§ LORD LYVEDENrose to ask, Whether Her Majesty's Government had made any Arrangement for the continuance of Earl Canning in the Office of Governor General beyond the usual Period of Five Years? He did not ask the question from any wish that Parliament should interfere with the Government as to the advice they might tender to Her Majesty with respect to this important appointment, but because he thought the public were entitled to know in whose hands the government of India would be confided for some time to come, and whether or not, as he hoped it would, it would be left to the vigorous and able bands of Earl Canning. It appeared to him that the public mind had returned to the same stagnant state in which it was previous to the mutiny regarding questions of the greatest importance pending in India, for the settling of which a skilful, firm, and experienced man was necessary. First of all was that which related to the formation of the Legislative Council in India, and that question was one which he thought should be carried into effect by a Governor General of great experience, like Earl Canning. It was most inexpedient that a new hand should be sent out to form a new constitution for India. Then there was the question relating to the amalgamation of the army, and the question of the Supreme and Sudder Courts, which were matters of no easy accomplishment, and they should be entrusted to the able experienced, efficient, and vigorous hands of Earl Canning. Beyond all other questions was the one relating to the finances of India, as to which the people of this country were very much in the dark. Every mail brought letters from India, showing that it was utterly impossible that the deficiency in the revenue could be made up, while at the same time the Secretary for India said that next year, if not this, he would be able to make both ends meet. Another important question had arisen in reference to the famine in the North-West Provinces, which he feared would cause a deficiency in the revenue, if there had been no probability of one before. He would venture to say that not one of these many questions ought to be confided to persons in whom the country had not learnt to place considerable trust. It was not known whether Mr. Laing would pursue the same financial scheme as that proposed by his predecessor or not. Therefore he thought 2151 that upon that head also they should require to know who was the person to be entrusted with the responsible Government of India. He said "responsible," because although it was alleged that greater responsibility and greater rapidity of decision had been secured by the recent changes in the Government of India, he did not see that either had been gained, and the responsibility was shifted from one shoulder to another as much as ever it was. If the real responsibility rested with the Governor General, it was of immense importance they should know to whose hands it was to be entrusted. Their Lordships knew that five years was the usual period for a Governor General to remain in India, and Lord Canning might be embarking at Calcutta at this very moment on his return to England, if no arrangement had been made to the contrary. He (Lord Lyveden) therefore hoped his noble Friend the Under Secretary for India would not think he was asking a question which could be considered impertinent or out of place in asking if any engagement had been made for continuing the services of Lord Canning in that highly important position of Governor General of India.
EARL DE GREY AND RIPONI agree in the estimate which my noble Friend has formed of the importance of the matters which are likely to engage the attention of the Government at home and in India in the course of the next few months; and I am not surprised that he is anxious to he informed whether the able man who has conducted the Government of India during the last five years is to be continued in his office, or whether in the ordinary course of things he will return to this country. Now, the five years of Lord Canning's Government expired at the end of February, and it has been arranged that he should, for the present, at all events, remain in India, and continue to hold the office of Governor General. No arrangement has been made as to the precise time of his return to England. That must, of course, be determined by the requirements of the public service and by Lord Canning's own convenience. But for the next few months, and these are likely to be a period of great importance, Lord Canning will continue in the office he has filled with so much advantage to India. In regard to the finances of India, although, no doubt, there will be a very extensive failure of crops in certain districts, we learn by the last accounts that rain has 2152 begun to fall freely in the Punjab. We may, therefore, hope that the famine will not be so extensive, and that the failure of the crops will be less general and the sufferings of the people less intense than was at one time feared. I regret that my noble Friend thinks that my statement as to the course taken respecting the Legislative Council in India is so unsatisfactory; but I think my noble Friend derived from the statement an erroneous notion, if he supposed that there was likely to be any unnecessary delay on the part of the Government in making known to Parliament their decision on that important subject. I can assure my noble Friend that with regard to the union of the Supreme and Sudder Courts, the attention of my right hon. Friend (Sir Charles Wood) is being, given to that point, and I trust that shortly after the Easter recess my right hon. Friend will be in a position to state to the other House the course which the Government intend to pursue.