The manner to which the Government is carried on and the laws administered, gives general satisfaction. So long as the Colony progresses, and its new necessities are met by new enactments, the colonists (with the exception of an uninfluential clique at New Westminster) are satisfied; they have not the wish, as in the present circumstances they would not have the time, to legislate for themselves. PASSAGE AS CONTAINED IN THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT

The backward state of the country, the bad condition of the roads that exist, the waste of the revenue in the construction of roads now abandoned—because in districts now frequented—and undeveloped state of the agricultural resources, are owing to the misadministration of the Government.

We are indebted to the two gentlemen who were appointed judges for the above, which is the substance of the original passage.

Printed copies purporting to be of an Essay on the "Resources &c of British Columbia by the Revd R.C.L. Brown," and for which Essay we—as authorized Judges—awarded a prize of fifty pounds, having been put into our hands this afternoon, we hereby protest against and interdict the issueof of such printed pamphlet as containing matter not in the original Essay, but matter entirely at variance with what was in the original, and which will convey grossly false impressions upon the state of the Colony as to its political and social aspects.

The Essay on British Columbia by the Revd R.C.L. Brown, of which yourself and the subscribers were appointed judges, has appeared in a printed form,from from which the following extract is made, from "Chapter VIII, on the political and Social aspects" The manner in which the Government is carried on, and the laws administered gives general Satisfaction. So long as the Colony progresses, and its new necessities are met by new enactments, the Colonists (with the exception of an uninfluential clique at New Westminster) are Satisfied, they have not the wish, as in the present circumstances they would not have the time, to legislate for themselves.Yet Yet, although British Columbia has flourished under the present Governor, it is evident that her interests can never receive that exclusive attention which is essential to her rapid development, so long as his Excellency has also charge of the neighbouring colony of Vancouvers Island, and resides there.

As no such paragraph appeared in the original manuscript, we are at a loss to account for it in theprinted printed essay, and are therefore very desirous to have your opinion on the subject.

I beg to acknowledge your letter dated September 5th. The Essay by the Revd R.C.L. Brown to which we awarded a prize of £50 was returned by me to the Chief Commrof of Lands and Works and passed on by him to His Excellency the Governor. Mr Brown was informed by letter from Victoria that previous to publication the matter must be condensed and fitted for the press.

I observe that the Essay has been greatly changed, some passages very interesting to the Colonists have disappeared, and others far from acceptable to them, have been introduced. Among the latter I place that to which you have drawn my special attention. Theaddition addition of an uncalled for attack upon some of the inhabitants of this City is very much to be regretted, and by no means just towards those who were requested to act as judges of the Essays.

The inhabitants of New Westminster are very indignant about the alterations made in the Essay to which a prize of £50 was awarded. One passage which speaksof of "an uninfluential clique" (page 52) is an addition condemned by all. Messrs Holbrook and Cormack have asked me to sign a letter requesting that the manuscript may be returned to the Judges for examination. I have not consented to their request simply because I do not think that a formal address to the Governor upon the matter is necessary. Further, my belief is that much of the original Essay has been destroyed, as Mr Brown informed me that he had rewritten much of it. I writeto to say that I quite feel with my fellow judges the impropriety of the article upon New Westminster and of the numerous unnecessary changes that have been made. Perhaps it will be well to allow the manuscript to be seen again by the Judges—especially as Mr Brown has said that he received instructions from Victoria to condense the matter previous to printing.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters dated 4th Septr and 8th Septr and I have referred both through the Colonial Secretary toHis His Excellency the Governor.

In the matter of the issue of the Prize Essay, this Department has solely acted as Printer; and it is not in my power to cause the Manuscript, as received by me to print, to be laid before you without authority.

I declined joining in any formal application for a return of the Essay M.S. to the Board of Judges, but I wrote to Mr Young about the alterations &c. Mr Young holds that whenthe the Judges had given their decision "their functions ceased." As the view he takes is one which would enable any amount of good or bad composition, of truth or falsehood to be published as approved by the Board, I felt it my duty to show cause why I deemed him in error. I consider it due to you that my letter should be before you, and I therefore enclose a copy of it. Having done all that I thought necessary touching the alterations inthe the Essay, I must decline saying any thing further upon the matter.

I have to acknowledge your letter of the 10th September. I quite agree with you that the Judges were not invited by His Excellency the Governorto to act as Censors, but I presume it was intended they should act as honest men. They gave their judgement in favor of an Essay which they deemed able and useful; but to publish as that Essay a pamphlet much of which had never been seen by them, they consider unfair to themselves, the public at large, and to those who competed for the Prize. By all means let there be freedom of opinion, but with it let there be strict integrity.

I travelled from one end of this Colony to the other, andfrom from New Westminster to Alexandria: the common cry was for a resident Governor, Separation of the two Colonies, and some form of Self Government, and with that cry I may say every official in this City sympathizes; but if the writer of the Prize Essay thinks proper to say that all are contented with the present state of things, he has a perfect right to his opinion, but he has no right—after the Judges have given their decision, largely to alter and to qualify what was originally written, and to introduce an uninvited and bitter attack upon a portion of the inhabitants of the Colony.Your Your letter implies that you know certain persons who, after the Prize had been awarded, tried to tamper with the author. I am very sorry to hear it.

With reference to my letter to you No 217 of the 9th Instant, I have now the honor to acquaint you of my havingbeen been instructed by the Colonial Secretary that I am not authorized to accede to the requests made by you in your letters of the 4th & 7th Instant.