No. 22
Downing Street
1 June 1866
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, No. 16, of the 4th of March accompanied by a Petition to the Queen, with other documents, from Dr. Dickson on the subject of his removal from the Office of Coroner.
I have also received yourManuscript image Despatch, No. 17, of the 6th of March enclosing an Address to the Queen from the House of Assembly praying that the order which purports to revoke the Commission of Dr. Dickson as Coroner may be disallowed.
Dr. Dickson alleges in his Petition that the appointment of Coroner is irrevocable, except on certain conditions which have not been fulfilledManuscript image in his case, and prays that the Queen may be pleased to disallow the Mandate under which it is sought to deprive him of his Warrant as Coroner. I do not apprehend that the appointment made by Governor Douglas confers on Dr. Dickson the irrevocable interest which he claims; and I see no reason to doubt that the proposed change in the mode of performing the duties is forManuscript image the public benefit.
You will therefore inform Dr. Dickson that I have been unable to advise that Her Majesty should comply with the prayer of his Petition.
You will also inform the House of Assembly that I have duly laid their Address before the Queen, but that for the reasons I have above stated it was not in my power to recommend Her Majesty toManuscript image accede to the prayer of it.
It may be convenient to point out to you that the Appointment of Coroner appears to have been made by virtue of that Clause in Governor Douglas's Commission which empowers him to appoint Judges, Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer, Justices of the Peace, and other necessary Officers and Ministers, but it does not appear that Sir James Douglas observed theManuscript image condition contained in the same clause that such appointments should be made with the advice of his Council, nor the further direction in the 26th Clause of the Royal Instructions that they should be made during Her Majesty's pleasure only.
I enclose Extracts from Mr. Blanshard's Commission and Instructions, with which SirManuscript image James Douglas's coincide, in case they should not be on record in Vancouver Island.
I have the honor to be
Sir,
Your most obedient servant
Edward Cardwell
Governor Kennedy, C.B.
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
"Extract of a Warrant to prepare Letters Patent under the Great Seal for appointing Richard Blanshard, Esquire, to the Governor and Commanders in Chief of Vancouver Island and its Dependencies," no date.
Manuscript image
"Extract of Instructions to Richard Blanshard, Esquire, as Governor and Commanders in Chief of Vancouver Island and its Dependencies, or in his absence to the Lieutenant Governor in Office Administering the Government of said Island and its Dependencies for the time being," no date.
Cardwell, Edward to Kennedy, Arthur 1 June 1866, NAC :, 385. 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/V667022.html.

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