e to the establishment of rectories in Upper Canada.
Viscount Melbourne said he was ready to produce such portions of the
correspondence as appeared to be necessary for the defence of Sir F.
Head, or which afforded general information; he further suggested that
the motion should be for "copies or extracts" as to the correspondence
of Sir J. Colborne relative to the establishment of rectories. The Duke
of Wellington, in reply, intimated that, although he thought the whole
correspondence ought to be produced, he would alter his motion according
to the suggestion of the noble viscount. The Earl of Aberdeen said it
was impossible for the house to legislate upon the affairs of Canada
without being in possession of this correspondence; and the Earl of
Wick-low contended that there should be superadded any report given
by Lords Gosford or Aylnaer. On the 19th of February Lord Winchilsea
further moved, that a humble address be presented to her majesty,
praying that she would be graciously pleased to order to be laid upon
the table of the house any correspondence that had passed between her
Majesty's government and Lord Durham, relative to the appointment of Mr.
Turton as his lordship's secretary. This was a topic which had excited
severe animadversion in parliament, as well as on the part of the public
press; but it does not appear that government had anything to do with
it, or that there were any papers to be produced. In the desultory
conversation which followed, indeed, Lord Durham took the whole
responsibility of the appointment on himself, and insisted that he was
justified in making that appointment. He had known Mr. Turton from his
earliest infancy; and he knew also his high professional reputation. He
had been employed as advocate-general in India, by Lords Combermere and
Amherst, and had discharged his office so much to the satisfaction of
the governor and council in India, that they voted him five thousand
sicca rupees, and a vote of thanks for his conduct. It was not to be
endured, therefore, that he was to be taunted for appointing to this
trumpery office a man who had previously filled the highest judicial
functions in India. Lord Durham concluded by threatening that if this
matter were proceeded in further by parliament he would not rest until
he had obtained an inquiry into the case of every public man who had
received official employment after having been convicted of the same
kind of immorality as Mr. Turton.