MR. SEWELL AND HIS DETRACTORS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 669, 6 April 1859, Page 2

MR. SEWELL AND HIS DETRACTORS.

We have before mentioned, that a document signed by five Wellington members was addressed to the Colonial Secretary of State alleging that Mr. Sewell '..had given false information to the Committee of the House of Commons, when examined on the subject of. the loan to be granted to this colony by the Imperial Government. In answer to this document, Mr. 'Sewell. has addressed the following letter to the Colonial Secretary, and has published it in the Auckland papers:— To the Bight Honourable Sir E. B. Lyttoii, Bait., &c, &c. Auckland, March Bth, 18>9 Sib, —I have the honour of addressing you, oo - the subject of a letter, which has appeared in the public newspapers of this colony signed by five members of the House of Representatives'(including the Speaker), purporting to be addressed to yourself, in reference to my-evidence before tha New Zealand Loan Committee in 1857.- [ The object of these gentlemen is, to controvert certain statements' made by me; arid '\.o disclaim, as members of the legislature, all participation in the act of that body, in accepting from the'lriiperial Government a loan, obtained as they consider under misapprehension. It is not for me to vindicate the legislature fro"1 so grave an imputation. It will be sufficient for me to justify myself, which I shall do by a bare statement of facts, without noticing or replying to expressions in, the letter of a personally offensive character. Under the "New Zealand Constitution Act, 1852," one-fourth of the land fund of the colony was set apart to satisfy.the New Zsaland Compnny's claim of £267,000; and the Governor was empowered, out of the remainder, to take so much as might be required (practically exhausting the whole) for extinguising. the." title of natives over certain^ portions of the colony. The burthen of the.company's debt was felt as 3 special grievance .by the northern part* of the colon}'. The provinces of. the Middler Island coin- < plained of the absorption of their land fund in extinguishing the title of the natives.over lands ni the north, in which from their locality they had no ; interest.''" ■ ~ : ■•'■ ....'; .■-.."■. . ' i-< In 1855 an arrangement was come toby Mr'|i: Adderly with the New Zealand Company, fbrconw; muting their charge for the sumof £200,000, to be ■- paid in April, 1857; and the Imperial Govern* fv inent through Lord John llussell ottered to g«ar" an tee a loan for that sum.' The time for payment was.subsequently ■extended to April, 1858. # i; In 18515, the Colonial Government (of jwluch l|i was a membor), proposed to the legislature a V' il" I li>r exonerating the laud fund from both liability X by .raising, n *uni of £500,()00, by loon tipa" \- imperial ■'su'arantoo, out of; whioh the Compuj'.V^ debt was to be satisfied, nnd a capital fund provitiea lor t>xi inguishing the nutivo title. They proposed, at the same time, aplaufor .a .general appoitiou*

The mail for Akaroa will close in future at four o'clock on Tuesdays, pnd leave Lyttelton on Wednesday mornings at eight. a.m. This v arrangement w ill sU it the convenience of persons on the plains. The mail for Kaiapoi closes daily at half-past eight o'clock; from Lyttelton. Wo are much pleased to learn that the settlers on the Timaru line of post have taken the occasion of the first year of the postal service on that line being completed, which happened on the 31st ult., to express their senso of tho satisfaction which Mr. Baines, the mail contractor, has afforded them by the mannor in which he has performed the duties of the service for the twelvemonth. The testimonial is not merely complimentary, hut a purse of fifty sovereigns accompanies the letter of thanks, which has, been subscribed by residents on the "South-road. The contract has. been again taken by Mr. Baines for the ensuing year, but at a rate which will afford him more satisfactory remuneration than heretofore. We have, much" satisfaction in receiving and recording the. information that the Lyttelton Choral Society nas at length revived under the conductorship of Mr.\C. Jennings, who comes to his task with a 1 practical knowledge of the duties required of'him in the position. The Choral Society was for several years an institution of which Lyttelton had reason to boast, and though circumstances have broken up the original society, there is no reason why the materials for the formation of a new one equally good should not still exist. The quarter commenced with the Ist of the present month, when the classes were_ formed, to which it is open for any of our musical townspeople to Join themselves. We hope that liberal support will be given to the society, and we wish it every success in its undertakings. GAZETTE.

The mail from Auckland brings us a copy of the ' New Zealand Gazette,' dated March 19. Its.contents are brief and not very important. A notification; that', a'-.number-'of Acts of the General Assembly, Session of 1858, have been laid before her Majesty, and been left to their operation, forms a conspicuous announcement. Those thus confirmed are. the first. 36, except the following:— No. 1 Interpretation Act j 4 and 5, Absent Defen-. dants and Absent Debtors Acts;, 8, Militia Act; 14, Foreign Seamen Act; and 15, Post Office Act. The offerof a reward for the discovery of efficient means of rendering the fibrous plants of New Zealand available as articles of export,- is repeated, "and the time for f sending in claims is fixed afresh for the Ist of January, 1861. . A "Notice to Mariners" follows, respecting an alteration in the light to; be shown from the Pennarrow Lighthouse, at the* entrance of Wellington Harbour. The light since the erection of the lighthouse on the Ist January last, has been subject to eclipses at intervals of two minutes. It is now notified that the Government have " received information" that on and after the Ist day of September next, the light will be fixed, and not subject to .jßclipses. To helo in the publication of this change we place the notice entire in another part of bur -columns }; but we must express our regret that an alteration should have.to be made. It is a seriousl '-matter to be dealing with lighthouses in this un■certain 'way ; there is great probability that the present notice may never come to the knowledge of ±he shipping which frequent the Australian waters, the power of enforcing attention to it is solimited. Though the light in question may have -been established for the convenience of the harbour only, and at the cost of the Provincial Government .o£ Wellington, that circumstance pannot be construed to permit the authorities .of-the port to do as they like with it, to play fast'and loose, or make a plaything of so delicate a property. Once devoted "to the pubUc it must be managed so as to accommodate and not mislead the public.' .'We should be 'inclined to doubt altogether whether a Provincial 'Government is the proper custodian of a lightlouse ; no doubt a much more efficient superintendence could- be contrived which would take charge of the Pencarrbw light and other similar establishments which may be erected on the coasts of New Zealandi

The seven principal ,|>6rts( of the colony are proclaimed to -be portsr for the registry of British ships under the provisions" of the " Merchant Shipping^ Act," 1854. . ..,/■;';. • W./;•;,;..; '>,'.;, ■■ A few other notifications, of no general-'cbncern, the Gazette. . „, . . ,

menfc iatid'adja^tirient of' the debts aßd bVrtWiiV'pt tliecolony,)! 'itltese.plans-werejembodied) in eightsfenj resdlutionsv wiiifch' ar&:..commlonlyaieferi'ed;'tp; as itno financial resokUfpns pf ; l9s6f -They [have been'for-i v7ar4d;to f Uie/"cQloni^l;9fiice^and I beg to refe,r ypuj to'tiiem,;',. . :..>,. •. • ( . ;; ; t -,•-.'-;;.. „-.,, • '*.. *>. '' The 'GdYevnnient plan was ppposjed py- a pacty. in, tab', lesishiftvel^'. ;Mhch-lthe.lnVo1 iinem|bers who hftvewiddfesed. "j;6u '"fbrnieol" a;;']eatHngypb{-inb"ti)- ---• whosieobjuet wastoriffducetihfe^gisMtuVi'td content .itself the', pfifefebf? awiirttpirial* gua;nui tav foil : £200. 4 0<)0; to- exonerate: thA land ittnd IIfroin the cojn^anyjST claim-t-but hvjthput; exonei Ja-i ting, it. from„ its., liabijlity,, under., the. -.Constitii.feion, ' Act,;tf ba takj^n b| th«^ fjover»bf fcr extiiiguishyigj ■ nativeHille. '"t" '', 'y ! -1 ;' '..' ■ '''!';' ''kv ";''" " ■ Durm^^Me vd6tfrse. oF.'tieHate oh' tlieGotrernniGnt(«sol utioiis^MWiPitkheru'erfc' (oh'e; of. • the1 gpntiemfeh ■: -wliorhkve axldiija^ed!vjoti}'ibovi'ed:ftiroiolUtidn-iri'the j .following tel'mai-:*-::;:'.r*::! i:" '•■■-'* •:■ ■'' '■ ";' v" ; . -, " That inj^the^y-en^pX^the; financial echeme v of i 'the Government iaiiins!from inability to^ obtain- the ■ necessar^ioati'iof liHe lonn bf,.£20.0,000, \ ■Bn^fed'^ji'the 'Jfom^GToyerhmen't 'for theiliquida-, tion i;pfj tHe^w'^yAlaM^CpmpftWy's'; Debt,' be |, iaiseidyoriitne t'errtiiproposed,1 iitid tlVe/m'odepf pay-, | imßntsbill stahdiDverr-for.adjukih'eiit'betweenthe; prpvjhces;#fca]future::pt3riod^': '; . ;Shb ;respjutipn o it'wjll be seen,;was intended to .pleSge.jtlie;colony sto- accept .unconditionally. : the. euaran|tee' offered.; by 'tlie .^lmpeifal ■ Goyernment for; <msfcHaVgmg/'tlie dompjiny's clairi^' by jtself ; s but. J without malang ahy:p'i'o'vi9i6n for. exonerating the; iandvfih'd'at thejaame' time:.from, its liability to feib-, ,sorptionin;;extinguishing^ nativej title. '■•'. Its practi- ; caj effect- would: have been to^defeiit-the G'bveVn- ; ment .plan, by limiting.'the imperialguaraiitee'to ,'the smallwi sumj. ajid.-it 'woivld ; haye, plScedrthe sputiiieraprovincesin.anWtremely^d^ ' •position,' uppn vainy genera] iadjustment of .the-pub,-: lie; biirthens,;by "leaviiVg their ,laiid. fund r liable'-to ; absorption,1 or 'probablycpnipilling, them1 tp :sub'?nit lo unfavourable'terms.{: • 'i^ :;; •• ' ' •' ''-' '

• ( -Aftjer;some',.discussion, Mr. 'Fitzherbert''was ihduoad to postpone -his motion-tilt the whole seines tf'f^oyernment .respluJiJons were; disposed <p?; :^ They were carrie 3 .by^amajpv^ ;hßrbert and'his-party'voting in the,minority!, . ' ' T.He' Souse lhen'resolv|id itself'again into comiinitflee, 7for'!thei purpose 'of'conside'i'ing Mr'. 'Fitz&erbert'sresolution'.:!- r;: '-:: '■'■''■' ; -'-' ■■•■•'■•'-

.Ifc ■; wa9~ moved Iby i. him arid opposed by me and others; we?,insisting, that in lorder .ito' do equal justice to.alLparts^ofjthe colony, it I was^requisite *that|th.e'^\v*Zeaj^nd : iCpmpany'srdeJjfc: should- not be" deklt wjita' by itseli,}but in [ connection," with; a general' a&ju^tn'ent ;of'' tlie;, public ' burdens "\ and that the land 'fund ought riot to be;reljeved from the company's debt, mthbiit extinguishing, at'ttie •«ame>itime,:the 'Governor's>power ■to !absorb' -the land-ftind in> native land purchases. >/ ; .: There, was an animated; debate, which i resulted in f my moving the following amendment^ viz. : :-nTliafc all the words after the words ,"stand;Over" should be omitted, and ; the ( following r added '•— ,- ■■ ■ " a^part of a'general aSjustnlent:of j the. public, iurd ftn¥;; it'beings an'essenUal .part;'6Fs)ich',adjtist^ merit ? thatf > the: jandtfund ;shall be 'exonerated 'from itft>pecialiiability;itt ; the.;purcliaseof native-lands askTCerirasTfrom .the i^New+Zealand Company's debt.!? V, Some.'additions; were made,, at'the suggfestionsof other" members, not f p;oin^.nqw.at issue;'' The amfendrnent was'opp'osed by ; Mr. ', herbert and.'Ms1 friends.ls Th:e'committiee'clivideqlT-T arid'- theSamehdWe^t caVrie'd'by a .majority J6f 17 :to;ll!;'.Mr.XFitziierbertri_an'd Ins ;pkrty Voting in the•minpi-JtyU The resbldtiqn'in-its JamendtidUbrni W&s reported^tq the/House andriadopted.; : : : ' \ qfl;the ? a{ne,ridm^nt,.taj£en jn con? Bec.iion' witji, tbe ( J;Bao > jJct./mptio l n 1 . of; debate, cannot I"i;hinfi:,: 'be ; jimiSphderstqpdl' ,TJ}e, Xegisliture, in efkpii ■ dee'lares;;th^tl f: failing tb t btit'ain ''ihel full amouiit'of'the ;guar«ani!e'eiit:!w,Ul lac^ep It!the guar ranteeiwfiferedifor'"£2oo,ooo}!td,.ge^ rid .^^-the' •eotnpaijy'sTdebt, allowing the;rnbde^ofsapportion-1 mj?nt> betweentithe .provinces (to stand over:--4*but;it requires., that, >this ; measure .shall, only, be: a part of. xigener&Z adjustment- of '. t the r p i uiili&, burdens- of ■ the] vctjlbnty'linpt'l'as '"pVpp_psjljd'by ri !^r r --^itzherbert, an' 5 iriiuUted' arrangement) j'and it/mates, it of, or indispensable condition of tuchi general*aSqiistinknti thai; t 'ih& la'tfd?fund Rh^ll;;!heixoiiferated"from;th'e Gbverttor's p6wef!unders the^ Constitution -Actj; of'taking fit ,!for native lan^1 purchases ; flfs:^^e?,eWr«*lthat;?israccor ; ding,?to:my vjew,. sipiuitanepusly; -rthe;, company?s debt. Thus, it wdujdj'become anrimperative, conditipn^of any parliamentary' meas'nre"for relieving'the lapd furiflI'frßm ■■ tlie ' -ijoinpany'a'' 'delit| that .prdvi&ioii BJiould •'alsol W ;ina3e for[extinguishing 'the'dther liability.' ; Bbth; 'in ;faiftt, must be -redeemed 'together k sp^thafci wKeni the Tprovinees shall imey-afterr wards.to adjuatrandjailpprtibn amongst themselves the public -burdens, the northern atidrthe>sputh^m prpvinces' may stand, [on eqjxa) ground. r -r. , . ? ' • The J pa^ticulat plan" whicti" was iii' vsievir to carry «ut: this principle was to m^tai p'rpvisibn^fpr an al> terriative'loan'.' 'If Jthe""lmperiai.)gaarran<teiec(iuld ©nly.be obtained .fiSff £200,000;; it 'was''suggested that / the, f emainingr £30&,000tinight ibe raised'separately;op,sepu.rity;pf thefcolbny; (but, a measure of that ; kind .was .found^o be; open to great diffi,culties/ and pbjectipns,;atid ; it ,was/nevev,prqposed in any .formal" "sbape. r The lioan Act finally disposed of the question- k '.'"";'■ '.'., '.'.l'.] !.'" , / ■ Sueh c was" the'intention of the amcfn^CQent.'an'd euch, accordingi;tb-my:vie'Wj:is : ife;pr6pe'r;me:aniing and-, effect;^ ■ ConsistentlyHvith:th-is vieV^-when I was asked in committee, whether the colony would accept the Imperial guarantee fpr,£2oC,<X)o, ;if par^ lianient should refuse, to guarantee.the ; full;sum ( -r that is,; whether it would accept relief from- the company's, debt; withputat tbe same time expner ■.• ating the land fund frqm' tlie1 (Jpvernor's power of taking -it for "native land; purchas'es^my ■ ans.wer was, that it would not —that a proposal1 to that effect had been made: and* distinctly negatived — (whether: the negative: were distinct. 6r,implied is pbviovislv, a.mere question of verbal criticism.) : But; since my amval in the colony, I have been, toldthat^^ other■persons understoodancl cpnstrued.the amended resolution in 4 different sense; and the gentlemen who have addressed you attribute to it a.different; meaning. :J According to their view, the resolution as amended meant an unconditional acceptance- of the £200,000, leaving the mode of apportionment to stand over as part of a general adjustment of thei public burdens; and merely pledging the House (so far as a resolution of one branch of the Legislature could pledge itself and its, successors), when that adjustment should take place, to provide some undefined means, for obtainlngV from parliament, at. some future day, the: exo-, iaeratipn pi the land fund from; liability for- native land purchases. ':;.:.-: ■•:■,->:' '■■;. ■■'. ..:::• Snch an interpretation, would, in fact, render the. amendraent nugatory^ and would; have the, effect, against.whiQh it.was intended;to,gu^rd, of relieving the land,,fund from one. liability-without the ; other, —so. plying, the f ßputhern provinces afthe mercy of the northern. ; . , ,■• f '. i<, .. ;. : -^ : . But it may.be that the language is ambiguous —and that the gentlemen whp.'havp addressed.you state that they construe "it in a^ different, sense from mine. I, cannot easily reconcile their view of it vf}^l. c facts, nor. can •!■ distinctly perceive, the grounds, on which Mr, Fitzherbert having opposed with the minority against the. amendment, be considered "as(havi?jg carried Ms !P oinh" .^ ne tenor of rthe debate.-^-the oppositipn, --the division,—the subseqtjent -action; of-both branchesj of: the legislature (the - loan' act in: pair* ticular), and.jfche;.significant,'omissiorf of' any,step taken by Mr, Fitzherbert or:biß;:frierids;t©, gjv©

pi'dcUbal effect' to the ~resolution,;'as construed"by! him,- apjica'r to .me.grounds,on, whio|i X..inay fairly: /relxJn,siipporVpf'my,Yie l w of.th^-cnso.--'..; y i I have looked .through the,protest against the Government scheme^ addressed bjt the'isame'gentle«; ■m'e n to -Mi-. L'abouehere; at' the'end of'-the "Session; 0^1856.' v Thei'vobj'eotin^that pibWstWas tdhidube ; the'lmperial Government to' witlihbldits g»i{\rantee '■ft* the £500iOOO;iind W limit itr to! for' 'dischargingthe'bonf^any's'^ijb.t:; ::lt( ijj VbmArkable •'that;ln;th«,tjdocurae^He^ shouW,hi!ive'omStted!all! 'reference-to, a- circumstance sp^^ 'pose, asvth'at the: legislature Bad,resolved.,'tp accept: |tlte smaller sumj if the larger were refus,ed, : ; I trails-! \mit-a. copy;pf ; -this dpoament*/You willi look, ins vain; for; the slightest'allusion to'so pregnant a fact.; And this is the more remarkabkv because':'you will': observe that in the 6th paragra;p.h!tb'i"tlieirp'ro{est,| they 'Callf'tvttcnttoir to the factpthtit tlie'.New.Zea-! lafid Gbmpahy;; \* h'ad^gvopqspd/to:acdepfc'£2o6,ooo: in' satisfaction'ibFt)je^ 'Wspn^lylYad'ak^nted' tb>'that prpripsaV' that '"■ the i Imperial 'Government:had'agr^ed,'to r guarantee-aj lpan,|fou tlie : purpose/'-^lt does.iriof; seem-to!have occurred to them to add'—what, if the fact-were so, wQuld-be- a material, circumstance, viz.:—that the i House of' Representatives had-,resolved to accept; that offer.--; • •_.- .-.,..-■,-• .-, ....,, '-yij The fact is, that the.resolution, as amended, was practically treated-as : nugatory,i--;was not proposed : to the Legislative Council —was not, communicated to the Gpyernoivnor... -to the Home. G bvemment— no action was taken ..upon it by Mr. Fitzherbe'rt or his friends-rfif remained a dead letter. ' ' .-■■■' As regards my; personal veracity, my Evidence before >the committee was given under*a very bletji" ! and distiWct"iriipilessibft,ithat the decision' of 't\\6 House of i; Representatives was as I Have stated. If I could satisfy;'niyse'lf that f was"in error, I should not fesftate frankly to admit it. , ! That,:,however,is.not the real question between me and these/gentlemen.; It is not very important to determine with,.exact i accuracy the meaning of words in absolution of one Chamber of the 'Legisilature1 Ton which; noi action has been taken; but it is of very great importance that'the real intentions of the Colonial Legislature in this matter f should be rightly understood.; 'And about these there'ciin be no question.; "'•,.• I . ;. ; " •The substance of my evidence before ; the committee "Parliament had no alternative but to> guarantee the loan [entire or not ; atall/ : Theobject of these gentlemen is, to impress;jupon .you that the Colonial Legislature had resolvedon, and made provision for accepting thelmperialguarantee for £20.0,000, in the event of the guarantee f6r;tb.e full sum being. refuse'd-^that I suppressedr that circumstance^ from*7the Committee, • so, inducirig them to believe (cbntrai.7 ;to the fact)-that they had no alternative; but: to; assent to the full %m ; and that the colony' Has accepted a loan obtained under these' circumstances • by- misrepresentation. 'It is obvious "that question touches the good faith of the colony no less than my individual veracity. Fortunately, the matter does not .admit of question, and Ji;oannotfbut regret that gentlemen of high position in'the'Colony should- have lightly-given circulation to statements of- such a nature, which on reconsideration tbey'must :p'erceive to rest on no foundation in fact. "; ■:■ The intentionsiof the legislature are clear and unequivocal. :• •'•■■■■ . . i ' ; Tne 16th. ?of the Financial Resolutions is as follows ' — :. •- .■ ■'•' ■•■-. ■■ .-',.' '•/ "That such scheme of arrangement and adjustment be effectuated'%'/Act of the Parliament, to be applie^for^forwith; andthat an appeal be made, to the HomelGwernment fqii its guai-an^ tee for ah aggregate Ipan of £500,000." ; • : The 17th deqlares—i','That, failing.such Act of Parliament and,-guarantee, the entire, scheme be open to revision'3y'the General Assembly.*' i These:, financial'resolutions of the House of Re--presentatives were officially communicated.:tp:'the Governor by; :the ;C6l6nial Ministers, j Thiey' afterwards r prppbsed:in the Legislative; Council-and adbptediby^tn'at body. .'They were ■transmitjied by, that body formally to the Governor, by addbfess;^— and they "were, communicated by the Go vernpr tP the Imperial Government. .: „. ;:, .

P.ounded; on them, and in order to give them effect, the Loan Act was passed. Its preamble recites— .:■ .. >v; :-■ . , .-:■ ■■■;:■

" That it is expedient to raise a Loan, for the purpose of liquidating^ the charge securedby Acfe of the Imperial Parliament to the New Zealand Company, and;consolidating the public debts and liabilities of the .Colony of New Zealand. , j Sect..2 Authorise'sthe!Crown,byits,agents,to raise " such sum not exceeding in the whole £500,000; as-the Commissioners ofthe Treasury., shall, at the request of the Governor, determine and direct."

Sect. 3 Fixes the. rate of interest at 4 per cent., a rate, of course, impracticable without the Imperial guarantee. • : -" '.' :'"'■' ■ [ Sect. 6 declares—That all;money"to bebpri'owed under the aiithority. of .the Act shall be .applied, as' the Commissioners of the Treasury shall direct, "to the severalpurposps specified andset\ forth in. the Schedule, to the Act."

The Schedule.specifies:-— . - .;; - 1. The sum of £200,000, to discharge the debt due to the New Zealand Company, -and the repayment to the Province,of.Auckland,

2. £120,000 to discharge the^ outstanding, debts ofthe colony. 3."'£180,000- for extinguishing' the Native Title in the Northern Island of New Zealand. .

The ineaning of- the loan -Act is clearly elucidated iri an official minute dated the sth September, 1856, accompanying the Act and financial resolutions, transmitted by the Governor's responsible advisers to the Governor, and -transmitted by him to the colonial office on the 24th^Septeniber, 1856. It is published in the apperidix to the votes arid proceedings of the Hoiiseof Eepresenititives, 1858, (B No. 6 p. 5;) I refer you to it as containing, a distinct and official statement of the views of the colonial ministers upon, the whole of the .financial measures. The.particular object is to explain the effect of the, loan and other Acts. After ; pointing out the! circumstances which rendered-the loan of £500,060 necessary, and in particular the. conflicting interests of the" northern and' southern portions of the colony, it proceeds to state — \ • /-. "The differences between the north and the south create an additional necessity for making provision for both charges by, one p.tdni The northern island—Auckland iii particular—demands exemption from the company's debt. It requires the south to take that burthen on itself. The Middle Island retorts by a claim to be exempted, from; buying native landsl in. the north. With suet a claim and. counter cliim the land fund musfbe I exonerated froiri both} charges simultaneously. Neither portion- of the colony, pill submit to a partial settlement." '•'.',' J\".'■ ';, l!hen after explaining the mode in • which the loati'is to be applied, it adds—, '■■'■'■:. :.' "It will be impossible to i effect the above several objects except^ by one entire loan, and. the imperial, guarantee, is an , indispensible condition for raising-the .money at ■ a rate of interest' which the colony may be able to bear." Irefrain from any remarks in the way of recrimination, and, from noticing passages arid expressV ions in the, letter which , are merely intended to give personal offence. , , , . .' .-I have the honour to.be. Sir, r Your most obedient servant, ,' ,; ,'.,,■, ... ■ Hbnbt Sewell. .. ; The Kiiht'&6h6urable . ' ' "" ■ . ■■■'•• ' '!Sir M i:B. Lytton, Bart.,