CO882-(1-2) — Page 272

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON'

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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same general object, and the effect of which would only be to excite agitation and discontent rather prejudicial to the true interests of the colony.

"4. For these reasons, it appears to me that his Excellency's not acceding to the prayer of the this petition of Mr. Savy and others, may rest upon ground, that general meetings have already been authorized for the declared purpose that the inha- bitants of the colony might devise as to the best course to be pursued for obtaining relief to the sufferings of the colony, and that it does not appear any other of any advantage or necessity to authorize partial meeting for the same purpose; and that should the object of the petitioners be connected with some local interest in the district of South Pamplemousses, no meeting is necessary for that purpose, as his Excellency is still disposed to receive and hear any petition or representation of any per- sons on local or private matters which may be in his power to determine.

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(Signed)

P. D'EPINAY, "Procureur and Advocate-General."

The Governor therefore refused his permission, stating at the same time that he should be ready to receive and consider any representation connected with the interests of the districts which the parties might wish to make to him.

On the 9th November another public meeting took place, at which petitions to the Queen in Council and the Governor were approved and signed; and the following resolutions passed

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"That the petition to the Queen be adopted, Sir Wm. Gomm, No. 267;

November 14, 1848. and signed before this meeting separates.

"That the petition to the Governor be adopted, and that it be presented to the inhabitants of the country districts, together with the petition to the Queen.

"That as soon as the two petitions now on the table are signed, they be presented to his Excel- lency the Governor by the Gentlemen composing the Central Committee, accompanied by a deputa- tion of inhabitants of all classes, on a day and hour to be made known by the Central Committee through the newspapers of the colony.

“That the inhabitants of the county and districts be invited by the Central Committee, to apply to

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his Excellency the Governor for permission to hold

a public meeting in each district of the island, for purpose of signing the petition to the Queen.

the

The Chairman stated, that it was proposed by the Central Committee for the purpose of meeting

the expenses required both in the colony and in London, to open books at Port Louis and in the country districts, in which all colonists without distinction would be invited to register voluntary yearly subscriptions, and that the Committee wished to have the assent of the meeting to that measure.

"That the thanks of this meeting are due to the gentlemen of the Central Committee for their active exertions hitherto, and that they are requested to continue their labours for the benefit of the colony,

in full reliance upon the co-operation and firm support of their fellow colonists.”

(The Governor states that the meeting was at- tended by only second rate planters.)

"To Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen in Council.

May it please your Majesty,

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We, your Majesty's devoted and loyal subjects, inhabitants of the Island of Mauritius, being pro- prietors, mortgagees, planters, merchants, tradesmen, mechanics, or otherwise engaged in colonial industry, present ourselves before your Majesty as humble petitioners,

"Most respectfully showing:

"1. That your petitioners have since the year 1833, when slavery was abolished in your Majesty's dominions, struggled by every possible means to produce, with free labour, sugar, the staple, and almost only produce of Mauritius, so as at once to remunerate themselves, and to furnish cheap sugar

to the British consumers.

“2. That with this object in view your petitioners have supplied improved and valuable machinery, at a vast outlay of capital, employing a large number of labourers at a costly rate, and adopting every known improvement in agriculture in the cultivation of their estates.

"3. That the produce of this island was ramed by these extraordinary and costly efforts from 32,000 tons in 1840, to 64,000 tons in 1847, whilst your