No. 16

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatches Nos 12 and
14, of the 22nd May, and the 7th of June last.

I am very sensible of the responsibility imposed upon you by my
despatch of the 28th of February last, instructing you to Convoke a Legislative Assembly, but I am satisfied from your language that you
are fully prepared to encounter that responsibility and to take
the necessary steps.

With respect to the franchise, you have, I do not doubt, very good
reason for considering that it is too much restricted by the terms of
your Commission. It seems to me however that the best course will be,
not for the present to alter the Commission, but that you should act on
it in the first instance, and bring before the Assembly convoked under
it, a measure for extending the suffrage in the manner which you propose.