Colonial Despatches

I am aware that I have not communicated with you as fully and rapidly recently as I ought to have done. My first apology must be an extreme pressure of business during the Legislative Session. My second, the extreme irregularity of the postal arrangements. The American Steamers are very irregular in their arrival at Esquimalt, and during the winter the Hudson's Bay Company run their Steamers as seldom as they can to New Westminster.

I presume that the Governor of Vancouver Island will have informed you of the efforts made in that Colony to procure annexation to this. Here the feeling is strongly opposed to the proposed connection. Indeed I cannot see how it could in any way benefit British Columbia, and it is impossible to avoid perceiving how under the former Government this colony was unduly depressed to raise Victoria to an artificial prosperity.New New Westminster presented a miserable aspect of decay and disappointment while Victoria, though immediately more prosperous in appearances, astonished all strangers at the little progress a town, through which had passed many millions of gold, had made.

Among the means adopted by the peoples of Victoria, for bringing about union have been that of trying to create in our mining population dissatisfaction with the financial arrangements of this Colony. I enclose an address presented to me by a body of Victoria Shopkeepers and Cariboo miners together with my reply. There are but three names in the three hundred which would carry weight in Cariboo, and it is by no means out of respect for the petitioners that I haveanswered answered so fully. My answer appears to have given satisfaction, and I would beg leave very respectfully to call your attention to the statements it contains.

I learn on enquiry from the Governor of Vancouver Island that he sent on to you without notice to me, or comment from himself, certain resolutions and statements prepared and made by the so called Chamber of Commerce of Victoria. The statements are very incorrect and I have expressed to Governor Kennedy my regret that he should have sent them on without my having the opportunity of refuting them.

There seems every likelyhood of our having a rush to the newly discovered gold diggings. The Season is however unusually unfavourable & the upper roads blocked with snow.

The Legislative Session is progressing satisfactorily and I expect to prorogue next week.

The telegraph which will connect this place with Newfoundland will be completed in about 10 days.

I trust that you will forgive this informal communication made just as the steamer is about to sail.