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Leader (1850-1860), 15th May 1858, Edition 2 of 2, Page 5

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      I Imperial Parliament. 1 ¦ Monihty, May ...

      Secretary of the Board of Control if despatches had been recently received from Sir Colin Campbell , asking urgently for immediate reinforcements , and if the Court of Directors had declined for the present to provide transports for the troops , which the military authorities had reported to be ready for embarkation . —Mr . Baitjlik thought the'hon . member must perceive that questions such as these mi g ht lead to serious public inconvenience . On the present occasion , however , he was at liberty to state that no despatch had been received from Sir Colin Campbell asking for reinforcements , and no refusal had been made by the Court of Directors to furnish the transports required .

      THE RESIGNATION OF LORD Er , I ., EJSBOKOUGH . In answer to Lord A .. Vane Tempest , "Mr . Disuaeli said that the reason" why Lord Ellenborough had taken the somewhat unusual , but not unconstitutional , course of resigning without previously consulting his colleagues was , that he knew very well that , if the question had been put to the other members of the Government , their great regard for the personal qualities of the noble Earl , and their admiration of his genius , would have induced them unanimously to request him . to ¦ withdraw his resignation . - THE " PRIVATE I . KTTER " TO MK . VERNON SMITH .

      In reply to a series of questions put by Mr . Newdeg ate , Mr . Vkunon Smith said that he had received a u private letter " from Lord Canning , dated the ( 3 th of March ; that it contained a paragraph referring to a Proclamation which Lord Canning stated he intended to issue ; and that it did not appear to him ( Mr . Smith ) that it was of such importance as to > render it necessary that he should communicate it to Lord Ellenborough , who would have been justified , he thought , in considering it

      an impertinent communication . He added , that he had read the letter to Lord Palmerston , to whom it did not occur , any more than to himself , that the communication should be made to the Government . ( The last part of this statement was received with ironical cheers . )—Sir W . M . Fakquiiab asked the right hon . gentleman whether he was not under the impression that the letter and a draft of the Proclamation were received by the same mail . —Mr . Vkbnon Smith : " Of course . "

      THE OATHS BIUL .. Lord Johjt Russell , brought up the report of the committee appointed to draw up the reasons for disagreeing from the amendments of the Lords on the Oaths Bill . —The reasons were agreed to by the House , after a protest from Mr . Neavdegate ; and , upon the motion of Lord John Russell , a message was ordered to be sent to the lords desiring a conference . MASTERS AND WORKMEN BILt . On the order for the second reading of this bill , moved by Mr . Mackinnox , Mr . WALror . B ( who considered the measure utterly unworkable ) suggested that it should be withdrawn . —After a short discussion , Mr . Mackinnox consented to take that course .

      JOINT-STOCK BANKING COMPANIES UILt . Mr . Heablam moved the second reading of this bill , which was opposed by Mr . Bi ^ ack , who pointed out the danger of limiting the responsibility of bankers . He therefore moved that the bill be read a second time that day six : months . —Mr . Finla-v seconded the amendment . —Mr . Drummond observed that , if the fever for high rates of interest continued , there must be on enormous increase of paper money . —Sir It . W . Garden suggested that a new system of hanking ought to be established . He should oppose the bill , which would inflict injustice on the banks established since Sir liobcrt Peel ' s Act . — The l ) ill was further opposed by Sir W . Dunbar , Mr . Bovii . iv , and'Mr . T . 11 . Guuket , but received the

      support of Sir G . C . Lewis ( who could not see any reason why hanking companies should be excepted from the rulo of limited liability , and who reminded the House that the bill was merely permissive , and net compulsory ) , Mr . Malins , Mr . Baxtick , Mr . Joseph Ewart , Mr . Sheridan , Mr . Sfoonkr , and the Chanci ; lt . or of the Exchkqukr . —The last-mentioned observed that the bill put an end to a restriction wliich could not be maintained on any sound principle ; and , although it might be true that limited liability had not yet been sufficiently tried , and thut the Legislature might be compelled to retrace its steps , that was no reason why the trial should not be made with bankanawith other commercial undertakings . —The amendment was then negatived , and the bill was read a second time . CHURCH RATK 3 ABOLITION MM ,. 1 no House then went into committee upon this bill , tlio hrst clausoof which , abolishing church rates , was carried , after a long debate , by 227 to IBS . —The otlicr clauses were agreed to . —Sir Arthur Humm Elton moved the addition of two now clauses , one providing that any church rate mudu before the passing of the net may he collected in the sunie way as if the act had not Ptl !*& V th ° Othel > ' cmP « wering the churchwardens and pnrmionera tomuko a voluntary rate upon the occupiers ot all property now liable to church rate , provided that no occupier who shall have refused or neglected to pay such voluntary rate shall bo entitled to vote at any m F n a 8 U , I mon 1 e < 1 for <*» rch business for eighteen ih « i n , flrst claU 6 Cw »» "greed to , and added to mourn the other clause , after some discuseion , Waa

      withdrawn . —The bill then passed through the committee , and was ordered to be reported . The committee on the Property Qualification Bill was postponed ; Mr . Locke King ( who had charge of the bill ) consenting to that course . Mr . Athertox obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the Common Law Procedure Act , 1854 , with reference to the exercise of equitable jurisdiction . The House adjourned at twenty minutes to one o'clock .

      Yp. 425, Mai" 15, Ls5g.J -L J± & Jl. -Tt...

      yp . 425 , MAI" 15 , lS 5 g . j -L J ± & JL . -tt A JJ Jfl - tt . 461

      Theindian Revolt. The Intelligence From ...

      THEINDIAN REVOLT . The intelligence from India this week is little in amount , but It is important , as seeming to indicate the probability of a yet protracted contest . A hot weather campaign in Jiohileund is considered inevitable by the army under Sir Colin Campbell ; and this will of course greatly try our men . The Gotnmander-in-Chief , accompanied by a colamn under General Walpole , was to start from Lucknow to the new centre of rebellion on the 20 th of April . On the 12 th of that month , lie had an interview with the Governor-General at Allahabad ; and probably on that occasion the future course of operations was resolved on . On the 8 th of April , a strong force marched for Bareilly , which , as well as Calpee ,

      was still in the hands of the enemy ; but , up to the last dates , no attack had been made on either of those places . The 13 th Regiment , sent to relieve Azimghur , has had a severe fight with the insurgents , in which twenty-five casualties occurred . The result is not stated ; so we fear it must be inferred that our men were compelled to retreat . It was expected , however , that Lugard ' s column , which left Lucknow on the 28 th of March , would relieve Azimghur about the 20 th of April . The rebels seem to be in force along the river near Futtehpore and Benares ; and large bodies of the enemy are said to be advancing on Jhansi from , the east , with a view to getting in the rear of Sir Hugh Rose , who was still there on the 18 th . ult ., having found

      it impracticable to advance on Calpee . The Kotah garrison , five thousand strong , -were at large at that date "; but they had no artillery . General Whitlock remained iit Saugor , arid General Roberta ' s force was preparing to go into quarters at Nusseerabad and Neemuch . lloberts writes that he is likely to encounter detachments of rebels in that district . The Nepaulese are reported to be falling back within their own frontier , to protect it against the rebels ; which , if it be true , is a fact of importance , as Sir Colin Campbell will thus be deprived of the services of a ¦ useful ally . At Uraballah , the 4 th Bengal Light Cavalry , one hundred and sixty strong , has been brought to a court-martial , and sixty have been sentenced to be hanged , while the remainder are to be transported for life .

      Such are the dark parts of the picture presented by the last telegrams . The bright parts are that General Seaton encounter ed and defeated the rebels on the 7 th . ult ., taking three guns ; that Iiueknow is perfectly tranquil , not a single armed man being visible there ; that the Punjab and Scinde continue quiet ; that order is being restored in the northern Mahratta country ; and that at Calcutta imports meet with a bettor demand at advancing prices , the money-market being in a healthy condition . Trade at Bombay , however , has been less active ; the moneymarket is tight ; and the banks have raised their discount one per cent .

      The bulk of the Oude army continues at Lucknow . General Roberta ' s force has orders not to break at Kotah immediately , as was at first proposed . A flying force under Major Evans has been pursuing the Cor rebels and refugees in Kindress . The hot weather is setting in everywhere , accompanied by the usual squalls and storms . Lord Canning , at the lust dates , was about to leave Allahabad for Calcutta ; and , General Lowe having started for England , Sir James Outrani has taken his place at the Council Board . " \ V . S . D . " writes to the Times : — " By tlie last Bombay mail I received a letter from a relation of mine in the 2 nd battalion of the Rifle Brigade , dated ' Before Lucknow , March 31 , ' and consequently three days Inter than the letter of your special correspondent , wherein I find a piece of news not given by any of your correspondents—viz . that , on or near the seat of war in the East , hearing of the fall of Lucknow , the remainder of the 4 th Irregular Cavalry , who were stationed at Umballah , mutinied , two hundred in number , but were all immediatel y taken and hung by General Windham . 1 cannot vouch for the truth of this fact ; but , if it bo true , your readers may like to know it , tin it adds one more to the many inexplicable incidents of the present Sepoy revolt . My correspondent ( who was him self engaged under General Windham in the throe days' light , at Cawnporo last November with the Uwulior mutineers ) says ho has not rend a single correct account of thut allair in any of the English newspapers , and that people in England know nothing

      whatever of the real state of the disturbed districts . of India . " THE REVOLT IN OT 7 I > E . _ We published last week Lord Canning ' s Proclamar tion to the people of Oude , confiscating the property of all the landholders with the exception of six who have been faithful to us . That Proclamation , as the public were informed by members of the Government in both Houses of Parliament , was disapproved of by the Cabinet ; and , on Friday week , Lord Ellenborough stated in the House of "Lords that the document containing the disapproval wo uld be laid

      on the table , .-with the omission of certain paragraphs which consisted of " reasoning on the subject , " and the publication of which would te attended with " inconvenience to the public service . " The paper was therefore produced ; duly castigated . Such , however , is the want of concert between different branches of the Government , that this very despatch , without any omissions whatever , was published on Saturday , by order of the House of Commons . The document ( the omitted portions of which are placed between brackets ) runs thus : —

      u The Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company to the Governor-General of India in Council . "April 19 , 1858 . " Our letter of the 24 tli of March will have put you in possession of our general views "w / ith respect to the treatment of the people in the event of the evacuation of Lucknow by the enemy- - " On the 12 th inst ., we received from you a copy of a letter , dated the 3 rd of March , addressed by your secretary to the secretary to the Chief Commissioner in Oude , which letter enclosed a copy of the proclamation to be issued by the Chief Commissioner , as soon as the British troops should have command of the city of Lucknow ,

      and conveyed instructions as to the manner in wliich he was to act with respect to different classes of persons in execution of the views of the Governor-General . The people of Oude will see only the proclamation- That authoritative expression of the will of the Government informs the people that six persons who are named as having been , steadfast in their allegiance are henceforward the sole hereditary proprietors of the lands they held when Oude came under British rule , subject only to such moderate assessment as may be imposed upon them ; that . others in whose favour like claims may be established will have conferred upon them a proportionate measure of reward and honour ; and that , with these exceptions , the proprietary right in the soil of the pro

      vince is confiscated to the British . Government . We cannot but express to you our apprehension that this decree , pronouncing the disinherison of the people , will throw difficulties almost insurmountable in the way of there-establishment of peace . We are under the impression that the war in Oudo has derived much of its popular character from the rigorous manner in which , without regard to what the chief landholders had become accustomed to consider as their rights , the suramaiy settlement had in a large portion of the province been carried out by your officers . The

      landholders of India are as much attached to thesoil occupied by their ancestors , and are as sensitive with respect to the rights in the soil they deem themselves to possess , as tlie occupiers of land in any country of which we have a knowledge . Whatever may be your ultimate and undisclosed intentions , your proclamation will appear to deprive the great body of the people of all hope upon the subject most dear to them as individuals ; while the substitution of our rule for that of their native sovereign has naturally excited against us whatever they may have of national feeling .

      [ " We cannot but in justico consider that those who resist our authority in Oude are under very different circumstances from tliose who have acted against us in provinces which have been long under our government . We dethroned the King of Omle , and took possession of his kingdom , by virtue of a treaty which had been subsequently modified by another treaty , under which , had it been held to be in force , the course we adopted could not have been lawfully pursuod ; but we held that it was not in force ; although the fact of its not having been ratified in England , as regarded the provision on which we rely for our justification , had not been previously made known to tho King of Oude . That sovereign and his ancestors had been uniformly faithful

      to their treaty engagements with us , however ill they may ha-vo governed their subjects . They had more than once assisted us in our difficulties , and not a suspicion had ever been entertained of any hostile disposition on their part towards our Government . { Suddenly , the people saw their King tnkon from among them , and our administration substituted for his , which , however bad , waa at least native ; and this sudden change of government was immediately followed by « summary settlement of tho revenue , which , in a very considerable portion of the province , deprived tho most influential landholders of what they deemed to be their propertyof what certainly haul long given wealth , und distinction nnd power to their families . 1

      " Wo must admit that , under the circumstances , tlie hostilities which have been carried on in Oude liuvi : rather tho character of legitimate war than that of rc-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 15, 1858, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_15051858/page/5/