CO885-(1-2) — Page 113

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference

C.O.

885

(Private.)

My dear Sir Charles,

20

Inclosure 7 in No. 6.

•

Viscount Falkland to Sir C. Metcalfe.

Government House, Halifax, June 14, 1844. .I HAVE had the honour to receive your Excellency's despatch marked " Private and Secret," of the 22nd of May. The subject to which that despatch relates is one which requires much consideration with reference to Nova Scotia; I therefore trust that your Excellency will kindly allow of my delaying my answer until about the second week in next month, when I shall be able I hope to give you my views more decidedly than I can venture to do at present.

I have, &c.

(Private and Secret.) Sir,

Inclosure 8 in No. 6.

(Signed)

Sir J. Harvey to Sir C. Metcalfe.

FALKLAND.

Government House, St. John's, Newfoundland,

June 22, 1844.

IN acknowledging the receipt of your Excellency's despatch of the 22nd ultimo, market Private and Secret, it might, perhaps, be sufficient for me to refer to the commu nications which I had the honour to address to you, under date the 28th ultimo and 6th instant, in order fully to possess your Excellency of the views and opinions which I had been led to form upon the proposition embodied in Lord Stanley's private despatch of the 15th of March, both as respects the principle and details of that plan; and to add that fully concurring as I do in the opinions which your Excellency has expressed as to the principles, I hold myself prepared frankly to state my own upon any further suggestions which you may do me the honour to convey to me in relation to this subject. But, in explanation of the views of it which the papers which I have already sent forward will have presented, I would observe that I have been induced to regard the plan less in the light of machinery through which merely to enable Her Majesty to evince her sense of eminent public services rendered by civilians resident in the Colonies (as comparatively few are afforded the opportunities of rendering such services), than as the means of conferring marks of distinction upon such wealthy, intelligent, and influential individuals (especially such as may have adopted the Colonies as their future abode), who may have given satisfactory proofs of their desire and their ability to promote the interests of their respective Colonies, and to draw them into more close connection with the parent State, and thus to carry out by a modified and, as I think, a wiser course than the object contem- plated by former statesmen in the formation of the flereditary Order of Nova Scotia Baronets, viz., of fostering that attachment to aristocratical distinctions which is known to be very generally cherished throughout the British Colonies (and secretly throughout the greater portion of the United States of America), and which may be regarded as one of the strongest incitements to loyalty, and a preference for monarchical institutions, as well as the best and surest safeguard against the contamination of democratical principles.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. HARVEY.

No. 7.

21

Inclosure 1 in No. 7.

Sir C. Metcalfe to Sir W. Colebrooke.

(Private and Secret.)

Kingston, C. W., May 22, 1844. Sir,

WITH reference to a private despatch from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, I have the honour to state my opinion, and to invite the expression of Excellency's sentiments on the subject of that communication, in order that I may proceed to execute the instructions therein contained.

your

2. Considering the point to which our attention is called, to be the probable effect of the institution of an Order for the North American Colonies, on similar principles with the Order of St. Michael and St. George, established in Malta and the Ionian Islands, I am of opinion that such an institution is calculated to be beneficial, as tending to excite zeal, and reward merit in the public service, and to promote loyalty to the Crown, and attachment to the mother-country.

I am at the same time sensible that there is an anti-British or democratic spirit prevalent among numbers in Canada, which might at first attempt to decry or deride such an institution; but I should not be entirely without hope that a system of conferring distinctions on the part of the Crown, in the reward of merit, might eventually, in many instances, convert that spirit into feelings more consistent with the relations of colonists towards the parent State.

3. The object of this communication being to ascertain your Excellency's opinion on the general question, it would be premature on my part to propose at present any discus- sion of the details requisite to carry such a plan into effect in the event of its adoption.

I have, &c. (Signed) C. T. METCALFE.

(Private.) Sir,

Inclosure 2 in No. 7.

Sir W. Colebrooke to Sir C. Metcalfe.

Fredericton, New Brunswick, June 14, 1844. HAVING considered the proposal contained in Lord Stanley's despatch 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 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 enterprise 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 irrelevant 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 uninixed satisfaction in 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.

I have, &c.

W. M. G. COLEBROOKE.

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON'

(Private.) My Lord,

Sir W. Colebrooke to Lord Stanley.

Fredericton, June 28, 1844.

WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch, marked "Private," of the 15th of March last, I have the honour to inclose a copy of a letter which I have received from Sir Charles Metcalfe on the subject of it, and a copy of my reply.

I have, &c. (Signed)

WM. COLEBROOKE.

(Signed)

No. 8.

Sir H. Huntley to Lord Stanley.

Government House, Prince Edward Island,

June 12, 1844.

(Private.) My Lord,

HAVING received directions from his Excellency the Governor-General to state my sentiments upon the subject of the proposed institution of an Order for the British North

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