Vll. 



asked the Government of Bengal to establish an 

 immigration agency, with the necessary machinery 

 of a Protectorate, Medical Examiner, &c., all the ex- 

 penses of which they expressed their perfect willing- 

 ness to pay. Their request was refused ; and by this 

 refusal, I think the interests, not only of the planters, 

 but the interests of the Government, the Country, 

 and the People, were sacrificed. The planters, 

 therefore, in my humble judgement at least, have a 

 just ground for complaint. Had what they required 

 beeu conceded at the out-set, the country would 

 have been spared the calamities the Immigration 

 Committee's report disclosed, and none of the com- 

 plications which have since retarded the progress 

 of the tea districts, and taken up so much of the 

 valuable time of the Supreme Government would 

 have arisen." 



<{ I have visited the emigration agency for Mauritius 

 with its efficient superintendent Dr. Payne, and I 

 can bear testimony to the excellency of the arrange- 

 ments for the comfort, cleanliness, and health of 

 the coolies ; the duties of the Protectorate too, are 

 most conscientiously and well performed ; and when 

 a little supervision, care, and attention on the part 

 of Government, can ensure such results, I cannot, 

 understand why we should hear of such depots as that 

 of Thakoor Lalla, in Bengal. Were the several Local 

 Governments of India now, to take more kindly to 

 the plan adopted by foreign and colonial Govern- 



