The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-27 00:00:00

COLONIAL

WEST INDI ES.JWi rinwA RD ISLANDS.—The new
gov..gcn., Colonel Reid, proposed to proceed to Tobago on
an early day. A part of our tiles which had miscarried
and has since come to head eaahtra us to state that he
actually had set out for that Wand. Toe Barbatioes Globe
of Dec. 21 states "His excellency the goseruor, at one
o'clock this afternoon, accompanied by his private secre-
tary, Lieut. Hallestrell, 20th flap., proceeded from Welling-
ton-stairs, Trafalgar-square, in the barge of her Msjesty's
sloop-of-war Persian, to embark on board that ship en mete
to Tobago. His excellency, who, we are happy t say, was
looking well, intends to be back to this Wand in time to
meet the House of Assembly, which stands adjouroed to the
sth of January next. Soon after his excellency's departure,
the Hon. Board of Council &mumbled at the loan-hall, where
the Hon. J. R. Best, president, was duly sworn to administer
the government daring the absence of Govenor Reid."
The excited state of the public mind in Tobago impera-
tively called for the governor's presence. It us to be hoped,
however, that he will not confine his visitations to tint
Woad, The tone which the discussion in the legislative
council of St. Lucia, and the comments on them in the local
press have assumed, show that hi. presenc: is quite as much
needed there as in Tobago. And there are many little anal-
arrangements in Granada and St. Vincent, which personal
olwereation might enable the Governor-General to pat in •
train of amendment While, however, we should expect
considerable benefit to accrue from periodical visitations of
the Governor-Gentral of the Windward Wands to all the
colonies under his charge, we expect no more from such a
course than palliation of the had consequ' newt of subjecting
a number of totally distinct and independently organised
committees under one Governor-General. Perhaps, the sys-
tem might work if there was one elective legislature and only
one governor for all the islands. But with local elective
legislatures unconnected with each other, and acting
governors, corresponding indirectly with the home govern-
ment througi the governor of Barhadoes, the sj stem has
worked only for evil. First, undue delay is occasioned
by the necessity of all reports and applications of
the acting governors being first addressed to the
Governor of Berbadoes ; second, there is the disadvantage of
the Colonial Secretary receiving information not directly
from the governor, who has opportunities of personal obser-
vation, but from tie governor of another island,, who re-
ceives them at sessona.hatifi; lastly, the nesting governors,
selected from the militaw officers of the st air,. hold their
office ter so short a term, and receive such small salaries, that
they occull in the eyri of the community an inferior position
to the local chietjustices. The consequence !./s been tomake
the local judge in some instances the most impoetant man
in the colony ; to encourage him to act more as a politicihn
than • judge ; and to harrow society and distract the action
of government by factious intriguer.

Site Cwt.
WINDSOR, TeRSDAY.—Her Majesty waited this
morning in the grounds adjacent to the Coale, accompanied
by lbw ItR.HH. the Prince of Wales and the Princess
Royal. Their ItR.IIII. Prince Alfred and the Princess
Alice took their accustomed walking and pony exereips.
11.13,14. Prince Albert, accompanied by Count Alexander
bleasdorf, and attended by Lord Alfred Paget and Col.
Seymour, enjoyed the *port of shooting this morning.
Lord Camoys has arrived at the Castle, and has
succeeded Earl Ducie an the lord in waiting to the Queen ;
and OM. the Hon. R. Boyle has succeeded Col. B. Drum-
mond as the groom in waiting to her Majextr.
The Duke of Cambridge visited 11.R./I. the Duchess.
of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester-house.

Mr. Roebuck had an interview with Earl Grey
yesterday at the Colonial.office.—Mr. Wickham, chairman
of the Sumps and TAIL'', had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer yesterday at his official r silence in
Downing•street.—Mr. J. Wood, shah-man of the Excise, had
also an interview with the Right Hon. Ransoct yesterday.—
Mr. McChristie had an interview yesterday with Earl Grey.
Mr. Chas. Fox had an interview with the Right Hon. Edw.
Strutt yesterday, at the office of the Cornmissicuers of Rail-
ways in reat George-street.
DespatchesG were sent off yesterday evening from
the Culonisd-office fur the governor of West Australia.