Document Information

Date: 1865-03-17
By: Edward Cardwell
Citation: Despatch from Right Hon. Edward Cardwell to Governor Anthony Musgrave (17 March 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. 3.

Copy of DESPATCH from the Right Hon. EDWARD CARDWELL, M.P., to Governor MUSGRAVE.

(No. 15.)

Downing Street, March 17, 1865.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 27,+ of the 23rd February, in which you can express your opinion that in the present state of the public feeling it would be unwise to press for an immediate decision on the question of the proposed Union, against the almost unanimous desire to defer it until the next session.

With respect to the expediency of the decision you may adopt on this subject, I must rely upon the judgement you may form upon the spot with the aid of local information.

I presume that there are strong objections to the course which has been pursued in the Province of New Brunswick, namely, an immediate dissolution, with a view to the consideration of the question of Union by the newly elected Legislature.

Believing, however, that the adoption of the project would be very beneficial to the real interests of Newfoundland, I much regret the likelihood of delay; and I should be very glad to hear that you were able to announce to me an early and favourable decision on the part of the Provincial Legislature.

I have, &c.

(Signed) EDWARD CARDWELL.

Governor Musgrave,
&c. &c.