CONTENTS. PAGE AN OUTLINE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY AND EXIST- ING GOVERNMENT OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENCIES. Historical Sketch of the Home Administration of the British Dependencies.-Laws and Government of the British Dependencies as affected by the mode of their original acquisition, either (1) by the occupation of vacant Territory, or (2) by cession or conquest from other Powers.-The existing Constitutions of the British Dependencies (1) Those not possessing Representative Government. (2) Those possessing Representative Government.-Powers of Colonial Governors.-Powers of the Executive Councils.- Powers of the Legislative Councils.-Powers of the Representative Assemblies.-Prerogatives reserved to the Crown in the Administration of the British Dependencies (1) In respect of the confirmation or disallowance of Colonial Acts or Ordinances. (2) In respect of Territorial Revenues, and Royalties on Minerals. (3) In respect of Appellate Jurisdiction. 1. SOUTHERN Cape of Good Hope, British Kaffraria, Natal.-2. WESTERN: Sierra Leone, Gambia, Gold 1. NORTHERN Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward's Island, Hudson's Bay Territories, Vancouver's Island, Bermudas.-2. CEN- TRAL: Honduras, Jamaica, Bahamas, Windward Is- lands, Leeward Islands, St. Lucia, Trinidad. — INTRODUCTION. Arguments for the retention of a Colonial Empire considered, as adduced from the examples of other States.-Phoenician Colonisation. - Carthage. Greek Colonisation. - Roman Colonisation.-Colonisation of the Italian Republics of the Middle Ages.-Venice.-Genoa.-Colonisation of the Nations of Modern Europe. - Portugal. - Spain. - Holland. -France.-Great Britain.-Historical sketch of British Colonisation.-Present cohesion of British Empire attributed to the relinquishment, on the part of the Parent State, of all those advantages usually assumed to accrue to dominant Countries from the possession of Dependencies. Arguments for the abandonment of the British Dependencies considered.-Probable disastrous consequences to all parties from such a course. - A Colonial Empire regarded as an instrument of Christian civilisation.—Inevitable difficulties in the Administration of detached Empires. Opinions of Mr. Burke, Mr. Fox, Sir Samuel Romilly, and Sir Robert Peel.-Self-government for Colonies necessarily implies the powers of self-maintenance and self-defence, as illustrated by the case of the Thirteen United States.-Progress of public opinion in respect of the principles of Self-government for Colonies.-Difficulties in its practical development.-"Responsible Government."-Constitution of Colonial Parliaments.- Comparative advantages of two Chambers or one, and of nominated or elective Legislative Councils.-The efficiency of Selfgovernment in Colonies depends mainly on the existing material for its establishment.-Examples of Jamaica and St. Vincent, and Victoria.-Freedom in local government consistent with continued dependence on Imperial Sovereignty.-Hopes for the future. то a country claiming to sustain the important part now assumed by Great Britain in the controversies of the continental states-system, and yet |