Volume 1

Report from the Select Committee on Aborigines (British Settlements) with the minutes of evidence, appendix and index.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Aboriginal Tribes.
Date:
1966
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report from the Select Committee on Aborigines (British Settlements) with the minutes of evidence, appendix and index. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/868
    sad iii] RE Pre Reerls THE SELECT COMMITTEE appointed to consider what Measures ought to be adopted with respect to the Native Inhabitants of Countries where British Settlements are made, and to the Neighbouring Tribes, in order to secure to them the due observance of Justice and the protection of their Rights; to promote the spread of Civilization among them, and to lead them to the peaceful and voluntary reception of the Christian Religion; and to whom the Minutes of Evidence of the Committee of last Session were referred; and who were empowered to report the Minures oF THE Evipence taken before them, together with their Observations thereupon, from time to time, to The House :—Have, pursuant to the Order of The House, examined the Matters to them referred, and have agreed to the following REPORT: eck Committee have proceeded to take Evidence, and their Inquiries * have extended to Southern Africa, the Canadas, Newfoundland, New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. They have also received some Infor- mation relative to New Zealand and the South Sea Islands, which countries, though not British Possessions, are continually visited by Subjects of Great Britain, and on which many of them reside. As a portion of the Evidence is not yet printed, Your Committee find it impossible to prepare a well-digested Report. Your Committee, therefore, suggest the propriety of directing the Evidence to be printed for the Information of The House, and of re-appointing the Com- mittee early in the next Session, in order that they may then consider and report upon the very important subject committed to their investigation. An oppor- tunity will then be afforded of receiving Evidence, if tendered, with the view of meeting any Allegations already made, which may appear inculpatory, the discretion being reserved of admitting or rejecting such Evidence according as the Committee shall or shall not deem it to bear advantageously upon the purposes of their Inquiry. Your Committee are prepared at present to say no more than that the question is one which merits the most careful attention, and that they believe it will not be difficult to devise a system of Intercourse with uncivilized Nations more consonant to Justice and Humanity, more in unison with the high character which Great Britain ought to maintain, and more conducive to her real interests, than that which has been hitherto adopted. August 1836. ed