VISCOUNT DUNGANNON, in moving for Copies of any Correspondence that may have taken place during the present year between the East India Directors and the Board of Control relative to the Transmission of Troops to India, observed that he did not seek to inquire into the question whether the Government had commenced sufficiently early to send out reinforcements to India, but he wanted to know why, when the necessity for reinforcements was admitted by them, they had not adopted means to forward the troops with the utmost expedition. It appeared that a passage through France had been offered by the Emperor Napoleon, but it had not been accepted, neither had a similar offer on the part of the Sultan. Troops were sent in sailing ships, which by some peculiar mode of reasoning were conceived by the Government to be a quicker mode of transit than steamers. There was an impression among the public that the best means had not been adopted to forward reinforcements. If that impression was erroneous, the public should be disabused of it; and the best way in which that could be done was by the production of the documents relating to the subject. If, on the other hand, the public impression was incorrect, it became the imperative duty of Parliament to ascertain on whom the blame rested.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, the noble Lord was probably not aware that a Committee was about to be moved for in the other House to investigate the whole question, and that the Government, who were only desirous that the fullest inquiry should take place, would assent to its appointment. All the correspondence which had passed between the Board of Control and the Court of Directors of the East India Company respecting the transmission of troops would be laid before that Committee; and, under these 449 circumstances, perhaps the noble Lord would not press his Motion, as the object he had in view would be fully answered by this proposed inquiry.
§ In answer to Viscount DUNGANNON,
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, he wished to be understood as saying that the Committee would have power to call for the papers if it chose, but he could not pledge himself that they would be required.
§ Motion (by leave of the House) withdrawn.