THE LATE LORD LYTTON AND SIR GEORGE BOWEN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2030, 9 February 1875, Page 3

THE LATE LORD LYTTON AND SIR GEORGE BOWEN.

[EROM THE ARGUS.]

From the prefatory memoir to the collection of speeches of the late Lord Lytton, which have just been edited and published by his son; we make the following extract referring to the early official life of Sir George Bo wen :— Sir George Bowen, the present Governor of Victoria, was in 1859 Government Secretary in the lonian Islands, from which" post, on purely public grounds, he was promoted by my father (who had no personal acquaintance with him) to be the first Governor of Queensland. Alluding to this fact, in a letter dated Melbourne, 4th December, 1873, for which lam all the more indebted to hia Excellency, because 1 have not myself the honor of being personally acquainted with him, Sir George adds that "on this occasion he" (my father) "wrote me the admirable compendium of the duties of a colonial governor, of which 1 send you herewith a certified copy — for publication if you desire it. I assure you that I attribute, in no slight degree, the success of my career to my strict adherence to the advice given in the accompanying letter. It would be well that it should be published, if it were only that future colonial governors may have the advantage of studying it. x I subjoin the letter, which I have received Sir George Bowen's permission to publish. ♦'Sir E. B. Lytton to Sir G. Bowen. " Great Malvern, April 29, 1859. 'Dear Sir George Bowen — I have the pleasure to inform you that the. Queen approves of your appointment to'Moretbn which will henceforth bear the apI^Hfcellation of Queensland. Accept my conl^^ratulations and my assurances of the gratification it gives me to have promoted you to a post in which your talents will : find ample scope. i "There is not much to learn beforehand for your guidance in this new Colony^' The most anxious - and difficult question connected with it will be the 'squatters.' But in this, which is an irritating contest between rival interests, you will wisely abstain as much as possible from interference. Avoid taking part with one or the other. Ever be willing .to lend aid to conciliatory settlement; but in order to secure that aid, you must be strictly impartial. Remember that the first care of a Governor in a free Colony is to shun the reproach of being a party man. Give all parties and all the Ministries formed the fairest play. , ;"Mark and study the idiosyncrasies of the community. Every community has some peculiar to itself. Then in your public addresses appeal to those which, are the noblest— the noblest are always the most universal and the most durable. They are peculiar to no party. "Let your thoughts never be distracted from the paramount object; of finance. All states thrive in proportion to the administration of revenue. ■■-" You will as soon as possible exert all energy and persuasion to induce the colonists to see to their self defence internally. Try to establish a good police. If you can, then get the superior cla3s of '. colonists to assist in forming a militia or volunteer corps ; spare no pains to do so. : . "It is- at the commencement of Colonies that this object can be best effected. A Colony that is once accustomed to - depend ■' on Imperial soldiers for aid against -riots, &c.; never grows up into "vigorous: manhood. Witness the West Indian Colonies. ' ;" : Educatibn the colonists will be sure ; " to provide for. So they will for religion. . : .*.' Do your best always tojjeep up the . pride in the mother country. Throughout all Australia there is a sympathy with the ideal of a gentleman. This gives a moral aristocracy. Sustain ib by showing the store set on integrity, honor, and civilised manners, not by preference of birth, which belongs to old countries. . . .'.' ""Whenever any distinguished members of your Colony come to jSnglanfl, give them letters^ introduction, and a private • one to the.Secretary of State, whoever he v; may. be. - This lastisnot sufficiently done in Colonies, fbut all Secretaries of State ! who are fit for the office should desire it. ;" You r may quote my opinion' to this effect - to my successors. " ' ''As regards 'despatches, your experience in the lonian Islands will tell you :howinQch is avoided in despatches that may be made pubh'c, and dbnein' private : letters. This practice is at present carried r 'i to inconvenience and abuse. Questions affecting free Colonies may come before l Parliament of which no public documents - whatever afford the slightest explanation. " The communication from a Governor should be fourfold : — : " 1.- Public despatches. "2. Corifidential.-^-Intended for publication if at all required. "3. Confidential. —Not to be pub- ; lished unless absolutely necessary for de- ,-. fence of : measures by yourself and the . Home .department. ; " 4. . Letters strictly private.— And these, if franked to a Minister or to an under secretary, like Mr Merivale, should ' be guarded to friends, and touch as little as possible upon the names and parties in . ..the '■ Colony. A Goverrimeht may rely '■;■'[ on ' the discretion . of a department, never on that of private correspondents. " 5. As you will have a free press, you v . ■will have some papers that 'may be abusive. .Never be thin-skined about these; laugh them off.. Be pointedly ; courteous to all editors and writers, acknowledging socially their craft and its importance. The more you treat people as gentlemen, the more they will behave as such. /'■'"After all, men are governed as much by the heart as by the head. Evident _ " .. sympathy in the progress of the Colony : traits of kindness, generosity, devoted energy where required for the. public weal ; a pure exercise of patronage ; an utterabsenceof vindictivenesb or spite; the fairness that belongs to magnanimity — these are the qualities that make Governors powerful, while men merely sharp and clever may be weak and detested. •' But there is one rule which I find pretty universal in Colonies. The Governor who is the least huffy^ and who is most careful not to overgo vern, is the one who has the most authority. Enforce civility upon all minor officials. Courtesy ( is a duty public servants owe to the humblest member of the public. "Pardon all these desultory hints, which, I dare say, may seem to you as old as the hillk ; and wishing you all health and enjoyment in the far land, believe me, yours very truly, "E. B. Lytton. "P.S.-Get all the details of the

squatter question from the department ; master them thoroughly. Convert the jealousies now existing between Moreton Bay and Sydney into emulation. Your recollection of the Greek states will tell you what, stride states can take through emulation. 1 need not say that the sooner you go out to the new Colony the better. " You are aware that since I have been in this office, I have changed the old Colonial uniform for the same as that worn in the Imperial service. I consider it a great point to assimilate the two services in outward emblems of dignity. The Queen's servant is the Queen's servant, whether at Westminster or the antipodes. You will have, therefore, to get anewdress. When do you wish to go ? "E. B. L."