The magnates of Downing Street govern our Colonial empire as
Epicurus imagined his gods governed the world; by not troubling their heads about it. But the Colonial system does not appear to- get on under the dominion of laissez faire quite so well as the (cosmos of the Grecian sage.
The last news from British Caffraria presents Sir Harry Smith obeying the drill injunction, "As you were." He is still, as he was six months ago, waiting for reinforcements to begin active operations against the Caffres. Meanwhile, all bonds of law and order appear to be dissolving in the colony from which the Go- vernor -is detained by the Caffre war, having left no legitimate organ of government behind him. If the accounts of the Hottentot disaffection and insurrectionary movements be true, the colonists are on the eve of losing their labourers, and industrial operations in the colony of being everywhere paralyzed. The latest intelligence from Australia, .though less disastrous in what regards the settlers, is equally ominous of evil for British ascendancy. Delegates from Tasmania and Victoria, sent to Syd- ney to invite the accession of New South Wales to the Anti-Con- vict League, had been warmly received, and completely Successful: The three provinces are now united to resist the further trans- portation of convicts to any part of Australia ; and large sums of money (the resources of the colonies considered) have been sub- Scribed to keep up and extend the agitation. The Legislative Council of New South Wales had been assembled to prepare for carrying out the Australian Colonies Government Act. The Council abstained in the first instance from expressing any opi- nion of that measure, but Mr. Wentworth had given notice of a resolution to remonstrate against it. A strong opposition was mustering both in the Council and out-of-doors against the bills presented by the Governor to give effect to the act.
