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No. 21. The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to the Colonial Office. My Loed, — Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures, Glasgow, November, 1883. I have the honour to enclose herein a memorial to your Lordship by the Chamber of Commerce of Glasgow on the subject of New Guinea. I am, &c. William H. Hill, To the Eight Hon. Earl Derb\'. Secretary.

Enclosure. To the Eight Hon. Earl Deeby, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs. The Memorial of the Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures in the City of Glasgow, incorporated by Royal Charter in 1783, confirmed in 1860, respectfully showeth, — That this Chamber, representing the extensive commercial and trading interests of Glasgow and the West of Scotland, is necessarily deeply interested in all that relates to the continued prosperity of the Australian Colonies, with which a large, rapidly-increasing, and mutually-beneficial trade is carried on. Your memorialists have given consideration to the correspondence which has recently passed between your Lordship and the Colonial Government of Queensland respecting New Guinea. While appreciating the necessity of Her Majesty's Government proceeding with due deliberation in a matter involving, in its varied relations, such important consequences as a protectorate by this country over, or the annexation of, the Island of New Guinea, it is considered by many that the question of annexation is so material to the future welfare of these colonies, particularly in tending to avert the establishment of disturbing influences in the islands of the Western Pacific, that this Chamber feels warranted in respectfully urging that Her Majesty's Government should give their best consideration to the representations about to be made to them on this subject by the Federal Council of Australian Ministers, to be held at Sydney this month. Signed in name, on behalf, and by appointment of, a general meeting of the Chamber held at Glasgow this first day of November, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-thres. John McLaren, President.

No. 22, The Colonial Office to the Glasgow Chambbe of Commebce. Sic, — Downing Street, November 8, 1883. I am directed by the Earl of Derby to acknowledge the receipt, on the sth instant, of you** letter, enclosing a'memorial from the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce on the subject of New Guinea. Lord Derby desires me to request that you will inform the President that Her Majesty's Government will not fail to bear in mind this expression of opinion on the part of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce when they have before them the result of the deliberations of the Conference to be held at Sydney to which the memorial refers. I am, &c. The Secretary to the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. Robert G. W. Heebeet.

No. 23. The Colonial Office to Brigadier-General H. E. Maclveb. Sic, — Downing Street, November 9, 1883. I am directed by the Earl of Derby to acquaint you that his Lordship has read the draft prospectus enclosed in the letter addressed to him by you and Captain Kennerley on the 2nd instant, but that, as this is not a case in which Her Majesty's Government can give the approval which you desire to receive, there would not, in his Lordship's opinion, be any advantage in his hearing your further explanations at an interview. I have, &c. Brigadier-General H. E. Maclver. John Beamston.

No. 24. Brigadier-General H. E. Maclver to the Colonial Office. My Lobd,— 58, Lombard Street, London, B.C. November 12, 1883. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the 9th instant, the contents of which I note. I beg to point out that your Lordship is not treating me and my friends who are interested with me in this matter, fairly. We did not originally apply to your Lordship for your approval; but your Lordship, upon information acquired from a printed paper which accidentally came into your hands, took an unfavourable view of the plan contained therein and informed us of your strong disapproval. This expression of dissatisfaction was immediately communicated to the newspapers, and has caused us heavy losses. We took the earliest opportunity of supplying your Lordship with authoritative statements of our intentions, and we thought we had a right to expect that you would give these views your attention, and let us know that, inasmuch as the intended company is purely meant for trading purposes, the disapproval expressed before by your Lordship, on insufficient information, does not extend to our present plans. We shall assume, unless your Lordship informs 3—A. 3b.