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Date: 1866-09-26
By: Earl of Carnarvon
Citation: Despatch from the Earl of Carnarvon to Viscount Monck (26 September 1866) 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. 21.
COPY of a DESPATCH from the Right Hon. the Earl of CARNARVON to Viscount MONCK

(No. 63.)

Downing Street, September 26, 1866.

MY LORD,

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a Resolution which has been placed in my hands by the Delegates from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick now in England, adopted by them as a means of bringing Prince Edward Island into the contemplated union of the British North American Provinces.

I forward this Resolution to your Lordship at the request of the Delegates, that it may be communicated to those gentlemen who are appointed to be Delegates on behalf of Canada, and that it may be ascertained how far it meets with their concurrence.

I have further to request that you will apprise the Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Islands of the result. I have in the meantime transmitted a copy to Lieutenant-Governor Dundas of the resolution and of this Despatch.

I have taken this course in order to give effect to the wishes of the Delegates now in England ; but it must be understood that I do so without expressing any opinion of my own on the subject, as this would be premature as this would be premature at the present stage of the question.

I have, &c.

(Signed) CARNARVON

Viscount Monck,
&c. &c.

Enclosure in No.21.

At a meeting of the Delegates form Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, held at the Alexandra Hotel, London, on the 22nd day of September 1866, all being present except the Hon. Mr. Wilmot, it was unanimously resolved, that inasmuch as the co-operation of Prince Edward Island, though not indispensable to a union of the other British North American Provinces, is on many accounts very desirable, and as the settlement of the land question which has so long and so injuriously agitated that Colony, would be attended with great benefit, and at the same time place the Local Government of the Islands, by the possession of the proprietary lands, more on a footing with the other Provinces, which have crown lands and minerals as a source of local revenue.

Therefore Resolved, —

That in case the Legislature of the Island should authorize the appointment of Delegates to act in conjunction with those from the other Provinces in arranging a plan of confederation prior to the meeting of the Imperial Parliament, the Delegates from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are hereby pledged to support the policy of providing such an amount as may be necessary for the purchase of the proprietary rights, but not to exceed $800,000.

CHARLES TUPPER
S.L. TILLEY