“‘Secretary’s Office, 17th May, 1860.
“‘Sir,—I have laid before his Excellency the Lieut.-Governor your letter of the 15th inst., relative to the distribution of postage stamps, and I am directed to inform you that he has referred it for the consideration of his Council.
“‘I have, &c., &c.,
“‘(Signed), S. L. Tilley.
“‘The Hon. C. Connell, &c., &c.’
“‘I have felt it my duty to lay before your Excellency this correspondence, together with the Minute of Council, and have no desire to make any comment thereon, as I think it will speak for itself.
“‘I may remark, however, that I cannot discover by that correspondence—No. 1 to 8—that it was the intention to withdraw from me that support in the action I had taken in procuring the postage stamps as authorized by the Minute in Council referred to.
“‘My administration of the Post Office Department is before the public, and it is for them to say whether it is satisfactory or not.
“‘I think I may state with certainty that the revenues of the Department will be reduced by the recent action of the Government, as I made arrangements for the delivery and sale of postage stamps at every Post-office and Way-office throughout the Province on the 1st May. I do not intend that the legitimate authority belonging to the Chief of that Department shall be limited or circumscribed while I have the honour of being at its head.
“‘After a very careful and deliberate review of the whole matter, under all the circumstances, I believe that my continuance in office would not be beneficial to the Department.