No. 12
11 May 1854
My Lord Duke
I have to acknowledge the receipt, on the 16th April, last, of a Circular,
Sent 20 Feb/53. .par The postal arrangements for this Settlement seem very indifferent. We send our desphs by the same means as the Hudson's B. Company send theirs, which is via Oregon addressed to the care of the P. Master of Olympia. I fear the U. States detains our Letters.
.par This is very strange, it being a two months' communication.
from your Grace dated 28th December 1852, informing that Her Majesty had been pleased to entrust to your care, as one of the principal Secretaries of State, the Seals of the Colonial Department, a circumstance which I have duly noted, and made public in this Colony.
I have the honor to be
Your Grace's most obedient humble Servant
James Douglas
Governor Vancouver's Island

[His Grace The Right Honble The Duke of Newcastle
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department]
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Put by.
Mr Peel
This shews a period of 16 months between the date & delivery of one of our despatches. I think we had better ask the H. Bay Co. whether they can account for thisManuscript image circumstance in any probable way.
HM Jy 25
And see 6346 &c.
FP 26
Were Duplicates sent of these Despatches which were more than a year in
reaching their Destination.
GG 26