Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Founders of Canterbury

Reigate, 20th June, 1849

Reigate, 20th June, 1849.

My Dear Rintoul,

—After showing Godley ten Resolutions in the rough, and much discussion with him, we have resolved that Stanley will never let Stafford adopt the real thing; that Gladstone and Lincoln would be apt to object to parts of it; that Adderley is the only M.P. who would go thoroughly along with us; and that the true plan is to give him the Resolutions, taking care to make them express the faith that we hold. It is of course idle to think of Resolutions contain-page 69ing this faith being carried. We must aim only at a full discussion of the subject; but I think that a discussion of the subject such as these Resolutions will provoke if they do express the whole faith, will be more useful than the carrying of any Resolutions to which a majority would agree.

I therefore keep at work in order to make the Resolutions as perfect as I can; and I do not expect to be able to send them to town before Sunday night.

At the worst, they will supply ample materials for tearing the Australian Constitution Bill to pieces: at the best, in proportion as they shall be carefully done—they will spread the faith, and conduce to the overthrow of the present monstrous system.

I think you ought in next Spectator to point out, somehow, that the Canada question, just as it now stands, was long since disposed of by your paper. The consequences remain: and we shall hear of some ugly ones next Tuesday.

If Lord Lincoln was not fully aware of his own plight as a politician, the count-out yesterday should leave him nothing to learn on that subject.