§ DR. BOWRING rose to put a question to the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary for the Colonies respecting the island of Malta. It would of course be in the recollection of hon. Members, that the inhabitants of Malta had frequently forwarded petitions to that House praying that there might be conceded to them all the benefits of a representative and constitutional Government. What he now wished to ask was, whether the Ministers of the Crown had taken any steps upon that subject, or whether there were any measures for that purpose now in progress?
§ MR. HAWES said, that if his hon. Friend meant by that question to inquire whether or not it was proposed to give to Malta a representative assembly, he had only to say, in reply, that no such measure was in contemplation. He should not do justice to the present Governor of Malta if he did not take that opportunity of stating to the House that that right hon. Gentleman had many important measures of improvement under his consideration, such, for example, as the establishment of municipal institutions, the improvement of the commercial law, an amelioration of the modes of civil procedure, a diminution of legal expenses, and a revision of other important Maltese institutions. The Governor of Malta also intended to introduce into that island the warehousing system, which would greatly improve trade. From these practical measures the best results might be expected.