The Colonial dinner at Greenwich ought to produce richer and
riper fruits than the dessert and the speeches. It was remarkable for its occasion and composition. General dissatisfaction in the Colonies, nothing done for their contentment either in Downing Street or Parliament, the session closing without a prospect of improvement even next session,—these are the circumstances under which many intelligent men of all parties escape from the cross purposes and petty entanglements of House and Club to compare notes and resources, and see what can be done for the Colonies. No attack was made on any person, not even on Lord Grey ; but the very gathering was based on a sense of hope- less mistrust in the present conduct of the Colonial adminis- tration. That the dissatisfaction extends to every section of poli- ticians, is proved by the concurrence of men representing every sec- tion,—of Lord Monteagle, who represents the older Whigs; of Lord Lyttelton, the Liberal Conservatives ; Sir William Molesworth, the Radicals ; Mr. Cobden, the Manchester school ; Mr. Stafford, the Protectionist Tories ; Mr. Monsell, the intelligent Anglo-Irish ; an O'Connell, the Celtic Irish; Mr. Francis Baring, the great com- mercial interests; and Mr. Aglionby, even the Hawes interest ! The Colonies had their representatives ; also the theoretical coin- nizationists, and the emigrationists. As to the extent of the views propounded, it may be learned from Lord Lyttelton ; who confessed the utter incompetency of the Colonial Office, and stood up for local self-government. Lord Lyttelton is a conscientious man, young, able, plain-spoken, and much respected ; he was Under- Secretary for the Colonies when Mr. Gladstone was Secretary. This is a formidable band, the probable nucleus of a more extensive league, for overawing the faineants of Parliament or the Office.
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