No. 159

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch
No 28 of the 3rd of March last in which you have signified
your approval of Mr Young's appointment as Colonial Secretary
for British Columbia.

2. I was fortunate in having the opportunity of securing for
the Public service of the Colony, a gentleman so well known and
in all respects so highly qualified by his talents, experience,
and thoroughly practical acquaintance with the details of public
business. I know and appreciate the value of his services, and
therefore have the more regret in forwarding a communication from
Mr Young, in which you will observe he declines accepting the
appointment, not because he overlooks the high position offered
him, but simply for the reason that the proposed salary of five
hundred pounds (£500) per annum, which you alone authorize me to offer,
is altogether insufficient to maintain him in this expensive
Country, and really places him in a worse position than he now occupies.

3. Gentlemen of education and high character may probably
be found in England to accept Official appointments in this
Country at the present rates of Salary, which may there be
sufficient for their decent support, but they will not be long
in discovering that those sums are wholly inadequate to the support
of their social position in this country.

4. The Treasurer and Collector of Customs, have, as you will
observe by another communication transmitted by the present Mail,
both applied to me for relief, as they cannot live on their present
salaries a state of things which it must be admitted is at once
degrading and dangerous to the public service.

5. I will retain Mr Young in the service of the Government,
until a successor is appointed to relieve him, and if it were
possible, I should gladly retain his services altogether, as I
know his sterling worth and can work cordially with him.