LAT
Office
That it was not found possible to introduce the Bill providing for the revocation of Letters Patent creating Colonial Dioceses which was transmitted by the Letter of 5th April and was approved in the above-mentioned Report, but it had become desirable to put an end to the Letters Patent creating the Diocese of Victoria. Your Lordships proposed, therefore, in accordance with opinion, to effect such revocation by Letters Patent.
To request that he (In Holland) was to take into consideration the enclosed Draft Letters Patent which had been prepared at the C.O. and that we would for that purpose favour your Lordship with an opinion whether the Draft was sufficient to effect the desired object.
That copies of the recited Letters Patent were inclosed for information and he (In Holland) was to state that they were the only Letters Patent which had been issued with reference to the see of Victoria.
That it was believed by your Lordship that it was contemplated by Earl Granville to appoint, under the Imperial Act 5 Vic. c. 6, a missionary Bishop for the Northern parts of China. In such case, it would probably be thought desirable to revoke the Order in Council of 1849, referred to in the recited Letters Patent, although it would become practically inoperative after the revocation of the Letters Patent had been effected. And that in connection with this point, he might refer to the Report of the Law Officers of the Crown of 19th August 1868.
In obedience to your Lordships' Commands, we have the honour to Report that we are of opinion that the Letters Patent sent, which have been prepared for the purpose of revoking the former Letters Patent, are sufficient to effect the desired object. We think it will be desirable to revoke the Order in Council of 1849, which, although practically inoperative as long as there is no Bishop of...
Page 235
CL 110
Treasury