38 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



expression of a disheartened community longing for change of any 

 kind, yet the possibility alone of something arising out of it to promote 

 an overland communication with Canada was enough to induce me 

 to support your Resolution. I have received in reply communications 

 on the subject that the consideration of it must, at all events, await 

 the time when the intervening territory now under the control of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company shall have been incorporated with the 

 Confederation."^ It will be noted that he had received but one letter 

 from the Secretary of State, and none from Ottawa; unless therefore 

 he had been in correspondence with the Hudson's Bay Company, the 

 use of the word "communications" was improper; and further that it 

 was not the consideration of Confederation by the colony, but by the 

 Colonial Office, which must according to the Secretary of State, abide 

 that event. 



Commenting editorially upon this lack-lustre statement the 

 Colonist said: "Confederation is touched upon in a manner which 

 shows the proposition finds little sympathy with his Excellency .... 

 The remark that Confederation is seized upon by a 'disheartened 

 community longing for a change of any kind' is absurd. If such be 

 his Excellency's real conviction we can inform him that he was never 

 more 'at sea' in his life. The people of British Columbia would not 

 welcome Confederation as they would welcome 'any change.' There 

 are many changes they would not accept if they could obtain them; 

 but there is one they will have, and that is restoration of their political 

 rights and the control of the public revenue. Mr. Seymour and his 

 Government may as well know this to-day as to learn it in a different 

 form a few months hence. "^ The Hon. John Robson a popular 

 member of the Council and the proprietor of the British Columbian, 

 wrote: "It may however, become the duty of the Legislature to impart 

 to this question a more practical complexion, during the present 

 session; and, if we have been correctly informed as to the present 

 attitude of the Canadian Government upon the subject, such a turn 

 is far from problematical."^ A few days later arrived the historic 

 telegram from the Dominion Government: "The Canadian Govern- 

 ment desires union with British Columbia and has opened communi- 

 cation with the Imperial Government on the subject of the Resolutions 

 (of the public meeting, 28th January, 1868) and suggests immediate 

 action by your Legislature and the passage of an Address to Her 

 Majesty regarding union with Canada. Keep us informed of progress."^ 



^British Columbian, March 21, 1868. 



* Daily British Colonist, March 23, 1868. 

 ^British Columbian, March 25, 1868. 



* Daily British Colonist. March 27, 1868. 



