The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-19 00:00:00

,11,1
tiVIX
dfr-

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1848.

Vancouver's Island has become an object of ambi-
tion to the Hudson's Bay Company, and the grasping
policy of that great mercantile establishment ap-
pears to be connived at by the present Government.
If we were to regard the division and discussion of
last night as conclusive, we should certainly be dis-
posed to recriminate upon those who have gone so
far towards criminating themselves. But we are
loth to imagine that one of our most valuable, be-
cause one of our most conveniently situated colonies,
is to be juggled away with such precipitation, merely
because a Cabinet is pliant, and a Company is avari-
cious. True, that according to the proposed
arrangement, the island in question is merely to be
granted for a period of eleven years to the directory
of that vast commercial association whose territories
already extend from Chesterfield Inlet to Demarca-
tion Point. True, moreover, that the Government
compromises the matter in some measure by stipulat-
ing to the effect that at the expiration of those eleven
years the island may be again absorbed among the
colonial possessions of England, the Legislature re-
munerating the Hudson's Bay Company for :any
surplus expenditure, and compensating them propor-
tionately for the sudden diminution of their domi-
nions. When we utter our protest against the trans-
action altogether, we by no means lose a recollection
of these subordinate stipulations Our protest against
the yielding disposition betrayed on this occasion by the
members of the Administration is pronounced with a
perfect appreciation of the hold they still propose to
retain upon the island through the moderate perspec-
tive of eleven summers. Looking upon the question
simply in regard to time and convenience, we would
ask how it is possible for the Government of the
United Kingdom to calculate with the feeblest shadow
of confidence upoa the capacity of the Treasury in
1859 to disburse the requisite amount of specie for
the purpose of re-absorption? To say the very least,
therefore, when the continued destruction of the
potato crop, the prolonged scarcity in Ireland, the
munificent gratuities lavished upon the starv-
ing millions by the Exchequer, and the increas-
ing embarrassments of our revenues are taken into
consideration—to say the very least, therefore, the
stipulations spoken of by the Government as to the
close of the temporary transference is most rash, if
it is not most illusory and preposterous. It is nothing
less than gambling with the most precious colonies of
the British empire, at the expense of our national in-
terests, and for the selfish emolument of a sharp-
witted, avaricious, and tyrannizing association of
merchants.

There is something so very extraordinary in the pre-
cipitation with which this arrangementis being hurried
onwards to its conclusion—there is something, indeed,
so frivolous and unargumentative in the reasons ad-
duced in favour of the whole proceeding, that amaze.
meat justifies suspicion, and suspicion tends only to
enhance our amazement. We are naturally compelled
to ask ourselves if there is not some latent incitement,
some occult reason for compliance, some cause not
apparent from the mere outline of the compact as
incomthpiselleadffaeirithbere
suggested by the Hudson's Bay Company, and as
Administration conceded by the present Government of these
realms. By no other conjecture whatever can the
are
to consider the Cabinet as entirely devoid of d -
ju g
ment, or to look through the yellow lens of jealousy
upon the details of their projected concession. We
viewedcond ue
t a ofs
etxhpe i c abl e.
put it at once to the Hon. Member for Montrose, or
to the Hon. Member for Newcastle, or to any other
of the popular representatives, whether sufficient
ground is not afforded by the circumstances of this
marvellous and otherwise bewildering transaction, to
inquire into the unavowed inducements of the Ad-
ministration ? Is it possible that the deplorable
system of nepotism may not be swollen into some
such arrangement as the one talked of in re-
gard to Vancouver's Island ? Is it possible
that some sinister influences may not have affected
the sound sense of her MAJESTY'S Ministers ? Is it
not just possible that the " GREAT BEAR" has snuffed
the riches of Quadra across the waters of the gulf of
Georgia, and has thereupon incontinently placed his
paw upon 'Vancouver's Island ? Plainly, and bluntly,
and deliberately we say this—that the Government
has given us ample reason for such suspicions; that it ,