68 OUR ISLAND STORY

to carry Confederation on the terms which have recently been submitted to the people, if no better terms could be procured from the Dominion Authorities.

If it seems to you unnecessary that I should require such an assurance as this, I need only remind you of your recent letter to the electors in which you spoke of the actions of my Govern- ment in sending delegates to Ottawa as a conspiracy to deprive the people of self-Government, et Izoc gemw 0/72/16, and beg you to ask yourself whether, in the face of this letter, it would be con- sistent with my duty, as the representative of the Crown, to be satisfied with less. I

You may be quite sure that I understand my constitutional ‘ position too well to attempt any infringement of the rights of the people; but it is absolutely necessary to the harmonious working of the Constitution, which you very properly desire to uphold, that the Crown, should be aware of and have full reliance in, the personal views of the Minister in whom it proposes to place its chief confidence.

It appears to me from the concluding paragraph of your

‘ note that, in reality, we are pretty much in accord ;, and there- fore I will await your answer to this communication before cal- ling on any other member of your Party to form aGovernment.

Believe me,

' Yours faithfully,

WILLIAM ROBINSON The Hon. I. C. Pope -

a

To this communication Mr. Pope replied:

l RavenWood, 15 April, 1873. My Dear Lieutenant Governor :-—- I

. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of thls day’s date in reply to mine of the same date. i

' In answer thereto I beg to state that, while I am deeply impressed With the importance of the question of Confederation, and am prepared to advocate the immediate entry of the Island

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