396 TiMEHRl. 
I do not think I have trespassed or infringed upon the 
charter granted to us, in bringing forward such a motion 
as the present one. 
Mr. Pitman said he had, for the sake of discussion, 
much pleasure in seconding the resolution of the chair- 
man. His views were in harmony with the resolution, 
that is to say, that to call together a conference of such 
a nature as the resolution implies, would not be at 
variance with the charter of the Society : the sole obje£t 
of which is to promote the agricultural and mercantile 
interests of the colony. Demerara would not have so 
much to gain by the conference as the West Indian 
Islands ; but he was quite sure that if Demerara would 
initiate a step of the kind, the neighbouring Islands 
would be grateful to her. He had great pleasure in 
seconding this resolution. 
Mr. Hawtayne said : There was no doubt it would be 
advisable that there should be a conference of the des- 
cription proposed, but it would tend to a discussion 
of politics, and that, the charter granted to the Society 
would not permit in the remotest degree. If Ihese dele- 
gates to form a conference, go away clothed with the 
sanction and authority of this Society they will carry 
weight, and they could not divest themselves of that 
authority or that weight, nor would they divest them- 
selves of that authority if they formed themselves, subse- 
quently into a political body. I do not think that we 
could really shelter ourselves by saying that we sent you 
out in one capacity and you have turned yourself into a 
political body; but we should be answerable for what 
they said and what they did. He would raise his voice 
against any such thing being done. 
