SUPPLY.—WAR WITH CHINA. (Hansard, 23 July 1857)

MR. WILSON
said, this Vote required a few words in explanation. It was a Vote for the purpose of adjusting the settlement of the account with the East India Company, on account of the old China war. Sir J. Hogg, in the last Parliament, charged the Government with delaying the settlement of this Vote. The delay, however, was occasioned by, disputes which had arisen as to the balancing of those accounts. The present Vote, however, was the result which was reluctantly assented to on the part of the East India Company as a settlement of the charges of the old war. The Vote, however, in point of fact, was more a matter of form than one of substance; and, so far as it regarded the finances of the year, it would affect them in a very trifling degree. The Government had a claim of £560,000 against the East India Company, so that the real balance due to them was only £30,000. It was, however, necessary, according to the forms of business, to take the whole Vote.

MR. W. WILLIAMS
said, that notwithstanding the great resources and the high credit of this country, it seemed to him that the demands made upon the House would bring us to a standstill. One half million after another was asked for, and there seemed to be no termination to such demands. He wished to know whether any more of these Votes had to come, and also whether the amount of this Vote was included in the sum paid by the Chinese?

MR. WILSON
said, that this was a final settlement of the claims for the last Chinese war. The East India Company and the Government had been reimbursed for the whole expenditure of that war by the Chinese, and this was merely a settlement of accounts between them.

§ COLONEL SYKES
said, that the East India Company had made a very bad bargain. They had for a long time been kept out of money which they had expended entirely for the benefit of Her Majesty's Government.

§ MR. COX
remarked, that he should like to know what security the Government had for the £560,000 due from the East India Company. Would it not be sufficient to vote the difference between the two sums?

MR. WILSON
said, it was impossible to take that course, as the forms of Par- 304 liament would not allow it. No issue could be made out of the Exchequer, unless it was voted by the House, and although the Treasury may have received the £560,000, the Government must still have the nominal power to issue the whole £590,000.