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THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE,
authorised to act on behalf of certain partion con-
ncefnd with the colpages
We heartily concur in the following sensible ob sarvations, made by a writer some years ago in a contemporary publication, on the uses and advan tages of an ngem →→→
instructions transmitted to him by the legislatore through the Commissioners of correspondence."
Barbadoos is represented in England by John. Pollard Mayors, D54, also a barrister, and a getto man who has distinguished himself by his patrinti exertions to benefit his native country both here and In the colony, Mr Mayers is appointed under a It has been clearly shown how important it is, colonial Act passed in 1929, and which defines his and how beneficial it would be, for Trinidad, as duties: these are, the negotiation of affaire comwell as other coloniss similarly circumstanced mitted to the agen's care by the legislature of Bar- were its interests well brought forward and pushed badons, and to whatever he considers requisite in here by a competent accredited agent, resident and furthering the interests of the colony. He receives settled in London, and having no views or intereste a salary from the island of £500 per annum. that might clash with those of the colony which James Colquhoun, Esq., is a gentleman to whom he was appointed to represent. He would be the the West lodies are greatly indebted for his watch organ and mouthpiece of the colony, in pourtra
ant
laborious attention to their in ing its matures, resources, and advantages, which he has six or seven solonies under his he would do well, if he had as ho should have, in obarge. By his personal exprtions, as well as by addition to his other essential acquiriments, deep the labours of his pan, Mr Colquhoun has, during a practical locs! experience in all that related to its long life-time effected much for the well-being of extent, climate, soil, productions, laws, and instit the West India planters generally, as well as for the tutions. A spirit of minute and searching inquiry colonists in the islands specially entrusted this has spread abroad; partiis mok eagerly for infor mation and advice and the more easily it is com Bo far back as 1099.
manded with promptitado, so much the better for the Legislature of the Islands appointed him their aget in London; the place having a proper agent. Our capabbill 1818, the Legislatures of St. Vicent, Nevis, and ties and the eligibility of a colony s a place of Dominica also handed over their affairs to his adventure, enterprise, or abdile, would then be the charge. In 1823, the Lieutenant-Governor, Coun- roughly sifted and explained, and, in cons quence, cil, and inhabitans of Anguilla appointed him agent duly estimated. Our crown colonies are almost for that colony and in 1825, chu Legislature of terræ incognite to the great bulk of the people of Mr. Colquhoun Great Britain and Ireland; and it is therefore not St. Christopher did the same. gives his services grauitously to Anguilla, Nevis, to be wondered at, that when some of them leara and the Virgin Islands. He receives a maluty of for the first time that they have, some French, £200 per annum from St. Vincent, and £100 each others Dutch, and one, viz., Trinidad, Spanish from Dominica and St. Kitts, besides contingent laws, there are not a low quaking and repentant expenses for postage, stationery, &c.
hearts throughout the kingdom. An agent might have it in his power to mitigate, and often to pre- vent, the consequences of rash and incautious transactions, which, while they are ruinous to many here, particularly to merchants and trades men, are deeply injurious to proper wholesome Access to information on the spot, their eyes would be opened, business therefore better conducted, and disappointment be then less frequent, and reme- dies better known. An agent would be the means of laws which, however repugnant they may be of explaining the leading points and peculiarities in the name of Englishinen, however much sur- prise their prolonged continuance may cause, ace nevertheless far from being unwise in their enact- ments and provisions, or ineffectual. in their reme- dies if well administered. He would also afford to applicants information on all points regarding investment of capital, settling, and emigration of all kinds.
They want some enterer geatleman whose sole out
tion and the kind indulgence with which my service been the best rewar for that service, so they will, fair and reasonable remun has always been regarded, as they have hitherto f 1 can relate them for the future alone be an interests of los conti abundant remaneration - I therefore most respectively. His duty sho fully beg permission to resign the salary of Provin- and measures in Parliament cial Agent, and, at the same time, express my de- nire still to continue in the appointment, but on an
cular colony he repreneu bonorary fanting only. I shall feel greatly obliged
the views and sentiments of by your kindly taking a proper occasion to make this letter and my wishes upon this subject knowa to the House, or its members, in such a way as you see fit.
.:
"I have the honour to be, dear Sir,
"Your very
very sincere and obedient servat,
HENRY BLisa... "11, King's Benah Walk, Temple, Luodon,
24 3rd December, 1845. “To the Hớn the Speaker of the House of As- sembly, in New Brunswick
sented in the correspon
which he receiver td bg prominently forward promote the interests of t
fending it from calum advising and Införining and interesting topins. expected-nay, absolutely agent, and we defy the two cro this effectually or even pestic}} three or twenty-four calguien und
senlive
We are glad to see this government monopoly bring broken in upon, and thus home of the Nostra kan zotonics have boldness and couraze chough in think had het for themselves, without regard to the
Me Parbelow moved the following Resolutions, which were unanimmaty koopted by the House:-- - 4*) Resolved{ --~That the House is folly sensible of the atomble services rendered by Henry Bliss, useless and ineffectual Crown Agent. Baquire, in his capacity for no many years as Pro. vincial Agent, and tiar les chunks are justly due to
him for such servicesp
>
LORD PALMERSTON THE DUTCH
TREATY-REFINED SUGAR
Lord Palmerston in como respects the mos unfortunate of man. We sincerely believe no states-
man ever more ardently desired to maintain the peace of the world, or used more unremfiling exer- lions to do so; and not without great success.
But the noble lord's modo of securing peace has often looked so much like threatening wur," that it is met difficult to understand how his lordship has got the false character which he has. If the country
Resolved. --Theft the voluntary surrender of the yearly salary of two hundred pounds sterling, honorable motives which prompted sach surrender this Hunse duly reangmase and appreciates the as well as the wish expressed to retain the appoint ent of Provincial Agent without desiring any pecuniary ramuneration therefor.
"Resolved, That this flouse most cordially responds to the wishes of Henry Blies, Esq., as expressed in his letter, and that His Honour the Speaker diureets the same to Mr Bliss, together with a copy of these Resolutions."
The protection of ear faherice--the operation of or to co-operate with us in any measure calculated credit in our colonial possessione. If parties had the various Land Campantes-watching or direct-difficulty, yet, even then, people have generally ima ing the tile of emigration-appeals to the ay pagined there was something in the shape of a drawn sa thies of the home public after the recent heavy are, and an empty scabbard, suspended over the coun calamities remonstrances on the inte free trade try. Notwithstanding which, his lordship, when nieasures--seeking reform for the local Post Office things looked most like wur, has often succeeded in administration; how much is there of important maintaining peace at critical moments and pressing business to occupy an agent for every one of our important North American Posses
We deem it but an act of justice and courtesy to state in this place, that we have received repeated acts of civility and extention from Mr Burge, Mr Mayers, and Mr Colquhoun, and have always found them most prompt and ready to afford information,
generally or specially to beneft the Colonies,
Antigua is represented by Edmund Lynch No gent, Esq., a gentleman whose family is identified with the most stirring events in the history of that colony. Mr Nugent's father, who held the office of agent until he death in 1843. was for many year Speaker of the House of Assembly, a post to which Mr Nugent's brother has recently been unani monely elected. Mi Nugent receives from the colony as agent, a salary of £100 per annun, he Ailes £30 allowed for postage and other expenses The dores are sinted by the Act of Antigua
100) 22nd December 1698, to be nut only to ro- present the affairs of the Legislature by soliciting. at his Majesty's Court the confirmation of such
Jawe as shall from time to time be transmitted for that end, but all other matters and things us shall at all times be recommended by the several persons a ahorised by this Act for that purpose,
There are but two more gentlemen specially re cognised by the Colonial Office ne Agents for the West Indies, and thens are, for,
ToBano-Patrick Maxwell Stewart, Esq, MP, appointed by Act of the Legislature of the colony and the Cown in February, 1892, as a salary of £150, which salary bas however been given up by Mr Stewart since 1859
Grenada is represented by Joseph Mrryait, Esq. appointed under a Colonial Act in September, 1831, to represent the interests of the Colony in Great Britain, and Mr Marry's services are given gra- Litously,
S'r George Stephen was, we believe, recently appointed Agent for the Bahamas, but does not ap pear to be recognized as such by the Colonial Ofibe. The settlement af Honduras has at present no agent to watch over its interests.
2
The fine colonies of British Guiana and Trip dad, together with St. Lucia, being Crown colonies, are handed over to the tender mercies of one of the Agents-General for Crown Colonies, of whom we shall have occasion to speak presently.
William Holmes, Esq., acted for some time as Colonial Agent for Demerara, but we
not heard anything of him in that capacity for a con- siderable time. The want of an agent is, however, much fell on many pressing matters whether it be to watch the interests of the railway, to press the subject of African and Indian immigration, er note the improvements that are making in England applicable to the colony such as improved macbi very for sugar manufacture, canal gaulage, drale Age, &c. This duty at present devolves on the house of Messrs Cavan and Co., who, as merchants, having large business connexions elsewhere; hare quite enough of their own private affairs to attend to. In 1849, the subject of a colonial agent in Lou don for Trinidad was mooted in the fand Bourd of Council, and it was stated that the colony hud no objection to pay an agent an adequate salary, provided he performed the duties which is enlumat agent ought to perform for its benefit. agent would be of great benet instance, an alteration in the
made by the then Ministry, and the
an agent in England whose
the colony, its localities, trade
wants, and interests would enable
species of information required
who could go into practical
details. In such a large co
posed to be brought be nistry, there were many
en-
By commanding information which might at perhaps, be acceptable to the Colonial Office, service there, but greatly benefit the colony he might, by communicating it, be not only of trusting to him his important functions. The Agent, as we live before asil, should be a man of as general information as could be met with, and, above all, one having the sole and undivided into-. reats of his constituente at heart, and mot likely to be diverted from his pledge by any other pursuits or objects that might necessarily interfere with its ba fute redemption. Hoghould be independent of all parties, even as much so of his employers as he could be consistently with his connexion with them. Selected for his fitness and discretion, he would use
his honest, straightforward, and unflinching exer tions in the correct performance of his task, as satisfactorily as in him iny, to the general body of
bis constituants."
William
sions!
Cume we now in speak of the Government agency for Crown colonies.
In March, 1833, upon the abolition of separate agencies for the Crows colonies, and their conse lidation into one general agency, George Baillie, sq., and Edward Barnard, Esq., were appointed joint Agents-General for these colonies by the Secretary of State, at salaries of £800 per sunum, besides £500 for office rent, stationery, clerks, &c.
kas, for several years together, under bin y raent of the foreign office, "srailed in peace a and. plenty," and that, too, through some periods of great
Again, Lord Palmersion, we believe, is, person- ally, one of the most indefatigable ministers who ever held the foreign seals. which his lordship does perserially is almost incre- The extent of the work dible Yet he has the unhappy knack, while work- ing hardest, of obtaining the character of neglect, and, what we are sure his lordship least means, of a vont of respectful attention to his duties to foreign ministers. And thus, while the noble lord is thought unsafe by his countrymen, he becomes exceedingly unpopular in foreign courla, which is noe slightly advantage.
The duty of these agents is represented in a
A case in pointOur readers all remember the Parliamentary paper to be to follow such direc
case which we pointed out nearly four months ago, tions as they may receive from the Governors of
wherein the Dutch rightfully complained that, by the colonies for which they respectively act, as to
car Sugar Bill of August, they were excluded from the conduct affts affairs in England; and, without
the privilege of sending refined sugar to this country, entering into a detailed Matement of the various
to which they were clearly entitled under the exist public affaire brought under their superintendence, treaties with us.
We were so clearly wrong it may be stated generally that they are required
the Dutch were so clearly right--that the necessity to provide Warious supplies for the service of the
of granting the demand was conceded on all hands. different Colonial Governments, under the sanction
Even several of the English sugar refiners had tho of the Secretary of State and the Treasury: to pay clear a case to be refused The Dutch Minister candoar to write to us, and to state that it was too the half salaries of the edtanial officer on leave of absence in England, and the retired allowances mitted the claim of his government for the admission had then, being pressed by Ditch merchants, sub- of superannuated officers, and the pensions granted of these sugars; but it will hardly be believed that, under certain regulations to officers' widows, to recover all over payments from officers who have, although four months of the recess have passed since returned to England; to pay the interest of various
that application, the Dutch Minister has not yet been debentures becoming due in England; to invest
able to extract from Lord Palmerston a reply to the various colonial monies in the public securities,
his demand; and thus, notwithstanding His Excel and to dispose of the amount when ordered to do lency has made two distinct applications for such
Lower, since his first demand LIT so, and to receive the dividends; to pay bills drawu
Previously to the separation of the North Ameri- can Colonies, most of them had a special agent in England for the management of their affairs, to whom a salary was given. They were appointed by the Assemblies, and mostly confirmed by the Governor. Sometimes, as in Massachusetts, the
upon them by the Governors of the colonies" for. Legislative Council and the Assembly had each its which they act, for various public services; to own agent The persons generally selected were
transact business connected with emigration, and distiguished lawyers or merchants-usually the for- to make payments connected with that service; to mer, and often members of Parliament.
procure Information with regard to persons resid- Knox, Under Secretary of State, was agent foring in or who may have died in the colonies; to Georgis in 1764; John Sharpe, MP, was agent make up and transmit to the commissioners for for Massachussetts in 1755; Charles Garth, M.P, auditing the piblic accounts, and to the different ncted for South Carolina from 1765 to 1775, and colonies, an account of the receipts and disburse- his correspondence during this period contains a
ments; each of which, in the year 1843, amounted full account of the proceedings of the Imperial to upwards of £380,000, supported by the neces Parliament, Richard Jackson, M.P, acted forsary vouchers. All these subjects, and many Connection Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania; others, which it is impossible specifically to enn- about the years 1774 Edmund Burke was apmetate, occasion much correspondence with the pointed agent, by the Elouse of Assembly alone, dolonial Governments, the different public depart for New York December 21, 1770, with a salary of ments, and the individuate concerned £500 a year, and continued to act until 1776, when all intercourse with the colony was suspended.
The House of Assembly of Lower Canada several times appointed special agents, the last of whom was Mr Rosback, M.P, who in that capacity, but not at the time on M. P, Was heard at the Bar of both Houses of Parliament, in opposition to the Bill to suspend the Constitution of Lower Canada.
Of all our valuable North American poe
possessions, For Canada Nova Scotie, New Brunswick New beog Moundland, Prince Edward Island, and the Ber-- has an agent in London. Henry, has for some roars officitiated as agent Hainswick, bai latterly resigned the salary
uch an
of
island, such as its trade and intercon Boighbouring Spanish Main, and Routh Americe, for instance, which no man ang quainted with Incal matters, whatever his commer- cial abilities might be, could carry out the the benefit
of the colony
As far back as 1803 the Council Superiour of
To Mr Baillie is deputed the London manage ment of the affairs of our colonies and sellements of Ceylon, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Trinidad, Britlik Guiana, St. Lucia, New Bruns wick, Newfoundland, Hongkong, Faulkland Island, and the Gold Coast. Mr Barnard has the care of New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, the Cape of Good Hope Gilbra car, Malta, St. Helena, New Zealand, Western Australia, South Australia, Heligoland and Jamaica.
Can it be expected in it reasonable=that justice can be done in thase several colonies in the east and the west, the north and the south, by one or two Agents 1 Most of them have separate and advers
interests each striving to advance its in- Here is his letter to the Committe of correspon tere the witalian and North American colo Celles"For the last two or three years my cor. niet. well as the Cape of Good Hope, ore responderice wha Mr Partelow, which until then entlavouring to direct the tide of
of the
bad been trat ufficiently regular and diligent, their ahora
had become
ient and occasional and though both
I would by no means bave the usefulness of my The nature services either before or since, measured by my sup correspondered alone, yet I am free to confess that these services have a late become very differem in their character and importance from
Plotinerly were. So many great questions
hare” been settled, and such chan win other of
St. Lucia, Mr (Breen, tells us in his History of the respects hav Island) urged the expediency of having a deputy-
in the mother country. The person infected cor
or agent to represent the interests of the colonists
that purpose was ihr Laglia, a merchant, then exte tensively connected with the colony
the proposal was repowed
pear that he was aver recor
Bome attempts have recent 2
the sanction of the C
rangement, but without
believed that Sir C
(formerly accredited by the Becretary?
and this
Zealand and
ocites at home.
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Such neglect is most inconsiderate to the Dutch Minister-it is most unjust to the Dutch merchants, who are thus all this time kept in suspense. And it is worse when we consider that a Customs Bill has passed through Parliament already this session, to which a clause might have been added, to give under treaty.-Economist, 8th Feb. due effect to the unquestionable claims of Holland
BRITISH CONSULAR SERVICE,
It appears from a British parliamentary dogu. ment on the consular system of the United King den, that there are 15 consular officers who with
exceptions; are paid by the British 2010 Intent, and two others paid by the East India Co-pay. There are also 130 British vica consule, who re celve no salary from Her Majesty's government, and who are appointed by the amperinten by con- suls. Various salkhiep het pard
are paid to consul rom £5 to £1,800 a year. There is 14 co ficers in France the highest salary £650 and the lowest £50. There i and in Portugal, and no fewer then
and 10 in the United Stat sto O în China. The O Macgregor, Est.)
and another £500,