(Private.) Sir,
16
Inclosure 2 in No. 6.
Sir. 11. Colebrooke to Sir C. Metcalfe.
Fredericton, June 15, 1844. HAVING considered the proposals contained in Lord Stanley's despatch to your Excellency of the 15th of March, and to which you have invited my attention in your letter of the 22nd ultimo, I entertain no doubt that the institution of an Order for the North American Colonies similar to the Order of St. Michael and St. George established in Malta and the Ionian Islands, might be rendered productive of benefit in affording an opportunity of encouraging zealous and meritorious services, and of fostering a spirit of loyalty and attachment to the Crown.
In a province so imperfectly settled as New Brunswick I should also indulge a hope that some incitement might thus be given to honourable enterprize in undertakings which would be calculated at once to promote the occupation of the unreclaimed lands, and to cement the bond of attachment to the mother-country.
How far it might be practicable, through the ancient Order of Nova Scotia Baronets, to effect this object would be irrevelant to the present inquiry; but I am desirous that a question of this importance should not be overlooked in the consideration of the subject.
Under an impression that the institution of a Local Order, as proposed, would be regarded with unmixed satisfaction to this province, and that it would be well calculated to accomplish the views contemplated by Her Majesty's Government, I shall be prepared to enter with your Excellency into the consideration of the details, and in the meantime to observe that secresy in regard to it which has been enjoined by the Secretary of State.
(Private and Secret.) Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
W. COLEBROOKE,
Inclosure 3 in No. G.
Sir H. Huntley to Sir C. Metcalfe.
Government House, Prince Edward Island,
June 12, 1844.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's despatch of the 22nd of May last, marked "Private and Secret," having reference to the proposed institution of an Order for the North American Colonies of Great Britain, that subject having been brought under your Excellency's notice by a private despatch from the Right Honourable the Lord Stanley, bearing date the 15th of March last, and of which your Excellency is aware I am in possession of a copy.
I concur entirely with your Excellency in thinking that this measure will be very efficacious in rendering more durable the attachment of the British North American Colonies to the mother-country; and I have the honour, in compliance with your Excellency's directions, to submit some reasons in support of my opinions.
1st. I conceive that the well-disposed will regard such a measure with great satisfac- tion, because by rewarding really good services they will become more conspicuous, and more likely to be attempted by others; also amongst many who may now be passive in their good feelings, that desire of distinction, so common to our nature, will very probably be awakened, and render them active supporters of Imperial and Colonial connection; I am aware that in this last case the cause of action is placed upon a very low standard, but if I am right in supposing that the number of those who exert themselves upon principle without looking for reward as compared with that of those who adopt a principle in the hope of a reward will bear no proportion, it is very fair to calculate upon the advantages likely to result from it;
2nd. Those who have shown themselves and continue to be either openly or clandes- tinely hostile to the connection with the mother-country, will find in this measure an additional obstacle to the completion of their views, they will have to guard against an' increased inducement to loyalty on the part of their opponents, as well as against the fear of defection amongst those who previously gave a ready support to the wish for a separation, because although that suppport was given when no reward of personal distinction was held out for a contrary course, yet it by no means follows that the same support will be continued when by its withdrawal a reward may be obtained.
17
3rd. The institution of the projected Order tends directly to the establishment of an aristocracy founded upon the exercise of talent, in conjunction with sound principles and integrity; and 1 do not know what can be more likely to lead people to prosperity and social happiness than such a system. Indisputably the greatest care and firmness must be exhibited in conferring the distinction, more especially, as throughout these Colonies so great a proportion may be found who are prepared to oppose everything having a tendency to destroy what they are pleased to term, "equality," against which the institution of an Order will naturally operate; should it therefore in any instance, by inadvertence or other causes, be unworthily, or even injudiciously conferred, a clamour and ridicule will be excited the more difficult to be encountered, because fact will have rendered the position tenable.
4th. There is another direction in which the subject appears to me to be worthy of much consideration; the institution of the proposed Order I think likely to have a very beneficial effect upon emigration from the mother-country; much more desirable settlers would probably adopt these Colonies than at present are found here with sufficient frequency; now when a gentleman settles in them he finds it next to impossible to hold any position at all similar to that which he left in England; but it was the retention of this position he sought to effect when he made the change, by adopting a country where the pecuniary demands upon him were less heavy; he fears that a retrograde movement will be sustained by his young family; this fear originates, I apprehend, to a great extent in the absence of those institutions now under the contemplation of Her Majesty's Govern- ment, to which either he himself or his sons night, under circumstances, have had access could he have conveniently lived in England. In short, it will have the effect of rendering these provinces more like England and less like the United States, a change that will do... more than any thing else to induce a large respectable emigration to them, and through such means to confer an incalculable benefit upon the mother-country.
(Private.)
I have, &c.
(Signed) II. V. HUNTLEY, Lieutenant-Governor.
Inclosure 4 in No. 6.
Sir J. Harvey to Sir C. Metcalfe.
Government House, St. John's, Newfoundland, My dear Sir Charles,
May 18, 1844. HAVING, at the earliest convenient moment, after the receipt of Lord Stanley's circular of the 15th March last, inclosing a copy of his private despatch to you of the same date, given my attentive consideration to the subject of that communication, and having placed upon paper the opinions which I had been led to form upon it, I am induced at once to communicate them to you, with a view to obviate any delay, which the remote position of this Colony may occasion, in respect of these preliminary discussions, into which it is suggested by his Lordship that you should enter, with Her Majesty's Represen- tatives in the other Provinces of British North America.
The Memorandum marked No. 2, 1 request you to consider as my official, though confidential, reply to the queries and suggestions contained in Lord Stanley's letter; and that marked No. 1, as the less official and more confidential communication to yourself, of the reasoning, founded upon an intimate acquaintance of upwards of twenty years with these-Colonies, but more especially with Canada, by which I liave been led to the conclusions embodied in paper No. 2.
Both these papers I desire to place, without reserve, at your disposal, to be made such use of as you may think proper; and, in conclusion, to add that nothing will afford me greater pleasure than to enter into such further explanations or discussions with you on the subject as you may honour me by proposing.
I remain, &c. (Signed)
J. HARVEY.
F
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference
TITTIC.O.
• 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO