HL Deb 20 February 1860 vol 156 cc1318-20
LORD BERNERS

moved that an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for Copy of Despatch, in July, 1858, signifying the Approval of the late Board of India Directors to the Regulations proposed by the Governor General on the Subject of the Delhi Prize Money, and all subsequent Correspondence which might tend to explain the Delay that has taken place in satisfying the just Expectations of the Army which effected the Capture of the City. His Lordship also inquired the Cause of Delay in distributing the Medals and Clasps granted by Her Majesty for the Capture of Delhi, announced in the House of Commons, March 25, 1858, by General Peel. The noble Lord said that in making this Motion he was pleading for the widows and orphans of officers and men who died fighting the battles of their country. Many of the unfortunate survivors were unable, through want of means, to return home, and such was the distress of some of those in this country that they were unable to send their children to school or to provide them with the ordinary comforts of life. The distribution had been delayed in consequence of certain returns not having been received, and he had been informed that no one could forward those returns but the Governor General. He sincerely hoped that the Government would use every means to expedite the distribution of the prize money, because it was certainly very hard that after the caution which had been given to the troops against plundering, and the promise that there should be an equitable distribution of any prize money, no such distribution had as yet been made. It appeared that the Indian Government had not done what they might have done in order to fulfil this pledge, and he thought that the good faith of the Home Government would be seriously compromised if these promised rewards were any longer withheld from the troops.

THE DUKE OF ARGYLL

said, he could assure his noble Friend that no charge of indifference to the claims of the soldiers engaged at Delhi could with justice be brought either against the Indian Government or the Governor General. He could assure him that though some delay had taken place in the distribution of the prize money, that delay had not arisen from any indifference on the part of the Government, or from any depreciation of the splendid services of the soldiers engaged in the capture of Delhi. There could be no possible objection to the production of the despatch which the noble Lord moved for; but he might slate that considerable difficulty had been experienced in ascertaining the actual amount of prize money that would fall to be distributed. Six months' batta had, however, been given to the troops, and the Court of Directors had recommended that six months' batta additional should be given. He was sorry to say that the amount of the Delhi prize money was not so large as had been expected; and though it was no doubt true that the officers would not receive in the way of batta so much as they would be entitled to as prize money, the difference in the case of the privates would not be so considerable. In the case of Lucknow, all the difficulties in the way had been overcome, as regarded the prize money, and measures were now being taken for its distribution. With regard to the medals, he was happy to say that they were now being struck, and would be shortly distributed.

THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGH

said, the noble Duke had failed to show that there had been due vigilance on the part of the Government in this matter. At the present moment, so far as he understood from the inquiries he had made, the Royal authority had not yet been given for the distribution of any portion of the prize money either of Delhi or Lucknow. As regarded the batta, the whole sum so given would be deducted from the prize money, so that it could only be said to be so much paid on account. He would not go further into the question, but he must observe with respect to the medals, that directions were given for their being struck as far back as April, in the year before last; and he could say from experience, having granted medals twice himself, that they could all have been struck in six months.

LORD BERNERS

explained that he had no wish to impute blame to any individual in respect of the delay that had taken place.

Motion agreed to.