OUR COLONIES : THE CASE OV THE CANxVDAS. 



If we had forgotten the intention we lately announced, of calling the 

 public attention to the condition of our colonies generally, or had 

 faltered in executing- that intention — neither of which things were likely 

 to happen — we should have been reminded of our promise, and of the 

 duty which belongs to it, by a short conversation which lately took place 

 in the House of Commons, respecting Canada — one of the most impor- 

 tant, in every respect, of the foreign possessions of this country. Every 

 body knows too well, the manner in which the business of the Session 

 has been slurred over — the " more haste than good speed," with which 

 very interesting and momentous topics have been passed, as rapidly and 

 as carelessly, as a Select Vestry Avould pass a Churchwarden's accounts 

 after the dinner was announced. It is notorious too, that even that most 

 vigilant Cei-berus, JVIr. Joseph Hume, (v/ho ought, as JMrs. Malaprop 

 says of his prototype, to be " tliree gentlemen at once," to watch the 

 motions of the present ministi'y), has barked himself lioarse, and all in 

 vain ; and that neither Currency, nor Coi-n, nor even the Court of 

 Chancery, (inspiring theme ! ) have been able to command the attention 

 of parliament. No wonder then, that the affairs of the Colonies have 

 been forgotten — above all, it is not surprising, that a subject so awkward 

 for ministers to handle, as the present state of Canada, should have been 

 avoided. 



It happened, however, that in the middle of one of those hand-canters 

 which have of late been the common pace for ministers to carry the 

 public business through Avith, Sir. Labouchere moved for copies of a 

 recent correspondence between the Colonial-office and the government 

 of the provinces of Canada ; and lie took, in conclusion, an opportunity of 

 civilly asking Sir George JMurray, why he had done nothing, and said 

 notliing about that colony, and whether he meant to leave things as 

 they are ? The gallant secretary thus pushed, was compelled to make 

 some I'eply ; and as he thought, probably, that a bad one vrould be 

 better than none at all, he boldly laid all the fault upon the Committee 

 which had lieen apjiointed by the House to inquire into the state of 

 Canada. He complimented them upon their zeal and ability ; but he 

 said, that their report was so vague, that it was impossible to proceed 

 upon it — that they had stated certain complaints made by the inhabi- 

 tants of Canada, and pointed out objections, but all of them too in- 

 distinct to authorise the government's interference — that they bad sug- 

 gested alterations, with which he agreed in the main, but he was of 

 opinion that it would be very difficult to carry most of them into effect. 

 He thouglit the less parliament interfered with the internal legislature 

 of Canada, the better ; and after some very general observations, ended 

 by saying, that there was every disposition on the pait of the govern- 

 ment here, to attend to all the well-founded complaints of the colonists, 

 and to promote the welfare of the colony. A more courteous speech 

 could not be desired, as far as it went : vthether it was such a speech as, 

 under the circmnstances in which Canada is at present placed with 

 respect to this country, ought to have been delivered, is a very different 

 question, and one which a concise statement of those circumstances will 

 be sufficient to show. 



During the Session of 1828, several petitions were presented from 

 different parts of Canada, all of them expressing the warmest loyalty and 



