LORD WODEHOUSEpresented two petitions—one from the commissioners for the municipality of the city of Cape-town, and another from the resident householders of the municipalities of Cape-town and Green Point, on a subject which he considered of 157 great importance. The latter petition was very numerously and respectably signed. The petitioners represented that Her Majesty had been advised to establish a Legislative Council and a House of Assembly in the colony, of which Cape-town was the capital; and that as the Legislative Council had lost the confidence of that colony, they were anxious to lay before their Lordships a plan of constitution which they considered a better plan than the present, and of which they furnished the details. They further represented that as the Governor had been empowered to make, continue, and alter the existing laws of the colony with the assistance of the House of Assembly, and as it was impossible for the House of Assembly to continue its functions under the present constitution, it was necessary that measures should be taken to remedy the evils which must of necessity result from the present state of things. He did not wish to be understood as concurring in all the representations of the petitioners, but he thought their Lordships would feel that the present state of affairs in this colony was one which all parties must desire to see speedily put an end to, as being fraught with very great dangers to the colony, and also to the friendly feeling which the colonists entertained towards this country. It was therefore desirable, and doubtless his noble Friend (Earl Grey) desired, that the question should be brought before Parliament as soon as convenient. He would, therefore, ask his noble Friend whether he was prepared now, or at any early period, to lay on the table of the House copies of any correspondence that may have passed between the Home Government and the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, relative to the establishment of the constitution proposed to be introduced at the Cape of Good Hope, and also copies of any other despatches or communications which may have passed on the subject?
§ EARL GREYsaid: In answer to the question put by my noble Friend, I beg to inform the House that it is my intention to lay on your Lordships' table certain papers connected with the proposed alteration of the constitution of the tape of Good Hope; but it is not in my power to do so until further advices are received from the Cape, because it is necessary that the despatches addressed to the Governor of the colony should be answered before the correspondence is laid on the Table of the House.