H
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
885
be disposed to retrace
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the step which had been taken, or to adopt any other means for preventing the losses to which the colonial re- venue was likely to be exposed." And having informed the Court, that his instructions were
By Lord Grey, on June 17, p. 34. not to allow any interference on their part with the civil list, or to sanction the renewal of the supplies for a shorter period than the remainder of the financial year-appealed to them to consider the responsibility that would rest upon them by a continued refusal, but without effect, the fol- lowing resolution, (moved by Mr. Croal, seconded by Mr. Braud, clective members, who had on more than one occasion, supported the Governor to a certain extent,) being lost by 9 to 6.
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p. 94.
p. 95.
That this Court, in consequence of the deep conviction entertained by it, in common with the inhabitants generally, that the diminished re- sources of the colony call for a reduction of the civil list and every other branch of the public expenditure, having resorted to every constitu- tional means short of an actual stoppage of the supplies, to obtain the co-operation of the Home Government, in affording relief to the tax-payers of the colony, but without effect as yet, now proceeds with the colonial estimate under protest, and in the firm reliance that the British Parlia- ment will interpose its authority to relieve the colony from this weight of taxation, occasioned,
in a great measure, by a civil list, so entirely dis- proportioned to the present state of British Guiana."
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And a subsequent motion of the Attorney General's, for an instruction to the Lieutenant- Governor to introduce an ordinance to renew the old ordinance till the 31st of June, 1849," being also lost, and the Lieutenant-Governor thus find- ing the majority determined to stop the supplies, adjourned the Court sine die, and the colony was, in a few days, left, with a trifling exception, with-
out a revenue.
The majority then placed upon the minutes their reasons for having refused to vote for the continuance of the civil list as proposed to them, which, although not differing in reality from their former resolutions, it may be as well to give it
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his amendment was finally carried by eight to five. The four official members and one unofficial. member of the Court of Policy and three of the financial representatives voting in the majority; the minority being composed of three unofficial members of the Court of Policy and one financial representative.
The tax ordinance was then renewed for three
months, namely, to the 30th September, the mi nority entering a protest against it, adducing p. 56. much the same reasons as had been embodied in their previous resolutions.
Lord Grey to Mr. Walker, Augunt
15, 1848, p. 58.
Lord Grey approved of what Mr. Walker had donc, directing him at the same time to adhere to In Parliamentary Papers, House of his instructions not to accept of any further Commons, No. 749, of 1848, p. supplies for any fractional part of the financial year.
Mr. Walker having now received Lord Grey's despatch of the 17th June, assembled the Com- bined Court that he might put them in pos- session of the instructions contained in that despatch.
The Court met on the 20th July, but with no better success than had attended the previous meetings, Mr. Davison at once moving that the salary of the Governor should be reduced from 5000l. to 35001. This amendment Mr. Walker forbid to be put to the vote, and it was fol- lowed by another to reduce the amount of the civil list from 39,0721. to 26,0721. This being carried by nine to five, Mr. Walker, having previously warned the members of the conse quences of the amendment being carried, again adjourned the Court, sine die.
302.
Mr. Walker to Earl Grey, July 20,
1848, p. 59.
Neither this nor any of the sub- sequent despatches have yet been laid before Parliament but will shortly be, in compliance with Mr. Hume's motion.-18th Feb, 1849.
Upon the receipt of this intelligence, Lord Lord Grey to Mr. Walker, Sept.
1. 1848. p. 41. Grey addressed to. Mr. Walker his despatch, dated the 1st of September; but as this despatch was not received in the colony till the supplies had actually been stopped, and Mr. Walker had considered any further attempt to obtain them as hopeless, it is proposed, before adverting to it, to conclude with the proceedings in the colony.
On the 25th of September Mr. Walker, being Mr. Walker to Earl Grey, Oct. 5. without fresh instructions, and the tax ordinance 1848, p. 91.
expiring on the 30th, for the last time sum-
moned the Court, in the hope that they would
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