§ COLONEL SYKES moved for a Return of the number of Cadetships and different classes of individuals upon whose sons all Cadetships for India have been conferred by the Directors of the East India Company and President of the Board of Control, in the several years from 1840 to 1857, both inclusive. The Return was similar to one which had been moved on former occasions, and he had hoped that there would be no objection to its production on the part of the Government. He might observe that nine-tenths of the Cadetships in India were given to the middle classes, and he had no doubt that 804 his colleague in the Court of Directors would willingly allow every individual case to be marked. He expressed his opinion that when the Return was furnished it would be found that not one single Cadet-ship had been given for party purposes.
MR. VERNON SMITHsaid, if his hon. and gallant Friend had done him the honour to consult him as to the form of this Return, he should have been glad to have consented to it in a modified form, but it appeared to him there would be great difficulty in making the return as moved. He did not know how they were to classify individuals. Were they to state as to each individual whether he was the son of a clergyman, or a lawyer, or a Member of Parliament? He thought that would be very difficult, and if not difficult it would be very invidious. If the hon. Gentleman thought, however, he could get the Return, he had not the least objection, but he thought it not well that such a Return should be made. The reason of the middle classes going to India was, that they found it a favourable sphere for their exertions, and they had more of that patronage because they were more willing to take it. He did not know what the hon. and gallant Member meant by the middle classes. If he meant the sons of tradesmen he believed there were very few who bad received Cadetships. But there was no imputation whatever on the persons sent. They had many of them distinguished themselves, and there was no imputation on them. The Motion referred to Cadetships conferred by the Directors of the East India Company and the President of the Board of Control, whereas he knew very well that the Cadetships were all conferred by the Directors. If the hon. and gallant Member wished to show the distinction he should be too glad to show it. Then the period was fixed from 1840 to 1857. He could not tell why that period was fixed upon, till on looking at the East India Registrar he saw that in 1840 the hon. and gallant Member was first made a Director. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman would restrict his Motion to the last ten years, he (Mr. Smith) should have no objection to it as far as he was personally concerned.
§ COLONEL SYKEShad originally intended to make his Motion apply to the last twenty years, but he found that returns had already been published which came down to 1840. With regard to the right hon. Gentleman's objection to the form of 805 his Motion, he had only to say that the Returns made under it would exactly follow the precedent of the Returns which had already been laid before the House. Under these circumstances, he could not consent to any alteration, and be should, if necesary, divide the House.
§ Motion agreed to.
§
Return ordered,—
Of the number of Cadetships and different classes of Individuals upon whose sons all Cadet-ships for India have been conferred by the Directors of the East India Company, and President of the Board of Control, in the several years from 1840 to 1857, both inclusive.