Confidential

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches
noted in the margin.

*

The important questions which these and previous despatches treat
are now under the consideration of H.M's Govt. and the result of their
deliberations will be communicated to you. But in the mean time,
looking to the proceedings of the House of Assembly in their recent
Session, and to the probability that the Imperial Parliament may take
measures for the union of the two Colonies at no distant date, it will
be open to you to consider on the expiation of the present Legislature,
whether it will be necessary for you to summon a new House till you
receive definite information from me as to the passage of the Union Bill
through the Imperial Parliament, and the changes in the Constitution of
Vancouver's Island which the measure, if adopted, will entail.