The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-06 00:00:00

THE BRITISH COLONIES.

At the meeting of colonists held at the Cannon-street
Hotel, on Wednesday, Mr. Youl presided. The attendance
was not so numerous as on previous occasions.
Mr. Beaumont proposed a series of resolutions, which
asserted the right of colonists to the privileges of British
subjects, and went on to allege—that it was of
the highest importance to the whole Empire to encourage
emigration from the mother country to her colonies; that
as the separation of the colonies from the mother country
would be a capital injury to tho British nation, it was of
urgent importance, in order to guard against such a
contingency which should be prevented by every
legitimate means of policy and statesmanship,
that the relative rights and obligations of the Imperial
and the Colonial Governments should be adequatelyaseer-
tained and defined, and also that the mutual relations of
such Governments should be adjusted so as to secure to
the colonies the utmost independence consistent with their
various positions, and at the same time to maintain the
integrity and to develope for the common good the resources
and power of the British Empire ; that to this end
it was desirable that the condition and administration of
the colonies should be made the subject of solemn investi-
gation and deliberation on the part of the Government,
acting with the advice of Parliament ; and that the fullest
opportunity ought to be ensured to the colonies and their
representatives of cu-operating in, and being heard upon,
such an inquiry, in order that the measures adopted might
be as satisfactory as possible to the requirements and feelings
of the colonies. The ninth resolution on the printed list
stated that as there was reason to fear that the policy of
the Government was unfavourable to the maintenance and
consolidation of the colonies as integral parts of the
itish empire, it was desirable that public opinion and
action should be evoked upon this momentous subject
by holding public meetings and otherwise as occasion
served, and the last of Mr. Beaumont's list
suggested that, in order to secure the co-operation of per-
sons throughout the empire who concur in the foregoing
resolutions towards effecting the objects therein recom-
mended, an association. to be called, say, the National
Colonist and Emigration League, should be formed, and
that, for the purpose of conducting the business of such an
association,a committee of gentlemen shouldbe appointed.—
Mr. Beaumont thought it might be well to postpone the
discussion of the last resolution, and that the rest should
be discussed en bloc as a substantial motion.—Mr.
Wheeler seconded the resolutions.—Mr. H. Duddell
very emphatically pronounced these resolutions to
be premature, and moved as an amendment that
they should remain in abeyance until the meeting had
been formed into a league or association, with a name, a
fund, and an executive committee. Unless they had an
organisation of this kind they would have no more influ-
ence than the "three tailors of Tooley-street."—Mr. Briggs,
of Manchester, seconded the amendment, saying that he
was prepared to contribute £lOO towards necessary ex-
penses.—Mr. Buchannan supported Mr. Beaumont's reso-
lutions.—Mr. W. Adams and other gentlemen also approved
of the carrying of these resolutions before the question of
an association was discussed.—Mr. Wilson, of the Mel-
bourne Argus, alluded to the manner in which they had
been taunted as not being a representative body. But
he said, they had repeated every time they had
assembled together that they did not profess
to be representative. Thoy met as men, with an earnest
wish for the welfare of the whole empire and they repre-
sented this feeling, and also some knowledge of colonial
affairs, and a desire that our colonies should
remain in union with the mother country, for
mutual advantage. They pretended to represent
nothing more. No one could have read Lord Granville's
reply to the deputation without seeing that serious things
were looming in the future; and, disparaged as they will
be, they were doing something to teach the English people
to think about a question which might some day come
home to every one of them. (Hear, hear.) The speaker
called attention to Mr. Froude's article on the colonial
question in Fraser's Magazine, which, he said, afforded
a strong argument in favour of their position.—
The Hon. J. Tobin objected to the resolution alluding to
emigration, but approved of the remainder. Referring to
the interview with Lord Granville, he said the Colonial
Secretary had proved his ignorance of colonial
affairs when he stated that the Government
was on good terms with all the colonies, at
the very time when the Governor was being
turned out of the Red River settlement. He protested
against his lordship's objection, that the members of the
deputation were not accredited, contending that every
ono who was aggrieved had a right to seek for justice.—
After some opposition, a gentleman, named Roberts,
was allowed to read a paper on the subject of the resolu-
tions which had been prepared at a meeting of the
Association of Reviewers of British Industry.—Mr.
Patterson argued that as it was a principle of
political science that representation and taxation
should 'go together, her Majesty's Government—claiming,
as it did, to be represented in every colonial Legislature,
must be content to bear part of the taxation of those
colonies : and, therefore, it was only fair that the Crown
should supply soldiers to the colonies, and in that way
have a share of the burden. It was essential that
this meeting should pass resolutions containing
precise and specific 2,lpositions if it desired to
accomplish any definite good. He diapprovod of adopting
the resolutions in Dudell withdrew his amend-
ment.—Mr. Beaumont's resolution was then carried unani-
mously, amidst some applause. The meeting then ad-
journed.

The Dean of Rochester has completed his 03rd
year, and is in the enjoyment of excellent health.
A. MAGISTRATE FINED FOR TRESPASS.—Mr.
R. 0. Moulsdale, jun., barrister, and a magistrate for
the county of Denbigh, has been charged before the
Llanrwst magistrates with trespassing on land, the right
of shooting over which has ben reserved to the com-
plainant, Robert Jones, in company with Mr. Blackwell,
another magistrate, in pursuit of game. A summons against
Jones for poaching on Mr. Moulsdale's land was also heard.
Mr. Moulsdale urged in defence that he had had permis-
sion to shot over the land in question for ten years, and
that that permission had not been withdrawn; but it was
proved that he was aware that the shooting had been let
to complainant. He was fined 10s. and costs, and the
complainant Nt GRO9tOaixo_Yie reppAt7 911
iluNnon4l.