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charged with the Exchequer. Dance of Commons, the more wealthy and important of our Colonies might not properly be called upon to defray an increased proportion of the cost of their Military defence. After a thorough examination of the subject, it was decided that this ought to be done: and in accordance with this decision Ceylon, Mauritius, and the principal Australian Colonies have been called upon to contribute more largely towards the support of the several Detachments of Her Majesty's Troops which are maintained in those Colonies.
The effect of this call is not yet fully known, some Colonies having long resisted and some which have never imposed a charge upon the Imperial Treasury on account of their supposed Civil expenses, it is not without interest to examine the case of a Colony like Hong Kong of which the accounts are or will shortly be...