No. 21

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No.
103 of the 6th of December enclosing a copy of an "Act to appropriate
Twelve hundred pounds Sterling per annum from the General Revenue of the
Colony for the Salary of a Chief Justice," and stating the reasons which
had induced you to withhold your assent pending the decision of Her
Majesty's Government upon the Act.

The Legislature having thus made provision for the Salary of a
Chief Justice, I shall now proceed to the selection of a member of the
English Bar to fill that office. In order however to remove any doubt
as to the meaning of the 2nd Clause of the Act, the Royal Warrant
authorizing the appointment of that functionary will authorize his
appointment only during pleasure and having reference to the peculiar
wording of the Law, it will be advisable to enact expressly that nothing
contained in it shall give the Chief Justice any greater interest in his
office than during Her Majesty's Pleasure.