No. 44

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 39 dated the
31st March last, forwarding Copies of the British Columbia Act No. 16 of
1871, "to provide for a permanent civil list." I have also received
 your further Despatch No. 45 of the 8th April enclosing a copy of a letter
addressed to you[r] private Secretary by the Mayor of Victoria with a
resolution against the Act passed at a public meeting held in that Town
on the 31st March last.

Although I am not disposed to deny that there are advantages in
placing the civil List on a more permanent footing than that of a money
vote and looking to all the circumstances of the case I cannot disallow
the Act by Her Majesty, I cannot but regret that such an occasion should
have been taken to increase salaries.

You will inform Mr. Robertson that the resolutions forwarded by him
 have been carefully considered by me but that looking to all the
circumstances of the case, I have not thought it my duty to advise Her
Majesty to withhold her assent from the Bill.

The necessary Order in Council will be forwarded as soon as it has
passed the Council.