indeed except that we have done nothing whatever and for all the good we have been to the Colony had far better have staid away. You will receive the Debate on Ld Carnarvon's motion, and will easily judge what a fiasco it was. Not that this resulted from any lukewarmness in Ld. Carnarvon, on the contrary nothing could exceed the kindness he showed to us and the trouble he took: but the debate was in fact ruined by Lord Grey. We had gone to Ld Grey and expostulated, as we knew he meant if possible to bring out his panacea of a suspension of the Constitution: but he had resolved to take the opportunity of ventilating his crotchets. Accordingly, when Lord Granville sat down he got up, and would not give way to Lord Salisbury, who wished to speak. Ld Salisbury was ready to make a dashing onslaught oh the Government, and as it wasknown he would come out, a regular phalanx had gathered behind Ld Granville, to cheer and support him. Ld Salisbury's projected onslaught had even brought the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge, and we expected a rattling debate. But when Lord Grey began drawling out his warnings and his advice, the House got thinner and thinner, till at last the clock began to suggest their lordship's dinners would be kept waiting: and very shortly a general clear out took place No one indeed supposed that the Peers would have come to hear anything about New Zealand; they came to hear Lord Salisbury have a go -in at the Government, and as soon as they saw this was not to be they went off to dinner as British Lords are above everything bound to do. So ended the Debate from which a good deal had been hoped. For my part I hoped but little. The truth is that I have been astonished at the position held by Lord Granville, and as soon as I fully realised it I quitted hope about the troops. It has been said