time. It is justified by the large
pecuniary interests of the Company in our Indian
empire, and is properly vested in the Court of Direc-
tors, as the responsible guardians of those interests.
That its retention by them through every modifica-
tion of their powers and functions made during the
last sixty years, is due only to an " oversight," or to
the absence of any " discussion" or " consideration" of
the matter by the Legislature (as repeatedly asserted
in Parliament during the last session), is manifestly
absurd. In the Act of 1793, and again in that of
1813, the " Governor-General " is particularly
specified as one of the " officers •or servants" of
the Coinpauy, over whom the Directors are to
exercise the powers of appointment and recal
"at their will and pleasure." The Act of 1883 is
more general in its terms, but still completely
inclusive of the right accorded by the previous Acts.
In truth, however, the right does not depend upon
these statutory recognitions of its existence. It bas its
foundation in the original constitution of the Com-
pany, and nothing but an express enactment can take
it away. The power it affords to the Directors of
checking the career of a nominee of the Ministry,
whose incompetency or dishonesty may place their
interests in jeopardy, is one which, in some shape
or other, cannot fairly be denied to them while
their interests remain what they are. Whether
this particular mode of applying the check be
the best that could be devised, is matter for
discussion. That it ought to exist, and that its
applicatiOn in this instance was just and necessary, and
has been most beneficial in its results, is not to be
doubted. A glance at the particular circumstances
attending his Lordship's nomination and recal most
completely confirms the inferences drawn from the
more general view of the question. It is believed
that in his appointment the Directors were nearly
unanimous—it is generally known that, as to
his removal, they were quite so. Why this
complete revolution of opinion ? Only about two
years ,had elapsed between the events, and the
change took. place where groundless or capri-
cious changes were little likely to occur. "If any
one quality were to be selected as peculiarly charac-
teristie of the Court of Directors of the East India
Company, it would be caution. Every member of
the Court has a pecuniary stake in India, and the
Court, collectively, are the representatives of the
great body of claimants upon its territory. Among
the Directors •are men personally acquainted with
India, and with the sources from which danger
in that country is likely to arise ; men trained
by long , experience in civil, political, legal, mili-
tary, and maritime affairs; merchants of great
eminence, and bankers of the highest standing;
most of them are of mature age, and the political
opinions of the majority are ose of the party
with which Lord Ellenborough has generally
acted." For sixty years they have held, substantially,
their present relative position in the government of
India, and with it, this right to recal the Governor-
General. Disuse tends to weaken as much as use
strengthens a mere legal right. They deliberated
long, and heard all that could be urged by the
Government against the step, yet took it unani-
mously,- and gave to Lord Ellenborough the first
place ' on the list of recalled Governors-General.
The •" eminence" is net an enviable one, but his
Lordship has fairly won, and long may he wear it.
The author of the " Reply" (whose work bears upon
almost every page that " damning proof" of conscious
weakness—a resort to abuse in lieu of argument)—
admits• the existence of the power of recal, but strenu-
ously.denies that it ought to exist. He declares that
responsibility for the acts of the Governor-General rests
entirely with the Ministry, and that an East India
l)ireetor, in giving his vote, his responsible only " to
his own breeches pocket." We cannot pretend to guess
what the proprietors of East India stock may think of
this line of argument; we cannot better declare our
opinion of it than by culling a single flower from the
extensive rhetorical parterre of its author :—it ie " the
most contemptible specimen of controversial imbecility
we ever.remember to have met with." But there is
no ground for apprehension. A broad principle of
justice is involve I, and a British Parliament will not
he blind to it. With this source of confidence we
may look even upon the wounded vanity of the Earl
of Ellenborough with indifference. A dissection
of the "Papers relating to military operations
in Affghanistan " and' the other documents now
publiihedrespeCting the transactions of 1842-3:.can
only lead to conclusions more or less unfavourable to
the opinion, that Lord Ellenborough was a fit person
to be entrusted with the government of India. Of
course these documents furnish, atfer all, but a por-
tion Of,. the materials upon which alone a complete
and comprehensive judgment can be formed. Much
of what concerns matter of detail must necessarily be
left out of consideration, and a large portion of the re-
mainder can only be judged of with accuracy by those
familiar with the real difficulties and the real resources
of a Governor-General acting under such circum-
stances as those encountered by Lord Ellenborough.
Such a familiarity is possessed by few in this coun-
try, and his Lordship has a fair claim to the benefit
of its paucity. But where his judges cannot be sure,
they can afford to be lenient. There is sufficient
exidence to convict without resorting to what is of
doubtful proof. What is seen, and of the nature of
which no shadow of doubt can be entertained, is
quite enough ;',though we should stop short, and
hesitate to infer the rest. Our space will not permit
of our entering upon this part of the subject at pre-
sent ;' bit we shall take an early opportunity of re-
turning to it.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.
(From the London New Price Current of Jan. 17.)
•SUGAIL—To-day the demand was limited for all de
scriptions of B. P. Sugar. Prices are still drooping, and
rule above is under that of last Friday for brown and
inferior yellow, and 6d for the better kinds. The total
purchases for the week are only 1,450 hhds and tierces.
The market closes flatly for West India, Bengal, Maui-
tins, and Madras Sugar.
REFINED.—To-day there was not much demand for
refined goods for home consumption, and prices are still
going down ; brown lumps 71s 6d to 72s and standard
lumps 72s 6d per cwt. Of Foreign refined in bond there
is very little of any description offering, and none for
present delivery, very extensive contracts having been
made fur six weeks and two months to come, Crushed
has been sold est 31s 3d to 31s 9d, and 101 b Loaves at
33s 6d per cwt.
LiAuarrus.—lmportors of this description of Sugar
are desirous to realise, and having supplied the market
largely, has produced a decline on previous rates of Is
to Is 6d for middling good and fine yellow, of which
the supply principally consists ; on inferior brown
and grey sorts, the fall has been 6d per cwt.
This afternoon there was little business done in Illauri-
tius Sugar by private contract, 349 bags at auction were
sold at rather lower rates, mid yellow at 54s to 555.
good mid 565,g00d 38s to 595, and mid brown 46s per cwt,
EAST INDIA.—This afternoon four parcels of Bengal
Sugar duty paid, amounting to 3,764 bags 143 chests,
were. submitted to public competition, and nearly the
whole found purchasers ; yellow, of which the bulk con-
sisted, went at a decline of is to Is 6d per cwt, low
greyish selling at 47s 6d to 503, mid 505 6d to 51s 6d,
mid rather bright 51s 6d to 53s 6d, good middling
56s 6d to 575, damp and washed 41s to 565; on white the
decline was 6d, fine selling at 65s to 68s, mid to good
60s to 645, damp and washed 57s to 66s ; 548 bags in
bond went cheaper, that is to say, mid bright yellow at
27s 6d to 28s, damp and washed 25s 6d to 27s 6d ; of
Madras 133 bags, duty paid, fetched 52s 6d to 53s 6d for
damp yellow, and 50s 6d for washed.
YoititioN.—Holders of all descriptions have confidence,
and refrain from offering any at public sale ; at present
none is announced. For yellow Ilavannah fully former
rates are insisted upon, but there has been only a small
amount of business done by private contract this week,
offers for large parcels rather under previous prices have
been made, but rejected by merchants. In white little
business has been transacted, but prices do not give
way. For brown Brazil fully late rates are offered,
but the supply is still scanty, and not ample for the de-
mand. The market is firm for white, and the demand is
on the increase.
FRUIT.—Fer Currants the holders are demanding
higher prices ; new Zante has been sold at 4ils, Patras
49s to 50s, and some of the importers have withdrawn
their parcels from the market. Valentia Raisins are
steady, of Red Smyrna and Chesme there is a good
supply, the demand only limited at present.
COMEE.—Altbough the stock of West India Coffee
is heavy, exceeding that of last year by 98 casks 1,619
brls and bags, still merchants have manifested firmness,
and the market has been sparingly supplied ; previous
rates are maintained for all clean kinds, but buyers have
been cautious in their proceedings by private contract,
and only 19 casks 7 brls were offered at auction, which
went at 59s to 60s for fine ord unclean Jamaica, triage 40s,
fine fine ord Berbice 58s, good ord 455, and triage 40s, but
.a part only was disposed of; unclean sorts may be pur-
chased at low rates. This afternoon the public sales
C 0314, of ,1,398 bags of Ceylon, Bs3 brill 67 half brie