CANADA.

Otago Witness, Issue 54, 29 May 1852, Page 3

CANADA.

Since I last wrote to you, the great Boston celebration, to which I incidentally referred, has " gone off." It was a grand affair, and seems to have given mutual satisfaction. The Bostonians expended some fifty thousand dollars in entertaining their Canadian friends, and they appear to have done so ungrudgingly. Our Governor-General, the Provincial Ministry, some of the principal members of the legislative bodies, and the leading municipal corporations, accepted the generous hospitality of their Yankee neighbours, who treated them certainly with unwonted civility and even honour. President Fillmore and some leading members of his cabinet were present, and though. I did not see the meeting of her Majesty's representative and the President of the United States, I have heard, on good authority, that it was most cordial, and most satisfactory. Lord Elgin has a very glib tongue, and in all the efforts which he made at public speaking, pleased Brother Jonathan wonderfully: indeed the latter personage had no idea that the aristocracy of England could produce such a speaker as " Mister Elgin." My own opinion is, that in his speech after dinner at the great banquet, his lordship did not speak in good taste for a man holding the position which he occupies. However, he carried his audience with him, and by his wit, humour, and address, caused himself to be repeatedly interrupted by the most vociferous plaudits. I hope some good for Canada from the visit of the thousands who went from us to this ' fete,' for it gave thorn an opportunity of visiting and examining the moral and educational institutions of Boston, which may be safely ranked amongst the noblest in the world.

Of course the Canadians arc already beginning to inquire into the causes of the prosperity of the New England States, and many of them have drawn inferences of rathe?' a Republican nature.

But, gentlemen, it is not Republicanism in itself that has done so much for New England, but it is the Colonial Office that has done so little for Canada. A year ago I forewarned you that unless they were effected, and that speedily, a colonial reform, the British colonies would become unmanageable by the Imperial Government. Let British statesmen look now at the state of your Colonial Empire, and what do they find but disappointment, dissatisfaction, confusion, and almost rebellion ? And yet another session of the Imperial Parliament has been allowed to expire with scarcely a step taken towards colonial re 'own, En.rl Gvjv stiP carries the colonial portfolio, and ..:<= ciu-V; govern large and influential nations, of which they know little more than they were taught at school from their geography boohs. Mon, too. are sent forth to govern these nations, not because they are qualified to govern, but because they belong to a certain family, and need a little pocket-money. This may be strong language, but it only comes up to the truth in but too many instances.