§ LORD LYVEDENrose to put a question to Her Majesty's Government, of which he had given notice, Whether any and what honours or rewards have been conferred upon those Indian Princes who have remained faithful during the Indian mutiny? There could be no doubt that next to the bravery of our troops we were indebted for the preservation of our Indian empire to the assistance in some cases and the for-bearance in others of Native Princes. The Maharajah of Gwalior had prevented his Contingent from attacking us; the Rajah of Putteealla had kept open the road to the Punjab, and other Princes had rendered us valuable aid. About twelve months since he had put a question in the House of Commons to the then Secretary of State for India, Lord Stanley, and was then told that the subject was under consideration. As a year had elapsed since that answer was given he hoped he should not be thought intrusive in asking what had been done since last year towards rewarding those Native Princes who had remained faithful to us during the late Indian mutiny.
THE DUKE OF ARGYLLsaid, he agreed with his noble Friend as to the value of the services of those Princes. The subject to which his noble Friend referred had engaged the attention of the Governor General and of the Government at home; but he was not then prepared to enter into any minute explanation with respect to it; and he would suggest to his noble Friend that he should then move for copies of the despatches connected with the matter, and that he should make them the subject of discussion on a future occasion.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHwas impressed with the belief that the bestowal of decorations would form the most fitting mode of rewarding the Native Princes, and the one most grateful to their feelings.
§ LORD LYVEDENmoved, in accordance with the suggestion of the noble Duke, for Copies or Extracts of the Correspondence between the Governor General and the Home Government.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ House adjourned at Half-past Six o'clock, to Monday next, Eleven o'clock.