In reply to your letter of the 
14 Instant requesting
               to be furnished with any information or remarks, which my Lords
               
Commissioners of the Admiralty can afford, on the propriety of
               the charge made for the freight of Hay and Oats shipped on board
               the "
Thames City," in 
1858 for 
British Columbia, and afterwards
               landed at 
Gravesendby
 by
               
Colonel Moody's direction; the charge for Freight being £98.10 whilst the value of the goods appears
               to have been only £183.3.1; I am commanded by their Lordships
               to acquaint you, for the information of His Grace the 
Duke of
                  Newcastle, that the amount paid for the freight of the Stores
               in question or any other goods, is necessarily irrespective of
               their value; and that the Rate agreed upon in the case of the
               "
Thames City" viz. £4.18.6 per
ton
 ton was the lowest that could be obtained, and has since been frequently exceeded
               in forwarding
               Stores to 
Vancouver's Island.