POSTSCRIPT. tf
In the course of the discussion in Committee, Mr. Hope let a cat out of the bag. Lord JOIE.: RUSSELL called for information respecting loans in aid of immigration, passed by the Legislatures of Guiana and Trinidad; and he again gave voice to Missionary alarms which had been communi- cated to him from the West Indies, lest the morals and condition of the Black population should be injured by the class of persons imported. Mr. HOPE promised the information—
No portion of the proposed loans had, however, been raised; and from the difficulties in the way he did not think there would be. There was no reason to fear any consequences to the morals of the population of the West Indian Colonies from the importation of labour: the number would be too limited [Perhaps this may waken the West Indian proprietors from their re- newed slumber of security: the boasted immigration turns out to be a counterfeit, now openly betrayed by gauche Under-Secretary Hope. They too ;will find that they have only had a " promise " from the Colonial Office, and no " agreement."]
After the House had resumed, there was an animated and amusing con- versation on the business set down for Monday—the Committee on the Customs Acts, deferred from last night. Honourable Members mean to op- pose parts, which will of course impede progress; but they are also anxious to expedite parts: Free-traders no doubt have an eye to discussion; but many Free-traders are Lancashire men, and they want to hasten the re- moval of the duty on cotton: it stands late in the list. Mr. BRIGHT com- plained much that it was placed under the head of W, (as cotton-wool,) whereas it belongs to C. Sir ROBERT PEEL said the mistake was not his fault: the duties must be taken in their present order. Then, Mr. MILES has an amendment, declaring that in any remission of duties the agricultural interest should be duly considered: the postpone- ment of the Committee made some bolder Members fear a shrink- ing. Mr. MONCKTON MILNES did not like the aspersion that Mem- bers on the Ministerial benches are always playing and acting a " sham ": he wished to show that there are one or two who really want a fair stand-up fight. If there be a fight, said Mr. HITHE, (profanely bor- rowing a phrase consecrated by the Episcopal lips of Exeter,) he wished Mr. Milnes would tell them " what it was all about ? " Nothing daunted by Mr. Hume's wit, Mr. FEERAND exhorted Mr. Miles to stand firm against a Ministry who have betrayed the party behind them and taunt the agri- culturists with " whining." Mr. PETER Bonaarwiek sarcastically de- clared, that he would not oppose Ministers except for something with a practical issue; and he poured forth his pity for the farmers, perishing by the assistance of their " friends " in that House all sections were their "friends." Lord JOBS RUSSELL was rather inclined to expect a "sham." Thus exhorted and taunted, Mr. MILES mustered a show of firmness: he should call upon the House by indirect means to remit the county-rates, which press heavily on agriculture. Dismayed at these portents of inter- ruption, Sir ROBERT PEEL exclaimed—" We have never been able to get into Committee! " Mr. BRIGHT—" I will move that the House do go into Committee now, if the right honourable Baronet chooses? " Sir ROBERT PEEL—" The House would surely not go into Committee at this hour." There promises to be some commotion on Monday. And perhaps on Tuesday also; for not only is Sir Frederick Thesiger to introduce a bill for better protecting property in museums and public in- stitutions, and Lord Duncan to bring on his motion to repeal the Window- tax, but a branch of the New Zealand question is to come on, if possible. Early last evening, Mr. HOPE stated that a petition had been placed in course of signature by respectable parties in the City, charging Lord Stan- ley with misconduct: the noble Lord has been accused of deception and gross want of faith; and as a notice given by Mr. Buller for Monday (to move for papers about the inconvertible paper currency in the Falkland Islands and New Zealand) would afford no opportunity of vindicating Lord Stanley's character, Mr. Hope would on Tuesday move for papers to which there would be no objection, and make an explanation. This announce- ment provoked a very heated conversation; the Members who support New Zealand objecting to the shortness of the notice for so large a discussion. Mr. MANGLES referred to the forthcoming City petition as a proof that the Colonial Office is condemned out of doors—" That office is reprobated by the whole country. (" Hear, Hear," and " Oh, oh! ")- I repeat it, the Colonial Office is held to be the plague and nuisance of the country." Mr. AGLIONBY reiterated the charge that Lord Stanley had deceived the Com- pany in the instructions to Captain Fitzroy; adding, that such an act of duplicity would prevent his ever treating with Lord Stanley again upon any subject, unless some security could be given that good faith would be kept. Sir ROBERT INGLIS, Lord Howicx, and Mr. HUME agreed that Lord Stanley ought to have an early opportunity of explaining; and that the personal charge ought to be separated from the general charge against. the Colonial Office. Sir ROBERT PEEL said, that Mr. Hope would call for no expression
of opinion by the House, but would merely make an explanation— • " As the representative of my noble friend the Secretary of State for the Colo- nies, he is most anxious, on a matter not immediately or neeetiearily provoking a discussion on the generall of the Department, but in respect of which his conduct and g" faith have been called in question, not to allow the Ouse to separate before Easter without giving some explanation of that parti- cular point."
Lord Joan ROWELL recognized the importance of the main question; that is, the government of New Zealand- " Lbelieve that New Zealand, if its resources are properly cultivated, and if it is rightly govemedi is destined to have a great influence on that part of the world.
I believe that the eighteen or twenty thousand Englishmen who are there, are des- tined in all probability to be the progenitors of the governors of a great part of that hemisphere." He had as yet formed no opinion either way on the charge against Lord Stanley. He was, however, well convinced that the tone of correspond- ence betWeen the Colonial Office and the New Zealand Company was far too angry and controversial on both sides for the House to participate in-
" I hope that at some other time we may come in the calmest manner to the consideration of the instructions which have been framed for the guidance of Go- vernor Fitzroy, and to discussing whether those instructions were judicious, and whether the conduct of that Governor is such as is likely to promote harmony and tend to the welfare of the colony." He hoped that the House would endea- vour to rescue the important colony of New Zealand from the distress and mis- , fortune in which it is at present involved( " If it should appear in the course of the discussion that any proceedings of thine shall be liable to any part of the blame, I am ready to bear that blame: only let us, if possible, lay down some rule for the future by which _that colony may have hope of prosperity., (Cheers.) Here the conversation closed; Mr. HOPE only adding, that if his motion could not be made on Tuesday, it should on Thursday.
[Under the charge of injuring the colony, Lord Stanley has been patient for a whole year; the question of the danger to the colony may yet keep cold till after Easter: but the accusation has become personal; it threatens to be backed by the City, and the officials cannot sit patient under that shape of it for a day: it might give Lord Stanley an access of the gout; the delay of the 'other question could only hurt a colony. And the pru- dent Premier, who has not yet perfornMd a single act to succour the distant settlers and save the " Britain of the Southern hemisphere," is compelled to lend himself to the small service of shielding his colleague at home in Downing Street, who has got into scrapes through his evil dispositions and unfitness for real business!] In the House of Lords, the Jewish Disabilities Removal Bill passed, with a few words of hearty concurrence from the Duke of CAMBRIDGE; who warmly eulogized the charitable munificence of the Hebrew gentry.
The Select Committee op the petition against the election of Mr. Somes, for Dartmouth, after some delays, began business yesterday. The petition alleges that Mr. Somes is a contractor under Government, and that Mr. Moffatt ought to have been elected
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