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Date: 1864-07-11
By: Richard Graves Macdonnell
Citation: Despatch from Lieutenant Governor Richard Graves Macdonnell to the Lieut.-Governor of PEI and Administrator of the Government of New Brunswick (11 July 1864) in Journal and Proceedings of the House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Appendix No. 3—Union of the Colonies (1865).
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Government House, Halifax, N.S.,
11th July, 1864.

SIR,—

I have the honor to inform you that his Lordship the Governor-General of Canada has applied to me for information as to the intended time and place of meeting ‘of the Delegates, who in accordance with Resolutions of the several Legislature of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, are to confer on the expediency of a Union of those Provinces.

2. I find that although the Resolution authorising the appointment of those Delegates, has been regularly passed by the Legislatures of all three-Provinces, no further step has yet been taken in the matter. Lest it might be supposed that it devolves on this Province, as originating the idea, to initiate also further action, and that any delay can be fairly charged on the Executive here, I wish to inform your Excellency that, having consulted my Executive Council, I am prepared to nominate five Delegates on the part of this Province, three to represent the existing Government and two Her Majesty’s Opposition.

3. In reference to the time and place for the -meeting of the Delegates, I can only say that whilst I and my Ministry would very cordially welcome the Representatives of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island in this capital, we pre- fer leaving to them the choice of such place of meeting, as may be in their opinion most appropriate and most agreeable to themselves.

4. I see some advantages in the selection of Charlottetown for that purpose; but the point is one on which any determination taken by the authorities of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island will be at once acted on by myself and my Ministry.

5. I would therefore suggest the expediency of your conferring with his Excellency the Administrator of the Government of New Brunswick, on the early appointment of Delegates, and the time and place for their meeting. Beyond a desire that no further delay, which can be avoided, should take place, neither I nor my Ministry have anything to suggest. We are prepared to act promptly and willingly in any decision at which your Government, and that of New Brunswick, (or Prince Edward Island) may jointly arrive.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL,
Lieutenant Governor.

Their Excellencies
The Lieut.-Governor of Prince Edward Island, and
The Administrator of the Government of New Brunswick.