No. 194
Government House Victoria
Vancouvers Island
23 July 1859
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge your Despatch No 63 of the 11th May transmitting for my information and guidance copies of a correspondence with the Admiralty and other departments of State, relative to the erection of Light Houses on certain of the salient points ofManuscript imageof the Straits of Fuca and the approaches to Esquimalt Harbour, and I feel deeply gratified by the intelligence conveyed in your Despatch of the intention of Her Majesty's Government to advance the sum of Seven Thousand Pounds (7000) for the construction of those important works, on the condition that one moiety of it shall be repaid by the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia jointly, and measures will accordingly be adopted for thatManuscript imagethat purpose.
2. I observe that you have requested the Board of Trade, immediately to send out the lanterns and light apparatus, and that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have been requested to instruct the Naval Officers stationed here, to give me every assistance to facilitate the work.
4. [sic] I depend greatly on Captain Richards Ret. for the selection of the proper sites and with him I will associate aManuscript imagea Committee of Naval Officers and experienced Ship Masters so that the choice may be made with due care and discrimination.
5. You may also rest assured that no time will be lost in carrying into effect an undertaking which promises to be so highly conducive to the commercial progress of the Country.
I have etc.
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Merivale
Copies of this despatch may as well be sent to the Admiralty & the Bd of Trade.
ABd 7 Sep
Annex dt.
HM S 7
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Merivale to Admiralty and J. Booth, Board of Trade, 16 September 1859, forwarding copy of the despatch for information.