•would refuse to render suitable reparation therefore. I attach the very greatest importance to the reparation which I solicit ; because independently of the individual injustice done to myself, in having such grave charges preferred from such h high quarter, there is a principle involved of the last importance to every British Colonist. Colonists, as your Lordship is well aware, are debarred from all direct communication with Her Majesty's Government. The only medium open to the injured and oppressed is through the Governor of the I olony,—a medium, which from its inbeient unfairness, places the character and fortunes of every complainant more or less at the mercy of the Governor; who may secretly and safely transmit the most defamatory statements against any one to Her Majesty's Ministers, Were this the fitting time or place, I might easily shew how greatly this dangerous power has been abused, and how much of Colonial discontent may be traced to its un-English exercise. I must, however, confine myself to one remark ; that whilst a system so subversive of every British klea of good faith and justice is tolerated, —a system which affords such scope for secret accusation, — which withholds every opportunity of defence to the accused, —whilst such a system is endured by a British Sena e, it behoves a British Minister to be doubly careful into whose hands so dangerous a trust is committed. These remarks are not made merely upon general principles. They have, unfortunately, a special bearing upon what has actually occurred in this Colony, and the sooner the system is exposed and put an end to, the better for the ends of justice, and for the good of both the governing and the governed. If personal charges are made by a Governor, let them be made fairly and openly, and the accused furnished with a copy of them, in order that his reply may accompany the charges to Her Majesty's Government. I shall not trouble your Lordship with any remarks on the appended correspondence, respectfully requesting attention merely to ihe somewhat extraordinary manner in which His Excellency conveys his readiness to make reparation, "if it was shewn that any expression had wrongly been made use of." This, I conceive, to be adding insult to injury ; inasmuch as His Excellency had but to refer to his own despatch to ascertain whether or not he had used the word "surreptitious" as applying to me,—whilst he well knew it to be impossible forme to get access to such information. Looking to the general interest involved in the present application, and in order that your Lordship may have the greater confidence in the accuracy of the facts detailed, I t >ke the means of giving the letter every publicity, by inserting it in one of the local journals,—a copy of which will be found appended thereto. I have the honor, &c., &c., &c., (Signed) Wm. Brown. Auckland, 20th May, 1850. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, (communicating the answer of the Secretary of State to a letter addressed by me to him on the subject of an unfounded accusation made against me by His Excellency Governor Grey, of having omitted an important sentence contained in a despatch of His Excellency to the Lord Bishop of New Zealand, in publishing that despatch in the Southern Cross,) in which you inform me that Earl Grey has [acceded to my request, that the correspondence on that subject should be printed in the Blue Book. You further acquaint me that his Lordship had " directed that it should be pointed out to me, that the injury which I complained of had been brought upon myself by the very improper proceeding of publishing, without the consent of the writer, or the person to whom it was addressed, a letter of which I obtain possession in some surreptitious manner, which I declined afterwards to explain." Had his Lordship merely expressed his disapprobation of the act of publishin? the public document referred to " without the previous consent of the writer, or the person to whom it was addressed," I should not have felt warranted in making any observation in opposition to such an opinion ; but as this is coupled with the grave charge of having obtained the document referred to "in some surreptitious manner, which I declined afterwards to explain. His Lordship will doubtless excuse me for again seeking to vindicate my character from a fresh a