§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a speech by Lord Ampthill, Governor of Madras, as ex-officio Chancellor of the Madras University, in which he deprecated he discussion of administrative Acts and comments upon the conduct of public affairs and the effect of legislative and other measures affecting the general interest of the country; and, if so, will he state whether he proposes to take any, and, if so, what steps in the matter.
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe hon. Gentleman has misunderstood the purport of that part of Lord Ampthill's speech to which his Question refers. What Lord Ampthill deprecated was not discussion or comment upon administrative acts, but the tone and temper of the imputations not un-frequently made as to the intentions and objects of the Administration. The advice thus conveyed to his audience 219 seemed to me to be both salutary and needed.