No. 74

I have the honor to transmit the copy of a letter addressed to the
Acting Colonial Secretary by Mr Thomas L. Wood, Acting Attorney
General, of this Colony which explains itself.

It does not appear necessary that I should at this time discuss the
questions raised by Mr Wood as to the duties properly belonging to
the Office of Attorney General or the mode and scale of remuneration
for those services. I will only add that I have on a former occasion
stated my opinion that it is in every point of view advisable that
appointments to the offices of Chief Justice and Attorney General
should be made from England, and daily experience confirms me in that
opinion—any other course will but increase the complications which
at present exist.

In considering this question it may assist you to know that the late
Attorney General, Mr Cary, informed me that he was in receipt of an
income of £1,600 a year from his professional practice in this
Colony, a statement of which I do not doubt the accuracy.