PREFACE
In these latter days when the plague of book-making has taken its place, along with influenza, among the blessings of an advanced civilization, the appearance of'any volume, not vouched by an author of eminence, requires a word of apology. Perhaps, however, the standpoint of the present work affords it some justification. There are, of course, various books dealing with various phases of Colonial Policy, or with such policy for some particular period, but there is no book which deals with the subject systematically on historical lines, while in the regular histories the subject of policy naturally takes a subordinate and incidental position. The point of view of the book explains its method. Where a narrative of events is concerned, it is the duty of the author to weigh his authorities, and from them to evolve his own story; but, where we are dealing with the history of opinions, it is desirable, as far as possible, to allow the authorities to speak for themselves. This must be my excuse for a plentiful employment of quotations : there appearing little advantage in the method which makes the text a bald summary and throws the living interest of a book into its footnotes.
In dealing with the history of Colonial Policy, there is one preliminary objection which must be met. “Colonial Policy,” it is said, “ why—there is no such thing ! Great Britain has
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