Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Founders of Canterbury

Reigate, 24th July, 1849

Reigate, 24th July, 1849.

My Dear Mr. Baring,

—In order that you may be able to look at them when at leisure, I inclose copies of the letters that I mentioned to you the other day.

Let me repeat that my object in wishing you to see them, is that you may be aware of my present impressions about the Colony and Company. These impressions may be erroneous: if they differ from yours, I shall be further than ever from claiming for them a character of infallibility: but, such as they are, they have been made on me by facts and events; and I shall get rid of an uncomfortable feeling by making you acquainted with them. For sometime, I have continually regretted that such opinions should be uttered by me without your knowing that I held them; and I have almost thought that I was doing wrong in abstaining from making them known to you. Why I have not given any publicity to them, is fully explained in my letter to Henry Petre; and some of the Directors have seen that letter, whilst others agree more or less in the views which it expresses.

If I could see any way to putting matters on a better footing, I should wish you to read these letters in the hope that you might suggest remedial measures. But of such measures I have no hope. So my only purpose in bringing these disagreeable views before you, is that you may know what many of our early coadjutors think of the whole matter. Still, it is in Lord Grey's power to put all things to rights: and if you should see any chance of being able to induce him to say the requisite words—"real local self-government for New Zealand without delay"—I would work as zealously as ever in promoting the success of his intention.

If it would be at all more convenient to you that I should page 101go to town to see you, instead of your coming here, I will do so with alacrity, though I cannot help thinking that a quiet leisurely conversation here would be more likely to be useful, if indeed any good can by any means be done for our unfortunate progeny—the Colony and Company of New Zealand,