Colonial Despatches

1. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No 5 of the 27th September, 1852, with its enclosures as noted in the Margin.

2. It is with great satisfaction that I observe by that communication that you approve of the measures which were taken, by this Government, to obtain redress from the Cape Flattery Indians, for their cruelty to the crew of the Hudson's BayCompany's Company's Brigantine "Una," when shipwrecked in Neah Bay, in December 1851.

3. I have received Her Majesty's Commission appointing me Lieutenant Governor of Queen Charlottes Island with certain limited executive powers, as therein described, and while I return thanks for this high mark of confidence, which I shall endeavour to exercise for the honor and advantage of the Crown, I cannot forbear expressing a feeling of diffidence in my ability to discharge the duties of another Office involving a serious amount of labour and responsibility, while I have no assistance whatever in the administration of public affairs, and while every function of Government, whether Military Judicial Executive or Clerical must be performed by me alone; a range of duties too extensive and dissimilar in their nature, for my unaided strength, to attend to with satisfaction to myself or advantage to the public.

I will however most gladly do every thing in my power to meet the views and wishes ofHer Her Majestys Government trusting that you will forward, from time to time, such instructions as may be necessary for my guidance, and a selection of legal works, containing the Forms of Process observed in the Vice Admiralty Courts, and developing the principles on which their decisions are founded.

4. I also observe with much satisfaction that Her Majesty's Government have directed the Admiral Commanding in the Pacific, to take immediate steps for the protection of British Interests on the north west coast of America, against the attacks of Indians, and of the unwarranted intrusion of Foreigners on the Territory of the Queen, and that it is further probable that the application I made for a Steam vessel may be granted. I have also perused with much interest the communication which the Earl of Malmesbury addressed to Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, touching the improper and aggressive acts committed by Citizens of the United States, on Queen Charlotte's Island, and other British Possessions.

5. I shall attend to the instructions in your Despatch, pointing out the wishes of Her Majesty's Government in respect to parties who may be desirous of searching for Gold on Queen Charlotte's Island, and I have to thank you for the two Parliamentary Papers, which, at the same time, you did me the honor to forward.

Those papers contain much valuable information, and will be of the utmost assistance in framing such regulations, as it may be found proper to adopt, when granting Licences for collecting Gold on Queen Charlottes Island.

6. I shall soon issue a proclamation declaring the rights of the Crown, in respect to all Gold found in its natural state, and forbidding all persons to dig or disturb the soil in search of Gold, unless duly authorised, in that behalf by License from the Officers of Her Majesty's Colonial Government; and will take such other steps for the protection of the rights of the Crown, and to enforce obedience to the Laws, as are enjoined in your despatch.

I will also transmit copiesof of all regulations, which may be framed, and report to you from time to time on the state and progress of the public affairs of Queen Charlotte's Island, and will keep the sums of money received on account of Licences, issued separate and distinct from all other Colonial Revenues, and when it becomes desirable to issue Commissions of the peace for Queen Charlotte's Island, I will recommend competent persons for such appointments according to the instructions in your Despatch of the 27th September last.