POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY.

In the House of Commons last night, Mr. DISRAELI introduced the bill proposed by the present Ministers for transferring the govern- ment of India from the East India Company to the Crown. In taking this course, he said, the Government was not merely influenced by the vote of the House of Commons, but by the fact that that vote had ren- dered it impossible for the Company to grapple with still existing dan- gers. He compared the course adopted to that of Lord Palmerston, who, while in office, resisted the appointment of the Sebastopol Committee, and who when he became head of a Cabinet acceded to the appointment of the Committee. Mr. Disraeli also paid a tribute of admiration to the East India Company, which had fallen before the course of change, of time, and of progress. Like the great republic of Venice which it ri- valled and resembled, it fell in the possession of a gallant army, a powerful fleet, considerable territory, and the semblance of authority. "It has met its end in the august fulfilment of its destiny. When Venice fell, under similar circumstances, it was discovered that, whatever was its outward show, it rested upon a foundation which had been long sapped and hollow." With this exordium Mr. Disraeli entered upon an ex- planation of the bill, stating the object thus- " To establish a British Minister with authority, subject to the moral control of a body of men of knowledge, independence, experience, distinc- tion, and public merit, and nevertheless invested with an authority which can control even a despotic Minister, and which no mere act of Parliament can confer upon them' is no ordinary difficulty to encounter ; and to devise the means by which it can be encountered, is one which only with the indul- gence of the House, and with the assistance of Parliament, we can hope to accomplish. " We propose in the first instance that there shall he a high officer of State—a Minister of the Crown—who shall occupy the rank and fulfil the duties of one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State." The Secretary will be President, with power to appoint a Vice-President. "The Council will consist of eighteen persons. We likewise propose that one-half of that number should be nominated by a warrant of the Crown under the sign-manual and the other moiety of nine members should be elected. (Loud cheers.) We are yet of the opinion that each of the nine nominated should have specified qualifications ; that they should each repre- sent some great interest in India ; that they should, although nominated by the Crown, still be, to use a popular expression of the day, representative men. (Cheers.) These nine will be appointed in this manner. -Each of the Civil Services of the four Presidencies shall furnish a representative. There will be one member who has served ten years in the Civil Service in the Upper Provinces or in those countries immediately under the Governor-General. There will be another who shall have served for ten years in the Lower Pro- vinces of Bengal. There shall be, too, a Member of the Council connected with the Civil Service of the Madras Presidency, and another with that of Bom- bay ; each with the same qualification of ten years' service. The fifth member of the Council is to have a specified, but rather a peculiar, qualification. One of the faults of the administration of India hitherto has been, we think, too great a disregard of the feelings of the Native Princes and too little ac- quaintance with the circumstances of the territory and the character of the people. It seemed to us desirable to have in the Council a representative of that eminent class of public servants—the area for the selection of which is limited—who, having served ten years under the Government of India, have been five years resident at the court of some Native Prince. The men whom we wish to have in the Council are such men as Sir Robert Jenkins, as Colonel Sutherland, as General Low in his younger and happier hours. I have now detailed the qualifications of five of the members to be nominated by the Crown. We intend that the four others should represent respectively the military service of the Queen in India, the Armies of Bengal, Bombay, and Madras. We require that there should be in the Council a member of the Queen's Army who has served five years in India, a member of each of the Armies of Bengal, Bombay, and Madras, who has served in India at least ten years. Our object is, so far as the nine nominees of the Crown are con- cerned, that the Secretary of State shall command a special and particular knowledge of everything brought before the Council." The names of the first nominees will be placed in the bill, so that they will have not only a Royal but a Parliamentary sanction.

The other portion of the Council will be chosen by election. Of these, four must have served ten years in India, in the Army, Navy, the Legal, or the Civil Service, or must have resided fifteen years in India employed in agriculture manufactures, or commerce. The constituency that will elect these four

agriculture, consist of all persons residing in this country who, in the Army or Navy or Civil Service, have served ten years in India, and all re- gistered proprietors of 20001. stock in India railways, or 1000/. East India stock. This will give a constituency of 5000 persons. The other five Mem- bers of Council must have been engaged in commerce with India or in the exportation of manufactured articles to India for five years, or have resided in India ten years. These five are to be elected by the Parliamentary constituencies of the City of London Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast. (" Hear, hear !" and laughter.) Besides the names of the nine Members to be nominated by the Crown, the names of the four to be elected by an Indian constituency are to be in the bill. The names of the Crown nominees are Sir Frederick Currie and Mr. Dorin, senior Member of Council at Calcutta, both of Bengal ; Sir Henry Montgomery of Madras ; Mr. Pringle of Bombay ; Sir Claude Wade, who has held many political appointments ; Lieutenant-General Sir John Pen- nefather, Colonel Burton of the Bengal Army, Sir Richard Vivian, formerly Adjutant-General at Madras, and an officer not yet named for Bombay. For the Indian constituency, are selected Mr. Mangles, Captain Shepherd, Sir James Hogg—(" Hear, hear ."' and a laugh)—and Mr. Prinsep. He described next the form of procedure and duties of the Council. The Minister for India will have power to divide the Council into Committees. Re may call a meeting whenever he thinks fit. Six members of Council may also call a meeting. If there is a difference in the Council, the opinion of the Minister shall be conclusive if he is absent, a decision will be by majority, and in case of equality by the casting-vote of the Vice-President, subject to the sanction of the President. The Council will be appointed for two, four, and six years, for six years finally. Members eligible for re- election. They will not have seats in Parliament. Their salary will be 1000/. a year. "The distribution of patronage will not be in the least al- tered." With regard to the Army and finance, there will be two armies ; care has been taken to fix on the revenue of India alone the expense of the government of India. The accounts will be annually placed before Parlia- ment; and there will be a sufficient audit. Finally,—for Mr. Disraeli ex- pressed a serious anxiety on the subject of Indian finance,—if the bill pass, the Government will recommend the Queen to issue a Royal Commission to examine and ascertain the real condition of the finances and a clause will be inserted in the bill enabling a Commission to proceed immediately to India.

Lord PALMERSTON said, in giving his cordial consent to the motion he must be understood as merely concurring in the motion for leave to bring in the bill. He reserved his opinion. In the conversation that ensued, there was an unanimous opinion in fa- vour of admitting the bill without cavil, but a general tone of coldness. Mr. MANGLES offered the cordial assistance of himself and col- leagues in making the bill as efficient as possible, but reserved the right of debating it section by section. Mr. WarrB said, the bill favourably .contrasted with the previous bill. Sir ERSKINE PERRY thought the bill paid too much attention to class interests and disregarded national interests. Mr. Bid.= thought that Edinburgh should return a mem- ber of Council. Mr. VANCE said, after that demand he must make a

claim for Dublin. Mr. Cox said, the change of Government had re-

sulted in a more liberal India Bill ;—whereat the Ministerialists cheered. Lord Join- Rnsszrz demanded plenty of time to consider the provi- sions of the measure. Mr. ROEBUCK objected to the bill as a "sham" from beginning to end. The electoral principle was introduced to give colour to the despotic principle of the bill. Mr. BRIGHT warned the

Government to reconsider the measure. He thought, as regards responsi- bility, that Lord Palmerston's proposed Council, of eight only, was to be preferred. It struck him that the provisions relating to popular election /night be called claptrap. He wished for a bill with distinct provisions, clear and broad in its features, simple, comprehensive, and easily 'understood.

In the course of remarks many Members asked questions, and Mr. DISRAELI supplied answers. The Council will do all business that can be transacted in England. Its members must give their whole time to their duties, and not be engaged in trade, except those elected by the great towns. The Council will not meet at fixed times, but, like Cabinet Councils, as often as may be necessary. Six will be a quorum. The Vice-President will not be a political officer in any sense. There :will be a Secret Committee. • The bill was read a first time. Mr. DISRAELI desired to fix the second reading for Friday the 16th April ; but, at the suggestion of Lord JOHN PLESELL, he fixed it for Monday the 19th.

In the House of Peers, Lord PANNURE, moving for returns, gave an historical summary of the improvements made in the condition of the soldier for the last twenty-five years to show that he has not been ne- glected. Lord Grey had amended the system of reliefs, diminishing the Period of absence from twenty to ten and fifteen years ; he had introduced good-conduct pay, and instituted savings-banks, a measure fully carried Out by 141rd Hardinge. Mr. Sidney Herbert began and Lord Panmure e°mPWted the system of military and regimental education. Lord Pan- mure had abolished the selling of spirits in barrack canteens; the " sponge " of the regiment—the man who would absorb any amount of Itink—has disappeared. The chaplains have been increased from seven le twenty-two, with thirty-five assistant-chaplains. The soldier gets a free kit and beauty. With regard to barracks, much improve- ment has been made, but large sums would be required to carry out all the improvements now loudly called for by the public. The Army Esti- mates reach 9,500,0001., and of this sum 660,000/. is devoted to barracks. There are other things to attend to besides barracks. The Government must endeavour to dispense fairly the money which the nation can afford to give over all the requirements of the Army ; and they must not look, nor can they afford, to expend it on any one thing merely because the public attention is aroused by the notion that something more ought to be done in the erection of barracks.

The Duke of CAMBRIDGE explained, that he had not in his recent speeches elsewhere made any charge against Lord Panmure, who had vent more money in barrack-improvements than any of his predecessors. The Duke only desired to show that the Army is not neglected. More taxation is needed to provide for the wants of the Army. The Earl of CARDIGAN said that recent statements with respect to the condition of the soldier had been much exaggerated. The Duke of Sommtswr said, surely something might be done for tho soldier without incurring any great expense. Alter spending 2,000,000/. on the Houses of Par- liament, it cannot be said we can afford nothing for the soldier.

The late Government made an exhibition in 'Westminster Hall, which showed their idea of public buildings. They proposed to erect a row of palaces for public offices ; but it would, in his opinion, be far better to pro- vide for the soldier before we built palaces for the clerks of public depart- ments. The want of proper sleeping accommodation isthat which especially calls for remedy. The subject should be dealt with in a large

The Earl of DERBY made some general remarks, to show that the soldier has not been neglected, and, favourably compared his present condition with that of past times.

The returns were agreed to.

The House of Commons adjourned last night until Monday, April 12. The House of Lords will sit one or two nights next week for formal business.

The Times states that Lord Malmesbury has inaugurated his reign at the Foreign Office by the following important changes-

" Lord A. Loftus, at present Secretary of Legation at Berlin, will succeed Sir Hamilton Seymour at Vienna. "Sir I. Crampton, at present Minister at Hanover and late Minister in the; United States, will succeed Lord Wodehouse at St. Petersburg. " Mr. Buchanan at present Minister at Copenhagen, will succeed Lord Howden at Madrid:

4‘ Mr. Elliot, at present Secretary of Legation at Vienna, will succeed Mr. Buchanan at Copenhagen.

"Mr. Howard, at present Secretary of Embassy at Paris, will succeed Lord Normanby as Minister at Florence. "Lord Chelsea will succeed Mr. Howard as Secretary of Embassy at Paris."

A numerous deputation of magistrates and clergymen from Yorkshire, Lancashire Cheshire, and Northamptonshire, attended by Lord Goderich and about twenty Members of Parliament, waited upon Mr. Walpole at the Home Office yesterday to ask for measures in correction of the evils which result from the present system of licensing beer-houses. The case was stated by Mr. Foster, the Reverend Mr. ItToodford, the Mayor of Bradford, and the Reverend Canon Brown. These gentlemen represented the beer-houses as the resort of classes representing every form of misconduct and crime. The statistics would only encumber our space. They result in showing that the beer-house is, in a vast number of cases, the home of vice in its lowest, most revolting, most shameless,and most destructive character ; the beer-house being the trap for the young of the poor and uneducated classes, the nursery of pauper- ism and crime. In the West Riding of Yorkshire there is one house for the sale of intoxicating liquors to thirty-one other houses, and one house for every fifty-six males above the age of fifteen. The improvements proposed were, an extension of the Tippling Act to prevent small debts for scores being recoverable by law ; greater restriction in the number of houses licensed, so as to facilitate inspection and control ; power to suspend or annul licences for misconduct ; power to receive protests from the inhabitants of a district against the conduct or number of beer-shops. In reply Mr. Walpole pointed out that the mem- bers of the deputation were not unanimous on the subject of the proposed remedies ; but the subject had already been under his consideration ; he would give it further thought during the recess, and would be ready to state in his place in Parliament the intentions of her Majesty's Govern- ment.

The new Bridge at Chelsea will be opened on Monday. This step has been taken before the question of foot-tolls is decided, because the West London and Crystal Palace Railway Company are prepared to open their line on Monday.

Lady Inglis and her three children, and several ladies and officers who were besieged in Lucknow, arrived yesterday in the Colombo at South- ampton. Lady Inglis was welcomed by her brother Colonel Thesiger ; and the other heroes and heroines by their relatives.

An unpleasant story has obtained currency in Oude respecting Sir Colin Campbell's treatment of General Outram. When the public de- spatches of Sir Colin, describing his entry into Lucknow, came back to Cawnpore, those who had been present in the Oude capital at the time of the relief were struck with the remarkable omissions in the account given by the Commander-in-chief. It certainly would not be supposed from reading that despatch, that Outram had sent to Sir Cohn Campbell, at Alumbagh, plans of the city and its approaches ; that he had carefully described to the Commander-in-chief the very point in which he was most likely to meet with opposition ; that he had submitted an entire plan of operations ; that he had erected a semaphore on the top of the Re- sidency, in order to exchange messages with the leader of the relieving force ; that he had drawn up and furnished to Sir Colin a code of signals ; that he had promised to make a diversion in order to assist the assault ; or that Sir Colin not only received General Outram's plan and scheme of operations, but telegraphed that he would adopt the scheme, and did adopt it. It would not be supposed that Outram made a diversion in Sir Colin's favour, which many even blamed as rash,—blowing up mines, making sorties, storming positions shelling and bombarding the place in

which the enemy were in force. Yet all this, we are tokl, is true ; and it is

assumed that thetruth will come out, though too late to dopresent justice to Outram. The 0131188i011 in the published account is indeed remarkable ; and it is natural that great sensitiveness should exist on such a subject. Oude has been the scene of some of the hardest fighting, the most formidable dangers, and the most heroic perseverance, ever recounted in the history of British arms. In many cases the officers and men who joined in the heroic work knew at the time that they had no chance of reward except the approval of their country ; and they are naturally jealous if a fair and distinct knowledge of their exertions should not be furnished to the country. When the attention of the Commander-in-chief in India shall have been called to the omission, we presume that some explanation will be given ; meanwhile, it is fair to suspend judgment on the point.