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304 ciated and valued? Can we read Lord Derby's despatches with any feeling of pride, – with satisfaction that they are the despatches of a British Minister, and with approval of the manner in which he deals with the important matters under discussion? No one who shares the sentiments professed by Lord Derby himself at the Macdonald Banquet can for a moment accord such approval. The 'Times' of 2d January accurately describes the general feeling, when it remarks in its first leading article: "The policy of Lord Derby is regarded both at home and in the colonies as feeble, vacillating, inconsistent, and unintelligible: his method of diplomacy is certainly not a happy one, nor have its results been satisfactory." Those who have studied colonial history, and have watched the progress and development of our larger colonies, know full well that one of the most important questions of the day is that which concerns the manner in which can be accomplished that closer alliance between mother country and colonies which is so much to be desired. There is no fear to-day that Great Britain will lose Australasia by any of the mistakes which lost her those American colonies which were once as loyal to the British connection as is Australasia at this moment. Nevertheless, there may be mistakes and blunders as great, though of a different nature. If the bond of union between Great Britain and her colonies is to continue and to be strengthened, it is evident that the former must do all she can to show the latter that they lose nothing by the connection, but, on the contrary, may look to it as something at least as advantageous to themselves as to the mother-country. Nothing can prevent the colonies of Australasia from developing into communities of vast size and importance, and nothing can be more unwise than for the Ministers of Great Britain to do anything which might appear to indicate a desire to retard that development, or even a carelessness upon the subject. It is not merely development of an ordinary kind which has lately been the desire of Australasia – such as might be sought for the purpose of supplying the wants of a surplus population, or acquiring territory for the mere love of acquisition, or with an eye to possible needs in the future. That for which Australasia has been anxious has been to prevent the extension of French penal settlements, which would place the scum of European population within dangerous proximity to her shores, and the acquisition by Germany of territory the possession of which by any foreign Power might hereafter become a source of annoyance, if not of positive danger, to herself. It remains to be seen whether the first evil will be avoided; and no doubt there has been some difficulty and some delicacy in approaching France upon a subject which relates to her government of her own colonies. We do not wish to unfairly prejudge the action of her Majesty's Ministers in this respect; but we fail to discover in any speech or despatch of Lord Derby such an appreciation of the position of our Australian colonies, or such a determination to support their interests, as would have become the Colonial Minister of Great Britain. Delay – upon the plea of coming federation – vacillation – uncertainty – pervade the proceedings of our Colonial Office; and if the ultimate result should be at all in accord-