aittruyulto.
At a Court of East India Directors, held on Wednesday morning, Lord Canning was sworn in Governor-General of India. In the evening, the East India Company entertained the new viceroy with unusual splendour at the London Tavern. The carpet manufactured at Tourney for the Duke of Buckingham, when the Queen visited Stowe, covered the floor, and plate blazed on the tables in a profusion of light. Among the conspicuous persons present were the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Argyll, the Earl of Harrowby, Earl Granville, Lord Palmerston, Lord Panmure, Lord Hardinge, Mr. Glad- stone, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Sir George Grey, Sir George Lewis, Mr. Ver- non Smith, and Sir William Molesworth. Mr. Elliot Ilacnaghten, the Chairman, proposed the health of Lord Canning. Mr. Munaghten made a graceful reference to George Canning, and uttering a hope that the guest of the evening would prove the worthy son of such a father. Lord Canning returned thanks, dwelling on the responsibilities of the office, and the sense he had that the labourer is inadequate to the work; but deriving consolation from the thought that he should have the cordial support of the Court of Directors—" who are no niggards in supporting those who serve them honestly and faithfully "— of the Government, and of "those two admirable bodies, the Army and the Civil Service of India." Repeating with emphasis his praises of those two branches of the Indian service, he continued-
" With such choice of instruments for the person in whom, with the sanc- tion of the Crown, is vested the chief responsible government of India, there can be no excuse for failure or shortcoming. He has but to choose fear- lessly, without favour, on public, not private grounds, and he is sure to be well served. It is, perhaps, no great boast to make, but I may state that I leave these shores unencumbered by a single promise or pledge to any ex- pedant, and that I have no claimants to meet on those posts of trust and honour of which you make me the repository, except those persons who shall prove themselves 'best able, by their talents, character, and experience, effi- ciently to serve their adopted country. I know that the members of the two services to which I have alluded will unreservedly give me their aid, and cheerfully respond whenever I call them into counsel. I know not what course events may take. I hope and pray that we may not reach the extremity of war. I wish for a peaceful time of office ; but I cannot forget that in our Indian empire that greatest of all blessings depends upon a greater variety of chances and a more precarious tenure than in any other quarter of the globe. We must not forget that in the sky of India, serene as it is, a small cloud may arise, at first no bigger than a man's hand, but which, growing larger and larger, may at last threaten to burst, and over- whelm us with ruin. What has happened once may happen again. The disturbing causes have diminished certainly, but they are not dispelled. We have still discontented and heterogeneous peoples united under our sway ; we have still neighbours before whom we cannot altogether lay aside our watchfulness ; and we have a frontier configuration that renders it possible that in any quarter, at any moment, causes of colli- sion may arise. Besides, so intricate are our relations with some subsidiary states that I doubt whether in an empire so vast and so situated it is in the power of the wisest government, the most peaceful and the most forbearing, to command peace. But, if we cannot command, we can at least deserve it, by taking care that honour, good faith, and fair dealing, are on our side; _and then if, in spite of us, it should become necessary to strike a blow, we can strike with a clear conscience." (Cheers.) Dismissing apprehensions that may not be realized, he gladly recognized a large arena of peaceful use- fulness. "The maintenance of the revenue on a gelid and wholesome foot- ing1 the extension of public works, and the completion of those lines of social and commercial intercourse now in progress, will be objects well worthy of our attention. Those great operations necessary to protect us from the dread effects of drought, and lastly, the education of the native population, and as a necessary consequence the opening to them of public employments—all these things present a large field for peaceful triumph, long enough for a life, great enough for the moat insatiable ambition. In such a field Englishmen may be giants for good or for evil ; but, for my part, I shall be well content to take up the course which has been commenced by Lord Dalhousie, and if possible to carry out his views." He concluded by a tribute to Lord Dalhousie; and a touching allusion to his father, who, as the Chairman had reminded them, was once nominated Governor-GeneraL "The recollection of that event is an inspiration as strong as could rouse the energy of any man in his struggle for success, and I shall, indeed, consider there is a blessing on my work, if it be granted to me to justify by my own acts the preference that has been shown to the name I bear, and to vindicate my right to bear it." (Cheers.)
In responding to "her Majesty's Ministers," Lord Palmerston re- marked on the deep tranquillity of India ; eulogized the great abilities of Lord Canning; and observed that whereas of old all civilization came from India, through Egypt, now we, who were barbarians, were bringing back civilization and enlightenment to the parent source. Perhaps it might be our fate to confer on the countless millions of India a higher and holier gift than any mere human knowledge, but that must be left to the hands of time and the gradual improvement of the people. Sir Charles Wood, Lord Hardinge, and Mr. Vernon Smith, also made speeches during the evening.
Sir Benjamin Hall, proposed by Dr. Joseph, and seconded by Mr. S. Stockton, was duly elected for Marylebone, without the smallest opposi- tion, on Saturday. In returning thanks, he described how by the aid of Lord Palmerston he had, in eleven months, achieved the great work of passing the Metropolis Local Management Bill through the House of Commons, and he expressed unbounded confidence in the Premier. He defied his enemies or critics to point out in what respect Lord Palmerston has shown the least indecision of character in carrying on the war ; and he declared that if anything could be depended upon it is this—" that Lord Palmerston is an honest and just man, and that he is thoroughly in earnest in the prosecution of the war." Mr. Jacob Bell and Lord Ebrington addressed the meeting—the latter, defending his conduct in reference to the Sunday Trading Bill, and the Metropolis Local Manage- Meat Bill, encountered very considerable opposition. Alderman Sidney's refusal to pay the duty on the civic state carriage is, it seems, to lead to a lawsuit. At a meeting of the Court of Common Osumil, on Monday, Sir John Key, the Chamberlain, stated that he had been served with a copy of a writ at the suit of Alderman Sidney, because he had acted upon a resolution passed at the last Court, and refused pay- ment of an order for 1001., until the Alderman produced a receipt for 31. 108., the amount of assessed tax due upon the city state carriage. An excited discussion ensued, the result of which was, that it was referred to the Officers and Clerks Committee to consider the course to be pursued in consequence of the Town-Clerk having delivered up a warrant to Mr. Alderman Sidney after it was suspended by a resolution of the Court. Mr. T. H. Hall moved, "that the City Solicitor be instructed to defend Sir John Key in the action." Mr. H. L. Taylor seconded the motion ; and it was carried unanimously.
A remarkable appeal cue has just been concluded before the Judicial Com- mittee of the Privy Council. The Rajah of Kurruckpore appealed against a decision of a "Special Commissioner" in a case affecting his rights to certain lands, formerly a part of the empire of the Great Mogul. It appears that in 1796 the then Indian Government made a permanent grant of the whole Zemindary of Kurruckpore to an ancestor of the appellant, including certain lands held under what is called ghatwallee orpasa-guarding tenure, fixing his assessment of the land-tax at 65,000 rupees. In 1838 the Indian Government gave notice that they should resume all the lands ; the case was heard before Mr. Alex- ander, a collector, and he decided against the Government. But the Govern- ment appealed to another class of their officials, the "Special Commission- ers " ; and although the majority decided against them, in 1845, Mr. Gordon, a Judge of the Bengal Sudder Court, decided for them. The Rajah appealed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ; who reversed the judgment, and, considering that an obstinate attempt to disturb a settlement on insuffi- cient grounds had caused the appellant great expense, they order the East India Company to pay the Rajah all the costs which they have received from him, under orders of the Judges below, and the costs incurred by him in these proceedings, including the costs of the appeal.
The Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of the Police brought their labours to a close, so far as the reception of evidence was concerned, on Thursday. Throughout the week the Police have been heard in defence of their conduct, and ample materials for a decision are in the hands of the Commissioners. Generally speaking, the constables denied that they had been guilty of violent conduct ; and Superintendent Hughes denied that he had struck either women or children ; he had done no more than flourish his whip. He said he gave the Police special orders not to strike women and children. But it was admitted that orders were given to the men to use their staves, and it was also admitted that they did use them. Superintend- ents Hughes and Martin said that the crowd was disorderly and formidable. At the close of the proceedings, Mr. Mitchell addressed the Commissioners on behalf of the persons injured, and Mr. Ellis on the part of the Police.
The charges against Strahan and Co. again occupied Mr. Jardine, at Bow Street, on Wednesday—this time exhibiting something like progress. Mr. Bodkin, for the prosecution, called several witnesses, and distinctly proved some remarkable facts that appear to tell rather awkwardly against the ac- cused. In April 1851 Strahan and Co. purchased 2000/. of Dutch Bonds. In his statement handed in to the Court of Bankruptcy, Strahan said that he had carried these bonds to Overend, Gurney, and Co. That was not true. Witnesses showed that four of these bonds, produced in court, were in the hands of Smith, Payne, and Smith, so far back as March 18.54; that they were held as part of a deposit on a loan raised for the prisoners, on behalf of a gentleman named Sykes ; and that the dividend upon them was paid into the bank. It was also proved that a bond purchased by Straban and Co. for Dr. Griffith, and supposed to have been in their possession until recently, was in reality disposed of by them as long ago as September 1863—another proof that these securities were not, as Strahan stated, taken to Overend and Co. Mr. Bodkin applied for a remand from week to week until September, when Mr. Beattie, the gentleman who first received the four bonds from Strahan and Co., would have returned from the Continent. On the other hand, Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Parry applied that the accused might be ad- mitted to bail. Mr. Jardine said the case was full of difficulties. As a ma- terial witness is absent from England, and not likely to return until Sep- tember, he was inclined to admit them to bail. He ordered that they should enter into their own recognizances in 60001., and find two sureties of 30001. each.
Mr. Strahan, having found the required bail,—Mr. Beadoo, the Wands- worth Magistrate, and Dr. Gordon, of Burford Lodge, Dorking,—was liberated on Thursday.
At length Davidson, Gordon, and Cole, have been committed for trial, by Sir Peter Laurie, on a charge of unlawfully conspiring with one Maltby, deceased, to defraud various persona by means of fictitious warrants for copper, tin, and speller.
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