CONSIDERATION. (Hansard, 4 July 1861)

§ SIR CHARLES WOOD

said, that since the Bill was last under discussion, he had carefully considered the great number of statements and suggestions which had been made, and he had come to the conclusion that it was possible to put the Bill, with no great alteration, in a shape which would be much more satisfactory to the Civil Service of India. The principle of the Bill they were all agreed upon. They were agreed that all appointments which had been made should be legalized, that similar appointments might from time to time be made, and that to situations hitherto exclusively held by covenanted servants, other persons under special circumstances might be appointed; the only question arose as to whether certain restrictions should be placed in the Act. He had thought it better to leave them out of the Act in consequence of the effect of the legal opinion given by the law officers of the Crown. But he now thought, upon the whole, it might be better to put these in the Bill, confining them to certain offices he proposed to specify. He had had the honour of receiving yesterday morning a considerable number of Members of Parliament who took part in the discussion, and also a select deputation from the Civil Service, and after a full discussion he had agreed on certain alterations in the Bill which met their entire concurrence. He could not help expressing the satisfaction he had in the interview to which he referred with the gentlemen who thought their interests might be affected by the Bill. He was bound to say they had come forward in the most handsome 368 and gallant manner, and the alterations which would be made would at once meet their views secure the real objects of the Bill. He had now, therefore, to propose that the Bill should be recommitted, with the view of introducing the Amendments.

§ MR. VANSITTART

said, he felt that in justice to the right hon. Baronet he was bound to state that the Committee sitting in London on behalf of their brother civilians had waited upon him, accompanied by several hon. Members of that House, and that the right hon. Gentleman received them with the greatest consideration and courtesy, and consented to introduce such alterations and concessions in his amended Bill as met with their full approbation, and, he might add, merited their gratitude. That being the case, he, in common with those hon. Members who were present at the meeting, deemed it a duty not only to withdraw all opposition to the Bill; but to use such influence as he might possess with other hon. Members to afford the right hon. Baronet every facility for passing it rapidly, and without further debate, through the House. He begged also on his own part to tender his heartfelt thanks to the right hon. Baronet for the very kind attention he had paid to the representations of the covenanted Civil Service.