Via Panama Private 3 Adelaide Place, King Wm. Street London 1 April 1867 My dear Sir Again have we to despatch our letters before the incoming mail arrives, I have therefore none of yours to reply to. The question of the Emigrants of Montmorency has vexed me exceedingly but as it was utterly out of my power to counteract what has been done I did not trouble you with referring officially to the matter. Had your letters to Miss Rye or to myself given any limit of time I should have acted strictly up to your instructions but as they were silent on this point and as I was aware Miss Rye had not returned to England so soon as you expected I was hopeful that the opportunity was favorable, but I must say I shall know for the future how to deal with Miss Rye. Mr. Rhodes in his letter to me by the last Suez mail refers to the general satisfactory state of the province and remarks that all that is now wanted is population and from that I am hopeful that the arrivals by the Montmorency will not be so great a burden on the Government as I anticipated. I was very glad to receive the Land regulations and general information about the Provinces these I have sent to all who are connected with the province that I know of, it would be as well if you could furnish me with a list of the friends of settlers to whom I could always send matters of interest relating to the province as they would no doubt freely circulate the information. I am greatly in want of a map of the province upon a large scale showing the townships, roads and other matters of interest for not infrequently individuals call at the office to ask to see one and I feel when I have to state that I do not possess one. If there is a map of that kind extant I should certainly feel obliged for a tracing of it which I could get mounted. Notwithstanding that money is cheap and large amounts are lying unemployed, there still exists a great want of confidence. It is utterly useless to attempt to bring out Govt. Loans unless for small amounts and at a high interest, and even then it is prejudicial to the interests of the province as well as to the Colony in general to do this. I earnestly hope that at the forthcoming session of the General Assembly, Mr. Stafford will introduce some measure to consolidate and remove all prol. Loans from the English market it of paramount importance that it should be done. I do not consider any question is of greater moment. Here the prol. securities are utterly unsaleable except at a ruinous discount whereas Got. stocks are at par and upwards - Let the Government remove at once all doubt which the public have about their securities by giving them the guarantee of the Colony - it is a mere matter of arrangement between the Government and the Provinces. I hope you will urge the Col. Secretary to take the matter in hand and to bring it to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion. If disposed the Government could easily convert the existing Loans and float the unallotted portion of them handing the proceeds to the respective provinces. To sell at the discount of 15 or 20 p.c. as some loans have been sold entails a loss upon the province which is starting if you quietly work it out at Compound interest. I hope we shall see see no more sacrifices of that kind - I enclose some wool circulars which may prove of interest knowing you are largely interested in the staple - The market is at present seriously affected by the utter stagnation in all branches of trade and especially by the new and almost prohibitory tariff of the United States - prices are down from 1d c. 2d p. 1b. Clothing wools having fallen much more than Combing - The N.Z. wool offered being parcels of the old clip no criterion was formed by the reduction on it, unless there is a revival in trade it is doubtful whether any improvement can take place in the May June sales - when the N.Z. clip will be offered in large quantity. The Ensign the direct ship from H. Bay is now 87 days out so we may look for her soon - I am looking forward to her arrival with considerable interest. I shall also be curious to have your opinion on the sheep sent to Col. Whitmore I hope they may arrive in as good order and condition as they were shipped, and begging you will excuse these hurried remarks I am, My dear sir Faithfully yours John MorrisonHis Honor Donald McLean Esqre.