Cooper to Carnarvon

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 12th instant, and thank you for giving
instructions to the Crown Agents for the Colonies as to
my half salary.

Referring to Mr Cardwell's letter of the 12th
October last, I beg to state that regarding the letter as
a whole, I considered that though the extended leave of
absence from my duties, asked for by me, was not granted,
owing to the expectation expressed by my Solicitor, that
the legal proceedings in which I was engaged, would be
previously completed; still, that should my Solicitor be
wrong in this supposition (as events have proved he was,
and mentioned in my letter of the 26th ult) additional
leave would be granted. But as mentioned in the concluding
paragraph of Mr Cardwell's communication, half salary
could only be granted to me until the end of May—from
which I inferred, that should I require further leave from
my duties, it would be subject to the condition of
remaining, without any emoluments.

I trust that this explanation may be deemed
satisfactory, and that instructions may be given to the
Crown Agents for the Colonies, to issue to me half salary
for the five months ending 31st May.

I have the honor with the concurrence of Governor
Seymour to request that my leave of absence may be extended
until such time as the action of the Legislative Council
of British Columbia, upon the subject of Immigration, may
 be known in England. Governor Seymour was pleased shortly
before leaving London, to state that he considered I was
well fitted to act as Agent General for Emigration for
British Columbia in England, and that if the Council passed
at their next sittings an Immigration Act, I should receive
the appointment; he was further kind enough to state that
if I would prolong my stay in this Country, my application
for an extension of leave should have his cordial
recommendation, upon condition that with the prospect of
this promotion, I should remain, as I informed him I had
been doing since May last, without half salary.

An old Colonist from Victoria who had called upon
the Governor stated to me that his departure was postponed,
and it was not until the afternoon of Saturday, the 15th
 ult, when I received a note from Governor
 Seymour, that I found he
adhered to his original intention of leaving on the 17th.
I immediately wrote an application for extended leave upon
the grounds previously stated, and took it to the Governor's
Palace in the evening. I found Governor Seymour very much
occupied, but he kindly promised if possible to forward my
application from Southampton. I requested him should he be 
 prevented from doing this at that port, to kindly do so from Panama.

It was my intention to have waited until sufficient
time had elapsed for me to receive a communication from
Governor Seymour from Panama, and should I not hear, to
forward this application, which I beg Your Lordship will
take into your favorable consideration.

In corroboration of what I have thus ventured to lay
before Your Lordship, perhaps I might be permitted to add—I
am so fully under the impression Major General Moody may
be aware of Governor Seymour's intentions on the above
subject—that, if Your Lordship should think proper to
cause a reference to General Moody, I am sure my statements
would be substantiated.

I am assuming that on this particular subject Governor
Seymour's views, may not as yet, have been at all submitted
to Your Lordship.