No. 81
31 December 1861
I have the honor to forward herewith to Your Grace the Annual Blue Book for the Colony of British Columbia for the year 1860, prepared in as complete a form as the present state of the Colony will admit.
2. I regret that the transmission of this Book shouldhaveManuscript image have been delayed so long after the period prescribed, but I trust that the circumstance of this Book being the first compiled, and the difficulty of obtaining the requisite information from the different Officers, who for the most part had no previous acquaintance with the nature of the Return, may be admitted both to excuse the delay and to account for any imperfections which may be found to exist.
3. I believe it would besuperfluousManuscript image superfluous for me upon this occasion to enter into any detailed account of the progress, settlement, or comparative condition of the Colony, for I have heretofore from time to time in my various dispatches kept Her Majesty's Government fully informed upon all those matters, and those despatches have already been laid before both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty.
I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke,
Your Graces most obedient
humble Servant
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
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Sir F. Rogers
Acknowledge? This is the first Blue Book we have received from B. Columbia.
VJ 17 M
Yes.
Mr Joseph
FR 17/3
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 113, 19 March 1862, acknowledging receipt of Douglas's despatch and Blue Book.