The Colony of Surinam. 31 
but the Home Government took a decisive step in the 
matter of legislation. By order of the King in Council 
of the 28th of December 1859, No 54, a Royal Commis- 
sioner was appointed "to proceed to the colony and 
"there to introduce provisionally, subje6l to His Ma- 
jesty's sanction and approbation the new legislation, 
"in accordance, as far as pratlicable, with the Home- 
" laws and with the draft-codes submitted by the Govern- 
" ment to and revised by the State-Commission of 27 
"Septr. 1852, No. 56'." Mr. L. Metman, LL.D., Ad- 
vocate at the Bar of the High Court of the Netherlands, 
and ex Member of the States General was the ap- 
pointed Royal Commissioner. 
Previous to his departure for the colony, the Governor 
of the colony was put in possession of the draft-codes 
submitted for examination and revised by the aforesaid 
State-Commission of 1852. He thereupon addressed a 
circular to the members of the Bench and the Bar, and 
other officials, under date of the 16th of February, i86o> 
forwarding copies of said drafts, and requesting the 
expression of individual views and suggestions to be laid 
before the Royal Commissioner, on his arrival, in order 
to further the obje6t of his mission to the colony. 
Subsequent instructions despatched by the Colonial 
: Office, at the suggestion of the Royal Commissioner, and 
approved by the King's Order in Council, resulted in an 
order of the Governor of the 17th of March i860, No. 
4, whereby a Commission was appointed to " examine 
" provisionally, the drafts of the State-Commission of 
" 1852 and to assist and co-operate with the Royal Com- 
'' missioner, on his arrival, in introducing the new legis- 
'' lation for the colony." 
