No. 20
21st September 1855
My Lord
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships Despatch No 2 of the 20th of June last; transmitting the copy of a letter with its enclosures, addressed by the Earl of Clarendon, to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, relative to the arrangement entered into with the Russian American Company, for the reciprocal neutrality of the two nations, so far as regards the possessionsandManuscript image and ships of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the Russian American Company, on the north west coast of America.
I have to thank your Lordship most sincerely for your kindness in forwarding those Documents, which contain information of a nature so very important to the material interests of the inhabitants of this Colony, and which will moreover have the effect of allaying their fears and inspiring confidence in the wisdom and foresight of the measures adopted by Her Majesty's Government for the protection of this Colony. I shall therefore make the substance of those Documents known to the public.
I have the honor to be
Your Lordships 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 Merivale
War Dept. for information?
VJ 27 Nov
HM N 28
JB 30 N
HL Dr 1st