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The Founders of Canterbury

Reigate, 5th December, 1849

page 158
Reigate, 5th December, 1849.

My Dear Molesworth,

—I have sent your letter to Adderley and invited him to try to meet you here on the 15th. Rintoul, I have no doubt, will come if he can.

You are quite right about getting a lawyer to draw the Bill after its main principles shall be settled by the politicians. I wish some capital lawyer of the largest party in the Commons would take this part in concert with you: but I only know of one person who answers to the description; viz., Walpole. Do you know him? I do not, personally; but I have reason to think him very clever as a political lawyer, and well suited to this task. It is of great moment for you that his party should go with you: for your reputation requires that some important results in fact and substance should be produced by your work; and there is no chance of carrying such a measure into "Molesworth's Act" without the aid of the Protectionists.

Like you, I hear from more than one quarter, that the Gouernment intends making much of colonial questions next Session: and I agree with you in thinking, that nothing really important—nothing like real self-government for the colonies—will be proposed by them. So much the better for you! If they proposed realities, there would be nothing for you to do but chime in and praise them, which they hardly deserve.

I am living in a cottage in the garden of the White Hart Inn, one of the best in England; of which I inform you, because, though I could not venture to invite Lady Molesworth to my bachelor's den, I have fancied that she is so much of a politician, that she might be disposed (the comfortable inn being there) to join in our consultations, which, if Adderley and Rintoul take part in them, will probably cut out your work for the Session.

I shall have here copies of the old Charters, by which you will see that most of the old colonies had constituent powers. The only question with me is whether the power should be page 159given with or without settling who shall exercise it. The old charters said, "the freemen of the said colony or their deputies or delegates." This saves a world of trouble and difficulty—that of framing constituent assemblies in detail.

I enclose a tract which, about six weeks hence, will be published in the Southern Colonies.