"No. 1107. SECRETARY'S OFFICE, QUEBEC, "1_st Augt_. 1863. "SIR, "I have the honour to inform you that your letter of the 27th ultimo, addressed to the Hon. John S. Macdonald, has been transferred to this Department. "I am now directed to state, in reply to the inquiry therein made, that the details of the scheme for the promotion of telegraphic and postal communication across the Continent of British North America have not, as yet, been placed before the Provincial Government in such a definite shape as to enable them to determine the course which it may be advisable to take in relation to that important undertaking. "The Government will, however, be prepared, whenever a sufficiently matured scheme shall be submitted for their consideration, to give the subject their most earnest attention. "I have the honour to be, Sir, "Your most obedient Servant, "E. A. MEREDITH, "_Assistant Secretary_." "EDWD. W. WATKIN, Esq., "_Montreal_" Two days after the Duke's last letter, came the following:-- "KELHAM, NEWARK, "8 _Jany_. 1863. "MY DEAR MR. WATKIN, "Since your letter of the 6th (received to-day), you will partly have learnt why I could not answer some of your private letters, but as regards the official letter respecting the Western project, I think you will see that I cannot answer it without consulting my colleagues. _I_ cannot _grant_ a subsidy, and on the other hand I should be unwilling to _refuse_ it. The proposal that part of the subsidy should be Imperial necessarily entails delay. I do not think I can possibly send an answer till after the next Cabinet. "I shall be sorry to miss Mr. J. A. Macdonald. The only chance of seeing him would be if he could dine and sleep a night at Clumber on his way to Liverpool. Unfortunately I must be all day on the 16th at Newark on County business. Could he come on the afternoon, of 15th without inconvenience? "I am, yours very sincerely, "NEWCASTLE." And farther letters in the order given. "CLUMBER, "15 _Jany_. 1863. "MY DEAR MR. WATKIN, "I have written officially to the Admiralty respecting the formation of a Naval Station at Esquimault, but I will now write privately to the Duke of Somerset and ask for an early answer.