I have to acknowledge your letter of 
27 inst, with a despatch from
               the Governor of 
Vancouvers Island, enclosing an application from M
               
G.H.W. Brown for a lease of a Coal Mine in that Colony on certain
               specified conditions.
               
 
            
            
               2. The Governor expresses an opinion that it would cause future
               embarrassment to deal with such an application until general rules

               for the decision of questions of this description have been settled.
               There can be no doubt that he is right. And as in 
M Cardwell's
               despatch of 
17 inst (also enclosed in your letter) the Governor
               was desired to prepare for consideration the draft of a fresh Land
               Ordinance, which would include regulations for the Lease or Sale of
               Mineral Lands also, he should, I think, be informed that the decision
               on 
M Brown's application will be suspended until 
M Cardwell has
               had an opportunity of

 considering the proposed Ordinance.