be lamented that he concealed his deliberate convictions
under an allegorical piece of humour. His disposition to
"humbug" was so great, it was difficult to obtain a plain
straightforward reply from him; but had the Secretary of
State put the question to him in direct terms, what he
thought of Lord Durham's "Responsible government," and
the practical working of it under Lord Sydenham's and
Sir Charles Bagot's administration, he would have obtained
a plain and intelligible answer. If the interview to
which he alludes ever did take place, (which I am bound
to add, is very doubtful, notwithstanding the minuteness
with which it is detailed), it is deeply to be regretted
that he was not addressed in that frank manner which
could alone elicit his real sentiments; for I know of no
man so competent to offer an opinion on these subjects
as himself.

To govern England successfully, it is necessary to know
the temper of Englishmen. Obvious as this appears to be,
the frequent relinquishment of government measures, by
the dominant party, shows that their own statesmen are
sometimes deficient in this knowledge.

Mr. Slick says, that if Sir James Graham had consulted
him, _he_ could have shown him how to carry the educational
clauses of his favourite bill This, perhaps, is rather
an instance of Mr. Slick's vanity, than a proof of his
sagacity. But if this species of information is not easy
of attainment here, even by natives, how difficult must
it be to govern a people three thousand miles off, who