London 22 April 1870 My dear Fox, Your letter of 18th January, though marked via Marseilles quite plainly, came by the Southampton mail the week after last mail left London. However, I don't think there is anything in it that specially wanted answer, though you will have wondered why you get none. All the account of your doings at Patea were most cheering; and it happened that the day I got your letter there were two M.P.'s with us, and they took so much interest in your account that they took copies of all that part relating to the employment of natives on roads, to use in Torrens' debate. By the bye this debate, which I told you in my last was to have taken place about the 5th Instant, had to be postponed till the 26th on account of the Irish Bills, and I am inclined to think it will not come off after all. The House of Commons has not only more to do than it can get through, so that morning sittings have had to be and will yet be constantly held, - it is in bad temper about the Colonies and in good temper with the Ministers. Lowe's Budget was a great success, the surplus much exceeding the expectation. After paying for the Abyssinn. war he had four millions to give away, and inasmuch as he made his speech just before Easter and the House forthwith ran away, you may be sure that when the members get together again they will want to go into the Budget proposals instead of Torrens' Emigration debate. A count out is prophesised, though I hope it wont be so bad as that: but the fact is there are no speakers in the Commons to take such a subject in hand, and Torrens and suchlike will be chawed up by Lowe and Gladstone. I think the Colonial Office has