Munro to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
1 Hardies Buildings
Inverness
17 Nov 1863
My Lord,
I beg respectfully to draw your attention to a paragraph which appeared in the "Times" of the 24th Oct last, stating that the body of a white man had been found lying dead at the mouth of the Bear River, British Columbia, with a tin cup lying by the side of the deceased on which were scratched these words: "Donald Munro, lost in the wood, is from Inverness, Scotland, born June 1825."
As the deceased is my son, I write to your Lordship to inquire whether you have received any communication on the subject from Her Majesty's representative at Victoria and if so what information it contains. If youhaveManuscript image have not received any intelligence on the subject I would respectfully submit to your Lordship that you would take such steps in the matter as may appear best to ensure a thorough investigation into the facts of the case, and that any effects belonging to the deceased may be handed over to Her Majesty's representative to be forwarded to me here.
I have the honor to be, My Lord,
Your Lordship's mo. obed. Servt.,
fr. Dond Munro
Henry Munro

The Right Honourable
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
P.S. I enclose letter from the Editor of the "Times" on the subject.
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
We have no official information on this subject. I suppose that in such a case as this the Governor may be requested to do what he can to obtain the information required?
VJ 25 Nov
Draft, & tell him.
TFE 25/11
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
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B. Hentman to Munro
The Mall, Clifton
Novr 1, 1863
Dear Sir
In answer to your letter requesting to be informed from what source the enclosed paragraph was obtained, I have to state that it was taken from the Weekly Chronicle of Septr 1st, a newspaper published at Victoria, Vancouver's Island. Owing to my papers having become mixed in returning to this place on Thursday, I cannot at the moment lay my hand upon the paper, but I perfectly recollect that it contained nothing more about the case than what was printed in The Times, with this exception—a very important one if it is desired to make further enquiry about the matter—Manuscript imagethat the party by whom the information was brought from Bear River to the mouth of the Quesnelle are called "Mr. Shively's party".
I remain, Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully
B. Hentman
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 60, 27 November 1863.
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Elliot to Munro, 28 November 1863, advising that Douglas had been asked to furnish any information he could on the matter.