Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Grace's Despatch "Separate" of the 15th of June last, in which is communicated to me Your Grace's decision respecting the form of Governmentto to be adopted in British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

2. I will not fail, to lay before the community the decided opinion expressed by Your Grace in favor of a union of the Colonies under one Government, an opinion coming with the weight of so wide an experience in the workings of Colonialinstitutions institutions, as to be almost conclusive on the subject and I will take care to caution them against any course of legislation, at all likely to impede such a result.

3. The knowledge of Your Grace's views on a subject so intimately connected with the prosperity and well being of theColonies Colonies will have great weight with the public, which is not generally averse to the union of the Colonies. The anti-union party in British Columbia is confined to the residents of New Westminster; the rest of the community are I believe wholly indifferent about the matter.

4. The feeling againstthe the fusion of the Governments is much more general in Vancouvers Island, and is founded on a prevalent idea that the measure, if carried into effect, would inevitably lead to the subversion of the Free Port System, and to the ultimate impoverishment of the Colony.

5. In these circumstancesI I think Your Grace's plan of leaving the Colonies as they now are, under separate Governments, will be more acceptable to the public at large, than union under any form.

6. I beg in conclusion to observe that I will take an early opportunity of bringing before the Legislature Your Grace's propositionrespecting respecting the transfer of the Colonial Revenue, and the terms on which you are prepared to place its management in their hands.