§ MR. BENTINCKSir, we have heard lately a good deal about the inconvenience that arises from the multifarious nature of the discussions on the question of the adjournment of the House to Monday, but, judging from what takes place every Friday evening, I do not see that we are likely to obtain any remedy. Not, however, having been so fortunate as to catch your eye before, I must now take the opportunity of making some remarks upon a subject which I venture to say is of much greater importance than the one which has just occupied the attention of the House, and one which, I think, it is hardly fair to dispose of in a summary manner. I am sure the House has heard with pleasure of the scheme for transmitting troops to India; but I wish to hear from the right hon. Baronet (Sir C. Wood) some answer to what has been stated by my hon. and gallant Friend (Sir C. Napier), when he adverted to the want of means for the conveyance of troops to India, caused by the fact that it was thought proper two months ago to get rid of numerous efficient line-of-battle ships, and to the fact that we are now spending a large sum of money in hiring steamers when those line-of-battle ships would have been admirably fitted for the purpose for which it is intended to employ the steamers in question. I want also to know whether 366 the right hon. Baronet is still prepared to say whether he thinks the economy adopted on the termination of the Russian war prudent and proper. We have heard so much about emergencies, that I think it is not unfair to remind the House that in reality these emergencies are always occurring. At all events they occur every three or four years, and it seems a sort of infatuation that makes us at the end of every war determine to economise, and to reduce the army and navy as much as possible, when at the end of two or three years something is sure to occur which necessitates the employment of a large number of ships, and a large sum of money is required to make up for our false economy. If we only had a return of the millions wasted in this country through the adoption of this system of false economy for the last three years, I think it would exceedingly astonish the House and the people of this country. I should also have liked exceedingly to hear from the right hon. Baronet that the steam vessels to be employed on this service were to be taken up and paid for by the East India Company, and I am sorry that it is not in the power of the right hon. Baronet to give the House any information upon that subject. Will some member of Her Majesty's Government have the goodness to inform us whether the Government intend to take any responsibility with respect to the mode and the rapidity of the transmission of these troops from this country to India, or whether the responsibility rests upon the East Indian Company alone, because the House must be aware that an unnecessary delay through any failure in the arrangements may involve the most disastrous consequences. But, Sir, the right hon. Baronet told us that this was an emergency which could not have been foreseen. Now, such an admission as that never ought to come from the mouth of a Minister. It is the business of a Minister to foresee these emergencies. For my part, I think that if no emergencies of this character can be predicted, there is very little use in a Government. I think that the Government itself will hardly venture to contradict me when I assert that it is their duty ever to be ready to meet such an emergency. If such foresight, such prevision had been exercised, we should not now be in the situation in which we are now placed by what, as I contend, is the adoption of a system of false economy. I regret that the Government have not answered that portion of 367 the question of my hon. and gallant Friend, as to what number of troops of all arms we shall have left in Great Britain and Ireland after the necessary reinforcements have been sent to the East. It is a remarkable fact that we have never yet been able to extract from the Government any information as to what will be the state of the defences of this country after the necessary reinforcements of troops have been shipped off to India. It is, however, most desirable to know this, because how can we tell what, in the present state of affairs, may arise to necessitate the transmission of a much larger body of troops? I want, therefore, to know whether the Government is prepared to state to this House what means of defence exist at present in this country, and what are the resources upon which we can rely in case of any increase of the calamities which have occurred in India. It cannot be urged that it is desirable to conceal our strength in this instance. We are not engaged in a war with a foreign nation, but in quelling a mutiny among our own troops; and while it is desirable, on the one hand, that the public mind shall be relieved as to the state of our defences at home, no harm whatever, on the other hand, can arise from stating publicly the condition of those defences. But, notwithstanding every attempt I have made, I have not been able to extract the slightest information from the noble Lord, except the bare fact that he is satisfied upon the point in his own mind. We ought to have some stronger assurance than the mere assertion of the noble Lord, and I think the right hon. Baronet would have done well to have answered the question put to him by my hon. and gallant Friend, who asked him what number of efficient ships for the purposes of defence would be left at home after the vessels employed in conveying troops to China have been despatched. It is true that the right hon. Baronet referred to the number of ships which we have in various ports, but he never told us the total number of ships now in commission available for the purposes of defence, should another unforeseen emergency arise. I cannot help fearing from his silence on that point that the number is totally inadequate for the purpose. I cannot myself rest satisfied with a mere assurance from the noble Lord and the right hon. Baronet that, personally, they are satisfied, and I think that the country ought to demand some explanation on the subject.