We copy the following from the Courier:—"Mr. John Lefevre, late Member for Petersfield, has been appointed one of the under secretaries for the colonies, in the place of Lord Howick, who has retired. Other changes, it is expected, will take place; but in respect to the retirement of one gentleman whose influence has been supposed to be predominant at the Colonial Office, and whose name is hereditarily mixed up with the party of the immediate abolitionists, some hesitation, we understand, as to the expediency of his immediate removal, lest the circumstance should lead to expectations on the part of the West India proprietors which could not be realised. We believe we are right in saying, that the right of compensation is distinctly acknowledged by the Government, and the necessity of abolition without delay, admitted by the West Indians. The only difficulties remaining—and in fact those are precisely the difficulties of the case—are the mode and extent of compensation, and the manner of changing the condition of the negroes from that of slaves with certainty of subsistence, to free competitive labourers with precariousness of subsistence, with the least detriment to themselves, and the least mischief to society under the actual circumstances. It is not to be supposed that the West India proprietors will quietly submit to real confiscation, and nominal compensation. On the other hand, it is not easy for the Government to find the means of repaying the vast loss which must fall on the proprietors and mortgagees of West India estates, from the total discontinuance of the long established system of slavery."
It would appear from the appointment of Mr Stanley to the Colonial Office and the retirement of Lord Goderich and Lord Howard (the Premier's son) from it, that was the views of ministers of the West India question have undergone some modification. The Anti-Slavery Society seems to view the matter in this light, for we observe that they have called a general meeting at Exeter Hall tomorrow, "to petition Parliament at the present eventful crisis, for the immediate and entire Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Dominions."—A hope is entertained that Mr Stanley will be able to suggest a satisfactory mode of settling this most embarrassing question.