Colonial Despatches

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No 52 of the 12th of May enclosing a letter from Colonel Moody relative to sending to British Columbia the Wives of certain of the non-commissioned Officers and men of the Royal Engineers in that Colony.

I am to refer you to the DukeDuke of Newcastle's despatch No 48 of the 21st of July referring Colonel Moody's proposal for an expression of your opinion, which (I am to observe) ought to have been contained in your present despatch.

As however you have not expressed any objection to Colonel Moody's recommendations which would appear in themselves to be desirable, the Secretary of State does not propose to await a replyreply to the reference made to you in the despatch of 21st July above referred to but will at once communicate with the proper departments of the Government with a view to carrying the proposals into effect.

The Secretary of State for War will be consulted as to the propriety under the circumstances of allowing the Wife and family of Serjeant McColl to be sent to the colony at the public expense.