OUR ISLAND STORY ‘ 69

into, the Dominion upon just terms, I cannot recOgnize the pro- 3 ' 3 priety of your requiring from me any pledge, that I will do my best to carry it on the terms which have recently been submitted

to the people, if better cannot be obtained. 1, therefore, respect- fully decline to give'Your Honor any further assurance in the

matter than is' contained in my previous letter.

I have, etc., _ JAMES C. POPE

The Lieutenant Governor at once responded:

Government House, ' 3 . . ' 15 April, 1873. ' 3 Dear Mr. Pope :-—-

The point at issue between us is simply this:

' I ask whether you'will personally support the present terms , 3 3 if, failing better, the Legislature should be disposed to accept 3‘ them. You tell me, in reply, that you are in favor of the Union 3 . on just terms; but you decline to say what course you, as my '3 3 Prime Minister, would adopt should the event which I have sug-

gested be realized. I}; It IS evident that your idea of, ,just terms” and that of the ‘ .3 3

Legislature might be so wide apart as to be practically irrecon- . , cilable; and, therefore, in view of your letter to the electors, to . 3 3 3

me that you. would, be prepared personally even to acquiesce in the possible decision of the Legislature in favor of the terms pro— 3 posed, I shall have no alternative but to entrustithe foundation of the new Administration to some member of your party whose estimate of the relative position of the Crown and its chief adviser shall better accord with my own. But as it appears to me that you have somewhat misunderstood my object in this corres- pondence, I hope you will reconsider the question in the light

thrown upon it by this letter.

which I have already referred and of your unwillingness to assure ‘3

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Believe me,

Yours faithfully, WILLIAM ROBINSON

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