The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-22 00:00:00

DINNER TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE
CAPE OE GOOD HOPE.

Last evening a complimentary dinner was given
to Sir George Grey, K.C.8., Governor of the Cape
of Good Hope, at the London Tavern, where about
120 gentlemen, either former residents or commer-
cially interested in the colony, assembled to greet
him. The chair was occupied by Mr. Harrison

Watson.
Grace having been duly said, and the health of
her Majesty, with that of Prince Albert and the
Royal Family, loyally answered for,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of " The Im-
perial Legislature," which was briefly acknowledged
by Lord KEANE for the House of Lords, and by Mr.
RUSSELL for the House of Commons.
The next toast was " The Army and Navy.
General TAYLOR-returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the toast of the
evening, " The health of their honoured guest."
(Cheers.) The gentlemen present associated with
the colony would all agree about the, numerous
benefits derived from his excellency's govern-
ment. Without making any invidious compari-
son, he would remark that Sir George Grey hays
ing in 1854 been called on to preside over a
community of mixed races and various condi-
tions actuated by different interests, had, by the
introduction of a new policy, perseveringly ap-
lied succeeded to a great extent in promoting
the welfare of all classes. The extension of moral
and religious education, the construction of roads
and bridges and other public works, including
railways, had been furthered by his energetic mea-
sures. The great improvements already expe-
rinced were preliminary to those yet to come. Sir
George Grey, in addition to other administrative
qualities, exercised a peculiar social influence. The
abundant regrets of the colonists when he reeently
quitted them, and the cordiality with which he had
been received here during his sojourn, happily a
temporary one, in England were evidence of this.
The acclamations bestowed on him that evening
would be echoed by the colonists on his return.
(Cheers.)
Sir G. GREY sincerely thanked the chairman and
company for this compliment, which he ascribed
rather to the colony than to himself. Nothing
could better evince the rising estimation in which
the Cape of Good Hope was now held. Many good
and worthy men, in different parts of the world,
had rendered him vast assistance, and this tribute
was due less to himself than to their talents, labours
and exertions. He felt that to the courage and skill
of gallant soldiers and sailors, and to the wise
counsels of excellent statesmen at home, he was in-
debted for the position he had attained. He _spe-
cially mentioned General Taylor and other officers,
who had zealously assisted him at the Cape of Good
Hope. In posts of great danger and difficulty
among the Kaffir chiefs, not one even of the sub-
ordinate officers had disappointed his expectations.
From the nature of the country there was not so
much to be done by the naval force as in New Zea-
land, of which he was formerly the governor, but
their co-operation, in conveying stores, exploring
the coast, and ascertaining the capacity of harbours
had been most useful, none more so than that
of Captain Nolloth. He also saw there pre-
sent some members of the Colonial Legislature.
During the five years he had administered the
Government, that Parliameht had afforded him the
greatest assistance. It was the 'only instance, he
believed, of a Colonial Parliament when for the
first time called into existence serving the full term
during which members were permitted by law to
hold their seats, and he was happy to say that the
Cape Parliament had grown more and more into the
affections of the country. Whether, on the whole,
that Parliament was able, under present circum-
stances, fully to represent the interests of all por-
tions of so extensive a colony, was an open question
—and whether some system of federation would
not be a proper measure, was also a question on
which diffeNnt opinions were held. But it must
be admitted that, circumstanced as it was, the Par-
liament had done its very utmost ; it had aided him
(the governor) most generously, and had given him
counsels which were,upon the whole, wise and good.
—such assistance as it was honourable for the Par-
liament to give and gratifying for Jsim to receive.
(Cheers.) It was no wonder, then, that the colony
had made considerable progress when such cor-
diality prevailed between the executive govern-
ment, the legislature, the mercantile bodies, and the
inhabitants generally, all desiring to push on as
rapidly as possible and advance its interests in every
way, all minor differences and sectarian jealousies
being forgotten and party spirit absolutely unknown.
The colony had been rising up of late years at an as-
tonishing rate, for its age, and considering its former
slow rate of progress. But, passing from the Cape
of Good Hope, he would say a few words about the
general relatio-nsbetween Great Britain and her colo-
nial possessions. He had found not a fowpersons who
held that the colonies, instead of being a profit to
Great Britain, were an acteal incumbrance and dis-
advantage to her. He could not comprehend the
grounds of such an opinion. As for taxation, it was
quite true that the manufacturing people of Great
Britain did in the first instance pay the taxes which
supported our army and navy ; but that taxation
was put on the price of the commodities which the
colonies consumed. He believed that every indi ri-
dual colonist and the barbarian nations of the inte-
rior annually contributed a large sum to' the sup-
port of the armies and navies of Great Britain. Not
a blanket, not a saddle, not a pickaxe. or an iron
pot could they buy without paying such imperial
taxation ; this was an undoubted fact. He had
heard it said whether or not these countries were
dependencies of the crown of Great Britain, their
inhabitants would equally purchase the articles we
manufactured. But he would answer that experi-
ence showed this idea to be fallacious, and many of
the merchants he saw present might bear him out.
When first we assumed the colony of the Cape of
Good Hope from Holland a very large amount of
Dutch and German goods was consumed there ; but
since then English tastes and fashions had been in-
troduced, and at present no sale could be obtained
there for Dutch or German commodities, but all the
imnorts came from England. He could go further,
and say that, if those young countries did not be-
long to Great Britain, they would belong to some
other European power, and then the trade would
be restricted, and British manufactures could not
be exported thither. What trade had we now
with the Dutch or French . dependencies ?
He therefore considered that this view of
the colonies as a burthen and loss to us was a great
mistake. Ag for their situation in time of war, he
would remark that before the volunteer corps be-
gan to be formed in this country the colonies formed
them. although they feared no invasion ; for, so long
as a British force commanded the seas, no foreign
force could get into the country. The colonists would
ask no protection from this country except that of
the navy, which was required for our com-
merce. If we had no colonies, we should not re-
quire one ship the less to protect our trade. But
having the colonies, our fleets, when engaged in
distant operations anywhere on the globe, had har-
bours, and supplies, and a hearty welcome ready
for them, while the fleets of a hostile power could`
enter none of those ports without having to fight
for it. He had been much struck with one fact he
witnessed during the Crimean war. The moment
it was known that Queen Victoria desired a collec-
tion to be made for the sufferers in our army, the
people of every race in South Afriea came forward
to contribute to it. Numbers of poor Fingoes, quite
poor men in the villages of that barbarian race, at
once gave their penny apiece, and Fingoe women
came with their baskets of produce on their heads ;
they were disappointed when they found it could
not be taken, and then they went about the vil-
lages to sell it for what they could, and brought
the money. Even in the republics beyond
our borders, the very men we had cast off sent
their subscriptions, which were not inconsiderable
for their numbers and their moans. He was there-
fore convinced that our colonies were not a dis-
advantage to us. In the year 1819 or 1820, a
body of settlers were sent out from this country
to the Cape of Good Hope, and great complaints had
been made that that emigration cost £50,000; but
he was quite satisfied that those very settlers and
their relatives had sent back more than £50,000 to
England in the purchase of British goods. Homes'
had been found there for thousands, and many had
acquired wealth ; an immense quantity of wool was
grown for our manufactures, and a great number
of our ships employed in the carriage. There were
persons now in the colony who want out in 1819,
and more than one of whom could repay that sum
of £50,000 out of his own pocket, without making
Himself a poor man. Having been
zeos I ohneg andsir G.
intimately connected with theug colonies,
Grey) had been anxious to remove the pernicious
s
err)r to which he had just alluded from the minds.
of the people of this country. In conclusion, his
Excellency, who was most cordially cheered, and
whose name, when announced, had been honoured
with enthusiastic applause. thanked the company
again, and proposed the health of the chairman, the
head of a great commercial establishment at Cape
Town.
Mr. HARRISON WATSON (the chairman) having
acknowledged the compliment,
Mr. GODLONTON, ofGraham's Town, in the
absence of Mr. George Wood, proposed the Legis-
lature of the Cape of Good Hope.
Mr. J. R. THOMSON then proposed the toast of
" Prosperity to the Cape of Good Hope and its
dependencies," which was acknowledged by Mr.
J. Ansdell, Mr. Godlonton, and the Rev. J. Harsant,
all of them stating facts to illustrate the marked
improvement of the country.
The festivities ended at a rather late hour.