I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 2
of the 26th of April reporting the circumstances under which passages
from Vancouver Island to New Westminster were afforded to yourself, your
private Secretary, and two Servants in Her Majesty's Ship "Forward."
I consider that the expenseof of these passages should be defrayed
from the public funds of British Columbia, and upon being apprized by
the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of the Amount of the Claim
preferred by Lieutenant Lascelles, I shall authorize the Crown Agents to
pay it from any sum in their hands belonging to the Colony.
It will of course devolve upon you to keep the Agents in funds to
meet this or any other incidental charges of a similar nature.
I have the honor to be
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble servant Edward Cardwell