CO885-(1-2) — Page 186

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Colonial Policy.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference -

885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

THE detailed information with regard to the affairs of our different colonies which is required, in order to form a judgment of the Colonial Policy

which has lately been pursued, will be afforded by 躇 paper which I prepared last year, with the sequel to it, which will be found at the end of this paper,

bringing up the history of what has occurred to the latest period. But some preliminary observations

of more general application are called for by the present state of affairs and of opinion in this country,

And first I would remark that it is quite obvious that a complete change in the relations between this country and the Colonies must of necessity grow out of the change which has taken place in our com- mercial policy. Formerly the great object of all European nations, in seeking to obtain possession of colonies was the gain which was supposed to accrue from the commercial monopoly which it was then the practice for the parent State to maintain. This policy began to be somewhat relaxed by this country immediately after the American Revolution (which it really occasioned); but for a long time the progress made in relaxing the old restrictions was exceedingly slow, and it is only within the last four years that by a succession of measures, the last and most important of which (so far as regards the Colonies) was the repeal of the Navigation Laws, the whole system has been finally and completely swept away.

This revolution in our Commercial system is still too recent, and the effect upon the trade of the world of the various disturbing causes which have

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