CAPE OP GOOD HOPE.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 207, 14 October 1859, Page 2

CAPE OP GOOD HOPE.

RECALL OP SIR GEORGE GREY, The first intimation of this untoward event fell with electrical suddenness on the ears of all,, and was received with as much surprise' as a clap of - . thunder on a cloudless day. Men of acutest hear-1 ; ing for once doubted the evidence of their senses, or the gravity of those who .had never been known „ to perpetrate a hoax, while the habitual joker,' t - abandoned his levity, and acknowledged that such, , ' '*. an event was not only "no joke," but would veryprobably prove a serious misfortune to the colon}'. < There was once, 'tis tvue," a~ time when such~a~ catastrophe was vaguely ; r when the Derby ministry, in the oiiginal flush and uncertainty of power, impatiently awaited the first, decent opportunity of awarding the'loaves and-1 fishes to its own needy supporters, or administer-, ing punishment to'those who' had ever presumed. - . to pin their faith to a different political creed. But that dangerous period had long been wea- ' thered—Sir George Grey had not only been retained in office, but actually -allowed to initiate) and carry to their fulfilment several important points of frontier policy ;• the grantee I3hime was / begun and completed—German- wires for German men were introduced at the -expense of the Im» 1 perial treasury—and the transactions on ,the I Bashee were allowed to pass without official /note r \ . |or comment. " la a word, the opinion became > •. general that the Derby ministry for jonce had sa-, crificed the - interests of party to those of an. important British dependency—that, having disco- ,-, vered the "right man.to beinJhe_righJLpJftcje,l. they had sufficient patriotism to leave, him,there. Still less was any* such paltry exhibition of party , feeling anticipated, whfli^tlieDerbyitesthemselyea .. . were involved in the misfortunes of a dissolution: sr Then, for the first time, the Whigs of the colony, and those who esteemed their Whig Governor, 1 y breathed with perfect freedom, sheltered -by the -" - erroneous idea that the Ministry's own-predica-ment would engross attention, to the complete^ex- - -- elusion of such an out-of-the-way place as the Cape of Good Hope. ';.",-.• ; : / - ■) But we are greyiously mistaken, and why Is : it because, Sir George Grey, when Governor of r New Zealand, once postponed' the promulgation1 of ,^ a constitution, of Conservative, origin, forlwhich. '• • -the colony was not ripe,' and afterwards told Sir' l John Pakington that h'eknevvhitn riot^ when'the latter, as ex-Colonial Minister,1 presumed to address him on the subject? Or is,it because ,his •• Excellency, in almost direct opposition to, Lord.',— Stanley's commands, introduced a number of Ger- - - man immigrants upon a guarantee ,of : Kaffrarian r, :j debentures? Orj is it "because Sir, George Qrey< /. had the hardihood to defend himself-when ~ his conduct was impugned in the matter of troops ' n '- for India? In a word, is it becausehisExcel- f lency dared to be* independent—-dared'^ to 'sacrifice the good opinion of a Prime Minister 1q the inte- . rests of his charge—strong in the cdnsciousness of his own integrity, and the ultimate justice and sovereignty of the English' people ? Yes, it is on account of all these delinquencies (?) combined, and capped by the enormous crime of preferring, for a responsible position, an honest, hardworking, and meritorious officer, to an indif- ""' ferent cousin of the existing' Premier. For such reasons, as thesV—for ■ the mere" performance of duty—a worthy man is to be insulted in the presence of the.world, while the interests of three hundred thousand people are to be'handed1 over to'[ the tender mercies of some Court favorite^ or a /'.' pennyless dangler upon the heels of the Cohserva-iu'-tive party. 'Is the man who has ever risked office' '.' to a sense of duty to be succeeded by a " party*' • ' who stifled conscience, that he might reap the ,'.: -value of his vote? Is the' man who has' infused -' , fiew life and unprecedented energy into every department of the Colonial Government to be ejected by a "party" whose.influence has never been exercised through any other medium .than-that of- . his butler ? Is the mail" whose mind and industry • - are equal to the mastery of any subject, to be succeeded by a " party" wliose principal recommenda- • tion is, that he perfectly understands the latitude and longitude of'his own interests? The man who, in the experience of half a life, has reaped i sufficient principles to constitute the science of. i: Colonial Government,'is Jie to ,be replaced by a* \ " party " who has -been at most qualified by a shake of the hand with that great potentate yclept "the " Colonial Secretary ? " - - "We do not profess to endorse every act of Sir George Grey's.administration; .but we do think, that no patriotic man will deny that Sir, George' has proved himself to be the best qualified Go- \ vernor this colony has ever,had,'and that he is pre-eminently the right man in the right place in . r the present exigency. Neither time nor space will allow us to enter into every proof of this, but, we may take up the native question as being, in > some ramification or other, connected with all our leading interests, We have a hundred.thousand Kafirs in the colony, every man, woman, and- * child of whom are vigorously working and penu- i' riously saving, that they «jiay purchase those'few, „ cattle that constitute an " independence," and reenter Kafirland. We have, in ,British Kaffraria, - , a large vacant tract of land to which the Kafirs - will soon be in a position to return if it be not speedily filled up with rough-and-ready colonial ■) farmers, and then what fruits shall we ; have reaped from .the recent humbling of the Kafirs by Providence ? None, beyond the bitter ~ lamentation of our own folly. Sir George Grey. is well aware of the important bearing of this vacancy upon our future prosperity,-and knowing! this he is endeavoring to people it with-the proper- - men with as little delay- as possible; ■ But would a * stranger, who knew nothing of, the habits of the •■'- Kafirs, be sufficiently impressed with the import- > 1 ance of filling up that vacancy ? No! and let U3 ' therefore be up and doing. Let the colony, from one end to the other, utter one indignant remonstrance upon the arbitrary recall of Sir George ' Grey.— Eastern Province Herald, August 16. REMINISCENCES OF WILMAM PITT.—-In .the obituary of last week was recorded the death of Mr. John Burfield, of Deal, formerly gardener. ■ aged 88 years. In early life he had in this capacity lived At Walmer Castle, during its occupancy by Mr. Pitt, then Prime.Minister, .of whom the old man would relate many interesting anecdotes, On being • admitted •to ■ the household • he wa3 • apprised that- his bedroom was ■ ' _«o situated that 'he would , be. disturbed by the sounds sometimes to be heard from . .his master's chambers, of which rhe soon' had audible proof. ' Dnririg the, silent hours of dark- v ness the great man would rise from his repose and pacing, his room, appear to be delivering his *<■ Bpeech in' the most impassioned manner, his preparation, in all probability,, for a coming conflict * in Parliament. The gardens at the rear of the - castle were at this time newly laid out, Mr. Pitt taking much interest in the alteration, and giving personal directions; but in the midst of these he would become absent, walking to and fro for some time in silence, and then (as one aroused from , • reverie) resume his superintendance, inquiring what he had last planned.' During such intervals .; Burfield never ventured to disturb nil '- master by an inquiry. Trivial as ate'theseinci*^' dents they show that the highest position and the ' most extended influence cannot be enjoyed without vast, and all-absorbing cares. "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown," and not less so his .who administers the affairs ot a great empire. 1 French Cruisers on the Lincolnshire Coast. —Three French cruisers were the other day re- - connoitring the Lincolnshire coast on the Humber and German Ocean, and, we understand, on her.' - Majesty's ship, the Cornwallis, saluting them; the officers of two of the1 French crafts,replied thit they were watching the movements of some coal trading vessels from one of the Durham collieries, • while the officers of the other alleged that they' ' Were looking after some fishing smacks, the creVra : ' of which could not agree. . It may be stated that the Admiralty some time since had ihe Humber inspected, with a view to erect a battery on either the Yorkshire or Lincolnshire coast; .and the pre^ ' c t sence of these cruisers in the inefficient state of L 0 defence of both coasts, has created some degree'of uneasiness bofli in "this port and -Njwth, Lincoln^ shire'generally. .»--■■■ t . -„*-*• -^ #» ■. *

THE COSTrtOR WAR. ' {From the Monetary Tirrki arid'BanJcerj? Circular.) If the cost of war be compared, with the advantages which Rations gainra'exchange7we fear that the balance1 will be a very formidable one on the wrong side of the account. Arfifar as our country is concerned'the annual expenditure has become a very serious itemV The great problem:t9".w. ■olvedis, now can it be reduced' consistently with our national safety? If we are to take active part. in the war nqv? commenced in Europe, it is p.er-1 fectly certain that ho reduction will be made; and even should we maintain an armed neutrality, there is almost: an equal certainty that the nnanCial demands for the ensuing year will be considerably increased. J • IQlfi \x. o At the close of the French war in 1816, the total cost 6£ the army, ordnance, and amounted to The number of men yotedin that,year,for the/army, ordnance,,and navy: and the expenditure were as folldws:—■•■• ' ]Vj- en Expenditure. Army- 133>5 £13,047,583 .. Ordnance,. 13,748 Navy.,.,.. ,33,000 10,883,834 . ' 180,253 £26,593,128 ' If-we measure this expenditure by the total number of men, the ratio will be found to be Mil ** At the end of the subsequent five years, namely, in 1821, the total number of-men voted for the army, ordnance,'and navy was 122,960, and the total expenditure or in the ratio of per head. From this period; there was a decrease. in; the total expenditure, which remained almost stationaryuntil the commencement ofthe Crimean wa* in 1854* which, more than doubled the amounting the three Mowing y>ars. In order to show moire clearly the progress of naval and military expenditure since 1816, we shall divide the years into quinquennial periods,- showing the Uumber ofmen Toted, the total expenditure, and the ratio of cost per man.. : ■--.• ' ;■ Total number. .Total Ratio Years, of Men voted. Expenditure, per head. 184?■■■;■■ 122,969 .. £16,468,696 ... £133 1826 ''I. 125,266 .. : 16,825,424 '..':' .134; 1831 !. 128 873 .. 15,367,805 .. 119; - 1836 ■„'"■•■ 123,262 .. 12,289,716^ .. /;. 99; 1841 ■•■'.:■ 144 t 097 ... ■ : 15,218,5L8 .. , 105 1846' .. 159,787 .. 16,671,27.3 .. . ; 104. : 1851 !. 162,287,.. 14,801,898. .. 97 Here ends the last quinquennial period previously to the Crimean war. During a period of 35 y»aw, ending.lß6l* the highest amount of exitnditure for the army ordnance, and coramissiafiat was £ 15,709,294 in 1816, and the lowest was £7,558,057 in 1835. For the navy the highest imount of expenditure was i10,883;534,. in 1816, and the lowest-" amount of expenditure was £4,148,146 in 1835, exclusive ofthe civil establishments. , ' . t During the next quinquennial ■ period, the amounts have co far surpassed those of .former years, that we shall give them for each year:— Total number of Total Katio.^ Yeart/? Men voted Expenditure, per head. 1852-3 .. 165,019 ..£14,958,566 .. £90 • 1853-4 .j 165,381 „ 15,914,517 .. 96, 1854-5 .. 27,908,811 .. 125 1855-« ~ ,285*941- ;. 48,186,482 .. 168 1856-7 .. 307,7-16 ~^33,871,148 .. 110 1857-8 .. 181,996 ..21,497,290 .. 118 1858-9 v.' 189,515 .;.;; 20,429,126 .. 107 We must caution bur readers from drawing any inference from the above figures, other than the progressive increase of expenditure which war necessarily incurs; but this increase exhibits itself in so enormous a proportion that we may well pause before^we venture again to incur such heavy responsibilities. During the three years that the. Crimean; war lasted^ this country spent in its army and navy np less than or an average sum of ',£36,655,480 per annum, exdußive of the cost of the civil departments. During the same period it added £29,000,000 to the funded debt of the co.uritry. There are statesmen'who look upon these enormous sums with the greatest indifference, and under the plausible argument of supporting the national honor, they levy these millions upon the industry ot the nation. ; This eiiormous expenditure j, must be changed, or we shall be_.changed as a nation; there must be a limit to the amount of pressure which through war^ and its tendencies, can be borne by the people.^ An attempt has been recently made to fix these ever increasing charges on the Tory Administration of the Government. Buthothingcan be more incorrect in point of fact; and proof has been atxxply giren that the late Administration have been most strenuous opponents of everything that tended to involve this country in the, war now going on in '■, Italy. At tne rate of outlay wehavegiyeni the interest upon the jpublic debt, added;to bur military and naval expenditure, is becomingft-ightful in amount, and if continued in the same ratio, it raust.ulti-' mately undermine;the foundation of our commercial supremacy. We are not alarmists in calling public attention to the progressive . increase in the cost of war, and its necessary accompaniments; but<we pla6e before our readers facts which cannot be The two great obstacles to the advancement of civilisation, even amongst the most enlightened nations of Europe, aye war and debt.. They are, in short, the scourge of, the; human race 'wherever they exist. The great arid paramount duty of England, therefore* is to enter ncr protest against them both in her Parliament and amongst: her people. We have only |q cast our eyes upon the most powerful nations in Europe, and we find that war and1 debt have -bound them in fetters of iron; and whilst thisstate of things remains, the people that live under-such Governments cannot be free. Before we close; " this! subjept,.'We "shall present! al fltatement of the"! claims which war and debt have; made upon this country duririg'the last five years :->-' : \ <■.'■'. •-•«•' :>- Interest on':. . • jTotal i Naval and -the Public Debt Expenditure Military . Funded ' for War : ' Year. Expenditure, 'and;unfunded. and; Debt. ' 1854 .. £27,908,811 .. £27,093,340 .. £55,002,151 1855.. 48,186,482 ..; 28,185,958 .. 76,372,440 1856 .. 33,871^148... .28,681,177.'.r •62,652;325' 1857 .. 21,497,290 .. 28,627,103 .. 50,124,393 1858.. 20,429,126,^ 28,527,404.. 48,956,610 We see by these figures that the war arid 4<&t of this country5 during; a period of hostilities absorbed the whole of'ithe ordinary 'income of the State.'The; J following statement gives the actual; 'proportion,- -■• which r the military and naval.expenditure and public debt bear to the total ordinary income of the country, in each of the above years :-*^ ... . : ; . ,• , ; Total ■'■);: , .{■ >f - I.;, .Expenditure ;■. •; TotaL^pet1 pent: paid'; , ' .'. . , for .War. ordinary, i for War Year. * and Debt.. Kevenue and Debt. ■ 1854 .. £55,002,151- .. £61,2,06^818 '■:.,'■ 89-S, -.: 1855 '~ -76,372,440 :..., 65,70,4,489 ..116-2 1856. ~; 62,-552,325 .. 69,8,08,996 „; 89;6 -.; 1857 '.". v 60,124,303, .. 72,334,062 ",; 69-2 1858 ,>, ,4^,956j610 .. 67,551,512 ,^ . : -72--1 r;. The above sums r are so formidable in their proportions that we need, not urge any other argument, to-show the, necessity-ofr avoiding, the expenditure which war anil debt bring in their train. It may be estimated almost" to a certainty that England could ; nqti engage in a war with, any of tlie greatPqwers of Europe'without expendihg-.. in her military and naval?departments frqm^Xto 80 millions a year,: and probably adding to her^ public debt somet26 or 30 m'illiotjs'imore.'" *We do not infer.from this, that war can in. all. cases be avoided; but. we. say this, that.to.spend such rast amounts: in the destructioa of .human life is one of the remnants of barbarism, which every statesman is bound, in justice to.his country and to the cause of freedom and civilisation, to avert to the utmost of his power.' Miss Nancy says a man is good for nothing until he is married, and according to her perience, :he is only worth as much again when hiii. '. • , •■•;■-••••; v;;;;yi\ 1" During' the late Revere weather,'&'cow is said^ to a bold that she hasyielded. nothing'bttt'ice weaws eyer ; '.'■■;" ° iJVk