eople unemployed cannot emigrate, but must swell an army of
industrials depending on the Government for relief. The city is a
veritable aggregation of unemployed; it is a city to let. Every
business, factory, wharf, store, or shop employing labour has either
suspended business or has curtailed the number of its employees to the
lowest possible limit. It is not unreasonable to estimate the number
unemployed here to-day at 6,000, every one of whom must be without
work until spring opens."

It is not surprising to find that in this difficulty the minds of the
colonists turned towards the Imperial Exchequer. But the distinction
is vital between an Imperial grant in relief of a visitation of nature
and a grant in relief of financial disasters which may be the result
of improvidence or extravagance. The Imperial Exchequer is drawn from
complex sources, and cannot be diverted to irregular purposes without
injustice to large numbers of poor people. These facts were not
unnaturally overlooked in Newfoundland, for in trouble the sense of
proportion is apt to disappear. Thus on March 2nd, 1895, Sir W.
Whiteway, the Newfoundland Premier, in a letter to _The Times_, said:

"We have approached Her Majesty's Government, and solicited a mere
guarantee of interest to the amount of a few thousand pounds per annum
for a limited period, in order to enable the colony to float its loans
and tide it over the present temporary difficulties. Up to date the
people of this old, loyal colony have received no response. They have
been struggling against difficulties in the past, and if they still
have to trust to their own inherent pluck, and to the resources of the
country, they must only passively submit, although they may the more
bitterly feel the heartless treatment of the Imperial Government
towards them."

The touch of bitterness in Sir William Whiteway's letter was, perhaps,
unreasonable. Mr Goodridge was Premier at the time of the crash, and
his Government at once appealed for help to England, on the ground
that if it were not forthcoming the colony would be unable to meet its
obligations. A proposal was added that a Royal Commission should be
appointed to inquire into the whole political and commercial position
of the colony. Mr Goodridge was unable to keep his place, and his
Government was followed by that of Mr Greene. The new Government at
once inquired whether, if the Newfoundland Legislature acquiesced in
the appointment of a Commi