Colonial Despatches

It is obviously desirable that I should acquaint myself as soon as possible with the character of the chief settlements in the Colony, and this is most effectively done by personalvisits. visits. As the winter is drawing on, I should not be able to reach Cariboo, which is the most distant and most important, before the bad weather sets in, unless I proceed at once. And I do not like to postpone my visit for so many months as I must otherwise be compelled to do, though I confess I should not havebeen been unwilling to rest here for some weeks after my long journey of nearly 5,000 miles by the Pacific Railroad and by sea from Newfoundland. I intend therefore, having now enquired to some extent into the general business of the Colony, to leave Victoria on Tuesday next for a tour through New Westminster and the chief settlements toCariboo Cariboo. I shall be absent from the seat of Government about a month; but I can at most places be communicated with by Telegraph from Victoria. I shall have opportunities during my tour for collecting information on the state of feeling with regard to Confederation and other matters, which will bevery very useful to me during the Legislative Session, and on my return I shall be better able to report to Your Lordship the fruit of my observation on any public questions.