, 1888-10-20
THE GOVERNOR OF BRITISH GUIANA.

~H IN y II II
COLONY today for England, in the hope
that a change of three or four months to
the braclng climate of the old country,
will restore him to health and enable him
to return and serve out the ordinary term
OF GOVe!nOIShip. For several weeks past,
the Governor has StliVpn hard to overcome
his physical indiSpositiOn, and postpone
the date Of his departure. Occasionally
he has dragged himself to his place in the
Buildings, when the most casual spectator
could perceive that he was undergoing
great physical suffering, and required the
rest and retirement of his chamber. But
at last he found that his strength could
not continue to meet the extraordinary
calls he was making upon it and after
the repeated warnings OF his medical men
he reluctaI tIN consented to inform the
Secretary If Stale that he had found
it necessary to apply for leave. Lord
GormanSt0u has nOt been Governor of the
colony for a very long time, not quite Il
year yet bur we are merely echoing pub
lie opinion and Dot framing IA gratuitous
compliment when WE say that his depart,
ure, on what is likely to be only a short
leave, is being regarded with more regret
than has been felt az the departure for
good, OF many of our governors after their
full term OF service, He soon quickened
the colony into a feeling Of respect for him,
by reason of his straightforward, open
manner of dealing With public questions.
1t would have been impossible for his
greatest enemy 10 have timed bis arrival
here amidst eli cumStamcpS better c~aIcula.
ted to render him and his government Ob,
noXlOuS to the T., ople, than hose he found
awaiting him when he >Sumed office i'm
the beginning OF this year, The medical
scandal WAS raging at its height the
planters and the public in general were
incenSed with the Executive for the open
encouragement that had been given to
certain medical officers to maligu the co.
lony by false and malicious representa-
tlonS on On, stiumS affecting the colony's
most vital interests; the tension between
the colony and he Secretary Of State was
almost at breaking point: and there WAS
no apparent disposition on either side to
arrive at a reasonable compromise. In
addition to his, the Governor soon found
mat the finances OF The colony were in a
very unsatisfactory condition and that the
existence OF a deficit OF no mean amount
had been drltuera ely and ingeniouslv
ignored by t4OSr who knew about it.
1t was no wonder that Lord Commissions
advent was regarded with sinister forebod-
mgS and that the opinion was expressed
mat ne would tlnd It impossible to carry
on the Government for six months. We
need not describe here in d tail his
successful progress through the many
obstacles that e%ncumbrred his path. He
has succeeded by sheer honesty Of word
and purpoS', plain straightforward deal
ing, and Obvious sincerity, whore a man
who had to depend upon elaborate fneSSe
would have failed. The legislators aud
the public soon recognised the value of
a policy OF ing ,nuOuSneSs, and the Gov
ernOr secured The confidence Of all around
him. His EXcellency viii be accompanied
on his journey by Lady Gormanst0n,
Master Preston and the younger children;
but his Private Secretary, MIR. RAwlinSon,
will remain, and will, it is expected, CON
tinue to fill the office during His Lord
ships absence. The depal ture of Lord
and Lady GormanstOn under any circum-
stances would have been the occasion of
profound regret among all classes in the
colony, but the regret is immensely
enhanced by the knowledge that the
temporary removal of His Excellency from
the seat of his Government is the result of
acute bodily suffering. Both His Lord
ship and Lady GormanstOn have inspired
in all with whom the duties of their station
have brought them into contact, a feeling
of warm personal regard and esteem.
Their return to the colony under happier