THE CONFISCATION OF OUDE.—SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.

Colonist, Issue 89, 27 August 1858, Page 4

THE CONFISCATION OF OUDE.—SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.

Subjoined is given, in extenso, the despatch of the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company to the Governor-General of India in Council, from which it will be seen that either by carelessness on the part of the Government, ■or from some sudden change of tactics, the •course indicated by Lord Ellenborough on Friday has been entirely departed from. !On that occasion

" The Earl of Ellenborough said he had <on the previous night promised the noble •earl opposite, to Hay upon the table certain jpapers connected with the recent proceedings in Oude, and he proposed to place before their lordships the proclamation itself as transmitted to this country, and also a letter from the Secretary to the Government of India to the Chief Commissioner of Oude bjr which that proclamation was accompanied. On looking through the letter very carefully, however, he found there were two paragraphs containing reasoning upon the subject, the publication of which might not be expedient. The publication of these paragraphs would, he believed, be attended with inconvenience to the public service, but, with that exception, the document would be laid before their lordships in extenso. The noble earl concluded by moving for a copy of the letter from the Secretary to the Government of India to the Chief Commissioner of Oude; a copy of the proclamation; and extracts of a letter from the Secret Committee of the East India Company to the Governor-General in Council."

On referring to the document itself, these very paragraphs which the noble lord considered should be kept bo secret are given. They amount, in fact, to a complete exoneration of the conduct of the people of Oude by the Derby administra-

tion.