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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: James Edward Fitzgerald Volume

British Museum-1844 to 1849

British Museum-1844 to 1849

In '44 he entered tie Antiquities Dept, at the British Museum as a clerk, and was promoted to the position of under-secretary about '49, but for two years previously had been giving attention to the problem of British Colonization.

About this time and for some years previously a strong feeling was evinced in favour of extending British Colonization.

The administration of the Colonial Office was much criticised, and an energetic colonial party was formed under the style "Society for the Reform of Colonial Government" for which society FitzGerald acted as secretary.

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As usual the intending promoters of Colonial expansion got neither assistance nor encouragement from the British government, because they were regarded as irresponsible persons who would probably drag the Govt, into financial difficulties, and who might not improbably sooner or later complicate foreign relations. The history of this time is, from a Colonist's point of view, a long struggle to secure the passage of Acts by the British Parliament warranting the operation of their colonising schemes, and to prevent the passage of Acts that seemed likely to make their difficulties greater. Looking backward from the present day it is singular to notice how unmistakably each colonizing project was regarded by successive British ministers as an unmitigated nuisance, and to contrast that view with the changed feeling of later times, and especially with the strong imperialistic feeling of to-day.

The New Zealand Company had then been formed and the settlements of Wellington, Nelson, New Plymouth and Wanganui had been launched, but the Company had got into financial straits and could do no more.

FitzGerald threw himself very warmly into the colonising movement which suited his ardent temperament, writing and speaking effectively whenever an opportunity presented itself, and this brought him into contact with others who were also interested in the movement, such as J. R. Godley, Lord Lyttelton, Mr Selfe, and all the other supporters of the New Zealand Company and the Colonial Reform Party.

Before the Canterbury settlement was considered, several other propositions had been debated. Godley published his "Plan of Colonisation for Ireland" (by emigration to Canada) which appeared as a supplement to the "Spectator" on April 3/47. This was the scheme which E. G. Wakefield's son (E. J. Wakefield) says was his father's conception-a matter that it is difficult to understand since Godley, who would never have made an unacknowledged use of another's work, published it as the work of himself and others, with the approval of a large committee amongst whom Wakefield's name does not appear; whereas it certainly would have so appeared if he had been page 3 prominently interested in the movement.

On May 3/47 FitzGerald issued a circular setting out the advantages of a proposal to form a colony at Vancouver's Island about which much discussion had centred, because the Colonial Office had proposed to hand over the island to the Hudson Bay Company.

On Feb. 1/49 FitzGerald published a book which purported to be "An Examination of Charters and Proceedings of the Hudson Bay Coy."This was apparently the culminating point in a long series of pamphlets and writings upon the subject extending over two or three years, which was at the time said to have killed the Hudson Bay Coy.

The formation of a colony at Vancover Island was, however, found to be impracticable, and the project was abandoned.

Enquiries were also being made elsewhere with a similar object in view, viz.: the formation of a colony, and amongst others the Indian Peninsula was brought under scrutiny.

Robert FitzGerald-a brother, and captain of the 5th Punjaub Cavalry in India, sent very uncompromising answers to questions about colonisation. They were generally to this effect:—"Don't attempt to come here. The Govt, run this country; they won't tolerate any colonies."

In connection with the foregoing, it is interesting to note that the Canterbury settlement was, after all, the outcome of a movement which began with another object in view, or at all events without Canterbury as its objective at the time of its inception.

FitzGerald became a member of the Managing Committee of the Canterbury Association some time in '49 and upon Mr Godley's departure for New Zealand in Dec. '49 was appointed to succeed him as Emigration Agent in London, but he retired from the office to accompany the first four ships to the Canterbury settlement, sailing in the "Charlotte Jane" on September 7/50.

In the same year he had married Fanny Erskine, daughter of George Draper, a London merchant, and his young wife accompanied him to New Zealand.