Confidential

I have received your Confidential Despatches respecting the
Appointment of Mr. Philip Hankin as Colonial Secretary of British
Columbia.

The absence of any sufficient ground for the strong opinions which
you have expressed as to Mr. Hankin's unfitness for that office, joined
to the evident animus which I regret to perceive in your Despatches lead
me to doubt whether the disturbances which you anticipate from Mr.
Hankins appointment are really much to be apprehended.

It appears to me however very unfortunate that you did not long ago
make up your mind as to the fitness of Mr. Young for Colonial Secretary,
which there seems to me even on your own statement to be no sufficient
reason for questioning. If this appointment had been made all public
inconvenience and private hardship would have been avoided.

As you did not do this, and as Mr. Hankin has consequently been
appointed it is your plain duty to do all in your power to enable him to
perform the functions of his office effectively.

I learn from private sources that Mr. Hankin had been six weeks in
the Colony before the Mails just received were despatched from it, but
of this I have received no information from you, and I am left to
conjecture whether the disastrous consequences foretold by you have
arisen or are likely to arise.

Under these circumstances it is impossible for me to give you any
encouragement to suppose that you will have been warranted in any other
course than that of giving effect to the arrangements decided upon by my
Predecessor.

I desire to know whether that course has been taken and if not what
has been done, and with what result.