With reference to your despatch No. 50 of the 
1st of August I have
               the honour to transmit to you the enclosed copy of an Opinion of the Law
               Officers of the Crown pronouncing in favor of the efficacy of the Act
               passed by the Legislature of 
Vancouver Island in 
1862 "to amend the real
               estate tax Act 
1860."
               
 
            
            
               Although the opinion of the law Officers of the Crown is not
               binding upon the judgment of the Chief Justice, I cannot but believe
               that he will probably

 attach much weight to the decided opinion upon a
               purely legal point of two lawyers so eminent as 
Sir R. Palmer and 
Sir
                  R.P. Collier and I have to request that you will give 
Mr. Cameron, if he
               wish it, an opportunity of reading this despatch and the opinion
               privately, but that you will not make any public use of the opinion.