4 JANUARY 1840, Page 18

CORD JOHN aussELL's LETTER TO THE COLONIZATION COMMISSIONERS TOR SOUTH

AUSTRALIA.

"Downing Street, 23d December 1839.

" Gentlemen—The letter of the 9th instant addressed by your Chairman to one of my Under Secretaries, proposing to hold an interview with me at this office on the subject of your receiving remuneration for your services as Commis- sioners for the Colonization of South Australia, has been laid before me.

" I avail myself of this opportunity for addressing to you a communication which it would be improper any longer to postpone. " Her Majesty's Government having taken into consideration the highly important subject of the alienation of the unsettled lands of the Crown throughout the British Colonies, with a view to promote, as far as may be possible, a well-regulated system of emigration, have resolved to constitute a body to superintend that service, subject to the general superintendence of her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State basing the Department of the Colonies, and the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury. With this view, it is designed to establish a Colonial Land and Emigration Board, consisting of three members. In their persons will be united the duties at present per- formed by yourselves and by the Agent-General thr Emigration ; and with this view, the Queen will be advised to revoke the commission under which you are now acting, anti to renew it in favour of the three members of tbe Board to which I refer.

" It is therefore unnecessary that I should trouble you to attend at this office on the subject of your letter of the 9th instant, or that I should express any opinion as to the expediency of maintaining a body of rine salaried Commissioners for the management of emigration to the single colony of South Australia. But I cannot close our official connexion without requesting you to accept my grateful acknowledgment of the ability with which your duties as members of the South Australian Commis,ion have been discharged.

Note on the above Letter, from the Colonial Gazette of IlTedoeselay last.

"Lord JOHN'S civil showing up of the salary-hunting Commissioners—' a body of nine . . . . for the management of emigration to the single colony of South Australia'—is one of the neatest strokes ltitely met with in our diplo-

macy.

"ro Mr. How we owe the justice of saying, that he not only did not join in, but opposed the application of his colleagues for salary."