Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/114

 to see it carried out to what they conceived to be the logical consequence of a federated British Empire. Pope Hennessy was an adherent of the former party, H. H. of the latter.

When the unwilling consent of the Colonial Office had been given to the constitutional changes proposed by Hennessy, the Colony became divided between adherents of the two parties. Pope Hennessy himself, in social conversation on the subject of Home Rule for Ireland, made no disguise of his adhesion to the policy of Home Rule with a view to complete separation. In public his use of the formula "Mauritius for the Mauritians" could leave no doubt of the ultimate issue he desired.

The stormy years that ensued, the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Pope Hennessy, on the petition of the majority of the colonists, followed by his final retirement a year later, gave H. H. cause for grave anxiety. His personal friendship and admiration for the brilliant attainments of Pope Hennessy were not always in accord with his views upon the policy adopted by the latter. "You cannot know what it is to live and, if necessary, to die for Ireland," Pope Hennessy said not without emotion when Sir Charles Bruce, holding the Office of Colonial Secretary, tendered his resignation, feeling he could no longer with honour support the Governor.

In 1895, Sir Charles Bruce was offered the appointment of Governor of Mauritius, and accepted it as the supreme vindication of his action. During his administration, and largely due to his initiative, the penny postage system was extended to Manritius. The influence Sir Charles exerted in the cause of cheapening and extending post and cable