Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to acknowledge Your Lordship's Despatch No 52, of the 27th May transmitting the Order of Her Majesty in Council dated the 16th May foruniting uniting British Columbia to the Dominion of Canada in accordance with the Addresses passed by the Legislatures of the two Colonies.

2. This final completion of the negotiations for Union has been received with gratification by all parties in the Community. I have given due publicityto to the Order in Council, and have proclaimed the 20th of July to be observed as a Public Holiday in honor of the occasion. On that day this Province will quickly become a part of the Dominion, and so far as the future can be foreseen, there is now no reason to apprehend any reaction of public feeling adverse to the Union, orany any difficulty in arrangement of the several Departments of public business. I enclose copies of the Government Gazette containing the Order in Council declaring the Union, as well as that confirming the Constitution Act, and my Proclamation fixing the 19th day of July as the date on which that measure shall come intooperation operation and take effect.

3. It is a matter of natural gratification to me that I have been able successfully to carry out the Policy of Her Majesty's government to Your Lordship's satisfaction; especially as the arrangements which have been effected after much difficult and delicate negotiation haveobtained obtained the commendation of Lord Lisgar on behalf of the Government of Canada, and are received with willing assent by the whole of this Community, even including the Official body who were most likely to be injuriously affected by political changes.

4. The Canadian Minister of Customs hasalready already communicated with me on the subject of the transfer of the Customs Department. Arrangements have been completed for payment of the floating Public Debt by the Canadian authorities through the Bank of British Columbia on the 15th instant, notice having been given at my instance to the Debenture holders.Other Other minor business is in train.

5. I have been acquainted with the appointment of Mr Joseph Trutch as Lieutenant Governor by the Government of the Dominion, and that he will be at San Francisco on his way to Victoria at the end of this Month. No advantage thereforewill will be derived by my now remaining in the Colony, and in accordance with the authority conveyed to me in Your Lordship's Despatch, No 34, of the 2nd May, I intend to leave Victoria on the 25th instant in Her Majesty's Ship "Sparrowhawk", which Admiral Farquhar has kindly placed at my disposal for the purpose.At At San Francisco I shall meet Mr Trutch, and he will obtain a passage to Victoria in the same Vessel on her return.

6. I cannot conclude this almost my last Despatch from this government without expressing to Your Lordship my grateful appreciation of the approval which since my assumption of this government has beenuniformly uniformly accorded to the recommendations which from time to time I have found it my duty to make. The success of the measures which I have adopted, or advocated, has been their justification. But, that success is mainly due to the support and confidence afforded to me by Your Lordship.