§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he rose to put to the hon. Gentleman the Under-Secretary of the Colonies, or to the noble Lord the Member for the City of London, the question which stood in his name upon the paper. It referred to that collision between the House of Assembly, and the Legislative Council and the Governor on the other hand, which was publicly stated to have occurred in the island of Jamaica, and to have led to a very important political and financial crisis in that island. He begged to ask Her Majesty's Government, whether despatches had been received at the Colonial Office relating to a recent political and financial crisis in the island of Jamaica; whether Her Majesty's Government intended to propose any changes in the constitution of Jamaica, and especially with reference to the financial powers now exercised by the House of Assembly; and, lastly, whether they would have any objection to lay upon the table of the House such papers as had been received?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLWith respect, Sir, to the first question of the right hon. Gentleman, I have to state that despatches have been received at the Colonial Office 430 from the Governor of Jamaica, with reference to the political and financial crisis which has occurred in that island. With regard to the second question of the right hon. Gentleman, I have to state that those despatches have been under the serious consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and that a plan had been proposed which it is hoped will put an end to the embarrassments which have arisen in the island of Jamaica. If that plan be adopted, it will, of course, affect the financial powers now exercised by the House of Assembly. Probably, it will not be necessary to come to Parliament to ask for fresh powers on the subject. My noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in the course of a week or ten days, will state to the other House of Parliament, and I shall probably state about the same time in this House, the details of the plan which is proposed by the Government. Until that time I do not propose to lay any papers upon the table of the House, but we shall then be quite prepared to lay on the table papers which will elucidate the subject.