I am commanded by My 
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
               acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 
23 Instant, enclosing
               a Copy of a Despatch from the Governor of 
Vancouver Island forwarding
               a Copy of a Memorial from the Legislative Council relative to the
               Defenceless state of that Colony; and I am
to
 to acquaint you, in reply,
               for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that
               the Subject has been several times before their Lordships and that
               they consider it had better be referred to the Committee on Defences.