[ 180 ] [FEB. 



EVIL CONSEQUENCES OF SECTARIAN INFLUENCE IN COLONIAL 



AFFAIRS. 







We have frequently had occasion to deprecate the manner in which 

 our foreign dependencies are governed. Instead of a number of happy 

 and prosperous communities, rejoicing in the protection of a nation 

 which, perhaps, owes the maintenance of its very independence more to 

 its pre-eminence as a colonial power, than to any other cause, we now 

 see discontent and dissatisfaction universally prevalent, accompanied by 

 great irritation, deterioration of property, and serious apprehensions for 

 personal safety. We have also the mortification to see the colonies of 

 other nations rapidly rising in wealth, and prospering on the ruin of 

 those of Great Britain ; and our rulers instead of listening to the dic- 

 tates of sound political wisdom in the management of our trans-atlantic 

 possessions trifling with questions of minor importance, and harassing 

 the authorities abroad with measures which, so far from being calculated 

 to do good to any class of society in the colonies, only serve to make 

 obstinacy more obstinate, apprehension more fearful, and to create uni- 

 versal disquiet ! 



If the self-constituted society at Aldermanbury, or the Wesleyan 

 government at Hatton Garden, receive from any of their agents, or itine- 

 rant missionaries, an ex-parte statement, containing matter affecting the 

 character of individuals in the colonies no matter whether these indi- 

 viduals are magistrates, clergymen of the established church, or other- 

 wise filling the most respectable situations ; and however incredible, or 

 ill-supported by evidence, may be the allegations brought against them 

 off goes a detail of these surreptitious and generally slanderous accu- 

 sations to the colonial department of his Majesty's Government ; and, if 

 an answer is delayed for a few days, down comes a letter " to the Right 

 Honourable, c., &c., his Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the 



Colonial Department/' in these terms : " Sir, On the instant, I(?) 



transmitted to you, by order of the Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary 

 Society, a memorial, &c./'* and in due time Mr. Horace Twiss, or some 

 other secretary, acknowledges its receipt, and courteously tells them, that 

 " The Secretary of State will give due attention to any statements which 

 shall be received from the Committee." By the first packet a repetition 

 of this statement is sent off to the colonial governor, who is peremptorily 

 called upon to investigate the matter, with full instructions how to pro- 

 ceed, should the accused parties be found guilty ; and commanding his 

 excellency, after due investigation, to transmit his " report and opinion, 

 together with the materials on which they shall have been founded." 

 So that the Colonial Department may also form its opinion, and give 

 such further directions as the " saints " may in their wisdom consider 

 necessary ! 



With as much diligence as if the affair were one of the greatest im- 

 portance to the welfare of the colony, the governor and the law authori- 

 ties must, of course, proceed to the investigation : individuals are, in a 

 manner which necessarily is extremely harassing to them, called upon 

 to answer extra-judicially, accusations which they, perhaps, never heard 



* Vide Sir Geo. Murray's letter to the Earl of Belmore, dated 6th May, 1830. 



Vide Mr. Townley's letter to Sir Geo. Murray ; and Mr. Twiss's reply Parl. 



Paper, A., No. 9123, Dec. 1830. 



