Lord Camarvon made his promised statement on Barbadoes affairs on
Tuesday, in a capital though, to us, unsatisfactory speech, which we have carefully analysed elsewhere. He acquitted the Governor of anything but indiscretion in using phrases to the Legislature which might have been safe in Pall Mall, but were unsafe in Barbadoes, and refused to recall him, though in view of the strained relations between him and the planters he might, by-and-by, find him another appointment. He utterly rejected the idea of a Royal Commission into his conduct, and significantly hoped that the local authorities would so behave themselves as to render a Commission of Inquiry into the condition of the island needless. At present, he hinted, the Constitution, which he described sarcastically as the very oppo- site of the English one, was not worked so as to secure good government. Lord Cardwell, the only other Peer who spoke except Lord O'Hagan, frankly admitted that if one-tenth of Lord Carnarvon's impeachment was correct, a change in the form of government in Barbadoes was absolutely necessary ; but seemed to think it unfair to condemn the local authorities while no one acquainted with the island was in the House, a quaint limitation of Parliamentary rights which would render legislation nearly impossible. How many schoolmasters will be lathe House when the Lords rattle through the Education Bill?
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