No. 4, Legislative

I have the honor to forward herewith to Your Grace copy of a
Resolution of the Legislative Assembly of Vancouver's Island upon the
subject of the appointment of a common law Barrister of certain
standing to the Office of Chief Justice of this Colony, and offering,
in such case to provide a retiring pension for the present incumbent
of the office at the rate of Five Hundred pounds (£500) per Annum.

2. I have called upon Mr Cameron, the present Chief Justice, to
state his views in respect of this matter as far as it affects
himself, and I enclose herewith copy of his reply, by which Your
Grace will perceive that Mr Cameron is willing to resign his office,
and to accept the pension offered him, provided it be secured to him
by an Act of the Legislature.

3. I have therefore recommended the Legislature to pass such an Act,
so that all difficulties that might obstruct Your Grace in carrying
out the wishes of the Assembly at an early moment should be removed.
A Bill has accordingly been introduced and advanced a stage, and I
have no reason to suppose that it will not be carried.

4. In further relation to this matter it may be desirable that I
should mention that the Assembly has expressed a decided opinion
against the removal of Mr Cameron, except he be superseded by a
common law Barrister, who is not a Member of the
Judiciary or Bar of this Colony, or of British Columbia, and
it has been understood by the Assembly that Mr Cameron will not
resign until his Successor arrives from England; the object of the
Assembly evidently being to avoid the possible contingency of a Chief
Justice, who as a member of the Bar in a small Colony like this, must
in the course of his practice have acquired an intimate acquaintance
with private and personal interests in general, and whose judgment,
in consequence, may be less sound than that of a person entering upon
the important and responsible position of Chief Justice, an entire
Stranger to local jealousies and local interests.