456 
SOUTHERN AFRICA, 
At the same time, it cannot but be felt, that 
the growing apathy, so extensively visible 
through England, in connection with colonial 
matters, is not one of the healthiest signs of 
our present national prosperity. The Empire 
of Britain, as the " Queen of the Ocean," lies, 
it must never be forgotten, in her maritime 
power; and, if that be once negligently suf- 
fered to decline, the stability of her sceptre 
will not be long so sure. It may be true, that 
our Colonial possessions are sufficiently exten- 
sive to warrant the prohibition of larger an- 
nexations to them, but it may be questioned, 
how far this plea is sufficient to justify the 
abandonment of any portion of them. As a 
foster mother to these many infant children, 
Britain truly is highly to be eulogized, not 
only for nurturing and defending her Colonies 
everywhere, but for giving to them, when old 
enough to wield it, an inherent power of legis- 
lation. It is well, not only to rule them, but 
to teach them how to rule themselves, and to 
give them the opportunity of so doing when 
expedient; but it ought also to be remem- 
bered, that to do this too soon in their history ; 
or to abandon them as self-supporting commu- 
nities, before they are strong enough to stand 
by themselves, is a false philanthrophy, or even 
amounts to an injustice. Hence is the dire 
