Glasgow Courier. — 1859-02-08 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

SIR JOHN LAWRENCE. Earl Granville said in the House of Lords on Friday that he was anxious to take that opportunity of making • statement with regard to a distinguished member of the Indian service, and to whom the oountry had much reason to be deeply grateful, and he need scarcely say that he referred to Sir John Lawrence. In the course of a debate which occurred last session he (Lord Granville) stated, as a proof of the firmness of Lord Canning, that when he heard that negotiations were going on with the insurgents at an early periodof the mutiny, 'Lord Canning had taken it upon hunaelf to send a message objecting to all such negotiations, though they were favoured by Sir John Lavrrenceand the principal military authorities. That statement he made on what he believed to be good grounds; but he has since received a communication from Sir John Lawrence, the effect of which he would shortly state to the House. It appeared that the negotiations were not with the insurgents generally, but with the King of Delhi personally, and that the commander on our sole was General Reed, not General Wilson. General Reed and Sir John Lawrence were both of opinion that it would be desirable to open negotiations with the King of Delhi, on conditions that be could prove that he pro no order for the murder of our fellowcountrymen, and that he ahould guarantee the delivery Into our hands at one,, of the town of Delhi; and, no doubt, forthe accor.,pliahuient of that object, good reasons were given by s..:ar John Lawrence, especially considering the small ~amber of troops that were then forward, the mer_ae disproportion of field guns, and several other e:7..aunstances that rendered it very desirable that we should enter into negotiations for that object. At that time there was no regular commitnication with Calcutta. Sir John Lawrence sent a communication to the Governor General on the subject, but there was reason to believe that it never reached Calcutta. But an express message was sent by Lord Calming to the General, stating that he had heard rumours that such negotiations were gloat, and stating that he objected to any negotiations which would place the King of Delhi in his former position. That despatch, howZoer, did not arrive till after it Was found that thus negotiations were of no avail, and When the relic:7. were nearly defeated. He had now ',dated what'svas the substance and result of a pretty long letter, Lad he must add that he never for a minute doubted that Ho* course which Sir John Lawrence adopted could. belKpported by very strong reasons and arguments. But tottll he was of opinion that it did require great moral courage on the part of Lord Canning that, when he heard the rumour, he should have taken it upon himself tolorbid any negotincions of that sort on a question Which was so mnch • matter of opinion. For he was'quite ready to admit, on the other hand, that there was much in the argument of Sir John Lavrrence;thiCif stich a negotiation could have been concluded it would have saved much valuable blood. On the other hand, he thought,. judging after the event, there was -gem') Advantage in not having agreed to place the King of I)elhi in his former position. He would only add,-that- ahould be very sorry if it were thought that. he intended for a moment to derogate from the great services of Sir John Lawrence, which were universally admitted. There was nothing in this correspondence which . had given him more satisfaction than the fact that Sir John Lawrence throughout spoke in the highest terms of Lord Canning, as Lord Canning had throughout the whole of his correspondence never failed to acknowledge; in the warmest terms, the services of Sir John Lawrence.