obtained representative government in May 1870. Under the new system of government, Barlee became the most powerful person in the colony other than Weld himself. In 1873, Barlee began to work for early achievement of responsible government. Both directly and through a newspaper that he had recently bought a stake in, Barlee agitated for responsible government, and in 1874 the Legislative Council passed a resolution calling for the constitutional change. Although Weld did not think that Western Australia was yet ready for responsible government, he accepted the situation and passed on the request to the Colonial Office in London. The Colonial Office were strongly against granting responsible government, and were critical of Weld for allowing the situation to arise. Shortly afterwards, Weld was transferred to Tasmania. Barlee, perhaps anticipating a transfer, took long service leave and left for England in July 1875. In his absence, the demand for responsible government receded, and it would not be granted until 1890. Barlee remained nominal colonial secretary for another eighteen months, and intended to return to the position unless he was offered a better appointment elsewhere. In 1877, he was made CMG. Also in 1877, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of British Honduras (now Belize), a position that he held until 1882. After briefly visiting Western Australia to attend to some investments, he returned to England to await his next posting. He was made KCMG in 1883, but had to wait until April 1884 for his next posting, as Administrator of Trinidad. Barlee arrived at Port of Spain, Trinidad and took up his appointment in June 1884, but died from asthma just seven weeks later on 8 August 1884. Barlee had married in 1851, Jane, daughter of Edward John Oseland, of Coleraine, Ireland, who survived him. Barlee was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1878. References 1827 births 1884 deaths Colonial Secretaries of Western Australia Governors of British Trinidad Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Members of the Western Australian Legislative Council People from Mid Suffolk District Governors of British Honduras 19th-century Australian politicians Members of the American Antiquarian Society Commissioners of Western Australia Police