R50 
LAISSEZ FAIRE 
wt 280. The policy of non-interference has never been 
The applied consistently to Ireland. From her geographical 
pants position she necessarily stood in close relations to England, 
principles . 3 
of laissez and it was not deemed possible for the predominant partner 
es to let her go her own way either economically or politically. 
The case of the transoceanic Colonies was altogether different; 
abundant reason could be alleged, which commended itself to 
the statesmen of the early part of the nineteenth century, for 
letting them severely alone. The opinion was freely mooted 
that the founding of colonies had been in itself a mistake, 
since the country got little or nothing out of them, either in 
the way of wealth or prestige, and was only burdened with cost 
in administering and protecting them. Sir John Sinclair's 
utterances are so far typical of educated opinion on the 
public questions of the day that it is worth while to quote 
the views he has put on record. He pointed out that the 
i pg North American Colonies had cost us £40,000,000, and the 
belief that wars in which we had been involved in consequence of 
were an possessing them amounted to £240,000,000 more. “It is the 
iy ens 4 more necessary,” he adds, “to bring forward inquiries into 
country» this branch of our expenditure, as the rage for colonisation 
has not yet been driven from the councils of this country. 
We have fortunately lost New England, but a New Wales 
has since started up. How many millions it may cost may 
be the subject of the calculations of succeeding financiers, 
unless by the exertions of some able statesman that source 
of future waste and extravagance is prevented.” 
The men in this period who considered not only British 
and that _ interests in the colonies, but British responsibilities as well, 
hey tpould had little opportunity of giving effect to their views? The 
ii Colonial department maintained the traditions of bureaucratic 
administration, as it had been carried on in the eighteenth 
century’, There was no intelligent discussion in Parliament 
\ History of the Public Revenue of the British Empire (1790), 11. 87. 
2 Cunningham, Wisdom of the Wise, 43. 
2 Mr Buller’s scathing description of the system is all the more severe, ag he 
was careful to avoid any attack upon individuals personally. * Thus, from the 
general indifference of Parliament on colonial questions, it exercises, in fact, 
hardly the slightest efficient control over the administration or the making of 
laws for the colonies. In nine cases out of ten it merely registers the edicts of