Commercial Relations with Canada. 329 
clause to the West Indies, Lord Derby is reported to 
have said that " Her Majesty's Government would be 
very glad if it were possible to obtain such extension, 
but that there was no prospect for negotiations leading 
to such results ; " and subsequently on 4th April when 
replying to the deputation that waited on him, the Sec- 
retary of State for the Colonies said that he had com- 
municated with the American Ambassador on the subject, 
and his opinion was that "it was not a question which 
could be raised at the present time with any prospect of 
success." 
It is not an extravagant thought to entertain that 
American statesmen foresee that a refusal on their part 
to make a fiscal exception in favour of the West Indies 
will create a great commercial crisis in the West Indies, 
which will cause the policy of the mother country to be 
called in question as harsh and unsympathetic, and will 
lead to a strong feeling against England ; and that then 
it will come to be considered whether, since the present 
state of things is bringing heavy losses to all, and ruin to 
a staple industry at no very distant date — it will come I 
say to be considered and discussed in the street, and in 
the chamber, whether a political union with America 
will not be a thing to strive for as holding forth realisable 
hopes of future prosperity and opening the door to a 
higher and more independent position. 
If an American statesman has such thoughts is he to be 
blamed for stretching somewhat the elastic principle of 
the Monro doctrine ? As a British subject and sincerely 
attached to the institutions of the Empire, I earnestly 
hope that day may never come, but I cannot shut my 
eyes to the drift which is setting in, and I would do 
