In reply to your letter of the 19 Inst. transmitting copy
of a Despatch from the Governor of British Columbia requesting
a supply of British silver and copper coin I am directed by
the Lords Commissoners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit
herewith for the information of the Secretary of State copy of
a letter addressed to the Master of the Mint on this subject.
Their Lordships are unable to direct a supply of Copper
Pence and Half Pence—there being none on hand at the Mint and
the coinage of that description of Money having ceased.
With reference to the last paragraph of your letter,
My Lords request that you will inform
the
the Secretary of State
that They have not considered it expedient under the present
circumstances to make any alteration in the distribution of
the different denominations of Coins demanded by the Governor.
Their Lordships propose to direct the judgement to the
Master of the Mint of the value of the coins vizt £6900 from
the grant for British Columbia—and the Colonial Treasurer
should be directed to abstain from drawing upon the Paymaster
General to an equivalent extent.
Sir F. Rogers
A copy of this letter might be sent to the Govr
for his information and guidance, in the despatch which
has been already drafted and is going to him on the 1st Proximo.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Hamilton to Master of the Mint, 24 October
1860, advising of a requisition from Douglas for coins and suggesting a
substitution coin if the ones requested could not be supplied.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Rogers to Douglas, No. 58, 30 October 1860.