Lord Granville received graciously, and still more graciously snubbed, on
Wednesday, a deputation consisting of the dissatisfied colonists who have lately been meeting at the Cannon Street Hotel, —explaining to them that he had not the slightest objection to the Colonial Conference they proposed, and had only discouraged it for two reasons,—one, that the Colonial Governments would not like it, and, secondly, that it would not answer the purpose. Lord Granville further expressed his love for the colonies, and his pro- found conviction that they could not be better treated than they are by the Colonial Office,—describing their political differences as mere matrimonial squabbles between husband and wife. That may be a very good description, but at least in the ease of New Zealand, the wife is not only separated a mensii et tlwro, but has had her allowance suddenly withdrawn at the worst pinch, and is told by the husband that the allowance is withdrawn expressly in order to compel her to submit meekly to the dictation and insult of a rival. Matrimonial ' squabbles' of that sort are not very easily made up.
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