The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-04 00:00:00

Ri-,T.iOSPECT OF COLONIAL

PROGRESS.

(From the Colonial Gazette.)
1. The new Constitution of Canada is dated 1840.
The Act for the Union of tha two Canadas seems to
have already produced the main result which its framers
had in view- —the separate nationality of French Canada
is no more ; the war of races is over. When Canada
shall enjoy popular government, it will be impossible to
withhold from many other colonies that only means of
preventing discontent and constant animosity between
the colonists and the officials. The tendency of recent
events in Canada is favourable to the whole colonial
empire of Britain. It seems hardly too sanguine to in-
dulge a hope that England may ere long return to her
ancient system of colonial government, under which the
local affairs of every British settlement were left to the
management of the settlers. If this prospect should be
realised, 1840 will be deemed the most important epoch

in our col snial history.
2. The departing year has witnessed a sudden end
most satisfactory change of opinion in the West Indies.
The colonists have made two great discoveries ; first,
that immigration is the one thing needful to avert
their ruin and establish their prosperity on a solid basis ;
secon•ily, that in order to obtain immigration on a suffi-
cient scale, it is indispensable to render the colonies
attractive to the people of the African race. Hence a
zealous rivalry among these colonies, both in the pursuit
of immigration projects and in asserting the principle
of complete social equality for all colours of the skin.
'lire entire press of the West Indies has been recently
occupied with these two subjects. Every arrival brings
new evidence of the spread both of sound notions with
respect to the economy of the West Indies, and of a
sentiment of justice and kindness towards the negro.
Tt►e whole of this change—may we not rather call it a
revolution ?—has taken place within a twelvemonth.
It has had effects here, the importance of which wiil
soon be manifest. We arc assured that a considerable
number of those who have been the erring leaders of

the West India body in this country now declare their
readiness to assist in " forming out of the ruins of sla-
very in the West Indies a free nation of the African blood."
The- West Indian cry of " Freedom in all things"
finds an echo- on this side the Atlantic, even from thoe,
whose second nature was attachment to slavery ain't
monopoly. We are told that some overt act expressive
of these new opinions may he shortly expected. Mean-
while the home Government has performed one which

should encourage the West Indians in their present
course. Lord John Russell has authorised the colony
of Trinidad to set on foot a measure of immigration from
Sierra Leone. In order to set the fashion of African
emigration to the West Indies, no expense should be
spared at first ; no excess of males should obtain a
free passage ; and every emigrant of either sex should
be secured in the right to obtain at pleasure a free
passage
.back to Africa. Without such precautions,
there is much risk that abuses may be practised, and
the measure nipped in its bud. With them the com-
mencement of prosperity with freedom in the West
Indies, and of civilization for Africa, may have to date
in 1840.

3. Since last July, convict slavery has been abolished.
Though the transportation of convicts is still continued,
it is under circumstances which promise to put a speedy
end to the system.

4. Various are the colonies as to whioh in 1840 the
new method of colonization has been more completely
applied. In this year the plan of a uniform price for
public lands, instead of auction with an upset price, has
been adopted for Port Philip, Van Diemen's Land,
Western Australia, and New Zealand. By the last
accounts from Sydney, it appears that the colonists of
New South Wales have all but succeeded in their stre-
nuous endeavours to convince the local government that
the fund derived from the sales of public land
ought to be exclusively devoted to immigration;
and the principle of this employment of the land
fund has been acknowledged by acts :of the home
(sovernment with respect to Port Phillip, Wes-
tern Australia, and New Zealand. Indeed the ap-
pointment by Lord John Russell of a board of com-
missioners for the disposal of colonial lands and the su-
perintendence of emigration, though little good has
hitherto resulted from it, and though South Australia
has greatly suffered by the change, was by itself on
ample recognition of the nwrits of the South Australian
system. In a year or two mere, Perhaps, the adminis-
tration may be got to tally better with the principles to
which at length nobody objects. But even then, 1840
will be named as the year of this great and general im-
provement.

5. South Australia has been deeply injured this year ;
in part, as before observed, by the loss of a special au-
thority charged with its colonization, but still more by the
folly of its Governor. Yet we arc inclined to hope es en
in this case that good may come, though out of evil, from
late events. The instant recal of Colonel Gawler, when
his mad expenditure became known here, should be a
lesson of soma value to all colonial Governors ; and the
appointment of his successor with the warm approbation,
we believe, of everybody in England connected with the
colony, is likely to prove an important event. Captain
Grey is the first Governor, not only of South Australia,
but of any colony, conversant with the South Australian
plan of colonization and desirous to promote its success'.
Referring to his other qualities likewise, we may almost
conclude that the inhabitants of South Australia are not
the on y colonists who will recollect that his appointment
took place in 1840.
6. In 1840, the Western Australian Company was
formed, and despatched its first expedition to plant the
settlement of Australind. In 1840, the Colonial-office
promptly and effectually exerted itself to save a coloniz-
ing company and prevent the abandonment of a coloni-
zing project. In 1840, after ten years of stagnation and
almost oblivion, Western Australia became a popular
emigration-field.
7. In 1840, the colonists of South Africa came to a
right sense of the difficulties of their position, and a
company was simultaneously formed in London. for the
purpose of supplying them with capital and labour.
8. In 1840, " the Britain of the South " became
part of our Colonial empire ; its future settlement by
emigrants from these islands was subjected to wise re-
gulation ; and it was declared a separate and independ-
ent colony. The very history of the people of New
Zealand begins in 1840. In this history, two events
which occurred in 1840 will have a conspicuous
place. They are these :—the Colonial Minister 'of
England adopts as a principle of state policy the expe-
diency of making colonizing companies useful instru-
ments of the State for the purpose of colonization, and
the Church of England seeks to extend herself in colo-
nies without requiring that any should be taxed for her
support ; the Colonial-office finds favour with the tole
nial public at home, and the Church of England takes
means to render herself popular in the colonies. In
each case, New Zealand furnishes as yet only the prin-
ciple and the example ; but these are so novel and im-
portant---so sure of bearing good fruit in abundance,
thatlthey alone would give a great name to the year 1840.
Wishing on this occasion only to note the year's pro-
gress in colonial affairs, we purposely abstain from al-
luding to matters of a less grateful character. But to
what, it will be asked, is all this alteration for the better
due ? It is owing, we believe, to the progress of colonial
knowledge—to the influence of more definite and far
more active opinion, as well here as in the colonies, with
respect to the colonisation and government of distant
settlements. It has not, we think, been occasioned
by mere pressure from without upon Downing-street ;
for there are, udications that men in power have par-
ticipated in the general improvement of opinion on
colonial questions. Nor in saying this do we detract
from the credit that belongs to any individual.
Lord John Russell not the less entitled hitnself to
be called the best Colonial Minister that England
ever saw, by baying in the reforms which ho has
accomplished given way to the influence of that
public opinion on colonial subjects to which he was
recently a stranger. What higher praise could he de-
sire than the imputation of this motive ? And here, in
concluding, we have a duty to perform. It has conic
to our knowledge that Mr- Stephen has taken an active
and very efficient part in what may almost be termed the
new policy of the Colonial-office. Eighteen hundred
and forty, has, indeed, been a remarkable year for the
colonies.