No. 8

It has been brought to my notice that a Bill is now passing through
the House of Assembly of Vancouver Island by which certain exclusive
rights are granted to an American Telegraph Company who are about to
construct a line from San Francisco.

I enclose for your information a copy of a Parliamentary Paper from
which you will learn that the policy of the Imperial Government is
directly opposed to the grant of any monoply of Telegraphic
communication, and I have therefore to instruct you to withhold your
assent from any Bill granting such a monoply unless it contains a clause
suspending it's operation until Her Majesty's Pleasure be made known.

I am of opinion that it is most improbable that such law would
receive Her Majesty's approval, or, if passed without a suspending
clause, be allowed to remain in operation.