POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY;
The House of Lords sat last night until past twelve o'clock engaged chiefly in discussing the details of the India Bill. The principal debate took place on clause 7 which provides for the constitution of the Council of India. Lord BROUGHTON said he should rejoice in the abolition of the East India Company if a better scheme for the government of India were substituted for it ; but that better scheme was not to be found in the bill. It would be better to govern India by a Secretary of State alone than by a Council like that proposed. It will insure the greatest amount of strife and difference of opinion.
Some people thought that there ought to be a Parliamentary Government of India, just as much as of the Isle of Wight ; but, in these days of electric telegraphs and quick communication, such a Government would very soon be fatal to our empire ; and the great safeguard provided in this respect by the present system was entirely abolished by this Bill. One of the great merits of the Court of Directors, which ought to be recorded and should never be forgotten was, that they chose good and wise servants ; and, in the words of Henry IV. did they ever know a foolish man choose wise servants ? Although in favour of governing India by a Secretary of State alone, ho should very much prefer the present system of government by the "chairs," .as they were called, to the system now proposed. The Earl of DERBY said the question was simply should there be a Council or no Council. The Secretary of State must have some means of resorting to persons of the greatest knowledge and experience. The means proposed in the bill do not bring back the double government, for it does away with the two separate and distinct authorities that exist under the present system. The Duke of Sounisur moved the omission of the clause from the bill, contending that it could be worked more effi- ciently without a Council of which its provisions show the greatest jealousy. The Earl of ALBEMARLE objected to the Council because it is to be composed of " old Indians." An " old Indian," as he knew, is a person of great knowledge of a small locality, very ignorant generally speaking, and utterly ignorant of English statesmanship. Lord MONTEAGLE de- fended the " old Indians." Lord WODEROUSE said the bill would establish a Council that neither the Minister nor Parliament will be able to con- trol, and yet one that will not be independent. The Council will be a hinderanee to the administration of India. Lord STRATFORD BE RED- mom gave his voice in favour of a Council, but thought that proposed too large. Lord Asumorroar said, that if the bill passed the home Go- vernment of India would become like any other " department." Lord Bairn supported the clause. The amendment was not pressed to a di- vision, and the clause was agreed to. Clause 9 was amended so as to provide that when an elected member died a new member should be
elected, and when a nominee died a new nominee should be appointed.
On clause 11, Lord ELLENROROUGH strongly objecting to appointing councillors during good behaviour, moved that they should be up.
pointed for five years. Negatived without a division. Clause 12,
excluding members of Council from seats in Parliament, calmed some debate. The Earl of Sriarrssauav was for admitting three,
the Duke of NEWCASTLE for admitting all the members of Council to Parliament ; but neither carried his point. Earl Gitareanna moved that no councillor should carry on any office, business, trade, or profession. Negatived by 50 to 35. In clause 22, the words were omitted which enable any five members of the Council by requisition in writing to call upon the Secretary of State to meet the Council and discuss mat-
ters of urgency with them. On clause 32, which relates to the admission of candidates to the civil service of India, Lord DERBY carried an amendment, transferring the power of making regulations for the ad- mission of persons into the Indian civil service to her Majesty in Council, Clause 33 having been adopted, the chairman was directed to report progress.
In the House of Commons the order for the second reading of Lord Lucan's Jews Bill drew forth warm opposition from the consistent oppo- nents of Jewish emancipation. Mr. 1C1L'WDEmerE moved, Mr. Soomiza seconded, and Mr. BENTIHCK supported an amendment, proposing that the bill should be read a second time that day six months. They deeply re- gretted that Lord Derby had sanctioned this bill. A great error has been committed, and a large portion of the confident* " thinking people" reposed on Lord Derby has been taken away. Since 1846 there has been no such instance of tergiversation. Mr. ADAMS objected to the bill as an unconstitutional compromise ae. conipanied by insulting reasons. Lord Jon Russia/. said he did not regard the bill as satisfactory, but as a compromise in which they might concur. No bill can be satisfactory that makes a distinction in the form of oath between Roman Catholics and Protestants, or which bars a Jew out of the House of Lords. Mr. DRUMMOND reminded the House that they were sanctioning the beginning of a new system. The Church and State are no longer one. There is nothing for it but to admit the Jews in the least misohievous mode. He should therefore support the bill. Mr. DILLATYN denied that there was anything revo- lutionary in the bill. Mr. WALPOLE defended the Government from the charges of Mr. Newdegate and his friends. For his own part he could not give up. his convictions, but he would have been content to silently protest against a bill that could not be resisted. It would have been better had the House of Lords frankly acquiesced in the Oaths bill sent up from the Commons instead of passing a patchwork measure that cannot be a permanent settlement of the question. Lord PALMERSTON also protested against the mode adopted. It is, however, an instalment of a larger measure—of a general law on the subject. Mr. MALINS took the same ground.
On a division the original motion was carried by 156 to 65. On the motion for going into Committee of Ways and Means, Sir Fitexcis BARING complained that the recommendations of the Public Money's Committee had not been carried out. Mr. Disoxism assured him that both the late and present Government had paid great attention to the subject, but that the changes demanded require several acts of Parliament to carry them out, and these cannot hastily be framed or passed.
At the morning sitting the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill passed through Committee. On the motion of Mr. AYRTON, an amendment was carried by 133 to 58, providing that a candidate may provide con- veyances for voters, but may not pay their travelling expenses. A proviso was added requiring a full account of such disbursements. A clause was added on the motion of Mr. EGERTON, by 144 to 34, enacting that the proposer and seconder of a candidate slutll be jointly liable with him for the expense of taking polls.
The Gazette of last night states that the Queen has appointed Major- General Peel, the Duke of Cambridge, Lord Stanley, General the Marquis of Tweeddale, Major-General Lord Melville' Lieutenant-General Sir H. G. W. Smith, Lieutenant-General Sir G. A. Wetherall ; and Major-General Patrick Montgomerie, Major-General Henry Hancock, Colonel William Burlton, Colonel Thomas Forsyth Tait, of the East India Company's service, to be her Majesty's Commissioners for the purpose of inquiring into the Or- ganization of the Army at present serving in the pay and under the control and management of the Honourable the East India Company.
Sir James Outram, " in consideration of his eminent services " in India has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General. The Gazette also states that the dignity of Baronet has been granted to Alexander Hutchinson Lawrence of the Bengal Civil Service (eldest son of the late Sir Henry Montgomery 'Lawrence and to his heirs male, with remainder, in default of such issue, to his 'brother Henry Waldemar Law- rence, and his heirs male.
Previous page
