Separate

I am aware that I have not communicated with you as
fully and rapidly recently as I ought to have done. My
first apology must be an extreme pressure of business
during the Legislative Session. My second, the extreme
irregularity of the postal arrangements. The American
Steamers are very irregular in their arrival at Esquimalt,
and during the winter the Hudson's Bay Company run their
Steamers as seldom as they can to New Westminster.

I presume that the Governor of Vancouver Island will
have informed you of the efforts made in that Colony to
procure annexation to this. Here the feeling is strongly
opposed to the proposed connection. Indeed I cannot see how
it could in any way benefit British Columbia, and it is
impossible to avoid perceiving how under the former Government
this colony was unduly depressed to raise Victoria to an
artificial prosperity. New Westminster presented a miserable
aspect of decay and disappointment while Victoria, though
immediately more prosperous in appearances, astonished all
strangers at the little progress a town, through which had
passed many millions of gold, had made.

Among the means adopted by the peoples of Victoria, for
bringing about union have been that of trying to create in our
mining population dissatisfaction with the financial arrangements
of this Colony. I enclose an address presented to me by a body of
Victoria Shopkeepers and Cariboo miners together with my reply.

*

There are but three names in the three hundred which would carry weight
in Cariboo, and it is by no means out of respect for the
petitioners that I have answered so fully. My answer appears
to have given satisfaction, and I would beg leave very
respectfully to call your attention to the statements it contains.

I learn on enquiry from the Governor of Vancouver
Island that he sent on to you without notice to me, or
comment from himself, certain resolutions and statements
prepared and made by the so called Chamber of Commerce of
Victoria. The statements are very incorrect and I have
expressed to Governor Kennedy my regret that he should have
sent them on without my having the opportunity of refuting them.

**

There seems every likelyhood

of our having a rush to the newly discovered gold diggings. The Season
is however unusually unfavourable & the upper roads blocked with snow.

The Legislative Session is progressing satisfactorily
and I expect to prorogue next week.

The telegraph which will connect this place with
Newfoundland will be completed in about 10 days.

I trust that you will forgive this informal communication
made just as the steamer is about to sail.