CO885(1-2) — Page 182

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.

885.

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year 1625."-" If to the numbers above mentioned we add about 2000 persons, who we shall imme- diately find had nestled on the northern coast of Virginia, the amount of English colonists who were settled on the American continent at the accession of Charles I, will be 2000. The same and other causes continued to operate so forcibly, that in 1670, forty-five years after, Virginia contained only 40,000 inhabitants.”

South Australia was founded in 1835, just fifteen years ago. The population now amounts to 30,000. Its imports amount to 335,000l. per annum, and its exports to 275,000. It pays the expenses of its own Government, and its revenue amounts to 67,000l. per annum. Again, New Zealand was created a separate colony in 1841. The population Its imports (European) amounts to 20,000. amount to 222,0771., and its exports to 43,215/ Its revenue is 36,000l. per annum. It does not yet pay the cost of its Government; but the Governor, in his last despatches, announces that every ensuing year will be attended with a diminished demand upon Imperial funds.

A Commission, however, diminishes responsibility. It is rarely effective and energetic unless the work to be done devolves upon a chairman or secretary, who by consent obtains a predominating influence. But this accession of power is unattended with increased responsibility. There may be questions of a legal or quasi-judicial character, a reference of which to a Commission might be advantageous. Such was the origin of the recently formed Com- mittee of Council. The practical advantage of this step is best shown in the papers proceeding from it: the Australian Constitutions Report; the Report upon Representative Institutions for the Cape. The circumspection required, so necessary when essential changes in colonial policy or insti- tutions are proposed, are thus insured, and the measures adopted are the result of careful delibera- tion in conjunction with the Secretary of State. It is at once a check upon and an assistance to

the Colonial Minister.

2. The proposal to confer such a measure of self-government as cancels all contral or authority on the part of the Crown, except the illusory bond

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of allegiance, appears to me hardly worthy of con- sideration. It is an abandonment of our colonies.

It

may be and is wise to contemplate the indepen- dence of many of our colonial possessions. It may be both wise and necessary to confer independence. And possible and even probable circumstances may fully justify such an act on the part of the Crown in certain cases. But to adopt this occasional act

of justice and necessity, and convert it into an active principle of policy, is simply to confound the adoption of large principles of policy with their special and necessary application; the peculiar error of weak, ill-informed, and enthusiastic minds. But it is open to another objection. It presumes that a distinction can be drawn between the local and Imperial legislation of a colony, and those ex-/ ternal and foreign relations, which are admitted to be Imperial.

This is impracticable. Is the Crown, for the sake of the British people, to continue any controul over Waste Lands, or not?

Would a Colonial Act, appropriating large tracts

of land at a nominal price, seriously affecting set- tlers, as well as owners here, be considered a Local

or an Imperial Act?

Are customs' duties and excise duties to be con- sidered as affecting Imperial interests, or not?

I believe the distinction between Local and Impe- rial legislation to be one which cannot be drawn; and if such a scheme of Colonial Government were adopted, there must be somewhere an appeal judi- cially to decide the questions which would con- stantly arise. I do not enter into the many prac- tical inconveniences of any such litigation between

the Imperial and Colonial Governments; they are obvious to every one acquainted with the practical affairs of Government.

3. The abandonment of our Colonies, I presume, few will be found to support. The only grounds upon which this is urged are the reduction of expenditure consequent upon abandonment, and

the abolition of Government patronage

On these points I need not enlarge, as I entirely adopt Lord Grey's opinions on the first point. The last is susceptible of a practical refutation. The C

1 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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