DELEGATION TO ENGLAND. 165

island government resolved to send BIessrs. Edward Palmer and \V. H. Pope as delegates to England to submit fresh con- ditions, which might prove acceptable. In October, 1863, these gentlemen had an interview with the colonial secre- tary (the Duke of Newcastle), when the land question was discussed. The proposals of the delegates were subsequently embodied in a communication addressed to the colonial secre- tary, and dated the thirteenth of October. A copy of that communi-ation was sent from the colonial otlice to Sir Samuel Cunard, with the ViC\V of having its contents sub- mitted to the proprietors by that gentleman. On the four- teenth of November, the baronet sent to the Duke of Newcastle a reply, in which he presented, at considerable length, his own views of the points at issue. He contended at the outset that the granting of the land originally in large blocks was “ an act of necessity,—that the grantees had all lost very heavily by accepting the grants, and that no individ- ual at present. on the island had been injured by that pro— ceeding, but, on the contrary, the grants had been a fruitful source of profit to the present generation.” This novel and intensely absurd proposition Sir Samuel proceeded to estab— lish by reference to the taxation to which the proprietors were subjected, and the various measures which had been passed by the local legislature, and confirmed by the home government. Early in December following, Sir Samuel addressed another letter to the Duke of Newcastle, enclos- ing a bill which, he said, would be acceptable to the propri- etors il' adopted in its integrity. To the baronet’s letters and bill, Mr. l’ope replied, in an able and exhaustive communi- cation, dated the eighteenth of December, which concluded in the following words: “ I regret to say, that I 'annot construe Sir Samuel Cunard’s communication, on the sub— ject of the proposals for the settlement of the land question,