Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to forward to Your Lordship the "Blue Book" of British Columbia for the Year 1869 with an able report upon these Annual Returns which has been prepared by Mr Charles Good, the Assistant Colonial Secretary.

I could add but little with any advantage to the observations of Mr Good,and and the comparisons which he has given with former years, beyond what is already known to Your Lordship of the state of the Colony from previous correspondence. I was resident in the community but a short portion of the period to which these Returns relate, and the public business had already been arranged, and had assumed its general character for the Year, before my arrival.

2. The Colony now is in a state of transition to Union with the Dominion of Canada, which must greatly modify existing political arrangements, and will, I cannot doubt, most favorably affect the material progress of the Community; but on the questions arising from the present condition of affairs, I can best address Your Lordship in separate Despatches.