think that Mr. Row will be at hand to afford to your Grace every necessary information.

While writing this despatch, I have received a letter from the President of the Chamber of Commerce of St. John's, requesting me to forward the accompanying memorial to your Grace, referring to the present position of affairs here; inviting your Grace's attention to their address forwarded in February 1852, on the subject of responsible government; stating that their opinions on that subject are unchanged; and praying that the Revenue Act, now shortly to expire, may be continued by an Act of the Imperial Parliament, for such time as may be necessary to enable Her Majesty's Government fully to deal with the important subject of responsible government. This demonstration on the part of the merchants, shows that there is no desire on their part to take advantage of the opportunity which would occur, by the lapse of the Revenue Bill, of forwarding their own interests; but, on the contrary, a highly laudable desire to prevent that injury to the public credit which must inevitably result from the reckless course threatened by the Assembly.

REPLY OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY TO AN ADDRESS OF THE GOVERNOR1

February 15, 1854

WE, Her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Newfoundland in general assembly convened, beg to assure your Excellency that while we thank your Ex

1 Commons Papers, 1854-55, vol. 36, No. 273, p. 7. Enclosure in the foregoing report; the address itself and the reply of the Council contain no references to responsible government.

cellency for the gracious speech with which you have been pleased to open the present session of the Legislature, we sincerely reciprocate your expressions of regret at the present depressed condition in this Colony, and the financial difficulties of the Government, which are attributable not only to the partial failure of the fisheries, and the visitation of the potato disease, but also to the character of the trade of this Colony, and the absence of a vigorous, economical, and truly British system of government, to encourage the development of its extensive resources, to uphold the rights and interests of the operative population, and faithfully administer the public affairs.

We cordially tender our acknowledgements to your Excellency for calling our attention to several subjects connected with the welfare of the country, and for the assurance of your desire to facilitate to the utmost of your power our labors for the promotion of the public good; at the same time, we frankly avow our mature conviction, that however anxious we may be to render our best exertions conducive to the prosperity of the people, judging from the experience of the past and the avowed policy of your Excellency's confidential advisers in their legislative capacity, we entertain no hope of obtaining their necessary cooperation in measures of general practical utility, except on terms alike injurious to the public service, degrading to the people's representatives, and subversive of the rights and privileges confided to our guardianship.

Having declared, as late as the last session of the Legislature, that neither the anomalous system of government in force in this Island, nor your Excellency's Council, possessed the confidence of the public or of this House, we addressed a memorial to the noble Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, and both Houses of Parliament,

praying for the immediate introduction of a responsible system of government into this Colony; and we have been gratified to learn from the delegates deputed by this House to proceed to London for the purpose of promoting the objects of the memorial, that they have received such assurances from the noble Secretary, as induce us to conclude that the long desired boon shall be conceded.

We respectfully solicit your Excellency to place before this House copies of any correspondence which may have taken place between your Excellency and the Colonial Department, since the last session of the Legislature, on this highly important subject, the satisfactory settlement of which we deem essential to the useful existence of the popular branch of the Legislature, of paramount importance to the country, and indispensable to the better administration of the Government.

In conclusion, while we do not hesitate to assure your Excellency that you will be indemnified for any outlay that has been made or may be rendered necessary for the relief of the poor and the telegraph laborers, we deem it our duty to inform your Excellency, with the utmost reliance upon your Excellency's good sense and impartial judgment for a favorable construction of the motives influencing our conduct, that we have deliberately come to the conclusion to await the decision of the Imperial Government upon the right of the people of this old and loyal dependency of the British Crown to the possession of self-government, in the constitutional acceptation of the term, rather than waste our time and exhaust the patience of the public in witnessing a renewal of fruitless attempts at legislation under the present constitution.

REPLY OF THE GOVERNOR TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY1

February 15, 1854

I HAVE not received a reply to my despatch forwarding the memorial of the House, praying for a change of the constitution of the Colony; and I cannot adopt the irregular and inconvenient proceeding of laying before you correspondence on a subject referred to the Crown, and upon which a decision has not yet reached me. Indeed, upon this topic the delegation from your honorable House appears to have received assurances which have not yet been communicated to myself.

I thank you for your assurance of indemnifying me for any outlay that has been made or may be rendered necessary for the relief of the poor.

I must, however, express my great regret that you have come to the conclusion to defer legislation on subjects— particularly those of vital importance to the Colonywhich it has been my duty to bring before you. Whether the public interests have been consulted in arriving at the determination to which you have come, is a question for your own consideration; and, with you will rest the responsibility for any detriment to those interests, which may result from the course you have resolved to pursue.

1 Commons Papers, 1854-55, vol. 36, No. 273, p. 8. Enclosure in the Report of February 23.

REPLY FROM THE COLONIAL OFFICE TO THE REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR'

March 17, 1854

I HAVE received your despatch, No. 86, of the 23d of February last, transmitting copies of the speech with which you opened the session of the Legislature of Newfoundland, and of the answers returned thereto, a memorial from the Chamber of Commerce, and an address to myself from the House of Assembly.

I consider that I shall best consult the convenience of your Government and the interest of the Colony, by refraining from any discussion upon the contents of your despatch and the documents accompanying it. I will therefore merely refer you, and the public bodies which have addressed me, to my despatch of the 21st ultimo, and express my earnest hope, that the concession of "responsible government" to Newfoundland may be attended with all the benefits which the advocates for that system of Government anticipate.

1 Commons Papers, 1854-55, vol. 36, No. 273, p. 37.