GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary to H. S. Loring, November 25, 1874

Mr. Austin to Mr. Loring.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant requesting that your dispatch on the subject of the recent case of Ellis vs. Mitchell may be laid before his excellency the governor, and that yon may be favored with an opinion on the point at issue, in order that you may be enabled to lay the whole matter before your Government. In reply, I am directed to inform you that the decision of the full court is a formal statement of the law of the matter, and must be taken by his excellency to be in all respects correct until reversed on appeal by the privy council in England. I am also to observe that it cannot be expected, nor would it be right, that his excellency should express an opinion upon any such decision. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,