"Ithe Colonies have not ceased to give forth signs of
trouble. 'The Cape, indeed, is resting on its arms, and will probably be con- tented by the official concessions in London. But at the two op- pate extremities the Ministerial optimism is falsified.
In South Australia, Mr. John Morphett, a leading independent =ember of the Legislative Council, announces his intention to pro- pose a plan of constitution for that colony, in opposition to the Au :ft sent out from Downing Street ; his plan being a fusion of ielements from Mr. Adderley's Resolutions of 1849 and Wakefield's Art of Colonization. What is more remarkable, the Governor, astute Sir Henry Young, had caused Mr. Morphett's plan to be officially advertised in the colony ! This is the Colonial reflex of English discussion and criticism a year ago : what may not be ex- pected from the same quarter when Sir William Molesworth's sub- stitute for the Ministerial Bill shall have arrived ?
British North America is discontented, angry, and fixing a more intent regard on the one idea of " annexation " with the United States. Several recent elections in Canada have run in favour of annexation. In the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, resolutions galling for a more strictly constitutional government had been re- jected by a majority of only 11 to 9. In Prince Edward Island, a vote which is thought equivalent to one of "no confidence " had been passed by the Legislature, and there was a Government crisis in the pocket province. Dissatisfaction, not to say disaffection, is the widespread feeling ; and the Ministerial policy, if such a thing there is, manifestly makes no way in counteracting the bad dis- poson.
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