No. 39

I have the honor to forward a letter addressed to me by Mr
Justice Begbie relating to the Jurisdiction of the Supreme
 Courts of British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

2. I have informed Mr Begbie of the probability that the
subject will have been arranged by the Union of these Colonies
before the receipt of this Despatch. I am anxious however that
the enclosed correspondence should be laid before you in reference
to Mr Begbie's remarks, in the latter portion of his letter of
the 23rd Instant, as to the position he would occupy on the
 Union of Vancouver Island with British Columbia.

3. The Colony is largely indebted to Mr Begbie for the
manner in which he has discharged the duties of the high Office
he has held with satisfaction to all classes since 1859, and I
cannot suppose Her Majesty's Government will allow Mr Begbie
to occupy an inferior position to the one he has hitherto enjoyed.