§ MR. TREVELYANsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he is prepared to lay upon the table summaries of the detailed statements relating to the moral and material progress of India, in conformity with the recent Act of Parliament?
§ MR. STANSFELDI have, Sir, to-day laid upon the table of the House the statement to which the hon. Member refers; and, as this is the first occasion upon which such statements have been produced, I may, perhaps, be allowed to say a few words in explanation of their nature and object. It has been the custom to lay upon the table of the House very voluminous Reports relating to the respective Presidencies; but my noble Friend Earl de Grey was of opinion that the time had arrived when, in conformity with the provisions of the Act of Parliament, something like a manageable summary of the valuable information contained in these detailed Reports, which generally ranged from 1,000 to 1,200 pages, might be given to the House. Such a summary we have endeavoured to produce. I trust that it will be found to be readable, that it will be read, and that it will tend to popularize 719 Indian questions, and to increase the knowledge of and the interest in them, not only in the House, but throughout the country. I must acknowledge the obligation under which the department lies to Mr. Waterfield, the clerk in the India Office, who has drawn up this summary. It is the product of considerable labour, contains the fruits of much industry, and is in my opinion distinguished by great accuracy and lucidity of statement.