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    IMPrTRIAT PARTTAMI7NTT IM1 iLlilAL 1 AtHjiAiVlijiN 1. "»—""

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    Monday , February 15 th . THE PUNISHMENT OF THE INDIAN MUTINEERS . In the House of Lords , the Earl of Ellknbobough asked whether the Government had received any intelligence with regard to the execution of one hundred and fifty mutineers by Sir Hugh Rose . The rebels ought , of course , to be puni-hed , and severely ; but , except in some cases , death ought not to be resorted to . As the Duke of Wellington remarked sixty years ago , the natives of India derive from their religion a contempt for death , so that the prospect of it does not afflict them -with any terror . Flogging , which degrades them in efficient

    their own eves , is a far more punishment . Between ninety and a hundred thousand people had taken part in the mutiny ; and it was quite evident that the punishment of death could not be resorted to in every instance . Since the capture of Delhi , there had been , ¦ wi th the exception of a few days , executions to the amount of four , five , or six a day ; and , if this be continued , a bloody feud will arise between us and the natives which will make the re-establishment of civil government impossible . —Earl Granville replied that the Government had as 3 > -et no information on the subject except by m eans of . the telegraph . The Government quite . agrees —and so , it would appear , does theGovernor-General—in the general principle laid down by Lord Ellenborough .

    GESEKAL 'WTNDIIAM . The Duke of Cambridge expressed his satisfaction at the despatch written by Sir Colin Campbell in exculpation of General Windham ' s conduct at Cawnpore . Certain returns in connexion with the Bankruptcy Commissioners were ordered , on the motion of Lord Brougham , and their Lordships then adjourned . ANNEXATION OF OUDE . Mr . Darby Griffiths presented a petition from the Manchester Free Trade Association , praying for an inquiry into the facts connected with the annexation of Oude .

    THE HUDSON S BAY COMPANY . Mr . Labouciiiiiu-: wished-to correct a misunderstanding which had gone forth to the public japon an important point in the answer that he gave to the question of the member for Sheffield in . regard to the territory of the Hudson ' s Bay Company . He was represented to have said that it was the intention of the Government forthwith to take the whole of the territory from' the Company . What he said was , that immediate steps would be taken to "bring Vancouver ' s Island under the authority of the Crown . With regard to the Hudson ' s Bay Company , all he said was ' that he should be prepared to produce p : ipcrs that would show what steps her Mojest 3 '' s Government had taken in the matter .

    WEIGHTS AND MKASUBKS . In answer to Mr . Child , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that the question of Weights and Measures had engaged the attention of the Government ; but there arc difficulties in the way of introducing a measure , and Ministers cannot pledge themselves to such

    a , course . CIVIL Oll-ICKKS IN INDIA . Mr . Talk asked the President of the Board of Control whether the Lioutonaut-Governor of Bengal had made any use of the services of those ollicers of the civil service who wore recalled from their furlough by a despatch from the Court of Directors to the Governor-General of India , and who have been respectively reattaehed to the Bengal Presidency ; whether the officers hud receivod or would bo entitled to any remuneration for the expenses of their return before , the , expiration of the furlough they claim to be entitled to after ten years' service ; and ¦ whether the time occupied , in performing ' the double journey will bo permitted to reckon ns service . —Mr . Vkknon Smith said lu > had received no report on the subject , but he hud seen from the Gusuttctt that some of thorto ollicura hiul Ihmsh employed . Their passage out ¦ will be paid , and the furlough will , count as scrvico to the extent of throo years .

    THJC COMMISSION ON EDUCATION . Mr . Cowi'Ku brought up hor Majesty ' s reply to tho address of tho House , praying for tho appointment of a commission to inquire , into tho state of education in England and Wales . II . ; r Majority stated tlmt sho has already directed u commission to Issue for tho purposos requested by tlio lluuso . TIIK INDIAN UOVKHNMKNT 1111 . J .. The adjourned dubato on thu motion for louvo to bring in a , bill for the bitlor government of India was oponod by Mr . Uoicm . 'cic , who ruinnrkod that , in tho acquisition of our Indian empiro , wo had broken through almost

    every rulo of morality , and , while exhibiting groat valour anil groat intelligonw , hml aliown lltilo _ virtwo . SHnr ' our" ^ vay ^^ 5 pT " l ) 6 ™ ' tiirrie < l to ( lie gronrboiionFof tho people of India , who aru inenpablu of governing thomsulvort . India is not a colony , but « , conquered territory , and wo lmvo therefore to frame a . form of government for tho natives under our charge . Tho double Government hud destroyed all roMpoiiHlhllity ; and there had never boon ivwhrso administration In tho world tl ' inu that of tho Court of Directors , as ovon Lord Macaulay , though a groat dofohdor of tho Company , had shown . With cortain changes , huoIi aa tho omission of tho

    irresponsible councillors , he ( Mr . Roebuck ) thought that the proposed bill would be the best home administration for India . He liked the idea of a responsible secretary , and thought he would be likely to succeed where others have failed . —Mr . Doff . also gave a general support to the measure . —Mr . Whiteside defended the Company , and said that no case had been made out against them . The introduction of Parliamentary authority over India had been demoralizing and mischievous , and , if Lord Clive and Warren Hastings had been guilty of annexations , so had Lord Dalhousie . —Mr . Lowe said that the defenders of the Company wished to make others believe that the Government designed entirely to reconstruct , or revolutionize , ttie administration of India ; but the Court of Directors might be safely eliminated ,

    and a Council would perform its duties much more effectively . The effect of the indirect agency of the Court is to produoe delay and embarrassment ; besides , the Princes of India feel themselves degraded in being the vassals and tributaries of a mercantile body , and the natives generally have a notion that they are farmed out to that body . Another anomaly is that the Company might be at war with a Power with which the Queen is at peace . —Mr . Ljddell opposed and Mr . Slaney supported the bill . —Mr . Craufobd thought there should have been . a previous inquiry by a committee of that House . He objected to the number of the Council , to the exclusion from Parliament of the members of the Council , to vesting the whole power of the present Secret Committee in President and Council , and to the

    enormous additional patronage placed in the hands of Government . —Sir Henry Raavunson , while objecting to some of the details of the bill , thought it would be an immense improvement . Describing what he called " the gestation of an Indian despatch , from the first stage of its conception to the last days of parturition , " he showed that its progress is a triumphant specimen of ' Circumlocution-office' tactics , the document being banded about for several weeks between the secretary to the East India Company , the chairman , the Board of Control , and the Court of Directors . In cases of emergency , the forms might be simplified ; but what is to be thought of . a sj'stem \ vhich must be altered the moment the trial comes ? The sooner the double Government was done away with , the better . He believed that the natives of India would prefer the domination of the Crown to that of the Company , and so would the European community and the officers of the army , with the exception of a fe-w covenanted civil servants .. —Sir J .

    Walsh thought that the double Government presented useful features . Englishmen require checks on absolute power , and those checks necessarily involve complexity and delay . By tliis measure the Government would acquire vast patronage and the disposal of a revenue of 30 , 000 , 000 / ., with only a phantom of control on the part of that House . He feared-tliat the pressure which had forced the Government to introduce this bill would compel them to take steps for the conversion of the natives to Christianity . Our Indian Empire would thus be endangered ; and consequently he should vote for the amendment . —Mr . A . Mills , Mr . Wvi . d , fmd Mr . Danby Seymouk spoke in favour of the bill , Avhich Mr . Adams opposed . —Mr . Elliot denied an assertion of the last speaker that Europeans in India are either afraid or ashamed to mako profession of their Christianity . —On the motion of Colonel Sykes , the debate was adjourned to the following clay , 280 being in favour of the adjournment , and 82 ngninst it . The House adjourned at a quarter to one o ' clock .

    Tuesday , February lGt / t . OISNICBAL WINOIUM . In the Housii or Loudb , tho Duke of Cambridge said , with reference to some observations he had made on the previous night , that ho had intended to state that he had received n report to tho cflbot that no blame whatever attaches to General Windham for tho defeat at Cawnpore , but th « . t blame does attuch to some other parties , and that tlioso oases are under investigation by Sir Colin Campbull . Tho ( JiruiiOH ov England Spbcial Sjguvioics Bill was considovod in ccuimittgo , nud , cortain verbal amendments having boon agreed to , tho House rosumed , and immediately ul ' tortvnrdt ) wont into committee on tho Bailors' TucsTd Substitution Bill . This having passed through committee , tho House adjourned at hnlfpust seven o'clock .

    In tho House oi- Commons , Mr . Evvakt gavo notice for thut day fyrtiwglit of a motion for tho future improvement of India by udiioation and othorwiso , THIJ I HUNCH pESI'ATOItKS . Mr . Griffiths n » lcod tho First Lord of tho Treasury whether—since tho lottor of tho ( 5 th of February from the French Ambassador , expressing tho j'egTot of tho Emperor for tho publication of tho addresses in tho Moniteurj has .. noJ LUlE ^ tglJSL , tJlttJUlBltQlJbJwJJ ^ IilflnWU >" wny ' na its prodccdflHcr of the 2 Qth of tfanunry , asking for redraws—it bo tho intention of Government to suggest to thu French Government that its publication would , in their opinion , bo conducive to tho satisfactory termination of tho transaction ? Lord PalmkimtoH : "Before answering tho quoatinn of tho lion , gentlornnn , I Tvish to put a question to tho House . 1 wish to attic tho House wlmt in their intention upon a matter of gruat national importance . ; ' ¦ wliethu ' v It is their wish nnd intention tlmt those friondly and

    confidential relations which now happily exist between he Majesty's Government and the Government of the Em peror of the French should be maintained , or whether i is their intention to infuse into the relations between tin two countries a spirit of irritation , of bitterness , and oJ animosity ? { Hear , kear . ~ ) Now , Sir , if the latter ii their object , no more effectual course could be adopted , though it is not a very dignified one , than the continuance of personal attacks in this House upon the Emperoi of the French and the French nation ; and therefore , though with great regret , I will try to prevent it . Yet , if the House choose to pursue that course , upon them be

    the responsibility . If the House , on the other hand , attach the importance I attach to the maintenance of the friendly relations which exist between the two Governments , they will resist the continuance of these attacks upon the Emperor , who has been the spontaneous choice of the whole French , nation . ( jCheers . ) With regard to the question of the hon . member , I can only say , that it is not the intention of hei Majesty ' s Government to adopt a course of proceeding snch as he suggests , because we think that such a course would be highly improper , and , if I may be permitted to say so , without meaning anything personally offensive , excessively absurd . " ( Laughter . ' )

    POOR RELIEF , AND LAWS OF SETTLEMENT AND REMOVAL . In reply to Mr . "Wise , Mr . Bouverie said ner Majesty ' s Government did not contemplate introducing any measure to alter the mode of raising the rates for the relief of the poor . With regard to the laws of settlement and removal , the subject was nearly exhausted , as far as inquiry was concerned , and he should not think it his duty to move the appointment of a new committee to consider -the general effect of the laws . With , regard , however , to the particular point relating to irremovable paupers , the Act had bsen in operation a very short time ; it will expire next year , and then it might -be advisable to have an inquiry into its operation .

    THE ENGLISH PRISONERS AT NAPLES . In answer to Mr , . Monckton Milnks , Lord PAXrmkrston said the Government had been in communication with the Government of Naples , through her Majesty ' s consular agent , with regard to the English prisoners . The consul had attended the proceedings of the court , and had given due attention to them . TJie state of the matter was this : —Parkes had been put upon his trial . With regard to Watts , unfortunately , his spirits had been very much affected by the imprisonment he had undergone , and by the apprehensions that existed in Ms mind as to its final results ; and he was found to be in a state of mental excitement which rendered it improper that his trial should be proceeded with . Upon the application of the consular agent , ho had been delivered over to the representatives of the British Government , and placed in the British hospital at Naples , where he would be attended by Englishmen , medical men and others ; and he ( Lord Palrnerston ) hoped that with proper treatment he would recover .

    THE DUBLIN POLICE . Wv . Grog an moved for a select committee to inquire into the system of management of the Dublin Metro politan Police Force , and adduced certain figures to » hov , r that there are more policemen in Dublin than are necessary , and that the expense is very burdensome to the public . —Mr . Vance seconded tho motion . —Mr , 11 Hiokbeiit opposed the motion , stating at the sumo timo that the Government is prepared to lay bills on the table which will remedy any abuses under the present system . —Upon a division , the motion was negatived by 200 to 105 .

    THE REBELLION IN INDIA . Mr . Baillie , disregarding a roqucat from Lord Pal-. , merston that ho would postpone his motion in order to allow tho debate adjourned from tho preceding night to bo proceeded with , called attention to the " causes which have led to tho rebellion in her Majesty ' s dominions isi tho East . " Tho general opinion of our fellow-countrymen in India is that tho rebellion had its origin among a portion of the Mahomcdan population , irritated and alarmed'by the-policy of annexation . Imminent Indian statesmen had recorded protests against tUat policy . Tlic Duke of Wellington , Sir Thomas Muuro , Mr . ElphiiiBtono , and Lord Ellenborough , had all warned ( ho country as to the oonsoquonoos of pushing the principle too ' fur . Tho annexation mania began in 18 » tf , sincu wJiiuh date wo have seized the territories of Scindc , tho Punjab ,

    Nagyore , and Oudo . Tho annexation of tho laat-niontionod state had caused tho dissatisfaction of the Uuugal axmy Ho had roocived information Uiat thousands « 4 petitions had boon sent up from tlmt army against Llui seizure of that kingdom , liy the annexation of Uu 4 <; tho tenure of land was affocted , and the Sepoys , l » ol »»« tho sons of tho small farmers , were all more or less Interestod in it The feudal chiefs had oubrod to tuu lulu tionate artillery , if bo would resist tho annexation ; but he refused , and submitted to tl » HrUfou f ^ ' ™ 11 ' 1 ' 10 " 1-The a . iuoiation of Oudo was highly dl-omdUul > U > UJ . the Government of Lord DiiHiounk .. Tho rules .. 1 OiuKsUac nhmyn been tUe Mouda and allies of this country , «» d he only charge that oouhl bo brought against theui wus , res « ion of their subjects . We should havo bum bettor employed of late years in Improving oiu- admluiBtra Ion oi' our own possession * than in acfluU-u . « Awh

    Imprtriat Parttami7ntt Im1 Illilal 1 Athjiaivlijin 1. "»—""

    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT .

    Untitled Article

    No . 413 , February 20 , 1858 . ] gjCJE __ . LE A P _ EJ * . 171

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 20, 1858, page 171, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2231/page/3/