INDIA. (Hansard, 22 June 1840)

§ Sir J. Hobhouse
did not think that his noble Friend had shown sufficient cause for he production of these papers. He knew lot why he should now revive the controversy that had taken place between them when the noble Lord had been his colleague, and upon the occasion of discussing the army estimates. All that his noble Friend could want was, to show that he was wrong, and his noble Friend was right. The discussion upon the subject could accomplish no good, and might be attended with much mischief. The Governor-general had some time since, in writing to him, stated that he trusted this subject would not be revived; because all that was done by it was creating very great discontent, which it would be most difficult to allay at a future time. What must be the effect of his noble Friend's motion, if carried? That he then should be obliged to move for other papers that were submitted to the Commander-in-chief on this subject. He could tell his noble Friend that he had the assent of the Commander-in-chief to the present arrangement, and now if those documents were to be had on the one side, he must have documents on the other. What was the use of his noble Friend's motion? What did his noble Friend want? Was it for the satisfaction of showing what was Lord William Bentinck's opinion, who, he admitted, agreed with the views of his noble Friend? Three months ago orders had been sent to equalize the pay in the three presidencies; and these arrangements had been satisfactory to all whose advice was worth taking on the subject. This, too, was the first time that such returns were moved for. To what persons, he asked, were the returns moved to be addressed? Out of what office were they to be received? The fact was, that his noble Friend recollected certain things that had been said in debate, and then he wished to show that his views were right, and those of others were wrong. He must say, that unless his noble Friend could show a good reason for his having the returns, he trusted he would not press his motion.

Mr. Elliott
suggested to the noble Lord that he ought not to press his motion, as no advantage could be gained by it.

§ Sir J. Graham
considered that it was not at an hour like this (past one o'clock) that such a motion ought to be debated. If the noble Lord would not withdraw his motion, he should move that the debate be adjourned.

§ Viscount Howick
did not, he said, intend to oppose the motion of the right hon. Baronet who had last spoken. It was only a few minutes before he made his motion that he received an intimation that it would be opposed. He had not brought it forward for the purpose of showing that his opinions were correct, but because he had 1418 reason to believe that a regulation existed which did create the utmost and most general discontent in the British army. He felt that a great responsibility rested upon him while he was in office in not having the subject brought to a final decision, and although he was not able to obtain that object as a Member of Government, yet, as a Member of that House, he felt it to be at least his duty to call attention to the subject. All that he asked for was this—that the facts should be fairly laid before the House. Under all the circumstances, he would for the present withdraw his motion.