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Date: 1865-11-14
By: Anthony Musgrave
Citation: Despatch from Anthony Musgrave to Right Hon. Edward Cardwell (14 November 1865) in UK, Parliament, Correspondence respecting the Proposed Union of the British North American Provinces (London: George Edward Eyre and William Spottiswoode, 1867).
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No. 8.

EXTRACT from a DESPATCH from Governor MUSGRAVE to the Right Hon. EDWARD CARDWELL, M.P., dated Government House, Newfoundland, November 14, 1865.

(Received December 4, 1865.)
(Answered No. 52, December 20, 1865, page 156.)

(No. 75.)

With respect to the special question of the Confederation of the North American Provinces I cannot speak so confidently. I fear that the new House will not be disposed to assent to that arrangement, at least on the basis of the resolutions of the Quebec Conference, to which exception is taken in some particulars, unless it is made clear to them that the Imperial Government will press decidedly for the accomplishment of the design in some form, and unless also it is apparent that the question is approaching a satisfactory solution in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. But in these latter circumstances I think it may be quite possible to obtain an affirmation of the general principle that Union of all the Colonies will be desirable, if the other Maritime Provinces agree upon the terms of that Union, and subject to such an adjustment of them as will be regarded as equitable to this Colony. After a recognition of the principle involved I should not anticipate any very serious difficulty in settlement of the details, if only some such slight modifications of the scheme should be conceded as would supply members of the Assembly with an excuse for changing their opinions.