The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-18 00:00:00

SOCIETY FOR THE REFORM OF

COLONIAL GOVEIINMENI.

Last evening the anniversary dinner of this society
was Illrld at the Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich ; Lord
Monteagle in the chair. The company sat down to
dinner at eight o'clock, and among those present were
the Bishop of Oxford, Lord Lyttelton, Sir William
Moleiworth, M.P., the'Rev. Tnomas Jackson, Bishop
designr.t.. of New Zealand ; Mr. Wyld, M.P., Mr.
Hurne' M.P., Mr. Aglionby, M.P., the Hon. F. ScOtt
M.P., Mr. Adderley,M.P., lion. W. F. Campbell,
M.P., Mr. John Simeon, M.P., lion. W. Wrottes•
ley, Messrs. E. G. Wakefield, T. J. Coster, R. Lowe,
—Fitzgerald, J. D. Sails, Dr. Black, &c.
On the removal cf the cloth grace was said by the '
Bishop of Oxford.
The usual loyal toasts having been drunk, the com•
pany were addressed by the Chairman, who, in a
speech of great length, condemned the colonial policy
of the Government, and concluded by proposing
" Success to the Colonial Society," and with that
toast he coupled the name of "Sir William Mole:-
worth."

Sir W. MOLESWORTIL M P., returned thanks. The
association tor the reform of colonial government had
been formed with a great object, which deserved suc-
cess, and owed its. origin to a party of gentlemen who
had met there last year, when it was felt by them
that the colonies were in a critical sta'e. The society
had been framed without reference to political parties ;
among its ranks were to be found Whigs and Tories
and even Radicals, with Protectionists as well as
Fi..aricial Reformers. The Hon. Baronet spoke of
the influence which this society had wielded, and re•
ferred to the measure which had been introduced into
the House of Commons, at the instance of this society,
fur the reform of colonial government. The society
had done well for the last year, and he therefore
hoped it was deserving of the thanks of the colonies.
The Bishop of OXFORD said he had been desired to
propose, " Success to the Canterbury Colony in New
Zealand," and he begged to couple with that toast
" The:Health of Lord Lyttelton." He referred to the
colony of Canterbury as a thing in posse, not in esse,
and it was always dangerous to speak of the great hopes
of success where there was a great prospect
of failure. His own opTnion was that the probabi-
lity of failure exceeded the probability of success. He
thought, however, that this undertaking embodied the
first principle or idea of colonisation which was not
emigration—it was not the shovelling off of ship loads
of our fellow-creatures, because they were a trouble
to have them in this country. Colonies were intended
to be the reproduction of the mother land; this was
the intention laid down by the great worthies of the
land; and he trusted that by Saxon sense and enter-
prise, this undertaking, under the blessing of God,
would be brought to a successful completion. The
Right Rev. Prelate concluded an eloquent address by
proposing " The New Settlement of Canterbury,"
and with that toast " Lord Lyttelton."
Lord LYTTELTON returned thanks, and alluded to
the exertions of Mr. Godley, who was really the
founder of this settlement. At that time last year
they had met all those who were then assembled, or
the great majority of them, and those present on the
former occasion would remember that they were de-
prived of the pleasure and advantage of having that
gentleman by reason of his indisposition at the time,and
it had fallen upon him (Lord Lyttelton) to take the
lead in this matter. But it only reminded him of the
impossibility of his supplying his place. No doubt
there were specialties about the case of Canter-
bury Settlement, into which he would not go then.
The Noble Lord deprecated the measure for the better
government of the colonies of Australia, as not esta-
blishing the principle of self-government.
Mr. HUME condemned the mischievous tendency of
our colonial policy, and referred to the conduct of the
colonists of the Cape of Good Hope in terms of ap-
proval, and concluded by giving " The Colony of the
Cape of Good Hope and Mr. Adderley."
Mr. ADDERLEY returned thanks, and expressed his
sympathy with the colnoists of the Cape of Good
Hope, who had set an example which, if circumstances
required it, he hoped other colonies would adopt, but
he hoped that a better system of things was in store.
This association has increased in importance, and
though it received no contributions from the colonies
it had received in six months a sum of 2401., and of
that sum about 1601. had been expended, leaving a
balance of about 801. for the recommencement of the
year. The Honourable Gentleman detailed the
different publications which bad been printed at the
instance of the society. Among other matters they
had republished the American Charters, and he had
been told by the librarian of the British Museum,
that if the society had done nothing more than
reprint these charters they had done that which
entitled them to public respect. Tnere had been
published under the auspices of the society the last
speech of Lord Lyttelton on the Australian Mt. The
speech of Lord John Russell o❑ the opening of Par-
liament, and which excited so much notice, was based
on a manifesto of this society. Upon that manifesto
his Lordship made his commentary. lie believed that
no man had ever made greater speeches in favour of
colonial government reform when out of office than
Lord Grey and Mr. Hawes; but how altered was
their tone when in office! He was sorry that Lord
Wodehouse was not there,-.-that Noble Lord having
been compelled to attend, the Agricultural Society at
Exeter.

Mr. SCOTT proposed " Success to the Australian
Coloniel," and coupled with that the name of Mr.
Lowe.

Mr. LOWE, in a very eloquent speech, advocated
the right of the Australian colonies to self-govern-
ment, and deplored the policy of Earl Grey, which
would ultimately tend to put to hazard the prosperity
of all our colonies,._ and to do away with that feeling
of devoted loyalty which now especially characterised
the Australian colonies.

Mr. Hums gave " The Health of Lord Monteagle,
;heir Chairman."

The Noble Lord returned thanks.

SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION.

The election of a Member for this borough to fill the
vacancy caused by Mr.' Cockburn's, acceptance of the
office of Solicitor. General, took place yesterday, when
Honourable Gentleman was re-elect- d without the
slightest show of opposition. There was very little ex-
citement in the town, and, judging from the appearance
of the streete, few persons would have imagined that an
election was going on. Mr. Cockburn was accompanied
by a large party of his friends from his Committee
room to the Audit-house, where the nominatioa took
place, and was loudly cheered on entering that building.
The usual preliminaries over,
Mr. T. L. HARMAN rose to propose the re-election of
Mr. Cockburn as the representative of Southampton in
Parliament, and in so doing paid a high compliment to
the grPat abilities and past Parliamentary conduct of
that gentleman.
Mr. GEORGI LiISHLI3Y (the late Mayor) secondel the
nomination.

No other candidate having been proposed,
The Mir OR declared that Mr. A.E. Cockburn was duly
elected.
Mr. COCKBURN then came forward to address the
electors, and was received with renewed cheering. He
thanked them from his heart for the renewed confidence
they had that day reposed in him, and the unanimity
with which that favour 3sta conferred. He also took
that opportunity -et-Winking his political opponents,
who, conscious mat they could not disturb his re-election,
had not subjected him to any of the annoyances of a
contested election, or any of those political attacks which
the asperities of elections too often evoked. The Hon.
Gentleman then entered upon a somewhat lengthened
explanation cf his past conduct, and the chief leading
questions which at present occupy the attention of the
public. Ile hoped to see the time when education and
the elective franchise would go hand in hand, and all
men should have given to them political power, and the
means by which they should be taught how to make a
proper use of that power.- He wished to see commerce
tree, especially in the articles of food, and the principle
of free trade carried out to its fullest extent. They
were at the present time in a position of con-
siderable danger, and he expressed his firm con-
viction that on the continuance of the present Go-
vernment in office, looking, at the present state of
political parties,,dppended whether the principle of free
trade should be preserved in its integrity. A combina-
tion had lately been made between many of those who
had supported the free-trade measures of the Govern-
ment and the Protectionists, to overthrow the Govern-
ment. There had been, a sort of middle class between
the Government „end the Protectionists, which had
always supported free-trade measures, but they began to
get tired of their position, seeing no chance of getting
into power whilst the present Ministry remained in
office. So they formed an alliance, and the Protec-
tionists, who were the strongest tarty, made their own
terms. He then referred to the measure lately intro-
duced by the Goierninent to amend and extend the
Irish franchise. The constituency in that country had,
from various causes, become greatly diminished, and the
Government proposed, in consequence, to admit a new
constituency into the cities and boroughs, by giving
the franchise to all Si. householders. The measure
passed the House 'or Commons, but as soon as it got to
the House of Lords they raised the qualification to
151, and thus mutilated. the Bill of its last and most
salutary provisions. Mr. Cockburn then referred to
the question of law reform, on which he bad taken
a determined course, and which he believed the Go-
vernment were determined to carry out. He declared
meat emphatically that he would not continue in office,
unless it afforded him the means of carrying out those
reforms in the law which he, as a lawyer, knew to be so
essential. He next dilated on the question of the foreign
policy of the Government. He always felt gratified to
stand by Lord Palmerston in his conduct on foreign
affairs, and the other day he (Mr. Cockburn) thought it
right to contribute his feeble ativ‘ cacy to the defence of
that policy. If the present Government were removed,
and their opponents took their places, they would soon
be involved in a war, and foreign tyrants would go on
unchecked. On these grounds be felt pleasure in join-
ing the Government, and he felt :atisfied, if the Govern-
meat were well supported by the people, that they would
do their best to further the cause of constitutional free-
dom and liberty. He then remarked on the important
question of education. It was an alarming fact that one-
half of the population of this country could neither read
nor write. "Why were such large masses of the people