LORD CAMPBELLsaid, he had just received a petition which he felt it his duty to present, in order that it might be generally known that their Lordships were ready to hear the petitions of all persons who addressed them with proper respect. The petition came from the Queen of Oude, the eldest son, and the brother of the King of Oude. They expressed the deepest pain and regret at the news recently received from the East Indies of the general defection of the Native troops in the Bengal Presidency, and they went on to state their 1120 surprise at its being supposed that their relative the King of Oude had been at all concerned in that movement. They denied all complicity in it on the part of the Sovereign, and they said they felt confident from assurances they received from him that he was entirely innocent of the charges brought against him; that all the members of the Royal Family of Oude were faithfully attached to the connection with Great Britain, and that for the redress of any wrongs they thought they had suffered, they only looked to the Queen and Parliament of Great Britain. The prayer of the petition was that it might be disclosed to the King of Oude what charges were made against him, and that they might have the opportunity of proving his innocence and of corresponding with him. The noble and learned Lord said, that as the sentiments set forth in that petition were perfectly respectful, and in every way unobjectionable, he had thought it his duty to lay it before their Lordships, but he felt bound at the same time to state that he had no doubt the Government of India had acted in that case with perfect propriety, and that he had the most entire confidence in their wisdom. It was, at all events, satisfactory to receive that testimony from the Royal Family of Oude of their devoted attachment to this country, and he should rejoice to find that any charges which might be brought against the King of Oude would be proved to be unfounded.
§ LORD ST. LEONARDStrusted it would not be supposed from the petition being laid on their Lordships' table that any injustice had been done to the King of Oude. He had sufficient confidence in the East India Company and the Government of India not to acquiesce in the assertion that the King of Oude had been improperly treated.
LORD CAMPBELLsaid, he had guarded, himself against being supposed to assent to that assertion when he expressed his confidence that the Government of India had acted with perfect propriety. At the same time he added that all who approached their Lordships respectfully should have the opportunity of being heard. The petitioners expressed the greatest devotion and affection to this country.
§ LORD REDESDALE rose to draw the attention of their Lordships to the informality of the petition. The word "humble" had been omitted throughout. It was the form that every petition should be described as "the humble Petition" of 1121 the undersigned; but from this the word "humble" was omitted. The Queen of Oude and her relatives also closed the prayer of their petition with the word "pray" instead of the words "humbly pray." It was not customary for their Lordships to receive a petition so worded.
LORD CAMPBELLsaid, that if there were any technicality of that sort in the way of the reception of the petition he would withdraw it.
§ Petition accordingly withdrawn.