No. 3.

Mr. Fox to Mr. Peel, in Reply.

I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 21st instant, informing me that Earl Grey cannot recognise me as Political Agent of the Wellington Colonists, and declines to favour me with a personal interview.

I regret extremely that his Lordship should have come to that decision. Of the fact of my representing the Wellington Colonists there can be no doubt. I was appointed at one of the largest and most respectable public meetings ever held in the colony; and the appointment was ratified three months afterwards at a similar meeting. It will be a serious disappointment to the colonists that, after page 9 travelling so great a distance for the purpose of laying their views before her Majesty's government, at this important crisis of the affairs of the colony, I am denied the facile and effective method of communicating their sentiments by a personal interview with Lord Grey.

I, of course, submit to his Lordship's determination; but I avail myself of the opportunity afforded, by the permission contained in your letter, to state, in writing, the complaints of the Colonists. I enclose two documents on the subject, which I have the honour to request that you will lay before Lord Grey.

No. 1 is a Minute, with an Appendix, containing a statement of the complaints which the Colonists make against the present government of the colony.

No. 2^* is a Minute relating exclusively to the course pursued by his Excellency Governor Grey, in reference to the introduction of free institutions.