§ Mr. Humesaid, that towards the close of the last session, he had submitted several motions to the House respecting the state of the colonies; but as the lateness of the period did not allow them to be properly gone into, he now rose to renew his notice for the present session. The object he had in view was, to obtain a just ac- count of the expenditure of the different colonies, which would be comprised in his motion. Preparatory to that step, he should now move for a correct account of the civil and military establishments in certain of our islands, in the years 1793, 1805, and 1818, in order to see what increase had been made therein, and to ascertain whether any and what benefit had been derived from those settlements. He should also move for another return respecting those which were denominated "King's colonies." He meant those colonies that were exclusively governed by the Crown, and did not partake of the benefits of British law and British legislation. It appeared to him to be a question of great importance, whether those colonies should remain, as they at present were, governed by orders in council, or be subjected to the system which prevailed in the other colonies; the more especially as the money derived from them was, he believed, expended in a manner little conducive to the interests of this country. He particularly alluded to Ceylon, the Mauritius, the Cape of Good 356 Hope, and the Ionian islands, as far as this country was concerned. The state of these colonies had never been investigated; and he would, in the course of the session, bring the question before the House, in order that parliament might decide, whether they should continue under the government of the king in council, or be admitted to reap the benefit of a participation in British laws. He should move for a return of the civil and military expenditure of the islands of Ceylon, Malta, Gazo, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Mauritius, to the latest period to which it could be made up. The hon. member then moved "for a return of the amount of revenue collected in the island of Ceylon, from the period when the said island came into our possession to the latest time to which the same can be made up, with the several items of expenditure of every kind, civil and military; also an account of civil offices, the salaries affixed to which exceed 250l. per annum, with the names of the officers filling them, the persons by whom they were appointed, and stating whether the duties were performed personally or by deputy; likewise an account of the military staff-officers, distinguishing their pay and emoluments." A similar motion was made respecting the Mauritius, the Cape of Good Hope, Malta, and Gazo, and the Ionian Islands; and also for an account of the civil and military establishments in the West Indies, in North America, and Canada, from 1792 to 1818, distinguishing the increase since 1797. The motions were severally agreed to.