§ VISCOUNT JOCELYNsaid, he wished to know what course Her Majesty's Government meant to pursue with respect to the East India Company's Charter, which was to expire in 1854? The change effected in the charter in 1813 had been preceded by the inquiry of a Select Committee in 1809; and the change effected in it in 1833 had been preceded by a similar inquiry in 1829. It was true that on both those occasions great alterations in the charter had been contemplated; and such alterations had very properly undergone previous inquiries in that House. He wished to know whether a similar course would be pursued at present, and whether his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Control proposed to move for a Committee on the East India Company's charter during this Session?
§ SIR J. HOBHOUSEsaid, that before answering the question of his noble Friend, he begged to state that his noble Friend had fallen into a trifling and a very common error in supposing that India was at present administered under a charter granted to the East India Company. The East India Company had certainly a charter of incorporation; but all those privileges which the old charter had given them had been done away with by the Act of 1833; and the administration of India was at present conducted under the clauses of an Act of Parliament. With respect to the question of his noble Friend, he had but to observe that his noble Friend had himself stated a very conclusive reason why the Government of the present day should not follow the course which had been pursued by the Government of 1813 and 1833. It was not their intention to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into that subject. But he had to add, that if there should be any material changes proposed in the Act under which the affairs of 277 India were at present administered, Her Majesty's Government, by giving ample notice of those contemplated alterations, would afford to that House an opportunity for their full consideration and discussion.