Separate
18th February 1865
Sir,
A question has been raised whether a Vice-Admiralty Court had been legally established in British Honduras in the absence of some of the measures usually adopted on such occasions.
I referred the question for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty,andManuscript image and I transmit to you for your information a copy of the reply which has been received, enclosing a full report on the subject from the Admiralty Registrar. You will perceive that although the Lords Commissioners concur with Mr. Rothery in thinking that, under the circumstances stated there was no legal necessity for issuing to the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court a special Commission as Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court, yet that in order to avoid all doubt their Lordships decided upon issuing such a Commission.YouManuscript image You will further perceive that the same doubt was found to exist with regard to the Constitution of the Court and Appointment of the Vice-Admiralty Judge in the Colony under your Government, and I enclose a Commission which I have received from their Lordships for the formal Appointment of D. Cameron Esqr. to the Office in question, and Tables of Fees for the Vice-Admiralty Court.
When this Commission has expired the Colony will fall under the operation of 26 Victoria, Chapter 24, and no furtherCommissionManuscript image Commission will be requisite.
I have the honor to be
Sir,
Your most obedient
Humble Servant
Edward Cardwell
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Copy, Romaine to Rogers, 21 December 1864, advising that the Lord's of the Admiralty agree with Rothery and see "no legal necessity" to creating a Special Commission as Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court at Victoria.
Manuscript image
Copy, Rothery to the Secretary to the Admiralty, 17 December 1864, concerning the appointment of a Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court at British Honduras.
Cardwell, Edward to Kennedy, Arthur 18 February 1865, NAC :, 45. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/V657007A.html.

Last modified: 2020-03-30 13:22:16 -0700 (Mon, 30 Mar 2020) (SVN revision: 4193)