The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-08 00:00:00

of that Board, were not more conversant with the
affairs of India than any Hon. Member on the Treasury
Benches opposite. It had been said that the
Court of Directors knew nothing about the private
instructions that went out from the home
Government to Lord Ellenborough—that they did not
see the papers which passed through the Secret Depart-
ment. But it should be recollected that the papers
which passed through the Secret Department related
chiefly to peace or war, aid that there were three mem-
bers of the Court of Directors who inspected these
papers. Now, as the Hon. Director opposite (Mr.
Hogg) had told the House th t all the Directors were
unanimous, it followed that those three gentlemen, who
had the opportunity of consulting these papers, must
have been favourable to the recal of Lord Ellenborough.
—(Hear, hear.) He could have imagined• that strong
party feelings might have dictated a recal, which could
not be justified. Had the majority of the Court of
Directors been Whigs, there could have been a
plausible pretence assigned for the recal of Lord
Ellenborough from party motives ; but the fact was the
majority of the Board of Directors were Conservatives,
and not only Conservatives, but had supported the
Government of Lord Ellenborough on a very trying occa-
sion, when the question of the gates of Somnauth was
brought under the consideration of the House of Com-
mons. He would mention a name great in the history, of
India—a man remarkable for his presence of mind and
cool judgment. He alluded to Sir Richard Jenkins ; he
was a member of the Board of Directors, and yet he
was in favour of the recal of Lord Ellenborough.
There was no doubt but it was with the greatest reluctance
the Board of Directors took this last and final step.
They struck the blow, but they immediately started
back.—(Laughter, and cries of " Hear, hear.) As he
said before, he would not now vote for the immediate
production of those papers, but there was no doubt but
Lord Ellenborough would be in the country by the
beginning of next session, and if the Government then
refused the productions of those papers it was only
because they dare not produce them.—(Chee s.)
Mr. MANGLES was convinced that when the papers
were produced they would be exceedingly damaging to
the present Government. However, at present he did
not think it would be expedient to produce those papers,
but when Lord Ellenborough returned, and when the
matter was again brought under the consideration of
Parliament, he should certainly vote in favour of their
production, but would not do so for the reasons he had
stated on the present occasion.
Lord J. RUSSELL entirely agreed with the senti-
ments which had been expressed by his Hon. Friend the
Mmber for Edinburgh. He did not think it would be
advisable to produce the papers just now. It must be
inconvenient for the public service to do so, and he
thought it was better not to make any allusion to the
past. It was said that the Court of Directors had been
guilty of great indiscretion; even if they had been so
they were willing to atone for it as they had shown by
their subsequent conduct.—(Laughter, and cries of
" Hear, hear.") He trusted that the administration
which was about to be established in India, would be
productive of great advantages to that country.
Mr. HUME should certainly insist upon the produc-
tion of the papers, and thought the Right Honourable
Gentleman the Member for Edinburgh had been incon-
sistent in saying that if ever there was a period at which
the conduct of the Board of Directors and of the Govern-
ment required explanation, it was the present, and yet
he would vote against the production of the papers.
Why, the Board of Directors had been declared inca-
pable of holding their power; they had been told they
had acted indiscreetly by a Noble Duke. It seemed
they were willing to lie down like crouching dogs, to be
thrashed again.—(Laughter.) What the House wanted
to know was, the cause of the recal of Lord Ellenbo-
rough—the reason of the dispute between the Board
of Directors and the Board of Control. He
thought the House ought to have that information
and he should certainly press his motion to a division.
Mr. ROEBUCK rose amid loud cries of " divide."
He would only make one observation. Lord Ellen-
borongh had been recalled—his successor had been ap-
pointed. He was anxious to know whether the Govern-
ment sanctioned the conduct of Lord Ellenborough, and
whether the now Governor-General would take Lord
Ellenborough's policy for his guide. He was anxious to
know whether Lord Ellenborough had been removed by
the Court of Directors for his policy, or for his private
conduct. He wanted to know, whether or not a com-
promise had taken place between the Government and the
Board of Directors—that having Government removed
Lord Ellenborough from some personal pique, or
personal feeling, they were willing that the new Go-
vernor-General should continue his policy. He wanted
to know whether the principles on which Sir Henry
Hardinge went out to govern India were those upon
which Lord Ellenborough had acted.
Sir ROBERT PEEL did not know whether these
questions affected him or not. There was no compro-
mise between the Court of Directors and the Govern-
ment. Not a word passed, private or public, between
the Government and the Directors, partaking of a com-
promise. The Court of Directors had been consulted
regarding the appointment of Sir Henry Hardinge, and
in that appointment they entirely concurred. Regard-
ing the principles upon which Sir H. Hardinge would
act, he would, of course, have to decide for himself; but
he was sure, from the principles of justice and modera-
tion which had hitherto invariably guided that Right
Hon. Gentleman, that his government would in no re-
spect deviate from those principles.—(Hear.)
The House divided. The numbers were—
For the motion
Against it
Majority
THE MORTMAIN LAWS
Lord J. MANNERS then rose to bring forward his
motion for the appointment of a Select Committee to
inquire into the mortmain laws. The Noble Lord com-
menced by stating various cases in which property left
to the poor had been misappropriated in consequence of
the defective state of the law. In the town of Stockport
5001. had been left for the poor, and afterwards misapplied.
This was but one instance out of many. It must be ad-
mitted, on all hands, that there was a necessity for in-
quiry. He would not trespass on the attention of the
House, but if the House refused the Commttee, he must
be at liberty to suppose that it was not because the laws
of mortmain did not require improvement, but be-
cause they were so absurd that it was difficult to deal
with them.
Sir J. GRAHAM said he was by no means disposed
to say that it was not desirable that inquiry should not
be made into the operation of these laws. He thought
their policy must be reserved for future discussion ; but
he had great pleasure in acceding to the appointment of
a Committee.

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Sir W. HIJATHCOTE moved for leave to bring in a
Bill to facilitate the collection of county rates, and to
relieve high constables from compulsory attendance at
quarter sessions.—Agreed to.
POOR-LAW BILL.

In reply to a question from Mr. P. BORTHWICK,
Sir J. GRAHAM stated that it was his intention to
move that the Poor-law Bill should go into Committee
pro forma on Friday next.
FACTORIES BILL.

On the motion of Sir J. GRAHAM, after some short
discussion, the report on the Factories Bill was received,
and the third reading was ordered to take place on Fri-
day next.