I duly received your Confidential Despatch of the 24th
March last, upon the subject of the appointment of Mr James
Cooper as Harbour Master at Esquimalt for British Columbia,
and acquainting me that you consider the faith of the Government
is pledged to the appointment of Cooper to an office of the
value promised.
I feel sure that you cannot have anticipated that any
action of mine would designedly compromise the faith of Her
Majesty's Government, or that I should willingly hesitate in
carrying out any instructions they might see fit to issue to
me. Mr Cooper was, in accordance with your intention and
direction, appointed Harbour Master at Esquimalt upon his
arrival here. He has since resided at that place and has been
in the receipt of the Salary attached to the office.
I cannot however conceal from you the fact that there is
nothing what ever in connection with British Columbia for Mr
Cooper to do at Esquimalt, and it is difficult, if not
impracticable to connect his services with any office in
British Columbia for which he is fitted, unless he occasionally
resides in that Colony. I have proposed such a course to Mr
Cooper, but he declined to accept any appointment which would
require him to leave Esquimalt. He therefore now remains in
that place in the position of Harbour Master receiving a Salary
of Four Hundred pounds per annum out of the Revenue of British Columbia.