No. 96

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Governor Seymour's
despatch No. 44 of the 19th March enclosing copy of "An Ordinance to
incorporate the Members of the congregation of St. Andrews Presbyterian
Church in the city of Victoria, British Columbia."

As the promoters of that Ordinance recognize the Jurisdiction of
the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland I caused it to be
referred, to that body, in a letter of which a copy is annexed, for any
observations they might wish to make upon it.

It appears from the reply which I have received, and of which I
enclose a copy that the Colonial Committee decline to urge its adoption,
and this being the case, I consider that, independently of objections of
detail, raised by the Attorney General, the promoters of the Bill would
probably themselves desire that it should not be passed.

I have therefore to direct you to withhold your assent from it.