Mr. Thompson said, that no attempt had been made to refute the statements which he made on that occasion. He then read extracts from some of the papers mentioned in his notice, when

Mr. Fielder rose to order, and asked if the Court was to have all those papers read over again, the papers which had been read to them a dozen times at least?

Mr. Thompson said he had spoken in that Court too often and too long to be put down by such interruptions. He would advise the person who so interrupted him not to provoke him, or he could assure him he would not let him off so easily as he might expect. He would not say less, or quote one docu. He then read some ment less, for any thing that hon. proprietor might assert. extracts from the papers mentioned, and made some severe remarks on the conduct of Colonel Ovans, imputing perjury to that officer.

Mr. Fielder. Every charge you ever brought against Colonel Ovans has been completely disproved, and treated with merited contempt.

Mr. Thompson, addressing the hon. proprietor in a very marked manner, said, "Be wise, Sir." He then continued his strictures upon Colonel Ovans, and said he should be glad of an opportunity of proving, in a court of justice, the truth of the charges which he had brought against him.

He next alluded

to the remarks that had lately been made in this country on the conduct of the Secretary of State in opening certain letters, and said that the practice, although so strongly condemned here, was quite common in India, and had been repeatedly resorted to in the case of the Rajah. The hon. proprietor proceeded at considerable length, and concluded by moving, that certain papers should be printed.

The Chairman.-It is greatly to be regretted that the hon. proprietor should have thought it fit to cast upon an absent party so serious a charge as that of perjury; more particularly as the gallant officer thus assailed (Colonel Ovans) is on his way to this country, and will very shortly be in a position to meet the charge personally, should the opportunity be afforded him. Under these circumstances, I cannot but regard the course which has been pursued as marked both by bad taste and bad feeling. With regard to the merits of the case of the Rajah, whatever they may be, it can scarcely be said that they have not been sufficiently sifted, or that any expectation can now be entertained of throwing much new light upon the subject. The subject has been discussed in this Court, I believe, sixteen times; and I can see no good, but, on the contrary, much of evil, from again bringing it forward here. The course which I took when the claims of the Rajah were formerly under discussion has been adverted to by the hon. proprietor. I did entertain an opinion that the Rajah had been hardly dealt with; and I did not shrink from enforcing it at all times where, by so doing, I could hope to produce any good effect. But is the agitation of disputed questions never to come to an end? So long as a minority remain unconvinced and dissatisfied, are they pertinaciously to put forward their particular views without probability of success, and to the suspension, or at least to the serious hindrance, of all other business? I say the hon. proprietor's conduct is ill-judged; and in saying this I speak with especial reference to the interests of the Rajah himself. No The case is about benefit can possibly accrue by reviving the subject here. to be brought before parliament by Mr. Hume. Will it be any recommendation of the Rajah's case there to say that it has been fifteen or sixteen times before this Court, and that the decision has always been adverse to the Rajah ?

By multiplying the number of defeats in this Court, the hon. proprietor is, in fact, preparing the way for the defeat of the Rajah's cause in parliament. There is no friendship-no discreet and judicious exercise of friendly feeling in such a course as this. The hon. proprietor has complained of the mode in which the collection of published papers was made. The Court of Directors are not accountable for the defects of that collection-it was not made under their direction, and it is to be lamented that it was not more complete. With regard to the papers now moved for, the hon. mover seems scarcely to desire that they should be printed by order of the Court; and, perhaps, he will be satisfied if they are rendered accessible to such proprietors as wish to peruse them. As to the general question, taking the view which I have avowed, it will not be expected that I should enter into it. I think it a subject of regret that it should have been brought forward, and I think it a subject of just reprehension that the motion of the hon. proprietor should have been used as the means of assailing a high public servant, who is not now here to defend himself, though in a very short period he will be in this country. Surely a little delay might have been conceded, and I do not hesitate to say that the denial of it is neither generous nor just. I shall conclude by requesting attention to a despatch addressed by the Court of Directors to the Government of Bombay, which will now be read.

The clerk read the following political despatch to Bombay, dated May 30, 1843:-

"Your political letter, dated the 30th of September, 1842, transmits to us a letter from Lieut.-Colonel Ovans, submitting observations and affidavits in refutation of the accusations against his honour and character contained in certain papers read in the Court of Proprietors at this house on the 29th of July, 1842. Your letter of the same date further communicates to us papers which you have received from Mr. Willoughby and Lieut.-Colonel Ovans, in reference to the letter of Major-General Lodwick to our chairman, dated June 13, 1842, printed by order of the Court of Proprietors. You express your opinion that Lieut.-Colonel Ovans and Mr. Willoughby are entitled to whatever protection we can with propriety afford to them against attacks upon their character similar to those of which they complain; and, in the case of Major-General Lodwick, you further suggest, that' such means should be used for compelling him to bring the questions to a fair and open issue as his position in our service leaves it in our power to employ.'

"We have felt it our duty to address a letter to Major-General Lodwick (copy of which is inclosed) on the subject of a passage in his letter to our chairman, which might be construed as imputing to Lieut.-Colonel Ovans the crime of suborning evidence. The answer of Major-General Lodwick (copy of which we also transmit) was not such as we could have received as a satisfactory disavowal of the supposed meaning; but, within a few days following, MajorGeneral Lodwick, in the Court of Proprietors, publicly and distinctly disclaimed having imputed, or intended to impute, subornation of evidence to Lieut. Colonel Ovans. We have, therefore, thought it unnecessary to continue the correspondence with Major-General Lodwick.

"We feel it due to Lieut.-Colonel Ovans and Mr. Willoughby to record our opinion that the investigation and discussions which have taken place have left not the slightest stain on their characters, public or private, nor have tended in any way to lower the reputation they had justly acquired by their previous public services."

After some remarks by Mr. Fielder and Mr. Weeding,
Mr. Thompson withdrew his motion for the present.

MUTINEERS IN THE 6TH MADRAS LIGHT CAVALRY,
Mr. Serj. Gaselee inquired whether the Directors could afford the Court any
information respecting two native soldiers of the 6th Madras Light Cavalry,
who had been tried and executed as mutineers nine months after the offence
imputed to them.*

The Chairman and Sir J. L. Lushington said the course pursued was per fectly legal, and observed that the most mischievous results might take place if discussions were entered into upon such subjects. The latter said that the men, whose punishment had been commuted for transportation, admitted their guilt.

Mr. Twining concurred in these remarks, and the subject dropped.

CAPTAIN CONOLLY.

Mr. Weeding said, he had no doubt that all present were aware that Captain Conolly was in the service of the East-India Company when he was imprisoned and murdered at Bokhara, and he wished that some testimonial should be granted, either pecuniary or otherwise, to the near relatives of the deceased, if required.

Sir Jeremiah Bryant said that Captain Conolly certainly died, as well as Colonel Stoddart, in the service of the East-India Company, but that it would be advisable to wait for particulars until the return of Dr. Wolff.

Mr. Weeding assented, and the Court adjourned.

The circumstances of this case may be seen in our Review, No. xvi., p. 345. We may add the following remarks upon this subject from a known correspondent in India, upon whose impartiality we can fully rely :-"I hope the energy and judgment displayed by our chief will not go unrewarded. He had the good sense to follow the sound advice of his assistants, and his praise ought to be sounded."

Chronicle.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the House of Lords, on the 17th March, the following occurrence took place:

46

On the motion of Lord Campbell, the House went into committee on the Deodands' Abolition Bill. The Earl of Ellenborough objected to certain words in the Bill, which he thought unnecessary. Lord Campbell said the Bill was very short; it consisted only of two clauses. The Lord Chancellor.-"But the second clause is sufficient." Lord Campbell. -" At any rate, the objection does not come very well from the noble earl, who certainly had dealt in unnecessary words, if certain instruments that came from India, and which were imputed to him, were actually of his composition; but many persons in this country doubted whether they were not altogether an imposition, and not from the Governor-General of India." The Earl of Ellenborough." My lords, I am glad the noble and learned lord has referred to my conduct in India. I am here to answer him or any man as to my conduct in that country, and I now wish to hear said in my presence that which has been stated in my absence." (Hear, hear!) Lord Campbell." I beg to assure the noble lord that, in the observations I made, I had not the most distant idea of making any reflection upon him (hear!); but I will merely say, if the noble earl is contented with things as they remain, so am I." The Earl of Ellenborough." I beg to give

the noble and learned lord a piece of advice, which I believe was once given by Lord Chatham, in the House of Commons, to some member of that House who had chosen to arraign his conduct,-that the next time he meant nothing, he had better say nothing." (Hear!) Lord Brougham.—“I hope this will go no further (hear, hear!); except that, as my noble friend, who was absent on a former occasion, says, as I myself know, that nothing will ever give him more satisfaction than to hear himself openly attacked in his presence, for he is ready to defend himself. I must add this, that, as often as any thing was said in impeachment of his conduct in his absence, he was zealously, and fully, and anxiously defended (hear, hear !); he was successfully and ably defended by my noble friend, the gallant duke, and he was zealously-though, God knows, not ably, but I believe successfully-defended by the individual who now addresses your lordships." (Hear, hear!) The Earl of Ellenborough.—“I know the whole debt of gratitude I owe to the noble duke upon this as upon other subjects; but I cannot venture to speak of this subject."

The matter then dropped, and the Bill passed through committee.

On the 10th March, when their Lordships sat to hear appeals, the case of Fergusson and others v. M'Innes and others was called on, which was an appeal from Scotland. The case owes its origin to a family dispute with respect to certain bequests and legacies of considerable value, contained in the will of Lieut.-Colonel Macalister, who was governor of Prince of Wales' Island. He was of an ancient family of very great respectability in the county of Argyle, being the same from which the chief of their clan was descended. He quitted Scotland in early life, in the military profession, and afterwards obtained the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and ultimately became governor of the island mentioned. He, however, never lost his original domicile of Scotland, nor formed any other, animo remanendi, beyond the term of his military duty and government, abroad. Long before his death, he was making provision for his retirement to his native country, at the termination of his foreign service, by acquiring a landed estate in Argyleshire, in the neighbourhood of the mansions of his kindred and near relations. In August, 1810, he was lost at sea on his way home, via China. The ship on which he was on board, it is believed, foundered at sea, and all the crew and passengers perished. An amicable arrangement having been made, the particular circumstances of the case were not entered into; a petition for leave to withdraw the appeal was presented, to which the House consented.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Amongst the presentations at her Majesty's levees during the past month were the following:

March 5th.-Viscount Jocelyn, on appointment as secretary to the Board of Control.

Colonel Monteath, C.B., Bengal army, on being appointed aide-de-camp to her Majesty and colonel in the army.

Colonel Sir J. H. Schoedde, K.C. B., 55th Foot, on appointment as aide-decamp to her Majesty and on return from China.

Major J. B. Jervis, to present his plan of the city of Pekin.

Lieutenant James Money, Bengal Artillery.

Mr. Grenville Mansel, on his return from India.

Mr. Wilberforce Bird, on his return from India.

Dr. Shanks, on return from China and promotion to the staff.
The Rev. J. Wenham, chaplain of Ceylon, on return home.
Lieutenant G. H. Hunt, 57th regiment, Lieutenant-Colonels Luard and
Montgomerie, and Captain Mitchell, on their return from India.

Lieutenant-General Sir Jasper Nicolls, on his return from the command-inchief in India.

Colonel Townsend, on his arrival from India.

Lieutenant-Colonels Trevor, on appointment, and Cureton, on appointment and return from India.

Commanders F. H. Glasse, on return from foreign service, and T. H. Mason, on promotion and return from China.

Lieutenant-Colonels G. Everest and Sir C. Wade, Major-General Monteith, and Major T. Wilkinson, on return from India.

Captain Brooke, and Lieutenant H. T. Butler, on return from China.
Captain J. M. Martin, on return from India.

March 12th.-Sir H. Pottinger, on his return from China.

Dr. R. B. Owen, on return from India.

Mr. John Nicolay de Vries, on his return from China and promotion.

Captain Toup Nicolas, C.B., late of her Majesty's ship Vindictive, on his return from the Pacific.

Captain Hon. Henry Keppel, R. N., on his return from the East Indies. Captain Peter Richards, R.N., on return from China, nomination as companion of the Bath, and appointment to H.M.'s ship Hibernia.

Mr. George Bacon, Lieutenant Roche, Lieutenant John W. Thomas, Lieutenant Hodson, Lieutenant G. A. F. Hervey, Lieutenant Folliott Powell, Captain R. W. Fraser, Captain E. S. Blake, and Captain Pender, on their return from India.

Captain G. St. Patrick Lawrence, on release from captivity in Affghanistan. Captain Leckie, Captain Garstin, Major H. B. Henderson, and LieutenantColonel Smith, on their return from India.

Major Alcock, on his promotion and return from Ceylon,

Captain William St. Clair, on his return from India.

Captains M'Quin and H. Kellett, on their return from China.

Captains J. Penny, R. H. Wardwell, Amiel, Lieutenant C. M'Callum, W. Southey, and Mr. J. Palsgrave, on their return from India.

Commander James Stoddart, on his promotion and return from China. Lieutenant-Colonel Daly, on his promotion and return from India. Captains Unett, Macartney, Lieutenant Todd, and Cornet Power, on their return from India.

Commander James Fitzjames, on return from service in China, and appointment to the Arctic expedition.

Mr. Hume presented to her Majesty a petition under the seal and sign manual of his Highness Pertaub Shean, the deposed Rajah of Sattara, and the legal descendant of the Great Seevajee, the founder of the Mahratta empire. The Rajah prays her Majesty to be graciously pleased to extend to him that protection which he has a right to expect from the honour and justice of the British Government, viz. that he may be furnished with a copy of the charges and the evidence against him, which he has demanded, and which have hitherto been refused him, but on which he has, without a trial or even a hearing, which the meanest of her Majesty's subjects has a right to demand, been deposed from his throne, and now remains an exile and a prisoner at Benares.