HL Deb 10 May 1858 vol 150 cc326-7
THE EARL OF ALBEMARLE

I have a notice on the paper regarding the annexation of Indian territories; but inasmuch as there appears to be some connection between that subject and the letter of the Secret Committee of 19th April, 1858, I beg to postpone my Motion, lest it should be supposed I would sanction in any manner the conduct of Her Majesty's Government towards the Governor General engaged in a most difficult position—engaged, and most skilfully engaged, in the suppression of one of the greatest mutinies and widespread rebellions which the history of any civilized country has upon record. Without pronouncing any opinion whatever, either as to the Proclamation or the arguments used in that despatch which commented on it, I conceive that there are few of your Lordships who will not deprecate the tone, the time, the manner, and the circumstances in connection with the publication of that paper. I think their conduct towards the Governor General has been most unwise, most indiscreet, most ungenerous, and, virtually speaking, most illegal. If your Lordships will refer to the Act of Geo. III., passed in 1793, c. 33, you will find that the Secret Committee is to be sworn upon oath to secrecy; and yet, that which these officers are not allowed to divulge even to their own colleagues, the President of the Board of Control exposes to the whole of civilized Europe before the person to whom it is addressed can have any cognizance of its contents. I beg to postpone my Motion.

THE EARL OF ELLEN BOROUGH

The noble Earl has done justice to the Governor General, Lord Canning. Allow me to ask him to do justice to another—I do not mean to myself (for that I do not expect); but to the Marquess of Dalhousie. The Motion of the noble Earl is evidently intended to convey the strongest possible censure on the policy of Lord Dalhousie, which was supported by Her Majesty's late Government. It does not state truly the principle upon which Lord Dalhousie did what he did. If his policy is to be censured, let his principle be stated in his own words; and I do request that the noble Earl, when he does (if ever he does) bring forward his Motion, will state the principle in the words of the noble Marquess who preceded Lord Canning.