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would be likely to interrupt the harmony existing between the French and English Governments . SITE OF SMITHFIEM > . Sir John Shelley inquired whether Government would , as 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 oh 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 were 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 out reinforcements was the distance . He believed it was 11 , 500 miles to Calcutta . That distance could he 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 ordinal 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 Canada , too , could depend on her-militia ; and not only might he English troops be withdrawn from that station , but Canada might be encouraged to repeat the offer which she made during the Crimean war , of raising a couple of colonial regiments .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 never more 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 , Aear . " ) 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 80 , 000 troops had boon 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 aa Europe and foreign countries were concerned , nothing had occurred to alter the conditions of peace . He assured Sir De Lacy and 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 tarn 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 .
The debate thon took a very discursive range , suggestions and comments being offered by Colonel North , Mr . Bbntimok , Sir Hhnry Vbrney , Mr . Nhswdegatii ) 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 , wero similar to those suggested by Mr . Disraeli on a previous occasion . He added that he feared the Government still underrated the gravity of the crisis , and they had assuredly hitherto shown no foresight , no watchfulness , no judgment . —This charge was indignantly denied by Mr . Vbrnon Smith , who said it was not consistent "with the gravity of a member of that Houao to found charges against the Government on scraps of newspapers and nnonyraous . statomonts . ( Mr , Whitcaido had been reading somo extracts from various journals . ) Lord Canning had exhibited great judgment and vigour .
Mr . Disraeli renewed the charge that the Government had under-estimated tho public peri ) . Lord Palmerston had underrated the omergonoy la India , and overrated tho favourable position of affairs in Europe . While the oxlstonco of our Indian empire was In danger , tho Government tnlkod 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 , arid 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 unfortunate , and 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 . j 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 they 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 ) . Wh a * ever errors the Council of India may have committed , he
CLord 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 would 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 ther 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 * statement
Mr . H . A . Bruce called attention to a 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-Indians 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 Codrington , 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 plage , but the vote was ultimately agreed to . 450 , 000 / . for charges for the disembodied militia , and 82 , 000 / . for the Ordnance Survey in Scotland , were also voted . —This sitting completed the estimates for tho present session . The report having been brought up , tho House resumed . The Pimlico Improvements Bill , and the Police ( Scotland ) Bill , were read a third time , and passed . The Lords' amendments to the Reformatory Schools , Bill were considered , and , some of them having been disagreed to , a committee was appointed to confer with the Lords on the subjeot .
The Lords' amendments to the Industrial Schools Bill were considered and agreed to . Several bills wero forwarded a stage , and tho House adjourned at half-past two o ' clock .
Wednesday , August 12 th . In the House of Commons , some time was occupied in considering the Smoke Nuisance ( Scotland ) Abatement Bill as amended , and tho additional amendments on tho report ; but finally an agreement was oomo to , and tho bill was ordered for a third reading .
SALE OF OB 8 . CBNE PUBLICATIONS PREVENTION BELL . Tho House having resolved itself into a committee upon this bill , a proposal was made to exclude Scotland from its oporation . On this , Mr . Roebuck condemned the measure in strong terms , declaring that a more preposterous bill had never been sonfc down from tho House of Lords , which was saying a great donl . —A debato ouauod , in which tho prinoiplo and details of tho moasuro wore much discussed , and various amendments woro suggested . Tho supporters of tho bill wero Sir Gkorgm
Grey , Mr . Napier , Mr . Malins , the Chancellor o the Exchequer , Mr . Fitzgerald , and Sir Erskin Perry , the last of whom had charge of the bill ; th opponents , besides Mr . Roebuck , were Mr . Aybtoi Mr . White , Mr . Monckton Milnes , and Mr . Henlei Finally , the amendment with respect to Scotland wa withdrawn , and it . was agreed that the bill should b recommitted , and that the debate should be suspendei until then .
ENGLISH PROTESTANTS IN PARIS . On the order for going into Committee of Ways am Means , Mr . Wise , alluding to the rejection the othe night of the vote of 10 , 500 / . for the erection of a chape in Paris , inquired what the Government proposed to < L with reference to the 20007 . advanced from the Civi Contingencies , and how the money was to be replaced ii the Exchequer . —The Chancellor of the Exchequjei replied that the Government had come to no decisioi upon the subject of the chapel . WAYS AND MEANS .
The House then went into Committee of Ways an < Means , when the Chancellor of the Exchequer after , reminding the committee of the . proposal he hat made before the dissolution respecting the alteration o the duties upon tea and sugar , and of the effect of tha alteration , observed that the proposal he was about t < make was substantially the same—namely , to continue the existing duties upon tea and sugar for two year : from the 1 st of Apr il next . From the returns of th < amount of revenue yielded by those two articles it appeared that the average annual revenue it the last two years was upwards of 10 , 500 , 000 / . Ii reply to an inquiry made by Sir Henry Willoughhy he proceeded to say that it had been the duty of thi
Government to communicate with the Court of Director of the East India Company on the subject of thei finances , and the latter , being informed that the Govern ment is ready to consider any representation they migh desire to make as to a change in the law regarding thei : power of borrowing money , or any financial assistanci they might wish to receive from Ministers , stated tha they did not . find themselves under the necessity of ap plying to the Government at present for any financia assistance ; that their present means are ample in th existing state of the Indian treasury . The Governmen therefore , as at present advised , did not feel called upoi to submit to Parliament any proposition upon this sub ject . The ways and means placed at the disposal of thi Executive Government would be amply sufficient to mee the probable wants of the present financial year . If tliej should have reason to doubt the sufficiency of theii
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 , 000 / . 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 the 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 .
The Probate and Letters of Administration Bill was read a third time , and passed . The House adjourned at five o ' clock .
Thursday , August 18 th . BURIAL ACTS AMENDMENT BILL . In the House of Lords , the Bishop of St . David ' s , on the motion that the Mouse resolve itself into committee on tho Burial Acts Amendment Bill , took occasion to repel the attacks which had been made upon him in tlie matter of the Swansea cemetery , which ho 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 considerablo discussion , the several clauses were agreed to , and the House resumed . Tho Municipal Corporations Bill was read a third , time , and passed .
THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES . In answer to the Marquis of Clanrioakde , the Earl of Clarendon gave somo explanations with respect to tho Danubian difficulty similar to those already made in the House of Commons by tho Premier , At tho same time , ho refused to lay on tho table tho protocols of tho meetings that had taken place at Constantinople on tho Biibjeot .
TIHB WILLS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES . Lord Wknslkydale called attention f ; o tho provisions of a bill on tho table with roforonco to tho wills of British subjoots residing in forolgn conntrics . Ho did not think tho biU would romovo tho diflloulties at prosont experienced , and ho suggested to all persons so clraumstancod tho propriety of making two wills—ono in conformity with English law , tuid tho other in conformity with tho lnws of tho country in which they may bo rosi-
Untitled Article
„» % THE L EAD EB . [ No . 3 S 6 , August 15 , 1857 .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 15, 1857, page 772, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2205/page/4/
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