Colonial Despatches

I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit to you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to your letter of the 7 May last copy of a letter addressed to the Commissioners of Audit on the 11 June last and of a Report from that Board of the 25 Ult (No 380) relative to the adjustment of advances on account of Pay and Incidental Expenses of the Royal Engineers sent to British Columbia under Colonel Moody and I am to acquaint you that Their Lordships are of opinion, with reference to the items of expenditure which cannot be allowed by the War Department, that Accounts should be furnished by Captain Parsons in respect to the sum of £500 and by Captain Grant in respect to the sum of £800, advanced to those officers respectively, on account of the Incidental Expenses, Their Lordships do not consider it it necessary to call upon Colonel Moody for an account of the sums of £100 £250 and £58-5-4 issued to him for the passage and travelling expenses of himself and his family;

With reference to other advances, beyond those abovementioned to Captains Parsons and Grant, it will be necessary that these Officers should furnish Accounts, which My Lords consider may properly be examined by the Commisioners of Audit, when they have been received.

With regard to the examination of the Accounts to be furnished by Colonel Moody for sums received by him, in the Colony, on account of the Royal Engineers, Their Lordships are not at present prepared to give any specific directions. They will await the receipt of the Accounts and such Report as Colonel Moody may furnish in respect thereof;

I am also to transmit to you the the draft Instructions for the Local Auditor, referred to in the last paragraph of the Report of the Commissioners of Audit and to request that you will move the Secretary of State to forward them to British Columbia for the guidance of that Officer.