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Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Russell, John 25 July 1855, CO 305:6, no. 8989, 80.

Abstract
Despatch to London. Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Douglas writes to Grey to acknowledge the receipt of Grey’s circular despatch on the effect of Penny Postage in British Colonies. Douglas relates that Vancouver Island colony has no general Postal arrangements; he lists the reasons why, and then explains the method by which Vancouver Island receives post.
A minute from Jadis suggests that the Treasury receive a copy of Douglas's despatch.
The file includes a draft letter from the Colonial Office to the Treasury, which forwards Douglas’s despatch.
No. 9
Victoria Vancouver's Island
25th July 1855
My Lord
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Sir George Grey's Circular Despatch of the 12th of April last, transmitting a printed Table, containing a series of questions, intended to ascertain to what extent, and with what final results the introduction of Penny Postage in Great Britain in 1840, has been followed by a reduction of inland Postage, and other improvements in those British Colonies, which are under the control of their Local Governments.
I. Manuscript image
I have the honor to inform your Lordship in reply to the subject of that communication that no general Postal arrangements have ever existed in this Colony. The inhabitants being few in number, and living near to each other, letters are conveyed within the Colony by messengers employed for the occasion, and letters from Europe, and foreign countries are conveyed by the United States Mail Steam Line, by the way of Panama and California, to Oregon, from whence they are brought in the Hudson's Bay Company's Express Boats to this place.
As this explanation will probably be considered a sufficiently full and clear answer to the enquiry, concerning the state of the Postal arrangements in this Colony, I do not return the Printed Table.
I have the honor to be
Your Lordship's most obedient humble Servant
James Douglas
Governor

The Right Honble Lord John Russel [Russell]
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department.
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
Transmit a Copy of this Despatch to the Treasury?
VJ 25 Sepr
Annexed.
HM S 25
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft, Colonial Office to Sir Charles Trevelyan, Treasury, 4 October 1855, forwarding copy of the despatch.