8
colonies. We have full confidence in the justice of our cause, and we sincerely trust that it has been countenanced by Her Majesty's Government. If we are disappointed, we shall not on this account give it up in despair, on the contrary we shall continue our task with renewed energy and courage, and we are led to hope that in these fresh efforts we shall have, when your Excellency has become more intimately acquainted with this Colony and its inhabitants, your Excellency's powerful support.
We are not flatterers, but we recollect that during your short and brilliant parliamentary By career your voice was often raised in favour of the unprotected rights of the weak. assisting in bringing about a reform of our mode of government your Excellency will have a claim to our lasting gratitude and will associate your name for ever with what we have no hesitation in saying will be one of the most remarkable pages of the history of Mauritius.
Port Louis, Mauritius, June 6, 1883.
His Excellency replied as follows:- GENTLEMEN,
We subscribe ourselves, &c. (Signed)
LOIS RAOUL, President.
H. ADAM, Vice-President. POVAH AMBROSE, Vice-President. ! Louis ROUILLARD, Secretary.
I APPRECIATE the value of your welcome and your reference to my parliamentary career, for I am fully sensible of the large and highly influential interests you represent.
Up to the time of my leaving England the Queen had not decided on the answer to be given to your petition; but I was aware of the fact that your views were receiving the careful consideration of Her Majesty's advisers, and I trust to be able to inform you of the result before long.
No. 4.
GOVERNOR SIR J. POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY. (Received September 10, 1883.)
(No. 123.) MY LORD,
Government House, Mauritius, August 14, 1883.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 202, of the 11th June last, respecting the alterations in the Council of Government prayed for by a petition addressed to Her Majesty in October last.
2. I enclose a copy of the Minute with which, after consulting the Executive Council,
I laid your Lordship's reply, and the despatches relative to the petition, before the Council of Government.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Derby,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
9
No. 5.
The RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERHY to GOVERNOR SIR J. POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G. (Confidential.)
Downing Street, November 27, 1883.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that Mr. George Guibert called to day at the Colonial Office, and that I had some conversation with him on the subject of the Reform Committee in Mauritius, in the proceedings of which, as you are aware, Mr. Guibert has taken a leading part.
2. Mr. Guibert informed me that he did not wish to raise the question of represen- tative Government. He regarded that question as settled for the present by my and Despatch in answer to the petition addressed to the Queen in October of last he said that he understood the difficulty which Her Majesty's Government felt in dealing with it.
year,
3. I told him that the difficulty was due to the enormous number of the Indian immigrants, who were not qualified by education and habits to exercise the franchise. If these were to be excluded, the classes represented would be only a small minority.
4. Mr. Guibert admitted that this would be the case at present, but he said that the Indian population was rapidly increasing in civilization, and that in a few years numbers would be qualified to be entrusted with a vote. But, putting aside the question of representative Government for the present, be thought that there was one change which would to a considerable extent meet the wishes of the Reforin Committee, and that it might be made without difficulty.
This was that the number of unofficial members should be raised from eight to eleven. He pointed out that they are nominated; and he observed that consequently there would not be the same objection to their being in a majority as if they were elected. He said that, if the Council should pass any ordinance of which Her Majesty's Govern- ment could not approve, it could be disallowed; and that the Queen also retains the power of legislating by Order in Council.
5. I complimented Mr. Guibert on the clearness with which he had stated the case, and I said that what he had told me would not fail to be considered.
6. I think it right to let you know what passed at this interview, but I do not desire you to understand that Her Majesty's Government have altered the opinions expressed in the Despatch in which, some inonths ago, I explained to you the modifications they are willing to make in the Constitution of Mauritius.
Sir J. Pope Hennessy.
which
I have, &c. (Signed) DERBY.
&c.
&c.
&c.
No. 6.
(No. 17 of 1883.)
Enclosure in No. 4.
MINUTE.
Despatches relative to Petition addressed to Her Majesty the Queen for a change in the constitution of the Council of Government.
Broome to the Earl of Kimberley 1
The Governor has the honour to lay before the Council of Government the lo. From Lieut-Governor F. Napier despatches,f noted in the margin, with reference to the petition addressed to the Queen in October last for a change in the constitution of the Council of Government.
(Signed) J. P. HENNESSY,
Governor. Government House,
August 7, 1883.
No. 807, July 10, 1889.
No. 830, July 13, 1882.
No, 408, Bapt. 4, 1881.
No. 441, Sept. 14, 1889.
No. 519, Oct. 81, 1889.
No. 590, Oct. 31, 1882.
No. 591, Oct. 81, 1882.
to. From Earl of Derby to Governor
Sir J. Pope Hennessy, No. 202,
June 11, 1888.
• No. 2.
† Vida Eastern No. 89 and No. 2 in this paper.
GOVERNOR SIR J. POPE HENNESSY, K.C.M.G., to the RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY. (Received January 24, 1884.)
(No. 283.) MY LORD,
•
Government House, Mauritius, December 12, 1883. In my Despatch No. 123, of the 14th of August, I reported that, after consulting the Executive Council, I had on the 7th of August laid the various despatches, including your Lordship's reply No. 202, of the 11th of June, respecting the proposed constitu- tional changes, before the Council of Government. My advisers and I concurred in thinking that it was hest to do so in a simple covering minute.
2. Four months having clapsed, I mentioned the matter yesterday at the Council of Government, and read the following passage from your Lordship's Despatch :--
"If, after consulting your Executive Council and the Council of Government, you should be of opinion that these changes will be beneficial, and will be acceptable to the people as a not unsubstantial concession, notwithstanding that Her Majesty's Govern- ment have been unable to adopt the proposal of the petitioners, I shall be prepared to advise the Queen to take the necessary steps for introducing them."
Ra 8965.
• No. 4.
† No. 2
B
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