No. 8
1st June 1864
Sir,
It has been brought to my notice that a Bill is now passing through the House of Assembly of Vancouver Island by which certain exclusive rights are granted to an American Telegraph Company who are about to construct a line from San Francisco.
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I enclose for your information a copy of a Parliamentary Paper from which you will learn that the policy of the Imperial Government is directly opposed to the grant of any monoply of Telegraphic communication, and I have therefore to instruct you to withhold your assent from any BillgrantingManuscript image granting such a monoply unless it contains a clause suspending it's operation until Her Majesty's Pleasure be made known.
I am of opinion that it is most improbable that such law would receive Her Majesty's approval, or, if passed without a suspending clause, beallowedManuscript image allowed to remain in operation.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
Edward Cardwell
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Manuscript image
Copies or extracts of correspondence between the Secretary of State and North American colonies on the subject of telegraphic communication, 18 June 1858, (38 pages).
People in this document

Cardwell, Edward

Kennedy, Arthur

Places in this document

San Francisco

Vancouver Island