Document Information

Date: 1865-01-25
By: Viscount Monck
Citation: Despatch from Viscount Monck to Right Hon. Edward Cardwell (25 January 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. 5.

Copy of DESPATCH from Viscount Mock to the Right Hon. Edward CARDWELL, M.P.

                  (No. 28.)                                                                                                                                                      Quebec, January 25, 1865.

SIR,                                                                                                                                                                              (Received February 9, 1865.)

I HAVE the hour to enclose a copy of a Despatch from the Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island, and of my answer, respecting the time for assembling the Legislature of that Colony for the consideration of the Resolutions of the Quebec Conference.

I have, &c.

The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, M.P.,                                                                       (Signed)                                               MONCK.

Enclosure 1 in No. 5.

Lieut-Governor DUNDAS to Lord MONCK.

                                                                                                                              Government House, Prince Edward Island,

MY LORD,                                                                                                                                                                                   January 9, 1865.

I HAVE to acknowledge the recipe on the 7th instant, of your Lordship’s Despatch of the 23rd […], transmitting copy of a Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and your reply thereto, on the subject of the resolutions adopted by the Conference which recently assembled at Quebec, to consider the propriety of effecting an Union of the Province of British North America.

I have, in accordance with your respect, consulted my advisors on the subject. It will be inconvenient for local reasons, that I should summon the Legislature of this Province before the 28th February; but I am prepared to do so if your Lordship is desirous of obtaining sooner the decision of this Legislature on this important question.

At the opening of the Legislature, I propose to bring the project of the Conference before both Houses, and to invite them to give their calm and dispassionate consideration to a subject of such manifest interest and importance to the future welfare of the Colony.

My ministers are anxious to meet, so far as they can the wishes of Her Majesty’s Government, and of your Lordship, as to the time of submitting this matter to the Legislature, and if the 28th February apparatus to your Lordship to be inconveniently late, I shall be glad if you will inform me of the latest date which will meet with your approval.

I have, &c.

The Right Hon. Viscount Monck,                                                                                          (Signed)                George Dundas,

&c.            &c.            &c.                                                                                                                                      Lieutenant-Governor.

Enclosure 2 in No. 5.

Viscount MONCK to Lieut-Governor DUNDAS

SIR,                                                                                                                                                                                   Quebec, January 25, 1865.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 9th instant, in which you inform me that you decided to summon the Parliament of Prince Edward Island to meet on the 28th February, but that if I desire, in connection with the intention of submitting to its consideration the proposed Union of the British North American Provinces, that it should meet on an earlier day, you are prepared to meet my views in reference to this matter.

I have the honour to say in reply, I do not think any advantage would be gained by assembling your Parliment at an earlier day that that which you mention.

[Page 6]

I hope to transmit to you by an early opportunity the terms of the motion in which it is proposed by the Canadian Ministry to bring this important subject under the consideration of the Parliament of this Province.

Lieut.-Governor Dundas,                                                                                                                     I have, &c

&c.            &c.                                                                                                           (Signed)                   MONCK.