New-York daily tribune., 1858-03-23

Considering the charges freely clrcWnfd-an'
some Of them the subject OF official i1vestisaton-
seainst Members Of Congress for bribery and cor
ruptcn, some interest will be likely to be felt IN
similar investigation before a Committee OF the
British House of Commons in relation to one of
the members Of that body.
This invettigstion was based on petition pre-
sented to the House from Nr. COfey, who had
been the agent and solicitor of Ali MoOrsd Khan
one Of the four Ameers Of Upper Scinde, charging
that Mr. Isaac Butt, bsrrister, and Member OF
Parliament for YoughalI, had entered into cor
rupt agreement with the Ameer for pecuniary
confederation 10 advocate and prosecute in the
House Of Commons his claim to BE- restored to cer-
tain territories Of which he had been several years
before deprived by the Esst Indian Company.
This deprivation had originated in charge against
the Ameer that be had acquired part OF these
territories by forged document 10 the nature of
will. Tie deprivation extended, however, not
merely 10 the lands so acquired but to lis heredl-
tarJ possessions also. The latter part of the sen
tence had been thought excessive BY some persons
connected with the Government OF India aud
in ls56 the Ameer visited England with
view 10 solicit q restitution. Mr.. Butt,
as appears fsom bis own statement aud
other evidence before the Committee, had his
attention called to the subject by Mr.. Cofey, and
appears TO have entered into il with good deal OF
zeal, though, according TO his own account, with
out any promise or expectation of pccunary com
pensation. He drafted and presented petition to
Parliament from the Ameer. He made a motion in
the House for papers on the subject lie had
several consultations with individual East India
Directors and with Vernon Smith, President of the
Board of Control. The East India Directors were
well satisfied with the original sentence, and disin
clired to modify IT. Mr.. Vernon Smith was dis
posed to restore to the Ameer his hereditary lands
Besides he found tie Ameer troublesome, and was
anxious to get rid Of him and to send him home.
Finally, the East India Directors rather than have
the question brought before Parliament, as Mr..
Butt seemed to them determined to do and to miss
there the support Of the President of the Board of
Control, assented to an arrangement by which the
Ameer was referred to the Bombay Government,
with sn understanding that he should get back his
hereditary lands. In all this negotiation, Mr. Butt
the evidence that he had done more than was occa
siobaly dore by other members of Parliament on
behalf Of other suitors in whose cases they
took an interest; and. though Cofiey charged him
with having intimated that he expected compensa-
ton for bis trouble from the Ameer he u.terl! de-
MED If.
After the case had been RENTED 10 India, Mr.
II l.. e H. rnf
fey and the Ameer, entered into an arrangement by
which he was to proceed to India to urge the case
OF the Ameer upon the Bombay Government. For
this service he Was to receive E10,000 OF which,
by the arrangement finally made, $4,000 was
to he paid to him in cash, aud the remainder
in bills on Bombay. Dir. Cohey il seems, wished
TO 90 10 India too; but Mr.. Butt objected to this
ard quarrel between the two took place at Vi
emma or Trieste, W hich resulted not only in the dis
charge of Mr.. Ccffey from the Ameers sservice, but
in the presentation by him of the preceding
charges against Mr.. Butt, who, after receiving
.e2, 800 from the Ameer, declined to proceed to
India. because the Amecr did not fulfil his agree
ment by giving bills for the balance.
Mr. Butts defense is that his undertaking TO
proceed to India was a professional engagement,
which he was at perfect Liberty TO make; that the
compensation to be paid to him was no more than
reasonable for such a service and that il was not
in any respect consideration or payment for his
previous Parliamentary services.
The defense thus set up was sustained By the
report of the Committee, which neg,tved the
charge in the original petition against Mr.. Butt.