§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHMy Lords, I beg to call the attention of the noble Earl opposite to a notice which has been issued by the East India Company for tenders for steam vessels of not less than 1,000 tons burden each to convey troops to the number of 6,000 to Calcutta, the freight to be paid in India at the rate of 2s. 0¼d. per rupee. About a fortnight ago I called the attention of the noble Earl to another notification on the part of the East India Company ordering a rate of exchange which would force remittances from India. It appears to me that the object of this proceeding is precisely the same, and I protest on the part of the Government of India and of the public service against any measure, the effect of which is to compel payment in India at the present time by the Calcutta Treasury of sums which might be better paid here, I know the difficulties in which that treasury must be involved. The Government of India is at present deprived of all financial resources from the North-Western Provinces. Madras pays for itself, but cannot help you. Bombay is subjected to heavy charges on account of the war with Persia, and will not pay more than its own expenses. The whole additional charges arising out of the military operations connected with the mutiny must be defrayed by the treasury at Calcutta, out of the revenues of Bengal alone. These charges will be enormous. I think the noble Earl is in error when he supposes that the Government of India will be capable for a considerable time to meet them. The noble Earl is in error when he supposes that there is a balance of £10,000,000, or anything like so large a sum in the Calcutta Treasury. The whole of that sum of £10,000,000, if it exists, is not in the Calcutta Treasury, upon which alone these expenses will fall; but in the treasuries of Madras and Bombay, as well as that of Calcutta. Some of the treasure which 1534 belongs to Bengal is scattered all over the Presidency, and a considerable portion is in that part of the Upper Presidency which is now in the possession of the insurgents. I believe, indeed, that three or four of these local treasuries have fallen into the hands of the mutineers in consequence of the delay in the advance of our troops, caused, as I stated the other night, by the heat of the weather, and by the want of carriage, but, as I now learn from authentic information, from the desire of General Anson to bring up a battering train. The whole of the treasure at Calcutta would not appear to be available for the purposes of the war. I understand that a large part of it has practically been appropriated, while another portion is in paper, and is, under present circumstances, of little or no value. The only fund really available is the coin, and that, I believe, forms no very considerable part of the entire amount. Now, very heavy charges have to be borne by the Bengal Treasury in respect of freight. I judge from this notice that the same system has been pursued in regard to other transmissions of troops; and in all cases it is agreed that this freight should be paid in India. First, there is the freight of 6,000 men, 3,000 of whom are of the Queen's service and 3,000 of the Company's service, who are going out as recruits to supply vacancies in the ranks of the army and not as reinforcements. Then there is the freight of eight regiments, which we are given to understand have already been ordered to proceed to India. Next the freight of the five regiments from China now comes due by India, to which has to be added the expense of conveying six regiments more. There will also be the freight of the artillery and the cavalry, if they are sent out, as I trust they will be. The charge for these different items will be enormous, and if they are all to be paid in India, and not here, depend upon it the Government of India will be perfectly unable to meet the heavy burden that will be thrown upon it for providing the means of transport for so vast a number of troops. This is a very serious consideration. The point of the most essential importance is, that the Government of India should have the means of making movable the force sent to them. If they cannot do that, the force might as well not be sent at all. I therefore trust this matter will engage the close and serious attention of Her Majesty's Government. For my own part, I feel 1535 satisfied that the moment is come when Her Majesty's Goverment must intervene with the credit of this country to enable the Court of Directors to pay their own expenses for a considerable period without any remittances from India. India is incapable of making those remittances without crippling her own resources—resources which it is absolutely necessary should be appropriated to furnishing the means of movement for the army, and for operations in the field. I hope Her Majesty's Government will afford that assistance without delay. It should be given to the extent of £5,000,000 sterling. The whole of that amount need not, however, be all paid down at once. If a loan of £5,000,000 were contracted for under the guarantee of Her Majesty's Government, it would only be requisite that a sum of £600,000 should be paid in the first month, the remainder to be raised by subsequent instalments of £400,000 each succeeding month until the entire amount is paid. It is my firm belief that a measure of this kind is indispensable, because it will be found that the draughts and remittances from India will cripple the power of the Government of that country, and render it incapable of doing that which is imperatively demanded by the interests of the empire.
§ EARL GRANVILLE, who spoke in a very low tone, was understood to say that he had had no opportunity of personally communicating with the authorities of India on the subject to which the noble Earl had referred. He was unable to state what was the exact amount in the Calcutta Treasury; he had, however, received information that the proposed mode of paying for the conveyance of these troops was in strict accordance with the usual practice; and he also understood that the Governor General had ample means at his disposal for defraying the charges for freight. The subjects to which the noble Earl had adverted were of the greatest importance, and he could assure their Lordships that they would receive the careful attention of the Home Government.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHMy Lords, I do most earnestly hope that the noble Earl and the noble Duke opposite, who manifest so deep an interest in the affairs of India will take the trouble of looking into this matter themselves. They may depend upon it that they cannot safely trust to clerks either at the India House or at the India Board. Unless they 1536 examine into these affairs personally, and have before them a statement of the funds actually in the Treasury at Calcutta and in all the other treasuries of India at the very latest period at which the account was rendered; unless they ask questions with respect to those funds and ascertain how far they are really available for the purpose of military operations,—they may rely upon it that, with the best possible intentions, they will fall into the most grievous and fatal errors.
§ EARL GRANVILLEwas understood to say that his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Control was not back-ward in fulfilling the duties imposed upon him by the present emergency; on the contrary, he was at that moment devoting his utmost energy and attention to the consideration of every measure adapted to meet that emergency.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHMy Lords, that may be the belief of Her Majesty's Government; but I communicate very extensively with gentlemen connected with India, and I never meet one man among them who has not the most thorough distrust of the right hon. Gentleman now at the head of the Board of Control.