Lord Ellenboroughwished to know whether the noble Earl (Earl Grey) had then any objection to answer the question which he had asked a few days ago, relating to the production of the correspondence between the East-India Company and the Board of Control, with respect to the constitution of the Local Governments in India?
§ Earl Greysaid, that there was no correspondence between the Company and the Board of Control on that question, and therefore no such correspondence could be laid before the House.
Lord Ellenboroughexpressed his surprise, that no correspondence, on a matter of such high importance to the interests of India, should have taken place between the two bodies to whom the government of India was intrusted. As no communication on this subject had taken place between those two bodies, he thought it was a good reason why they should postpone that part of the Bill to the next Session, The noble Earl (Earl Grey) had, in 1813, expressed a wish to postpone those parts of the measure which were not essential to the renewal of the Charter; he (Lord Ellenborough) thought, that on the present occasion, there was a much stronger reason for postponing that part of the Bill which related to the constitution of the local governments in India. It was said, that the proposed changes with respect to the Company were for the improvement of the condition of the natives of India. He sincerely hoped that they might prove so, but, 992 if he were not misinformed, it would appear that those alterations would remove most of the checks and restraints which had hitherto existed on the exercise of power in India, and which had been a guarantee against the oppression of the natives. He hoped he might prove to be in error, but it seemed a general opinion amongst those with whom he had communicated, that such would be the effect of those parts of the measure to which he had alluded. On this ground he would suggest that this part of the Bill, which was by no means essential to the arrangement with the Company, should be postponed to the next Session. By this arrangement an opportunity would be given for further inquiry on the subject. He would not detain their Lordships longer on the subject at present, as an opportunity would occur for reverting to it on a future occasion.
§ Earl Greywished to correct the impression which seemed to be on the mind of the noble Baron as to what he had said. He did not say that no communication had been made from the Board of Control to the Company on the subject of the constitution of the local governments in India; what he had said was, that no correspondence had taken place on the subject, and therefore that none could be produced to answer the object of the noble Baron. It was true that the proposed changes with respect to the Company had been made with the view to the benefit of the natives of India, and he had no doubt that on the discussion of the question the great probability of such improvements would be shown. He admitted the great importance of the point to which the noble Lord had alluded, but though he did not feel called upon to enter into the discussion of the question at that moment, he would admit, that the parts of the Bill to which the noble Baron alluded were not essential to the measure of the renewal of the Charter. He could not at that moment call to his memory what he had said on the question in 1813, but, without any reference to that, he would admit the great importance of that part which related to the constitution of the local governments; and also that it should not be passed without the most mature consideration. If, when that part of the subject came under the consideration of their Lordships, it should be found that there were any difficulties in the way of this part of it, he would not object to consider the proposition of the noble Baron for delay; but when he said this, he did so 993 with the feeling that delay should be avoided if possible.
§ The matter was dropped.