Star.
London, England, 1820-06-17 00:00:00

EAST INDIA VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Lord BINNING brought in a Bill for authorizing
the East India Company to embody and provide for
a Volunteer Corps la this country.
On the question that it be read a first time,
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR observed, that he could not,
understand why a Volunteer Corps should be re-
quired by the East India Company now, when it was
understood that such bodies were not required in the
country. He wished to be informed by the Noble
Lord what necessity existed for such a corps at present?
Lord BINNING said, that he had it not in his
power to give an answer which the Honourable
Member might think satisfactory ; but he under-
stood it was desirable that such a corps should be
kept up in that part of the town where the Company
had their House.

Mr. M. A. TAYLOR thought the country had
already sufficient del/lands upon it, without this un•
necessary expeme.
Lord BINNING replied, that the expense was not
to the country, but to the Company.
The Bill wa•2 then read a first time. On the ques-
tion that it be read a second time,
Mr. HUME said, that he was aware of what the
object of. the Volunteer Corps vas; and, perhaps, the
House would be surprised when they heard that ob-
ject, and the way in which it was intended to pro-
vide for them. The object was to protect the Com-
pany's warehouses in town, and yet the expense was
charged to the Political Department—(Hear, hear).
These were, perhaps, spme Members not aware of
the divisions of expense in the Company's affairs.—
They came generally under two heads—Political
and Commercial. For the Political Department the
Company were almost yearly raising loans in India,
and yet with the incumbrances on that department,
they now wished to charge this new expense upon
that head. But, independently of this objection, he
did not see what need the Company had of any Vo-
lenteer Corps for their protection. Why not for the
B ink of England as well ? They had property to
protect equally valuable, and yet they had not
thought of such a step as this. He therefore pro-
tested against the measure, as involving the Com-
pany in an unnecessary expense, which it was not
in a situation to bear.

Lord BINNING remarked, that whether or not
the Company's affairs in India were becoming worse
and worse, this was not the time for discussing.—
When the present Bill was printed, its object would
be seen, and it would be found that there was
nothing said about protecting warehouses.
Mr.CREEVEY objected to this additional expense
at a time when the Company were borrowing in
India. In order to ascertain whether the Company
were able to bear this expense, it would be necessary
to see their Accounts, or to have, as was formerly
the case, the India Budget, as it was called, laid,
before the House.

Lord BINNING observed, that the Accounts
were annually laid before the House, and he did not
see that any necessity existed for bringing forward
an Indian Budget.
After a few words from Mr. H. BERNAL,
Lord BINNING again rose.—He said be could not

•
kelp remarking, that the Ambut awn nigti-,
sring 'node to this sni4-eni,.-4111ai-Oilken.Or
strongly called for the• raising of Volunteer.
Corpi\in England, and his observations were loudly
cheered upon his own fide of the Noise; yet the
Honourable Gent-leman on the same side now con-
tended that they were quite unnecessary.
Colonel DAVIES thought it was necessary to say
a few words after what had just fallen from the
.Noble Lord. He did- conceive, certainly, that the
raising and: corps was the most constitutional in-
crease which could be made to our military etablish-
ment, because it was an increase-emanating from
the People themselves: but then he contemplated
that the Stinding Army was to be reduced in pro-
portion ; for it costa not be necessary to maintain
it at its present amount, if the other measure were
adopted. It was in this feeling that he had wished
them to trust to the-People, and had given such a
support to the proposition.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw upon the
question of the second reading of the Bill. Consi-
derable confusion ensued in the Gallery in conse;
quence ;_ but no division took place.
Upon the question that " it be read a second time
on Monday next,"
Mr. CREEVEY moved, as an Amendment, "that
it be read on Monday fortnight."
Mr. M. A. TAYLOR wits of opinion that the
raising of an armed force in the Eastern part of Lon-
don would be, under present circumstances, neither
wise nor prudent.—The Bill was then ordered to be
read a second time on Monday next.
THE QUEEN. •

Lord CASTLEREAGH rose to move that the
adjourned debate on his Majesty's most gracious
Message be further adjourned to Monday next. He
assured the House, that he regretted being obliged
to make this motion, but circumsta►►ces had occurred
which rendered a further delay unavoidable. What-
ever the issue might be, it was most desirable that it
should be known as soon as possible ; but he was hot
to-day placed in a situation to afford that informa-
tion to 'the House, without which the merits of the
question could not be fully appreciated. Beyond
Monday, hoWever, no further adjournment ought to
take place, and on that day he hoped to be able to
explain to the House the result of what had occurred
on the subject in the interval of suspension. He had
now only to request Honourable Members to consi-
der the question as placed precisely in the very same
situation as when it was first introduced.

Mr. TIERNEY expressed his hope that no further
adjournment would take place after MondaY, and
under that impression he should certainly not oppose
the present motion.
Mr. BROUGHAM concurred entirely with the
Noble Lord opposite, that no further delay ought to
take place after Monday ; but no blame could attach
to either party in this respect. Both parties had
evinced every disposition to expedite the result. To
delay the exposition of that result beyond Monday
would be very wrong, uni.ess some circumstances.
should occur which could not now be foreseen. He
had one observation more to offer, and that was, to
express his anxious wish, in common with the Noble
Lord, that the House would suffer the question to
stand in the same state till Monday.

Mr. BROUGHAM suggested in arrangement to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 'for postponing a
motion of his, which stood for Thursday, till Thurs-
day week ; to which the Right Honourable Gentle-
man assented.