Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 147 dated the 17th of November last in which you review the future position of the present Civil Officers of British Columbia, in so far as they will be affected by the Unionwith with Canada of the Colony under your Government.

I concur generally with the Views expressed in this Despatch, and you are at liberty to inform the Civil Officers of British Columbia that their acceptance of employment under the Canadian Government will not preclude them from applying at any future time for other employment under this Department, nor will it effect any claims to such employment which they may derive from their character and past services.

As regards Mr. Hankin the Colonial Secretary and Mr. Phillippo the Attorney General I can add that I will bear in mind your suggestion that their Services should be transferred to some other Colony, but as appointments of like importance and value are comparatively few and the claimants to promotion are many, I fear that there is little chance of my being able to meet your wishes.

I do not however understand from your Despatchthat that it is as yet in any way decided that when union with Canada is effected suitable employment may not be found for these two Gentlemen; and you would do well to remind them, as well as any other Civil Officers who may be in doubt as to accepting any Offices under the Government of Canada of which they may have the refusal, that they should be very careful not to decline any reasonable offer on the strength of such a very remote prospect of other Colonial employment as I am able to hold out to them.