23 FEBRUARY 1839, Page 14

THE NEW COLONIAL MINISTER.

IN the ordinary course of things, a change of Parliamentary Colo- nial Secretaries is an event of scarcely any importance to anybody. It creates some disturbance amongst the permanent people of " This Office," who feel uncomfortable until they have fairly laid hold of the new corners: but that is all. With everybody else, and even with the Bumbureaucracy after the strangers have Men into the routine of submission to the Over Secretary and chief clerks, every thing goes on as before. Not so, however, on the present occasion. This change has been brought about by events not less unusual than portentous of disturbance in the secret re- cesses of' Downing Street, and promising of good to the people of our Colonies. For once, a Colonial Minister is appointed with a mission to perform, and with the strongest motives for performing it well. What this work is, it seems most desirable to inquire. But really the whole matter may be stated in a paragraph. Notwithstanding the almost necessary indifference of the people of this country as to all that relates to colonies—to those distant dependencies respecting which we are always, and almost neces- sarily, in a state of profound ignorance—the public mind of this country has been for some years slowly but steadily advancing to the opinion, that the government of our Colonies is vicious in prin- ciple, and abominable in practice, in what is done here as well as in the Colonies, in both legislation and administration, in generals and details, from beginning to end and first to last. Such is no longer merely a common opinion : Lord DURHAM'S mission has suddenly made it a strong and general conviction. Along with this convic- tion, there has also grown up an opinion, not so general as the other, but yet held by a very enlightened class, and still advancing in the number of its proselytes, that the people of this country have a deep interest in the good government of colonies, and the conse- quent extension of our field of employment for surplus capital and labour. The prevalence of these two opinions calls aloud for any thing but what has been—for change—for a thorough and effectual reform both of system and of practice—in the various parts and localities of colonial government. This is Lord Noamminy's mission. It is on purpose for this that he is appointed to succeed Lord GLESELG. The task is one of infinite difficulty. Ile comes to it with a high reputa- tion. If he has all the talents and courage for which the world gives him credit, they will be taxed to the uttermost. Every oh. stack will be thrown in his way, by open foes, by pretended friends, and most of all by the permanent directors of the department, of which he is as yet, as a succession of his predecessors were during their whole tenure of office, no more than the nominal chief, lie is, of necessity, thoroughly ignorant of the extensive and multi. furious subjects with which he has to deal; and if he trust to the pref. fend information of others, he is at once enveloped in crippling bandages of red tape. No despot on first attaining power was ever more liable to become the victim of false professions and sinister importunity. In order that be should succeed, unflinching industry is indispensable ; while the facility of postponing decisions which relate to distant communities, will tempt to idleness. He will probably fail. If he should succeed, we shall have to recall an opinion recently expressed, that greatness has departed from the earth. The opportunity of distinction is fine in proportion to the difficulty of seizing it. The disgrace of failure would be in proper. lion to the reputation which is at stake. Lord NORMANBY has much to lose, as well as to gain. In the present state of public opinion about colonies, he will win what he may deserve—neither snore nor less. The character of his first acts will be known in a week. He may guess what we mean.