18 MARCH 1871, Page 3

It is remarkable that nobody quoted in this debate the

beat pre- cedent on Mr. Lambert's side. When in 1859 the East India -Company was abolished, Sir Charles Wood proposed to give him- self £2,500 a year, but the House insisted on 15,000, on the ground that if the lower salary were adopted, the Great Mogulship would always be given to statesmen of inferior rank. From that day the India Office has always been regarded as among the first prizes of political life. Men do not want the salary, but they like the 'official rank.