The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-08 00:00:00

the usual application to the Treasury to transfer an
amount to net Poor-law Bort& This was an error
which he (Sir J. Trollepe) would tek good care should
not happen agein, for the check lie hel put upoe one
Mode of paying the accounts rendered its recurrence itn-
Possible. He mutt sly, however, that the otlieer who
transacted the business of this department was a very old
and valuable servant of the public, having been in the
Public service. for about eighteen years without ever
making a similar tnistente—(dear, hettr)--enn he Caw J.
Trollops) really thought it was hardly worth while to
trouble the House with such a subject.—(Hear, hear.)
At all events he believed the House would agree with
him that it was not a matter which called for the
censure of that House upon her Majesty's Govern-
ment.—(Bear, and Laugh.)
THE BRITIntI AMERICAN RAILWAY.
Sir U. VERNEY wished to ask the Colonial t.:siecre
tart' whether the letter addressed to him on May 1 by
the Hon. Mr. Hincks, and which was published in the
rmes of May 31, was authentic; and, if it was, whether
or ex
he Was able to give to the House any information
planation of the circumstances under which it was
written?
Sir J. PAKINGTON—I can assure the Hon Baronet
who has put this cpiestion to me, that so far from hey-
jug any objection to answer it, I feel gre ttly indebted
to him for having efforded me art opportunity of giving
the explanation ho has requested. The letter to which
the Hon. Baronet has adverted is founded entirely upon
a mistake. I have no knowledge how that letter found
its way into the public prints, and I must say I think I
• have reason to express at least surprise that such a let.
ter, forming part of a series of correspondence, should
have been inserted in the newspapers of this country
without any of the documents that preceded or followed
ito--(a_Tear, hear, from the Ministerial benches.) The
natural result of the insertion of such a letter in the
Papers, without any explanation of what preceded or
followed it, has been, that most erroneous inferences
have been drawn, and that very wrong impressions have
a gained currency with regard to the circumstances which
preceded and followed the writing of that letter. It ap-
pears to me that the complaints against the conduct of
the Government are three in number. The first com-
plaint is, that the deputation which carne over to this
country from Canada on the subject of the proposed
railway were left for seven weeks without any answer.
It is next complaieed, that when en answer was given
it was not conamuuicated officially to the gentlemen
who formed the deputation to this country, bat was
obtained by them through a private channel. The third
complaint is, that the gentlemen who came here as a
deputation from the provinces of Canada and New
Brunswick were not treated with that consideration and
confidence to which their position in their own country
entitled them. Now, if the House will favour me with
their attention for a few moments, I think I shall be
able to show how far thesis complaints are well
founded. With regard to the first complaint, that the
gentlemen forming the deputation were left for seven
weeks without an answer from the Government, I
Must beg permission to refer to dates. Mr. Hincks ar-
rived in this country, as a delegate from Canada on this
subject, about the middle of March. Directly after
his arrival I had several interviews with him
relative to the proposed railways, and in those inter-
views he communicated to me the views of the pro-
l'n'tnce of Canada. He also stated to me that he was one
s" a deputation of three gentlemen, and that the arrival
ntof Mr. Chandler from New Brunswick, and of Mr.
Uowe from Nova Scotia, might be expected by the next
I acket. Under these circumstances, I considered—and
think the House will deem I was justified in consider-
jug—that the negotiation was not to be proceeded with
Math the deputation was complete—(Hear, hear)—espe-
eially as Mr. Chandler and Mr. Howe were to bring
with them from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia the
Act that had been passed upon this subject by the Legis-
laturestares of those colonies. I made frequent inquiries
TrOm
time to time whether those gentlemen had arrived,
andi I was told that they had not yet reached England,
ant thatSO thi they might be expected by the next packet.
things
went on until the 20th of April, on which day
bctr. Chandler called at the Colonielsoffitte. I believe he
ad arrived some few days before, but I did not know
Mr. Howe. however, had not arrived, sod I ought
ttere th mention that the two Acts of the colonies did
4noit arrive until the 23th of April. On the 26th of April
aetter was written by Mr. iiineks to the Noble Lord
;.,‘_the head of the Government, requesting an interview
I" himself and Mr. Chandler upon this suject. I think
Seal
show the House how little the Noble Lord (the
011 of Derby) was disposed to underrate the importance
int this a
sseputation by reading to them the memorandum
x, the handwriting of the Noble Lord at the back of
Mr` Hitteks's letter. It is,—
of I: Give him an early appointment. This matter is one
vere
s .1 great importance, but I should wish, if possible,
to see ,
this `') together with Mr. Hincks, the representatives in
The
matter of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia."
an ° Noble
the Lord's secretary mado anappowas able to see
s
° gentlemen; and on that day the Noble Lord re-
ef-led Mr. Hincks and Mr. Chandler, and at the request
th MY Noble Friend I was present. At that interview
innt"hole subject was talked over, and on the very next
se7limg—the Ist of Mav—Mr. Hicks wrote the letter to
illeh the lion. Baronet has referred, and in the early
Pt
tearr " that letter Mr. Hincks says, alluding to the in-
view of the previous day—
"e„ left his .Lordship in the confident hope that I should
ad,:etve an early communication of the intention of her
Jest Y's Government."
fir'iir Flineks then goes on to say that the arrival of
Howe could havo no effsct on the question of route
onlyior one raised by her Majesty's Government.
and Howe had not then arrived, and he did not come;
the !lats letter of Mr. Hincks, of the Ist of May, was
be hint intimation I received that the two other mem-
la" the deputation considered the presence of Mr.
ou
proceedthportant to the negotiation. I immediately
htt,nned to act upon that intimation, and at the Ca-
of 14 n;neil held on the following Saturday, the Bth
formed'--tho matter having previously, of course,
tGoe, the subject of conversation among the
whole question was formally brought
decided.the Cabinet, was fully discussed, and was finally
arj hope the statement I have made will
l'eove that there was no pretext whatever for city-
.s that the deputation was left without an answer from
:' fault of her Majesty's Government. It has been
n-°l°Plained that, after the Cabinet had decided the
,I"stion, no communication was made to the gentlemen
Inning the deputation, but that they learned the deci-
sion of the Government incidentally through a private
Source, Now,
.owing to the great pressure of business
.."--311d I trust the House will make allowance for the
enormous pressure of business that did occur in the
°eine() to which I have the honour 'to be attached—,
days elapsed after the Cabinet Coueeil
arrived at their decision before I was at leisure to pre-
pare a dispatch on the subject. In consequence of that
euelay, and of subsequent delays dfter the dispatch was
uraughtedi the dispatch was not finally written for
itaoksending until the 20th of May. I should say that Mr.
-ahad:
previously intimated his intention
not to leave England until the 27th of May, and he did not
go until a much later period. Oa the 20th of Meiy t,te
dispatch was sent to the Governors of the three colonies
of Ceneda, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia ; and
(Li the same day, by my directions, official copies
of that dispatch wore communicated to Mr.
Rinclts and Mr. Chandler. In the meantime I had
made no communication, public or private, upon
thes subject to any party; aid if either of these gentle-
m" had indirectly ascertained the decision of the G
triatetnt, I cannot say how they got the information. It
iertainly was not through any act of mine. I hope I
'aye answered the second allegation.—(Hear, hear.)
note come to the third subject of complaint—that
the
se gentlemen were not treated with the consideration
to
which their position entitled them. I should be ex-
tretady sorry if it should bo thought that the Govern-
,
Mont were for a moment open to such an imputation. On
the arrival of Mr. Hincks I had several interviews with
tin•
?, and I extended to him that courtesy and hospi,
wily which I thought were duo to his distinguished
station in his own province. I have been told that I
Ought to have resented his letter. There certainly are
expressions in that letter which have the appearance of having been written under some feelings of irritation--
expressions which I think are not borne out by the
facts—expressions which I read with regret, and which
cannot help thinking Mr. Ilineks must regret having
Used. But, Sir, I must say that, looking to the fact
that the greater part of these letters were written in
a tone perfectly respectful, I have no hesita-
tion in avowing to the House my feeling, that
if unconsciously and unintentionally, under the
pressure of business, which really is sometimes almost
overwhelming, I had—l am sure lam not aware that I
had—been guilty of any omission towards these gentle-
Men, I thought it more consistent with my duty to the
Queen, with my own office, and with the friendly rela-
tions. which I hope will always subsist between the great
Colony of Canada and the mother country—(Hear, hear)
that I should continue to act in the same spirit of
Courtesy as before, rather than go out of my way and
tit
• Ist," Offence, or make any quarrel on the subject.—
rear. hear.) That was the spirit in which lam die-
. Irc'Bed to act towards these gentlemen, but it should bo
recollected that Mr. Hincks was not the only person
etteaceriton It would not be correct to draw any distine-
. C°lsile„ble,'Weela Mr. Chandler and Mr. Mocks, but me.
written no petulant letter. He is a gnin-
chp-pess ontitiguished by great ability, a teen of high
Z,aeler, and ono who, like Mr. Hieeks, has, by the
isis,3tift. (If his own talent, raised himself to the highest
geetye'M in the colony. I most readily admit that these
en men were entitled to every consideration in this
em"„"ntry at the hands of her Majesty's Government, and
efcrit_°Piaiort is that they received it. I continued, to the
the of their stay in this country, the same hospitality,
rne,ssattle Courtesy,. with which our intercourse corn'.
detueed, and I had reason to believe they were
oes'PlY impressed by the gracious and spontaneous con-
ut.
I".3nsion they received at the hands of her Majesty.
43 he close of their stay they called at the Colonial-
ii)ceffi to take
leave, end we parted on the most friendly
any
v, and certainly I had no reason to believe there was
ca'nee taken on their part.—(Hear, hear.) I tape
e live said enough to show that the allegation of delay
a eto the Part of the Government is unfounded, and thatn
we=en
willing to treat these gentlemen with every due
nsideration. In offering this explanation I have not
tloathed on the policy of her Majesty's Government with
respect to the decision at which they arrived. The
andui neember's question did not refer to that decision,
easy? •
eraim sure the House will feel that the occasion of
ferri ng 3 question is not the proper moment of re-
giv ng to such a subject.—(Hear hear.) The answer
lit to these gentlemen was given on the responsibi-
Pm °I her Majesty's Government, and whenever the
_ y per moment arrives I shall be prepared to vindicate
ea whore it
atiaece D, NOIIREYS asked the Secretary of the Ord-
n whether any arrangement bad yet been made to
unable the public to purchase copies of tracings of the
Published mane of the
borough towns of Ireland?
Colonel DUNNE replied that the Ordnance had no