HL Deb 07 May 1860 vol 158 cc747-8

THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE moved for Despatch from Mr. E. H. Lushington to the Commissioner of the Nuddea District, dated 23d October, 1859, and relating to the Treatment of Natives by European Planters in India. Also, Report of Mr. Reid to the Lieutenant Governor, referred to in the above-mentioned Despatch. And to present a Petition from certain Natives of India, praying for legal Reforms and for their Admission into higher Offices of Government than are now open to them. The noble Marquess said that, before coming to the House, he had received a note from his right hon. Friend the Secre- tary of State for India (Sir C. Wood), informing him that about half the papers relating to the state of affairs between the indigo planters and the ryots of Bengal had just reached the India-office, and that he was promised that the remaining portion would arrive by the incoming Calcutta mail; his right hon. Friend therefore suggested that he should postpone the discussion until those papers had arrived, and Her Majesty's Government were in possession of the contents, and were able to form an opinion on the subject. The petitions he had to present referred to other subjects besides that; at the same time, as that was the pressing subject of the moment, and as he thought it would weary their Lordships to enter into an Indian Debate, while they were precluded from touching one of the most important points to which their thoughts would necessarily recur, he would postpone the entire matter till Tuesday, the 15th inst.

THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGH

said, the noble Marquess could not have adopted any other course. At the same time he must express his extreme regret that it was necessary for him to adopt that course at all. The state of things in India were of the gravest character. There was an agricultural insurrection and a coercion Act, and the Government of Madras was in direct open variance with the Supreme Government of India. Under those circumstances it certainly was very much to be regretted that it should be necessary for the next mail to leave this country without carrying with it any expression of opinion on the part of either House.