§ LORD WENSLEYDALE moved for the production of any despatch from the Viscount Canning referring to the petition presented by the inhabitants of Calcutta for his recall—a despatch which had, he believed, been laid before the House of Commons. Would the noble Earl also produce the Correspondence which had passed between Lord Canning and Lord Elgin respecting the diversion of the troops intended for China, but which were detained for service in India?
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid he had not the least objection to the production of 1260 either of these papers. As to the Calcutta petition, he was anxious to state that it was the practice to receive no such document here unlesss despatched through the Governor of the colony or dependency, so that the person whose conduct was called in question might have an opportunity of accompanying it with any observations which he might deem necessary for his own vindication. On this ground, therefore, the memorial in question was returned to the petitioners. In the meanwhile, Lord Canning had obtained a copy of the petition (not, he believed, from the petitioners) and sent it to the Government at home, with a few remarks in reply placed opposite to each paragraph, but not of such an official character as to render their production necessary. However, this despatch had been moved for in the other House, and the Motion had been agreed to, and he had no objection to lay it on their Lordships' table.
§ Papers ordered to be laid before the House.
§ House adjourned at half-past Six o'clock, to Monday next, half-past Ten o'clock.