§ Mr. Charles Lushingtonbegged to know from the hon. Baronet, the Under Secretary of the Colonies, whether the Committee for the promotion of Female Emigration to Australia had been acting under the sanction of Government? That Committee had sent out twelve vessels, containing about 1,500 single females, all of which had safely arrived. The last two, containing 600 females, had reached their destination without the occurrence of a single death. He was, therefore, desirous of knowing whether the Government were satisfied 13 with the proceedings of this Committee, or whether the Colonial Government of Australia had reported to the Home Government their approbation of the proceedings of the said Committee in that colony. He would be glad if the hon. Baronet would explain the exact nature of their proceedings.
§ Sir George Greyhad no difficulty in stating, that the Committee to which the hon. Gentleman had adverted, and of which he was an active Member, had rendered most efficient assistance in promoting the objects of female emigration to Australia. The hon. Member for Berkshire had alluded, the other evening, to a placard, which he (Sir G. Grey) had not then seen, but which he had since learned had emanated from that Committee. He then stated it was a voluntary committee of gentlemen, who gave their time gratuitously for the promotion of a laudable and useful object, and he had now to say, in addition, that that committee had acted under regulations which were sanctioned by Government—regulations which he believed had been made after much deliberation, and with a view to render their object as efficient as possible. With regard to the approbation of the Colonial Government, he had only to refer the hon. Gentleman to the paper containing a Report of the arrival of the ships, and the location of the emigrants after their arrival.