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    772 THE LEAD E R. [Ko. 3S6, August 15, 1...

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    Mmi^&Mmmml ——+ . ¦ Monday, August. Ioth....

    would be . likely to interrupt the harmony existing between the French and English Governments . ¦¦ ' ¦ SITE OF 8 M 1 THFD 3 LD . Sir John Shelley inquired whether Government would , aa far as they have power , insist on the area lately occupied by the market in Smithfield being preserved as an open space . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that the Corporation had proposed to establish a dead-meat market on the site , to which the Government refused their assent , and the Corporation had not yet submitted any other-project .

    ; INDIA . On the order for going into Committee of Supply , Sir De Lacy Evans drew attention to the military arrangements now being made ; for meeting the contingency that had occurred in the Bengal Native army . It was important that we should not present ourselves before Europe as disarmed . Possibly , however , the calling out of the militia might prevent this . The Governor of Malta had sent away his troops to India ; and he believed there the inhabitants w « re pleased at the confidence thus reposed in them . Altogether , he believed 16 , 600 troops had been embarked for India ; 6000 or 8000 men were under orders ; and 4000 or 5000 had been intercepted on their way to China , as well as some

    small additions from the Mauritius and Sierra Leone . So that 28 , 000 troops would probably have arrived in India within a few months . The greatest difficulty in sending oat reinforcements was the distance . He believed it was 11 , 500 miles to Calcutta . That distance could be diminished by steam but for the want of coal depots . He hoped that measures had been taken to remedy , that inconvenience . With depots at Sierra Leone , the Cape , and the Mauritius , the intervals would be less than 4000 miles . One or two of the vessels of war now in ordinary might be sent to Calcutta with great effect , and it was to be hoped that the gunboats despatched to the Point de Galle would be diverted to the Ganges . Another ' point ought not to be forgotten . By the time all our troops reached India , we might expect a diminution of some 4000 , men ; and means ought

    to be at once taken to supply that deficiency . Canada , too , could depend on her militia ; and not onl y might he English troops be withdrawn from that station , but Canada might be encouraged to repeat the offer which she made during the Crimean war , of raising a couple of colonial regiments . As to the Cape of Good Hope , he believed the Kaffirs were nevermore prostrate than now ; and seven battalions of infantry might safely be abstracted thence . When it was considered that 100 , 000 troops had been disbanded in India , or were now in arms against us , the aspect was serious enough ; and we had two or three years of serious work before we could expect to get a proper footing again with regard to India and the nations of Europe . ( Hear , hear . ' ) The services of our soldiers ought to be better rewarded , so that there should be more inducements to enter the army .

    Lord Palmerston said he had listened to the suggestions of Sir De Lacy Evans with the respect and deference due to his high military character . He had , however , in his opinion , over-estimated . the European difficulty that might be produced by the events in India . The nations of the world had seen with what a unanimous spirit and energy the English people had responded to the call which the Government made to them in a moment of national emergency . While , some 90 , 000 troops had been sent to India , troops were being raised at home as fast as possible : and not only

    was the regular army being increased , but a portion , of the militia was * about to be embodied . Recent events in India were undoubtedly serious ; but , as far as Europe and foreign countries were concerned , nothing had occurred to alter the conditions of peace . He assured Sir Be Lacy arid the House that , while the Government were at present doing all they thought necessary to meet the difficulty , though not going beyond the necessity , if events should take a turn different from what they expected they felt they had at hand the resource of calling Parliament together , and asking for additional means of national defence ,

    Tho debate then took a very discursive range , suggestions and commonts being offered by Colonel North , Mr . Bbntjcnck : , Sir Henry Veirnby , Mr , Newdkoatb and Mr , Williams , the general upshot of which was the expression of some dissatisfaction with the course pursued by Government . — -Mr . Whiteside then reviewed the causes of the outbreak , which , according to his view , were similar to thoge suggested , by Mr . Disraeli on a previous occasion . He added that ho feared tho Government still underrated tho gravity of the crisis , and they had assuredly hitherto shown no foresight , no watchfulness , no judgment . —This charge was

    indignantly denied by Mr . vbbnon Smith , who said it was not consistent with the gravity of a mombor of that Houso to found charges againafc the Government on aoraps of newspapers and nnonymoua statements . ( Mr . Whitoaido had boon reading aorao extracts from various journals , ) Lord Canning had exhibited great judgment and vigour . Mr . Disraeli renewed tho charge that tho Government had undor-ostimatcd tho public peril . Lord Pal" * naerston had underrated tho emergency in India , and ovorratod tho favourable position of affairs in Europe . Whllo the existence of our Indian empire was in dangor , the Government talked about economy , and measured

    their preparations to meet the crisis-by narrow considerations of expenditure . He repeated what he had advanced in a previous debate touching the causes of the mutiny , citing proofs from the papers just laid before Parliament of his assertions . that the Indian administration had sought to interfere with the religion of the natives , and that the revolt had attained much larger dimensions than a mere military mutiny . Vast interests were depending upon the results of the next campaign , which would commence in November . If that campaign should prove unfortunateand a third were entered on ,

    , we should have others to contend with besides the princes of India . The conceit and arrogance of the Council of India had endangered our Eastern Empire ; and the men forming that Council ought to be called to account . Mr . Disraeli concluded by taunting Lord Palmerston with changing his policy with respect to the Danubian Principalities , in order to keep on good terms with the French Emperor . For himself , he had more confidence in the spirit of this country and in its resources wisely administered than in any European alliance . ( Cheers . ')

    Colonel Sykes read extracts of a letter from Colonel Edwardes at Peshawur , who stated that the mutinous soldiery had met with Very little sympathy from the people in any part of the country , and that the Hindoo Sepoys were beginning to find that th ey were made tools of by the Mahomedans . Great danger , however , would attend the slightest interference with the laws of caste , owing to the jealous susceptibility of the Hindoos upon that point . Lord John Russell , warmly criticised some of the statements and views of Mr . Disraeli , whom he accused of having said that the rebellion was a just one ( a charge which Mr . Disraeli subsequently denied ) . Whatever errors the Council of India may have committed , he

    ( Lord John ) believed that it had done great good to India , and that its intentions were most benevolent . The mutiny must be put down at all costs , and he was sure the people woiild cheerfully bear any sacrifice which might be necessary . The first duty of that House was to assure the Executive that its support should not be wanting . There was one subject respecting which he had heard no explanation—the financial efforts which the Indian Government would have to make , large amounts of treasure "having been seized , and it being but too certain that there would be great irregularity in the payment of the taxes . The Imperial Government should , in his opinion , aid the financial efforts of the Company , and he trusted they would not hesitate to give them the assistance they required .

    Mr . H . A . Bruce called attention to a statement contained in a return on tenures of land in India , made by the East India House on the 18 th of June , which , he said , contained irrelevant matter , prejudicial to the character of the late Sir Charles Napier . The charge was to the effect that Sir Charles had sold grain in Scinde at artificially high prices to enhance the value of his conquest . The testimony of several eminent Anglo-Indiana was read to disprove this assertion . —Mr . Willoughby said there was nothing intentionally wrong in the statement , which had been taken from an official report . — A short discussion followed , in the course of which a warm tribute was paid to the merits of Sir Charles Napier by Mr . Roebuck , and it was urged by General Codrxngton , Mr . Roebuck , and _ Mr . Butt , that Sir Charles ' s answer to the accusation contained in the statement ought to be produced and placed upon record . SUPPLY . The House then went into Committee of Supply upon the rest of the Civil Service Estimates . —On a vote of 200 , 000 ? . to defray charges in embodying the militia , a discursive debate took place , but the vote was ultimately agreed to . 450 , 000 / . for charges for the disembodied militia , and 32 , 000 ? . for the Ordnance Survey in Scotland , were also voted . —This sitting completed the estimates for the present session . The report having been brought up , the House resumed . The Pimuoo Improvements Bill , and the Police ( Scotland ) Bill , were read a third time , and passed . The Lords' amendments to the Reformatory Schools Bill wore considered , and , some of them having been disagreed to , a committee was appointed to confer with the Lords on the subject . The Lords' amendments to the Industrial Schools Bill were considered and agreed to . Several bills were forwarded a stage , and the House adjourned at half-past two o ' clock . Wednesday , August 12 th . In tho House of Commons , some time was occupied in considering tho Smoke Nuisance ( Scotland ) Abatement Bill as amended , and tho additional amendments on the roport ; ' but finally an agreotnont waa como to , and the bill was ordered for a third reading . SALE OV OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS PREVENTION BILL . The House having resolved itself into a committee upon this bill , a proposal was made to exclude Scotland from its operation . On this , Mr . Roebuck condemned the measure in strong terms , declaring that a moro preposterous bill had . never been sent down from the House of Lorda , which was saying a great deal . —A debate ensued , in which tho principle and details of tho measure woro much discussed , and various amendments woro suggested . Tho supporters of tho bill wore Sir Ghorqh

    Grey , Mr . Napier , Mr . Matins , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , Mr . Fitzgerald , and Sir Erskine Perry , the last of whom had charge of the bill ; the opponents , besides Mr . Roebuck , were . Mr . Ayrton Mr . White , Mr , Monckton Milnes , and Mr . Henley . ' Finally , the amendment with respect to Scotland was withdrawn , and it was agreed that the bill should be recommitted , and that the debate should be suspended until then .

    ENGLISH PROTESTANTS IN PARIS . On the order for going into Committee of Ways and Means , Mr . Wise , alluding to the rejection the other night of the vote of 10 , 500 / . for the erection of a chapel in Paris , inquired what the Government proposed to do with reference to the 2000 ? . advanced from the Civil Contingencies , and how the money was to be replaced in the Exchequer .- —The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that the Government had come to no decision upon the subject of the chapel .

    WAYS AND MEANS . . The House then went into Committee of Ways and Means , when the Chancellor of the Exchequer , after reminding the committee of the proposal he had made before the dissolution respecting the alteration of the duties upon tea . and sugar , and of the effect of that alteration , Observed that the proposal he was about to make was substantially the same—namely , to continue the existing duties upon tea and sugar for two years from the 1 st of April next . From the returns of the amount of revenue yielded by those two articles , it appeared that the average annual revenue in the last two years was upwards of 10 , 500 , 0007 . In reply to an inquiry made by Sir Henry Willoughby ,

    he proceeded to say that it had been the duty of the Government to communicate with the Court of Directors of the East India Company on the subject of their finances , and the latter , being informed that the Government is ready to consider any representation they , might desire to make as to a change in the law regarding their power of borrowing money , or any financial assistance they might wish to receive from Ministers , stated that they did not find themselves under the necessity of applying to the Government at present for any financial assistance ; that their present means are ample in the existing state of the Indian treasury . The Government therefore , as at present advised , did not feel called upon to submit to . Parliament any proposition upon this

    subject . The ways and means placed at the disposal of the Executive Government would be amply sufficient to meet the probable wants of the present financial year . If they should have reason to doubt the sufficiency of their means , they would not be slow in bringing their position before the House , relying upon the liberality and public spirit of Parliament and the country . But there was no immediate necessity for doing so ; all accruing demands , including the discharge of 2 , 000 , 0001 . of Exchequer Bonds and the redemption of the Sound Dues , had been paid out of the resources of the present year .

    Notwithstanding that these large payments had been satisfied out of the growing taxation of the year , it appeared to be adequate to all demands , and he did not anticipate at present any deficiency . With regard to the cost of tho armament sent to India , as soon as the regiments were transferred to the service of the East India Company , their expense was charged to the Indian revenue , and ceased to be a charge upon this country . He concluded by moving certain resolutions in accordance with the statements he had made . —After a discussion of some length the resolutions were agreed to . r

    The Probate and Letters of Administration Bill was read a third time , and passed . The House adjourned at five o ' clock .

    Thursday , August 13 th . BURIAL . ACTS AMENDMENT BILL . In the House ob- Lords , the Bishop of St . David's , on the motion that the House resolve itself into committee on the Burial Acts Amendment Bill , took occasion to repel the attacks which had been made upon him in the matter of the Swansea cemetery , which he had refused to consecrate because , as he now stated , permanent arrangements had not been made for the conveyance of the officiating clergyman to and from tho ground . — After considerable discussion , tho several clauses were agreed to , and the House rbsumed . The Municipal Corporations Bill was read a third timo , and passed .

    THE DANUBIAN P 1 WNCIPALITIKS . In answer to the Marquis of Olanrioarde , tho Earl ot Clarendon gave some explanations with rospect to tho Danubian difficulty similar to those already made in tho House of Commons by tho Premier . At tho same time , he refused to lay on tho table tho protocols of the meetings that had taken place at Constantinople on tho subject .

    TIITO WILLS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN tfORBWN COUNTRIES . Lord Wbnslkydalm called attention to tho provisions of a bill on tho table with jeforonoo to tho wills of British subjects residing in foreign conntrlcs . Ho did not think tho bill would romovo the difficulties at proaont experienced , and he suggested to all porsona so circumstanced tho nroprioty of making two wills—one in conformity with English law , and tho other in conformity with , the laws of tho country in which they may bo rosi-

    772 The Lead E R. [Ko. 3s6, August 15, 1...

    772 THE LEAD E R . [ Ko . 3 S 6 , August 15 , 1857 ^

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 15, 1857, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_15081857/page/4/