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Date: 1865-05-09
By: Richard Graves Macdonnell
Citation: Despatch from Lieutenant-Governor Richard Graves Macdonnell to Right. Hon. Edward Cardwell (9 May 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.

COPY of a DESPATCH from Lieut.-Governor Sir R. G. MACDONNELL, C.B., to the Right Hon.Edward Cardwell, M.P.

(No.78.)

Government House, Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 9, 1865.
(Received May 22, 1865.)

SIR,

In reference to my Despatch, No. 75 of the 27th ultimo, transmitting a Resolution of the House of Assembly on the subject of Union of the Maritime Provinces, I have now the honour to enclose a Resolution passed on the 2nd instant by the Legislative Council of this Province, affirming the expediency of renewing negotiations for a Legislative Union of those Province. This Resolution is identical with that adopted by the Assembly, except that it retains the preamble which, in deference to the feelings of the majority of the latter house, was finally omitted there, as I have already explained.

I have, &c.

(Signed) RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL,
Lieut.-Governor

The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P.
&c. &c. &c.

Enclosure in No. 8.

Whereas, under existing circumstances, an immediate […] of the British North American Provinces has become impracticable:
And whereas, a Legislative Union of the Maritime Provinces is desirable, whether the larger Union be accomplished or not:
Resolved, that in the opinion of this house the negotiations for the Union of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island should be renewed in accordance with the resolution passed at the last session of the Legislature.