THE LATE LORD LYTTON AND SIR GEOEGE BOWEN.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1917, 24 February 1875, Page 2

THE LATE LORD LYTTON AND SIR GEOEGE BOWEN.

. (fbom *he aegus.) y A~-/\ From the prefatory memoir to ilia collection of speeches of the late Lord Lytton, which have juit Veen edited and published by his son, we make the following interesting extract referring to the early official life of Sir George Bowen |—•_ < Sir George Bowen, the.present Governnor of Victoria, was ih 1859 Government Secretary in the Ipnian Islands, from - which post, bit purely, public grounds, Tie' I was promoted by my father (who,had no ' personal acquaintance with him) to be the first Governor^. Queensland. .Alluding 'to this fact,-in a/letter dated Melbourne.,' l&th December, 1573, for which Tarn all the more indebted to his Excellency because I. hare , not myself the honor of being personally acquainted with him, Sir ' George adds that "on this occassion he" (my father) "wrote me the admirable ; compendium of the< duties of a colonial •- Governor, of which I send you Herewith afcertifiedvcopy—for! publication if- yoji.. desire it. I assure you that I attribute, in no slight degree,-the ; success of my career to my strict adherence to the advice given in the accompanying letter. It would be well that it should be published, i£ it were only that,. future colonial Governors may have the advantage of studying it;"' ' . -"'V- : 7vr>. 11 subjoin the. letter,, which I have received Sir George Bowen*B permission to publish:-—■'• I « Sir E. B. Lytton tg Sir G. BoweH. - "Great Malverif,^April 29, 1859. " Dear Sir .George Bowen, —I have the pleasure to inform you that the Queen apy, proves of your appointment to JWCoreton Bay, which,will.henceforth bear.the appellation of Queensland.' Accept my congratulations, and my assurances of the gratification it gives me to have promoted you to a-post in which, your, talents will 'find ample scope. ~ ; . - - ~ ; " There is not much to learn beforehand/ Ifor your guidance ur this new colony." The-most anxious and difficult question connected wih it will be the '• squatters/ But in this, which is an irritating contest , between rival interests, you will wisely ' abstain as muchas possible from inter- ~- ference. Avoid taking part -with one or the other.: Ever be willing to lend aid to-a conciliatory settlement; but in order to secure that aid, you must be strictly impar*': tial. Remember that the first care of a Governor in a free colony is' to shun tbe! reproach of being a party man. Give all parties and all the Ministries formed the fairest play. " Mark and study the idiosyncrasies of the community. Every community has something peculiar to itself. Then.jnyour pubHc addressees, appeal to those, which are the noblest—the-noblest are always the ' most universal and the most durable. They are peculiar to noTparty. -, - ■ " Let your thoughts' never be distracted from the. paramount object of finance. ,- AH .states, thriye in proportion to the i ' administration of revenue... .-. \i\ ' ! " You will as soon as possible exert all your energy and persuasion to induce the colonists to see to their self-defence internally. Try to establish a good police. If you can, then get the superior class; of colonists to assist in forming a militia or' volunteer corps,;, spare no pains to do io. " It is at the commencement of colonies that this object can be best effected. A colony that is once accustomed to depend on" " Imperial soldiers for aid against riots, Ac, never grows up into vigorous manhood. Witness, the West Indian colonies. r " ;.;: ; "Education the colonists will be wire to ' providefor. So they will for religion! ;/, ". ; **Do.yourbest:always'to keep.vp v tbe\ pride in the mother country. Throughout all Australia there is a sympathy with

the ideal of a gentleman. This gives a monjtl aristocracy. Sustain it by shew* injr/the store set on integrity, honour, ana civilised manners, not by preference of birth, which belongs to old countries. " Whenever any distinguiahed members of your colony come to England, give , them letters of introduction, and a private one to the Secretary of State, whoever he may be. This last is not sufficiently done in colonies, but nil Secretaries of State who are fit for the office should desire it. You may quote my opinion to this: effect to my successors. "As regards despatches, .jour- experience in the lonian Islands will .tell you how -much is avoided in .despatches that may be made public, and done in private letters;. This practice is at present carried to inconvenience Jand abuse. Questions affecting free colonies may come before. Parliament of which, no public .documents whatever' ■ afford the | slightest explanation. - '•■• / ■ , " The communication from a Governor ihould;be fourfold.— • , "1/Public despatches. " 2. Confidential.—lntended for publi- , cation if at all required*. , -: : - "3. Confidential.—Not 'to ;"be ' published uniert absolutely, ngceisary^ /ox,! defence of jneasuresTbjt' yourself arid the HbWDepartment'. 1; .";? \ '- "V 4. Xetters strictly private.-^1 And these, if franked to a Minister or to .an UnderSecrerary, like Mr Meriv&lo^OTilcl'y.'be guarded to friends, and touch 'as -little" as possible upon, the names and^parties in the colony. Ay Government may'rely on the discretion of a department, never on that of private correspondents. , " 5 As you will Kave a free Press, you you will have some papers that^may be abusive. :Never be thin-skinned about these"; laugh "them off. Be pointedly courteous to all editors and writers, acknowledging; socially their craft and its importance; The more you treat people as gentlemen, the more they will behave ai such'; -'}*•:•"; ,~ < <■'-." I," ,: r- "i * " After all, men are governed as much by the. heart as-by .the head. Evident sympathy in the.progress of. the colony; traits,of; kindness, generosity, devoted energy where required for the public weal; a pure exercise of patronage; an utter'absence".of jindictiveness or spite; the fairness that belongs to magnanimity — tHese .are'the qualities that make Governors ''powerful, while men merely sharp and clever may be weak and detested. • .."-,-. "Butithere is one rule which I find pretty universal; in -colonies. The Governor who is the least huffy, and who if most careful riot to 'overgovern, is the one who" has the most authority. Enforce civility upon all minor officials. Courtesy is a duty public servants owe to the humblest member of the public. "Pardon all these desultory hints, which, I dare say, may {seem to you as old as the hills; and wishing you all health "and enoyment in the far land, believe me, yours very truly, E. B. Lyttow. "P.S.—Get all the details of the squatter question from the department; master them thoroughly. Convert the jealousie> ; now existing between Moreton Bay and Sydney into emulation. Tour recollection of the Greek States will tell you what strides States can take through emulation. I need not say that the, sooner you go out to the new colony -the better, " You are aware that since I hare been in this office I have changed the old colonial uniform, for the same as that worn in the Imperial service. I consider it a great point to assimilate the services in outward, emblems of dignity. The Queen'g, .servant is the Queen's • servant, whether at Westminister or the antipodes. You will have therefore to get a new dress. When do you wish to go ? *'E. B. L."