essed to him by the Duke of Hatfield, as Minister for the Crown
Colonies, and gave it to me to read. The letter ran as follows:--

COLONIAL OFFICE, CROWN COLONIES,
15th May 1980.

SIR,--I have it in command to inform your Excellency that
you have been appointed Governor of the Crown colony which
is called Britannula. The peculiar circumstances of the
colony are within your Excellency's knowledge. Some years
since, after the separation of New Zealand, the inhabitants
of Britannula requested to be allowed to manage their own
affairs, and H.M. Minister of the day thought it expedient
to grant their request. The country has since undoubtedly
prospered, and in a material point of view has given
us no grounds for regret. But in their selection of a
Constitution the Britannulists have unfortunately allowed
themselves but one deliberative assembly, and hence have
sprung their present difficulties. It must be, that in
such circumstances crude councils should be passed as laws
without the safeguard coming from further discussion and
thought. At the present moment a law has been passed which,
if carried into action, would become abhorrent to mankind
at large. It is contemplated to destroy all those who shall
have reached a certain fixed age. The arguments put forward
to justify so strange a measure I need not here explain at
length. It is founded on the acknowledged weakness of those
who survive that period of life at which men cease to work.
This terrible doctrine has been adopted at the advice of
an eloquent citizen of the republic, who is at present
its President, and whose general popularity seems to be
so great, that, in compliance with his views, even this
measure will be carried out unless Great Britain shall
interfere.

You are desired to proceed at once to Britannula, to
reannex the island, and to assume the duties of the
Governor of a Crown colony. It is understood that a year of
probation is to be allowed to those victims who have agreed
to their own immolation. You will therefore arrive there
in ample time to prevent the first bloodshed. But it is
surmised that you will find difficulties in the way of your
entering at once upon your government. So great is the
popularity of their President, Mr Neverbend, that, if he be
left on the island, your Excellency will find a dangerous
rival. It is