The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-09 00:00:00

'THE SUN,

LONDON, FRIDAY E V ENING, J ULY 9, 185 g.

subjects, about an equal number Americans, the rest
were chiefly Germans, with some Frenchmen and Ita-
lians. And I have here the pleasure to observe that he
states, that though there was a temporary scarcity of
food and a dearth cf house accommodation, they were
remarkably quiet and orderly. The Governor then
touches on the advantage to the trade of the island from
the arrival of so large a body of people ; but he adds
significantly
The interests of the empire may not be improved to
the same extent by the accession of a foreign population
whose sympathies are decidly anti-British. From this
point of view the question assumes an alarming aspect,
and leads us to doubt the policy of permitting foreigners to
enter the British territory ad libitum without taking the
oath of allegiance, or otherwise giving security to the Go-
vernment of the country."
He states that—
" The principal diggings at Frazer's and Thompson's
Rivers at present will continue flooded for many months,
and there is a great scarcity of food in the gold districts ;
that the ill-provided adventurers who have gone there will
exhaust their stock of provisions, and will probably re-
tire from the country till a more favourable season ; that
on the dangerous rapids of the river a great number of ca-
noes have been dashed to pieces, the cargoes swept away,
many of the adventurers swept into eternity— others, no-
thing daunted, pressing on to the goal of their wishes."
He again, in a letter to the Hudson's Bay Company, re.
peats his fears :
"How seriously the peace of the country may be endan.
gered, in the event of the diggings proving unremunera-
tin, and the miners being reduced to poverty and desti-
tute of the necessaries of life."
I should state that I have also seen private letters re-
cently from San Francisco, giving an account of the
extending excitement prevailing there, and of the num-
ber of Americans, of all other foreigners, and of the
negroes preparing to start for Fray.r's River. In one
letter it is stated that 2,000 persons have already left;
and 20,000 persons might leave before the end of the
summer, if the news continued favourable t but perhaps
the news of the flooding of the waters may for a time re-
tard yo copious an emigration. I think I have said
enough to convince the house of the necessity of provid-
ing at once for the government of a country threatened
by so many disturbing elements. (Hear.) Now, sir, the
Crown of itself could, if it thought proper, make a co-
lony of this district. But the law officers decided, in the
case of Vancouver's Island, that no Legislature can be
established by the Crown, except an elective assembly
and a nominative council, and considering the very im-
perfect elements for such a constitution at such a mo-
ment, considering the ordinary character of gold-eiggers,
considering that our information as yet is really so
scanty that we are at a loss to constitute even a council
of the moat limited numltier, I think that most gentle-
men will agree that it would not be fair to the grand
principle of free institutions to risk at Once the experi-
meet of self-government among settlers so wild and mis-
cellaneous, arid in a form of seeiety so crude. (Cheers.)
This is not like colonies which have gone forth from these
islands, and of which something is known of the character
of the colonists. Neither is it like those colonies in which
the first thought of the emigrants is the acquisi-
tion of land and the first care of the governor those divi-
sions of land which are the preliminary of representation.
As yet the rush of the adventurers is not for land but
gold, not for a permanent settlement but for a specula-
tive excursion. And, theiefore, here the immediate oh-
ject is to establish temporary law and order amid a mot-
ley inundation of immigrant diggers, of whose ante-
cedents we are wholly ignorant, and of whom perhaps
few, if any, have any intention to become resident colo-
nists and British subjects. But, where you cannot at
once establish self-government, all sound political
thinkers, all friends to that responsibility which is the
element of freedom, will perhaps agree that the next best
thing is to establish a Government which shall have as
few checks as possible on its responsible functions, which
shall possess unhampered what powers we can give it,
to secure the respect for recognised authority ; which
shall be clearly for a limited time, and with the avowed
and unmistakeable intention of yielding its sway at the
earliest possible period to those free institutions for
which it prepares the way, and which it will always
henceforth be the colonial policy of this country to effect.
(Cheers.) I think that all complicated attempts to con-
struct half-and-half fortes of government for such new
societies are unsatisfactory. (Hear, hear.) Tney only
serve to weaken the executive and to form an excuse
for retarding the completion of popular systems. What,
therefore, we propose to do ie, to empower the Crown
for the limited period of five years to make laws fur the
district by Orders in Council, and to establish a Legis-
lature, such Legislature to be, in the first instance, the
Governor alone ; but with power to the' Crown, by
itself or through the Governor, to establish a nomi-
native council and a representative assembly, If, there-
fore, before the five years expire, there are the elements
for a representative assembly, I cannot doubt that,
whoever then may be the advisers of the Crown, a re-
presentative assembly will cheat fully be given. (Hear.)
Sir, there will be some, no doubt, who teink the term
of five years too short,—who think that the materials for
popular self-government could not be matured at the end
of that term, and that there would be many inconve-
niences in coming again to Parliament to renew the
powers of the act. To these objections I have given the
most respectful care, and I would submit that the larger
proportion of the immigrants attracted by the gold-
fields will probat ly be Americans, accustomed to self-
government ; that, if you desire to keep them loyal and
contented, you should give them the prospect, at toe
earliest possible period, of that form of government to
which they are accustomed ; and that et you desire a
strong government for the preservation of internal order,
no government we can make without the aid of armies,
is so strong as that where the whole society is ecested
in securing 'aspect to the laws which it has the privilege
to enact, and has no motive to rebel against the au-
thority in which it participates. (Hear, hear.) And it,
which is not impossible, the goldfields should prove a
delusive speculation, and the principal settlers should be 1
the steadier chase of emigrants—perhaps our own coun-
trymen, who will rather cultivate the other resources of
the land in its coal-mines, timber, fisheries, and other
agricultural produce—you may have at the end of five
years a quiet and orderly . population, well fitted for
self-government. Therefore I think we had better fix
the shortest term for the experiment of a provisional
Legislature. (Hear, hear.) With regard to Vane uver'e
Island, which bas already a free constitution, we do not
propose to annex that island to the new colony. In
tact, if the geldfields should prove to be really productive,
a very large population will rapidly spread over the neigh-
bourhood of the d ggings, which it will be impossible to
govern from the distance of several hundred miles at Van.
couver ; while, if we extend our view to the natural des-
tinies of Vancouver as the great naval station to our only
possession on the PGeifio side of the whole of Arneric t
—a station from which we ssould carry on a trade with
Eche, China, the Indian Archipelago, Australia—a trade
now carried on exclusively by the Americans from C th.
fornia—l think we must allow that the government of
the island would have enough to occupy its care and
attention in developing the true interests and resources
of that single ccl ,ny. (Hear.) At the same time we
propose to leave the ques;;ion of annexation open to
further experience, and the Act will empower the Crown
to annex Vancouver to New Caledonia if the Legislature
of the island intimate teat desire by address to the
Crown, under such terms and conditions as may be
approved. Meanwhile, as the most pressing and imme-
diate care in this new colony will be to preserve peace
between the natives and the foreigners at the gold dig-
ging-, so there is nothing in the Act which itopa,T., the
prerogati7e of the Crown to permit the Governor of Van
couver to administer aleo New Caledonia, should that be
absolutely necessary, in the first instance, j ust as the
Governor of the Cape, which has a free constitution, is
also Governor cf the Crown colony of British C iffraria,
holding separate commissions for each. Our object, in
snort, has been, under our very imperfect information,
and the uncertainty, as yet, of the value of the gold-
fields, to insure some immediate Government, and to
leave to the Crown all discretional power, according to
the advice it may receive and suited to the variation of
circumstances. (Hear, hear.) I should add that it has
been deemed necessary by the law advi- era of the Crown
to abolish in the proposed Act—se was done iu the Act
for Vancouver's Island by the advice of the Committee
of Privy Council, in 1848—the jurisdiction ehich the
courts of Canada claim over civil and criminal cases to ,
this region. The Crown has power to appoint magis-
trates and con ititute courts having a concurrent
jurisdiction with Canadian courts up to a certain
amount. The Canadian jurisdiction is a dead letter.
and though it has subsisted nominady for near'y 40
years it has never been put into execution, certainly not
in the North-west territories. It is clear, however, that
the concurrent jurisdiction would beattended with many
practical inconveniences, which, in creating a colony, it
will be nee issary to remove, as we did remove them
for Vancouver's Island. I have now, sir, stated the sno-
stance of the bill I ask leave to introduce. I have shown
I trust the necessity of an immediate measure to secure
this promising and noble territory from becoming the
scene of turbulent disorder, and to place over the fierce
passions which spring from the hunger of gold the re-
straints of established law. It the machinery we propose
is simple, it ie because the s-iciety it suite is rude. But
happily, in that now world, the true sense of the com-
mon interest is rapidly conceived, and the capacities of
self-government no less rapidly developed. And pro-
bably even before the end of five years, to which I pro-
pose
to limit the operation of this act, the materials fur
a popular representation may be found, and the future
destinies of this new-bcrn settlement boldly intrusted to
the vigorous movement of liberal iustitutions. It may
be necessary to observe that, both as regards Van-
couver's Island and this more extensive territory cf New
Caledonia, it is not intended over these colonised dis-
tricts to renew to the Hudson's BhaayveCionmtphaonsey
two
licence of exclusive trade, which expires next year. The
servants of the company will then
csloeiss no privileges whatever apart from the rest of
her Majesty's subjects there, and therefore I was glad to
hear the hon. and learned gentleman the member for

Sheffield eipi:ess Ma opinion that the present occasion
was not a balm; opportunity for raising the question of
which he had given notice, for it is desirable to keep
any discuislon Upon this bill free from the more angry
elements which may be involved in the general que,stion
as to the powers of the Hudson's Bay Co'npany, by
virtue of its charter, on the different district of Rupert's
Land, on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountailm—

(hear)—quesions which the hen. member for Sheffield
will have a distinct opportunity to introduce. Sir, I have
wished to keep my statement of the present value and
ultimate importance of thin new colony clear from all the
exaggerations which belong to the philcsophy of conjec-
ture. I have carefa.ly abstained from over colouring our
imperfect _knowledge as to the per nanent richness of the
gold discoveries, Nothing could be more crudl to immi-
grants and more dangerous to the peace of the settlement
than to give undue favour to any extravagant expecta-
tions as to the produce of these goldfields. it is a terrible
picture, that of thousands rushing to what is already
coiled the New El Dorado, influenced by avarice and
hopf, A'nl EiLidi4lllo.4 sVei.ltb, but dieappointment'and

destitution—provisions dear and scanty, and the gold
itself meagre in its produce, guarded by flooded rivers
and jealous Indians. At present, whatever may be the
riches of the discovery, it is fair not to forget the fact
that California exported in the first eight months from
the discovery of its mines 150,000 oz. of golddust, while
the largest amount ascertained or conjectured from
Frizer's River since 1850 is not more than 1,000 ounces.
More rational, if less exciting, hopes of the importance
of the colony rest upon its other resources, which I have
described, and upon the influence of its magnificent geo-
uraphical situation on the ripening grandeur of British
North America. (Hear.) Ido believe that the day will
come, and that many now present will live to see it,
when, a portion at least of the lands on the-other side of
the Rocky Mountains being also brought into colonis.a•
tion,and guarded by free institutions, one direct line of
railway communication will unite the Pacific to the At-
lantic. Be that as it may, of one thing lam sure—that
though at present it is the desire of gold which attracts
to this colony its eager and impetuous founders, . still, if
it be reserved, as I hope, toatlel arrmanent and flourish-
ing race to the great family 'of nations, it must be, not
by the gold which the diggers may bring to light, but
by the more gradual process of patient industry, in the
culture of the soil, and in the exchange of commerce.
(Hear, hear.) It must be by the respect for the
equal laws which secure to every man the power to
retain what he may honestly acquire; it must be in those
social virtues by which the fierce impulse of force is
tamed into habitual energy, and avarice itself, amidst
the strife of competition, finds its object best realized by
steadfast eranlation and prudent thrift. (Hear, hear.)
I conclude, sir, with a humble trust that the Divine
Disposer of all human events may afford the safeguard
of His blessing to our attempt to add another commu-
nity of Christian freemen to those by which Great Bri-
tain confides the records of her empire, not to pyramids
and obeisks, but to states and commonwealth, whose
history will be written in her language. (Cheers.)
Mr. LABOUCHERE thought there could be no dif-
ference of opinion as to the propriety of taking steps to
meet the wants which this bill was intended to supply,
and to establish a settled form of government in that
part of British North America to which circumstances
.were directing the steps of large bodice of .men. While
he he'd tee seals of the Colonial-office he received infor-
mation of the probability of considerable geld discoveries
being made, but he thought it was premature to take
steps to found a new settlement until those discoveries
should have been confirmed. The information which
had been received since showed that there was now a
stream of adventurers setting in towards that part of
the world, and therefore it was indispensable that some
steps should be taken to establish a settled form of law.
He thought the measure proposed by the right hon.
baronet was judicious, and well calculated to effect its
object: (Hear, hear.) It was a common but mistaken
belief that the charter for exclusive trading granted to
the Hudsoohl Bay Company precluded the Crown from
taking ar.y portion of those territories for colonization
or settlement. The fact, was, that in every license for ex-
clusive trading the Crown had reserved to itself the power
of resuming at pleasure any portion of the territory.
(Hear, hear.) He would not enter upon the question of
the propriety or the impropriety of renewing the license
of the Hudson's Bay Company, as.another opportunity
would be afforded for discussing that matter, and the
only question now before the House was how they
could best assist the Government to establish colonial
institutions in that country. Although he was as
attached as any one could be to free institutions, yet, con-
sidering the nature of the population that would be ga-
thered together, he agreed with the right hon. baronet
that it was best to provide a strong and settled govern-
ment with established laws at first. There was one eh-
cumstance which constituted the main danger of disorder,
and that was the strong aversion which the Indians en-
tertained towards the Americans. It was a remarkable
fact tbat, while on the northern side of the frontier, in the
British possessions, there was perfect harmony and order
between the white and the red men, there bad been on the
other side of the frontier scenes of carnage and bloodshed
which had generated a deadly hostility on the part of the
Indians towards the Americans. Governor Douglas, in
the papers before the house, bad referred to the feeling
as likely to create difficulty. Under those circumstance,
he thought the house would agree that it was most im-
portant there should be a strong executive to control the
Indians, and to prevent the white settlers from molesting
them. The right hon. gentleman bad adverted to the
soil and climate of the country, the excellence of which
it was impossible to deny, and be (Ur. Lebouchere) be-
lieved that in the course of time Vancouver's Island and
the adjacent territories were destined to be the homes of
a large, industrious, and flourishing population. (Hear.)
He might mention that before he left office notice was
given to the Hudson's Bay Company that when the term
of their present license expired the Crown would resume
complete control over Vancouver's Island, and he was
glad to find the right hon. baronet had taken the same
view of the necessities of the case. He could not conclude
without paying a humble tribute to the qualities of Go.
vernor Douglas. Throughout the correspondence which
he had had with that gentleman he had been much struck
with his good sense, ability, and sagacity, and he c 'old
not but think that we were very fortunate in having such
a public servant to watch over our interests in Vancou-
ver's Island. (Hear, tear.) The right hon. baronet had
very properly abstained from pronouncing any positive
opinion as to the amount of gold which was likely
to be found in that colony. Too information hithert.)
had been very deficient on that point, but scieut.fic per-
sons, who wee-, qualified to give as opinion, had i,tateti
to him (ilr. Laboucher.) that the geolog'cal formation
of the country was extremely similar to that of Calder-
nia, and that they saw no reason why gold should not
be found in very great quantities. Under these circum-
stances, it was certainly our duty to tike such measures
as the large population likely to congregate there ren-
dered ntemsary. He did not know why the name of
New Caledonia had been selected for this colony. (Hear.
hear.) There was a large island in the neighbourhood
of Australia belonging to France which bore that name
already, and be thought it poseiole that some inconve-
nience and confusion might result from two colonie4 hav-
ing the same name. He believed that the provisions of
the bill were well drawn, and he should give his hearty
support to the ,econd reading.
Mr. ROEBUCK said that, the bill simply conferred
the power of malting laws, but in the formation of a
colony it was of the greatest importance that the per-
sons who proceeded there should find themselves at once
surrounded by law and order. He suggested, therefore,
that the first thing that should be done was to make a
survey of some portion of the territory. There ought
then to be a cede of laws established at once, and there
ought to be an Executive with ample power to admini-
ster the laws. Tee right hop. baronet could not send
out a Governor without sending soldiers to support him,
for if be planted a Governor among a wild and vagabond
population, the very scum of society fr im Celifornia and
other places, where they had been accustomed to Lynch
late, without tis power of enforcing his wishes, he might
as well not have troubled the house with this bill. He
must send a Governor, therefore, and an armed force—
for without, he would have no peace in the community.
He knew the unpopular language that he was using,
but he was speaking what be believed to be the truth.
(Hear.) To an ordinery Colony we sent out persons who
had been accustomed to law and order, and who could

govern themselves ; but, with a population such as this,
a militia, if it were created and uncontrolled, would be
likely to turn its arms rather against law and order than
in support of 1-. Allusion had been made to California,
but that was a peculiar case. It was far from the United
States, it was full of gold, and vagabonds from all parts
of the globe very soon assembled there ; yet the re-
markable thine was that in a short time peace and order
reigned iu Celiferaia, and that result'had been produced
by Lynch law. (A. laugh.) Lynch law had been much
misunderstood. It was the only law in that country, and
it was a very beneficial institution. (Laughter.) He was
really eerious. The houie might treat it as a good joke;
but be wag incapable of perpetrating a joke, or at all
events, a good joke, noon any sutiect. Lynch law was a
sort of will justice which the nature of the caeo corn-
gelled the people to adopt. It had been adopted in Cali
fornia, and by means of it peace and order now reigned
there. He 'did not wish to establish Lynch law in a
British colony; but in order to prevent it civil law must
be introduced, and that could only be dose by tho aid
of a strong body of soldiers, the expense of which wo
must incur if we intended the colony to be successful.
Something had been said with respect to the treatment of
the Indians by the Americans ee cut he warned the right
hon. baronet against briers influenced by any mock sen-
timentality about the Indian population, for be might
depend upon it that he was about to establish a colony
before which the Indian population would disappear.
It was the inevitable consequence of the suptrior civi-
rizttion of the white man that the brown man should
disappear before him—that would be the case here.
Canada, Upper and Lower, hardly contained an Indian,
because it was now peopled by a civilised white papule-
tion. He knew something of Canada, and he spoke from
personal knowlsdge when be said that the Indian popu-
littion there were like the wandering Gipsies of this
country. Tarry were disappearing fast from the face of
nature. One might occasionally sea a poor wretched being
clothed in a dilapidated blanket, creeping along, degraded
and miserable, and that was the Indian of Canada. That
was what we were going to do in New Caledonia. W e
were about to introduce ciyililation. there. Before •tbat
civil zetion the Initians must disappear, and the more
rapidly the better. (Hear, bear.) Tais might seem
harsh and cruel language ; but it 'was the language of
truth. Toe absorption of the red Juan was an inevita-
ble consequence. It was not man'ts fault that it was so ;
but wherever civilization advanced the red man retired.
(Hear, hear,) He had abstained focm introducing any
topic connected with the Uudson'si Bay Company into
the discussion, and he had done s a understanding that
he was to have a day on which th at question could be
debated by the house. To chow tb at it was imperatively
nem eery that that subject should )e considered without
delay, be reminded the'-house the in May, 1859, the
license by which the Huctsen'e Ba 3 t Company now held
certain territory of the Rocky M, runtains expired that
it was necessary therefore to provi Lie for the future, and
that they could only do so efilcienaly upon a thorough
understanding of the ease. (Hese!, hear.) The house
was not yet thoroughly in possessiee I of all the facto, and
a night's discamion was needed for that purpose. Al-
though he conternpleted c'eprivi4 the Hudson's Bay
Company of a Certain portion of tilt •ir • territory, yet the
right hen. member for Coventry no ight rest assured that
be was anxious to deal with that co rporation in the most
liberal sproit. He hoped that Um I Government would
look upoiethis question as one of imperial interest, and
that they 'would contemplate the' prospect ct stretching
the Britis'a dominion from the Ats'antic to the Pacific, to
as to c: ea to a counterpoise on that: continent to a Power
which was bow rising to an overwhelming importance.
Mr. A. taIILLS entirely agreed in the remarks made
by the rig ht hon. gentleman the late Colonial Secretery,
as to the Wisdom shoWn by the Govornment in reserv-
ing to t'iemsalves the power of fixing the time when
repreeeLEestive institutions should be introduced iota
the L'loy;y. As to the desiginto4 9t the c:61131y,

he certainly had thought, on seeing the name of the
bill, that we were about to legislate for the Frenoh
island in the South Pacific. He hoped that there
would be no confusion about the matter, such as that
which was said to have existed cnce, when a governor
who had been sent out to a colony came home again and
said he could not find it ? (A. laugh.)
Mr. WYLD bogged to remind the right lion. baronet
that this great question required his immediate atten-
tion. Not only would there be emigration to these
colonies from California, but it would flow in from
Canada, as these territories were only 47 days overland
from Montreal. That emigration cool] not take that
route without interfering with the territory of the Hud-
son's Bay Company. The hon. member for Sheffield bad
talked of employing a large military force in these colo-
nies, but he would recall to his recollection what had
happened in New South Wales when it was found im-
possible to keep troops there on account of the desertion
of the men. The right hon, gentleman (iL'. Labou-
chere) had complained of tie designation of the colony,
but if he referred to Cex'd Tour to the Rocky Moun-
tains, in 1&31, it would be sound that that territory was
called New Caledonia. He congratulated the right hon.
baronet on this good commencement of his Colonial ad-
ministration, and he would at the same time point out
the desirability of making an alteration i❑ the existing
boundary, which bad been found to be an inconvenient
one.

Mr. ELLICE thought the bill well calculated to carry
out the objecis which the Colonial Secretary had in
view. He begged the house, however, not to be led
away by any notion of the facilities for colonising those
territeries. There were difficulties connected with it
which did not exist in the cases of Califoruia and Aus-
tralia. In the first place not a spade had been struck
into the soil on the Frazer River. The country was
difficult of access ; it contained no provisions, and as
the gold mines were situated at the confluence of the
Frazer and Thompson Rivers they were 350 miles from
the coast, and the emigrant population would have not
only to find the means of transit, but must carry pro-
visions with them for their support by the way.
This country was different from the other gold coun-
tries. C ifornia was a settled country, rich in corn
and other provisions; and in Australia our colonists
bad prepared the way for emigrant,. He a4reed
with the hon. member for Sheffield, that you ought not
to establish these colonies witiaont adequate means for
protecting the settlers. You must administer justice.
You could not expect that there would be no crime, and
how could justice be adinini,tered without the executive
being such a force as was necessary for that purpose ?
Those wcre questions of difficulty and importance, and
he hoped the house would u,,t be led away by the notion
that we were abou' to establish a colony at the mouth
of the Frazer River which could'at once support itself.
Toe plan of the right hon. baronet was the best that
could be adopted at present. He believed the man most
fitted to carry it out was Governor Douglas. With re-
gard to the native Indians in Vancouver's Island and
the adjacent coast, they were numerous and tclerably
well armed, and they bad attacked trading ships on
several occasions. Governor Douglas by his good
management had, however, maintained his colony with-
out any quarrel or dispute with them. But there could
be no such management in the interior when the emi-
grants first went to the gold regions, and it was neces-
sary to make some provision in that respect. He argued
that the matter could be left in no better hands than
those of Governor Douglas. The hon. member for
Sheffield had given good advice when he said, that what-
ever instructions you gave the governor they ought to
he accompanied by laws and ordinances, which would
enable him to carry out his government in the first in-
stance. The governor ought to be instructed on what
terms his proclamation should be issued, and what pro-
tection he should hold out to persons going into the in-
terior. It was expedient that the Government should in
ail- these matters give the most specific details to the
governor. (Hear) Whatever policy might be adopieo
with respect to the Hudson's Bay Company, he could
assure the house that no obstacle would be raised by that
company to a
.fair add just' settlement. So far from
setting up any extreme rights, the directors would be
happy, for the sake of the interests of the shareholders, to
render their best assistance to the Government and the
public in carrying into effect that which would be most
for the general benefit, The company desired to be

treated fairly, as the East India Company had been
treated, and could not be expected to surrender their
rights without some indemnity. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. CHRISTY congratulated the right hon. baronet
on the introduction of a bill which was toe first step to-
wards putting an end to a large slice of the monopoly
enjoyed by the Hudson's Bay Company. This commit-
tee was the subject cf discussion ten years ago, when he
called the attention of the house to the inexpediency of
giving over an island of such importaloce to the com-
pany. During the last session a committee was ap-
pointed to consider the whole question preparatory to
the granting, as he. had feared, the exclusive right of
•rading over such a vast extent of country, but he sup-
posed the bill would have the effect of settling that mat-
ter, and he thought there could not be a more concnsive
argument against the impolicy pf granting such a mo
nopoly, than the necessity wh.ch had arLen for placing
the government of the island under the direction of the
Crown. (Hear, hoar.) Although Governor Douglas
might be skilful in managing the Indians, it should not
be f ,rgutten that ha was the factor of the company, and
instead of governinr, with a view to induce emigrants to
go to the island, the' government appeared to be exer-
cised in a manner width drove emigrants away. He
thought it most imp rtant that the question respecting
the Hudson's Bay Company should be ully discussed
during the present session, in order that the feeling of
the house and the G svernment might be ascertained
with respect to the renewal of the charter. (Eiear.) He

approved of the bill as a whole, but entertained some
objection to the geographical arrangement proposed,
aid inten,:.ed at a future stage of the measure to suggest
a somewhat different boundary from that proposed by
the right hon. baronet. He was far from winking it
would not be politic to confine the operations of the
Hudson's' Bty Company to ttio mere northern districts,
which might be allevred to remain under their govern-
ment with less disadvantage to settlers, but as that ques-
tion would be discussed hereafter, he would not further
revert to it. He could not help remarking that it was
rattier curious that when the committee were sitting
list year no information was given them respecting the
discovery of gold, although it appeared from the docu-
ments on the table that tee discovery had been made
two years ago. (Hear.)
Lord SA.NDON said that when the license was granted
to the Hudson's Bay Company, the Government fixed
the price of land at 1/. per acre. It appeared from the
evidence adduced before the committee that that high
price had prevented colonisation from being carried on
to any great extent, and he wished to suggest that in
making the proposed change the Government should
consider what the most inviting price of land should be.
(Hear.)
Mirn. introduction
WctE ionthought
of present the proper time for
the
measure of this description. bat
L a the
was not at all sanguine as to the success of the colony,
because it seemed to biro that the first thing that must
. happen would be some terrible collision between the
whiies and the Indiens, which it woull not be in tuti
power of any one to prevent. The sending out of a
frigate would not he sufficient, and it would be neces-
sary to have on the spot a force capable cf maintaining
order. (Hear.) He trusted that the right bon. baronet
would tette let° consideration the suggestion which had
been thrown out respecting the price of lard. If the
island was not intended to beceneo the residence of a
barbarous populatioe, mans must be taken to fix the
land at such a price as it could be obtained for in the
neighbouring countries. (Hear.) Tee bill proposed
that her Majesty should be empowered by order in
council to make laws for tee colony. or .delegate the
power to the governor. Now he would suggest to the
right lion. baronet the propriety of following the prece•
dent which had been adopted with respect to other
colonies, by inserting in the act a c ause providing that
so much of the laws of England as could be applied to
the colony should be enforced, and that tho Government
should be left to supplemeet those !sews. (Hear.) He
thought it would be much better for the law to go to the
colony direct from Parliament. With regard to the
name of the-new colony he thought it somewhat objec-
tionable. When there was a district near' Melbourne
called Caledonia, and one on the eastern coast of New
Holland called New Caledonia, he regretted that the
right hon. gentlemen should have adopted a name also
borne by a French island in the Pacific.

Mr. J. WHITE thought the objections which had
been urged with respect to the name of the c-ilooy ought
to induce the Govi-rument to adopt a better and more
appropriate one. Why not follow the course which in
many cases had been pursued by the United States, and
fix upon some abo:iginal Deans ? (Hear, hear.) He wished
to urge on the Government most earnestly the expe-
diency of fixing the land tenure on a reasonable ba,is,
and adopting the system laid down by the United States,
which gave to the senlers the right of preemption. He
was surprised that the right hon. baronet had not made
more mention of Vancouver's bland, the importance of
which could cot be exaggerated. He had heard Ameri-
cans declare that they would be content to give Califor-
nia for that island. Now, looking to the future, and the
domination which the Americans must exPrcise over
China and Japan, he was not surprised that they at-
tached so much importance to Vancouver's Island ; and
it he thought the foundation of the new c. Tony would be
productive of a quarrel between the two countries, he
should almost be inclined to accede to the proposition
wh ch the Americans were ready to make—namely, the
offer of a large sum for that island. (No, no.) He thought
the colony ought to be made as much as possible a self.
sustainii,g colony, and trusted that the expenditure
would he established on such a scale that the colonists
would have no difficulty in paying it. (Hear.) In con-
clusion, he would suggest that if no proper aboriginal
name could be found for the new colony it should be
called Bulwer Lytton.
Mr. CROSSLEY, as an instance of the inconvenience
arising from different plates bearing the same name,
stated that a letter, containing a large number of bank
notes, posted at Plymouth, and directed to " Messrs.
Crossley, Halifax," bearing no postage stamp, was for-
warded to Nova Sntirs, and then sent back to this
country, masked "try Halifax, England." (Laughter.)
He trusted that tome more distinctive name would be
fixed upon for the new colony. (Hear, hear.) With re-
gard to the price of the land, he thought it most unwise
to fix the price at V. per acre, when excellent land in
the United States, running close up to railways, could
be bought at dollar and a quarter per acre.
Mr.;C. W. FITZ WIL LIAM said it was the practice of
the Hudson's Bay Company, when a person, began to
trade in the natpral products of the country, to outbid
him. He thought that some survey of the country ought
to be made —not such as was made for England, bat
such a survey as was required for practical purposes. As
regarded the proper person fo: governor, the right hon.
member for Coventry bad endeavoured to impress upon
the- Secretary for tE ColgisieS the value of Mr. Douglas's I
servicts as a govarter. /dr...Douglas might be the best !

governor that ever was created, but at present be was
totally unfitted. He was the agent of the Hudson's Bay
Company, and endeavoured to put down everybody who
attempted to trade. Fcr his own part, knowing come-
thing of Mr. Douglas, he should say be was a very in-
competent man to be a governor. Mr. Douglas had
never had to deal with white men, but always had
deal with the Indians, and his idea was that
the law of might was the law of right. The sort of men
who had come to this colony were those who had left
the States because they were too hot to hold them.
They required genii° treatment, and it would not do to
rub their hair the wrong way.
The bill was then read a second time and ordered to
be committed nn Mcnrlity.

POLICE FORCE (IRELAND) BILL.
Lord NAAS moved the second reading of this bill.
He briefly explained some of the details of the measure,
raspecting which he observed many misstatements had
obtained currency in Dublin. Therneasure was intended
to amalgamate the civic police an-I county constabulary
throughout Ireland. It would accomplish considerable
economy in the local expenditure, and had been received
wits general approbation in every Irish town and city
with the solitary exception of Dublin.
Mr. P. O'BRIEN opposed the bill, and moved as an
amendment that the second reading should be deferred
for three months. It was, he declared, an essentially
Orange arrangement, and in Ireland would carried
out in that sense-

On a divisian there appeared—
For the second reading
For tho amendment .....

125
. 66

Majority
The dis:cuaaion was, however, renewed ou the. queAL-42
that the bill should be ordered to be committed. Mr.
Cogan, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. P. O'Brien, Mr. Grogan, Mr.
J. D. Fitz4eraid, Mr. Whiteside, and Sergeant Dewy
having addreßsed the house,
Mr. MAGI IRE moved the adjournment of the de-
bate.

After further discussion, carried to some length, and
in which many personalities were infused, this motion
was agreed to without a division, and the dellai.e stood
adjourned.
The Sale and Transfer of Land (In-land) Bill ma con-
sidered and ainer.dv.d in the committee, and ordered to
stand for third reading this day.
The Titles of Land (Scotland) Bil!, and the Lunatics
(Scotland) BIM were read a third time.
_ _

On theamQndments to the 21,..,dical Practitioners Bill
consicieled,
Mr. HADFIELD moved them following addition to
clause 45, "And shall be free from all stamp duty, in
cane the existinv, stamp duty shag have been already
paid on the dipbma, and by such physician from the
College of Physicians to which be biongs."
Mr. G HAMILTON oppose,l the amendment, upon
which the house divided, ,A lien the numbers were—

For the amendment
Against it 4O
Majority —24
The amendments were then agreed to, and the third
reading fixed for this day.
Mr. ALCOCK obtained leave to bring in a bill for
the voluntary commutation of church rates.

General PEEL obtained leave to bring in a bill to
snsp,nd the making of lists and the ballots for the
militia of the United Kingdom, and also for a select
committee to propose estimates of the charge of the
disembodied militia of Great Britain and elrdand.

Lord NAAS obtained leave to bring in a bill to
amend the law relating to rateable property.
Mr. COLLINS obtained leave to bring in a bill to
enal-,l=, the Speaker, during the prorogation and ad-
journment of Parliament, to issue a ❑ew writ in cases
of vacancies.

Mr. HENLEY obtained leave to bring in a bill to
amend the laws relating to cheap trains, and to re-
strain the exercise of certain powers by canal and
railway companies.
The house then adjourned at two o'clock.

THE ROCKY 11r)U11'TAINS.

Destiny, which has lately riveted our attention

on the burning plains of the extreme East, now
claims cur solicitude for the auriferous mountains
and rushing rivers of the far West aml the shores
of the remote Pao.ic. What most of us know of
these ultra-occidental regions may be summed up
in a very few words. We have most of us read

Washington Irving's charming narrative of _Astoria,
sympathised with the untimely fate of Captain
Thorn and his crew, and read with breathless in-
terest the wanderings of the pilgrims to the head
waters of the Columbia. After thirty years the cur-
tain rises again on the stormy period of the Ash-
burton Treaty, when the "patriots" were bent
upon " whipping the Britishers" out of every acre
of land on the western side of the Rocky Moun-
tains. And now for the third time we are recalled
to the sani> territory, no longer as the goal of the
adventurous trader or the battle-ground of the
political agitator, but as a land of promise—a new
El Dorado, to which men are rushing with all the
avidity that the presence of the one thing, which
all men in all times and in all places insatiably de-
sire is sure to crew e.

The Parliamentary •paper circulated yesterday
• morning, and the able epitome of it given in the
speech of the Secretary of Stare for the Colonies
in the House of Commons last night, dispelled to a
considerable extent the obscurity which huriz over
this portion of the American con'inent, and which
the researches of the Hudson's Committee of
last year had only partially removed. The terri-
tories of the Hudson's Bay Company may, for the
purpose of understanding the arrangements now
in progress, be divided into three parts—the ter-
ritory to the east of the Rocky Mountains, held
principally under charter from the Crown ; the
territory to the west of the Rocky Mountains,
held under a license fur exclusive trade, granted
under an act of Parliament ; and Vancouver's
Island, handed over to the Hudson's 8.,37: Com-
pany during the colonial administration of Le. d.
Grey. The Company proved, as might have been
expected, better fur-traders than colonists. The
settlement languished under their auspices ; they
are accused of overbearing private trade by the
weight of an irresistible competition ; the price CI
their land, too, was unreasonably high, having
heen fixed by act of Parliament at 1/. an acre,
in pursuance of the colonial policy of the day;
the resources of the island were not developed,
nor did its population materially increase. The
Committ en of last fear therefore recommended that
Vancouver's Island should be taken from the Hud-
son's Bay Company, and formed into a separate
colony ; and measures will, we presume, be
immediately taken to carry' that decision into
effect. Mr. Roebuck has given notice that he will
ou a future evening call the attention of the house
to the case of the Hudson's Bay territories east of
the Rocky Mountains. A deputation has waited on
Lord Derby, pressing upon him the necessity of
taking these territories also from the Hudson's
Bay Company, and Lord Derby has expressed
his general concurrence with the views of the
deputation ;• but no immediate action is to be
expected, and we may therefore await with patience
the result of the threatened Parliamentary dis-.
cussion. The fate, however, of the district which
lies between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific
has just been decided by tolie Government and the
House of Commons. It is to enter into the list of
British colonies under the euphonous, but not
novel title of New Cileclonia. It is a wild and
mountainous land, intersected with deep ravines
and rivers fed from the inexhaustible moisture that
rolls down the sides of the Rocky Mountains,
having very little level ground, but a healthy and
temperate climate. Two of these rivers, the Fraser
and the Thompson, the names of which recall the
native land of the traders of the Hudson's Bay
Companyeethe first flowing from the north, the
second from the east, unite at about 330 miles
from the sea, and it is at their junction that the
golden deposits which have so suddenly dragged
this obscure region into notoriety are found. The
approach to this point is described as exceedingly
difficult-and even dangerous, and many persons
have already perished in the rive: in pursuit of the
wealth which has been discovered on its banks.
The Indians are numerous and warlike, quite
aware of the value of the gold, and firmly deter-
mined, if possible, to keep it for themselves. They
are described by the few miners who straggled to
the spot last year as abstaining from acts of
violence and bloodshed, but as keeping a vigilant
watch on the motions of their unwelcome visitors,
and, whenever they find that they have broken
ground, as quietly
.hustling them away froni the
place, and confiscating the mine to their own use
and benefit. This year, however, matters look '
more serious. A large emigration of persons
trained in the rough school of. California has set
forth. They carry with them their tools and the
necessaries of for there is no food in the land
whither they go. The Indians regard them with
suspicion and hatred, and there is reason to ap-
prehend a collision between 'the savages and these
outcasts of civilization, which can hardly be ex-
pected to terminate without bloodshed. _ _ _

These are the facts under which the Colonial
Minister is called upon to act, and he has intro.
ducted a Bill for the purpose of dealing with
them which professes to give law, order, good
government, and protection to life and property.
This is very well as far as law-making goes, but it
was pointed out by more than one speaker that for
the preservation of law and order something more
than an Act of Parliament is necessary, and that,
in fact, no time should be lost in despatching a re-
spectable force to the place. So far from regarding
suc:i an event as a piece of good fortune, worthy
of the glowing periods in which the Colonial Mini-
ster celebrated the future of. his infant colony, we
regard such a state of things as exceedingly unto-
was d. We could well have afforded to await until
the wave of population, flowing steadily onward
from. the South7east, had peopled thess solitary
valleys with a race capable of governing themselVes
and of supplyinp, a police adequate for their own
wants. The gold will probably enrich the adven-
turece who dig it up, but will contribute but little

to the support of the Government in whose land it
is found ; while the rude and turbulent habits of
the miners call upon us to detach a force which at
the present moment we can but ill spare, and to
enter into expenses which even a Chancellor of the
Exchequer who has, like Mr. Disraeli, discovered
the philosopher's stone, would very gladly torpid.
Nor can we join the Colonial Secretary in his wish,
which had in it more of poetry than statesman-
ship, that the colony may not be enriched by the
gold. We would gladly have dispensed with its
presence, but, as it has come, we must make the
best of ir, and seek, by settling the population on
the land, to avoid a situation similar to that of the
Australian Colonies, where the human tide flows
out almost as fast as it flows in, and deprives the
land of the riches which men have come thrro to
gather, but carry elsewhere to invest and to enjoy.
We do not believe that those who have had of late
years full experience of the blessings of local
self-government in California will be at all un-
willing to enjoy that particular species of liberty
which assumes the form of enlightened despotism.
To work in peace and to enjoy the fruits of their
labour will be to them a condition of life equally
new and precious, and we should imagine it would
take some years before they will recor r taste
enough for a democratic Government seriously to
disturb the paternal sway of Mr. James Douglas.--
Times.

Country Markets.

MANCHESTER -JULY 8.

There was a good attendance at our market this morn-
ing, but owing to the high prices demanded by holders
the business passing was very restricted. English wheat,
in the sales effected, was held for an advance of fully 2s
per qr., and 2d to 31 per 701bs. on foreign, since this day
se'nnight. Flour also improved is to 2s per sack, with a
slow sale. Oatmeal neglected. Oats met rather more
inquiry at extreme rates. Beans, peas, Indian corn, and
barley each is per qr. dearer.