In the New Zealander of yesterday, the following suggestion was made. "The personal character of our late ruler, Captain Firz Roy, has been so repeatedly, and sometimes, so bitterly cau\assed, that we cannot but think that an address to that gentleman, fum the inhabitants of this capital, where
liis private worth was best known, and accurately appreciated, would prove most opportune at this particular -juncture, if only, by its echo, to give a vitality to the able vindication by Lord Stanley of Captain Fitzßoy's honour and integrity. We offer this suggestion to the unbiassed consideration of our readers." We have great pleasure in backing our contemporary's proposal. We believe that Capt. Fjtzßoy possesses the esteem and sincere regard of the great majority of the northern colonists; for,thpugh confessedly an unpopular Governor, he was least unpopular, where he was best known: we believe likewise that however much some of his measures may have been found fault with, still his utter unselfishness, his generosity and chivalry of feeling, are warmly remembered amongst us to the present day. And the New Zealand colonists owe it to themselves likewise, utterly to repudiate all community of feeling with that invective against Capt. Fitzßoy, which has lately found its way into print, lest they too be accused of kicking the dead lion—of striking where the means of defence are gone. It reminds us of the cry of the degenerate Romans, Curramus prtecipites, et Dum jacet in ri{ a calcemus Csesaris hostem. We offer the hasty sketch of an address, leaving it to be improved upon at leisure. The undersigned residents in Auckland and its vicinity, are anxious to express to Captain Fitzßoy the pleasure and the satisfaction which they felt at reading Lord Stanley's defence of his personal character, as reported in the House of Lords debates. The expressions to which they more particularly allude are these :—that " Lord Stanley could not help regretting that the noble Lord opposite had thought it necessary to contrast the merits of Capt. Grey with those of Capt. Fitzßoy. Although the latter gentleman was recalled, yetj never was there a man influenced by more honourable, more high, and praiseworthy principles than Captain Fitzßoy. He took the government of New Zealand at great personal loss to himself—by taking it he sacrificed the position which he had previously held in England; he relinquished much which few men would willingly give up, for the purpose of doing that which he believed would be for the public good." They request Captain Fitzßoy to accept the assurance of their full coincidence, with Lord Stanley's sentiments; aud they lequest his Lordship to accept their thanks for having spoken them. While they do not affect to forget that many differences of opinion once existed between themselves and Captain Fitzßoy, which, in the heat of political discussion, may have been sometimes expressed in strong terms, they wish hira to believe that no feeling of acrimony towards himself has remained; that he left the colony, having earned and acquired the general regard of the Northern settlers, and their sincere good wishes for his future prosperity and happiness in life. It is hardly necessary to observe, that no Government officer should be asked, or even allowed, to sign.
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Bibliographic details
Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 15, 3 August 1848, Page 2
Word Count
538Untitled Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 15, 3 August 1848, Page 2
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