16 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Majesty's servants a more unreserved expression of their wishes and 

 judgment than might be elsewhere fitting." He requested that 

 publicity be given to his despatch and authorized Musgrave to take 

 such steps as he properly and constitutionally could for promoting 

 the favourable consideration of the matter. In conclusion he added 

 that the details must be settled by the people, but that the Governor 

 should himself enter upon, amongst other things, the question of the 

 future position of Gov^ernment servants. ^ 



The Secretary of State here puts his finger upon two facts: 

 first, that, though Se^^mour had neglected to apprise the Colonial 

 Office of the views of the colonists upon Confederation, the Home 

 Authorities were aware, doubtless through the Dominion Govern- 

 ment,^ that the change was favoured b}^ the Colony as a whole; 

 and secondly, that the official members of the Legislative Council 

 were the obstruction to the formal expression of that opinion. 



Probably because of his work in Newfoundland, and, perhaps, for 

 , other reasons, the Colonist, as soon as the appointment was announced, 

 said editorially: "There is no reason to doubt that Mr. Musgrave's 

 mission is to steer British Columbia into the union. His task will 

 be comparatively easy." * 



The Governor arrived in Victoria on 23rd August, 1869. The 

 hour had now come, and the man. The intervening territory had 

 become a portion of Canada; the Dominion Government was anxious 

 to add British Columbia to the union; the Imperial Government 

 desired to see the change effected immediately; the people of the 

 Colony were, speaking generall}^ in favour of Confederation; the 

 pilot had stepped aboard. 



After two weeks spent in social functions at the capital and in 

 recuperating after his long voyage, Musgrave set out to visit the 

 scattered communities of the mainland. The addresses presented to 

 him dealt in every instance with the great question, unanimously 

 declaring that the Colony was in favour of union on fair and equitable 

 terms and expressing the hope that he might be the means to bring 

 about the desired change. As soon as this general feeling was mani- 

 fested he felt himself at liberty to publish the despatch from the 

 Colonial Office expressing the desire of the Imperial Government. 



The press of the Colony urged the people to abandon the dis- 

 cussion of the wisdom, or otherwise, of Confederation, and, accepting 

 it as their destiny, to centre their attention upon the terms. As the 

 Colonist put it: "Whatever may be asserted to the contrary there 

 would appear to be no good reason for doubting that there is a very 

 general desire throughout the Colony for a constitutional change, 



