The Durham Report and British Policy: A Critical EssayIn 1838 Lord Melbourne's Whig government in Britain sent the radical Lord Durham to Canada as Governor-General to deal with a colony in the aftermath of a rebellion. Durham's vanity and arrogance made him a poor choice for the post, and he resigned a few months later after the government had been forced to overrule him for exceeding his powers. After his return to Britain he wrote his Report on the Affairs of British North America - and its unauthorized publication in the Times caused a sensation. This report - the famous 'Durham Report' - has been seen as the starting point of the British tradition of colonial self-rule leading through the Statute of Westminster of 1931 to the independent self-governing Commonwealth of today. |
Contents
The reception of the Report | 29 |
The influence of the Report on Commonwealth history | 42 |
The growth of the myth | 74 |
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accepted affairs America appeared appointment argued attempt August authority Bermuda Bill Britain British British North C. P. Lucas Canadian certainly Chester claim colonial cols Commons Commonwealth constitution criticism December discussion Durham Report Earl Earl Grey edition editor Egerton Elgin Ellice Empire evidence fact failed February federation French give Governor Grey Grey Papers Hansard's Parliamentary Debates Head House Howick ideas imperial importance Indian influence interest January John Journal July June later letter Liberal Library London Lord Durham's Report Lord John Russell Lower Canada March measure Melbourne ment Ministers mission Morning North America November October Oxford political problem proposed Public Record Office published question radical reason received reference relating resignation responsible government Review Roebuck Rule Russell seems self-government Sir Charles South speech Union United University of Durham vols Wakefield Whig wished wrote