At the annual dinner of the Colonial Institute on Wednesday
Lord Elgin made a speech which we trust will convince the Empire of a fact of which we ourselves have never entertained the slightest doubt,—viz., that the Colonial Office is in safe and patriotic bands. Lord Elgin pointed out that what is essential to the proper conduct of the Empire is the securing of ".sympathy with and support to the man on the spot." There must ba co-operation between the Colonial Government and the Home Government if the best results are to be achieved. After a parisage of warm praise for the loyalty to the Home Government shown by Lord Selborne, Lord Elgin made an interesting personal reference to the present Prime Minister of Natal, whom he described as "a kinsman, a near kinsman, a playmate of my boyhood, to whose family I am bound by ties of affection and gratitude." In these circumstances, he asked his listeners to understand how utterly repugnant it would be to him to throw any obstacles in the path of Charles Smythe, the Prime Minister of Natal. The Government of Natal had his entire sympathy in the difficult position in which they found them- selves, and he highly appreciated the tact and discretion which they had displayed in the present crisis. We do not doubt that the spirit which inspired Lord Elgin's speech also inspires the Government as a whole in their attitude towards our Colonial Empire.
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