The Colonial Policy of Lord John Russell's Administration, Volume 1R. Bentley, 1853 - 955 pages |
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administration adopted advantage adverted affairs afford amount applied appointed Assembly Australia Australian Colonies authority believe British calculated Canada carried charge Civil List civilization Colonists commercial Commissioners consideration considered Country Crown lands despatch difficulty duties Earl Grey effect emigrants Empire endeavoured established Executive Government exercise existing expenditure expense Exported favour fishermen Governor grants Grey Guiana House of Commons House of Lords immigrants important imposed improvement increase India industry inhabitants interest Island Jamaica labour large number Legislature Letter Lieutenant-Governor Lord Lord Elgin Lord Harris Lord Metcalfe Majesty's Government Mauritius means measures ment military Mother-country necessary Negroes object obtained opinion Parliament party persons Planters population port possess present principle produce proposed Province reduced regard Report revenue Secretary slavery South Australia South Wales sugar taxes tion trade United Van Diemen's Land wages West Indian
Popular passages
Page 13 - I conceive that, by the acquisition of its Colonial dominions, the Nation has acquired a responsibility of the highest kind, which it is not at liberty to throw off. The authority of the British Crown is at this moment the most powerful instrument, under Providence, of maintaining peace and order in many extensive regions of the earth, and thereby assists in diffusing amongst millions of the human race, the blessings of Christianity and civilization.
Page 212 - Should it prove to be so, concession to their views must sooner or later become inevitable, since it cannot be too distinctly acknowledged that it is neither possible nor desirable to carry on the government of any of the British provinces in North America in opposition to the opinion of the inhabitants.
Page 12 - The possession of a number of steady and faithful allies, in various quarters of the globe, will surely be admitted to add greatly to the strength of any nation ; while no alliance between independent states can be so close and intimate as the connection which unites the Colonies to the United Kingdom as parts of the Great British Empire.
Page 276 - ... it that the public servants of this country, as a body, are remarkable for their experience and knowledge of public affairs, and honourably distinguished by the zeal and integrity with which they discharge their duties, without reference to party feeling ; we owe to it also, that as the transfer of power from one party in the State to another is followed by no change in the holders of any but a few of the highest offices, political animosities are not in general carried to the same height, and...
Page 319 - These lands constitute a vast estate, which has been acquired, and to which all the value it possesses has been given, by the very large expense which has been incurred by the Mother-country in establishing, maintaining, and protecting its Colonies. This estate the Crown holds as trustee for the benefit of all its subjects, not merely of the few thousands who may at this moment inhabit a particular Colony, but of the whole British people, whether resident at home or in the Colonies ; and it is the...
Page 10 - Minister 1846-52. eager advocates of the principles of free trade, concurred in arguing that, if the colonies were no longer to be regarded as valuable on account of the commercial advantages to be derived from their possession, the country had no interest in keeping these dependencies, and that it would be better to abandon them; thus getting rid of the heavy charge on the country, especially in providing the requisite amount of naval and military force for their protection.
Page 212 - Clearly understanding, therefore, that refusing to accede to the advice of your council for the time being upon a point on which they consider it their duty to insist, must lead to the question at issue being brought ultimately under the decision of public opinion, you will carefully avoid allowing any matter not of very grave concern, or upon which you cannot reasonably calculate upon being in the end supported by that opinion, to be made the subject of such a difference.
Page 260 - ... should enjoy it, the advantage of self-government in all that relates to her internal affairs. It appears to Her Majesty's Government that this advantage ought to carry with it corresponding responsibilities, and that the time is now come when the people of Canada must be called upon (to take upon themselves a larger share than they have hitherto done, of expenses which are incurred on this account, and for their advantage. Of these expenses by far the heaviest charge which falls upon this country...
Page 282 - The benefits which are expected to arise from this policy will be greatly increased through its general adoption by the principal Nations of the World, which Her Majesty's Government hope to see eventually brought about. But it would materially interfere with the attainment of this happy result, if it should be observed by Foreign Countries, that the former and narrower Policy of endeavouring by bounties or restrictions to divert capital and Industry to other than their natural Channels, was again...
Page 408 - Every British merchant, holding securities on real estates, is filing bills in Chancery to foreclose, although, when he has obtained a decree, he hesitates to enforce it, because he must himself become proprietor of the plantation, of which, from fatal experience, he knows the consequences.