No. 1
31 January 1856
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Sir William Molesworth's Despatches, of the dates mentioned in the margin,
[Separate?] 24 September 1855. Circulars 20 and 22 September; 4 October 1855, agreeing to follow Douglas's suggestions to cut postage costs.
with their enclosures.
I will take the liberty of remarking for the information of Her Majesty's Government; that the enclosures above referred to consisting of 4 copies of Blank Returns, of whichManuscript imagewhich the Annual Blue Book is composed, for the year 1855, made up a parcel of considerable weight, and the Postal charge at the United States Post Office in Puget's Sound came to the sum of 68 88/100 dollars equal to 14.7.0 Sterling.
I would in consequence of that prodigious rate of charge, take the liberty of suggesting, that the Despatches of Her Majesty's Government, and all printed Enclosures, not exceeding the weight of 16 ounces, should, in all cases as at present, be forwarded to this Colony, by the Panama Mail Route; and that Books and Printed Forms, when exceeding the weight of 16 ounces, except on occasions of great urgency, should be sent to the Hudson's Bay House, to be forwarded by the Hudson's Bay Company's Ships to this place; or the parcels might equally well be forwarded by any of Her Majesty's Ships proceeding to the Pacific.
I have the honor to be Sir
Your most obedient humble Servant
James Douglas
Governor

The Right Honble
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
It is unfortunate that these blank forms should have cost so much postage. The mode of transmission is that hitherto recommended by the Governor for communications from this Office. Ansr that in future documents exceeding the weight mentioned will be sent, as he wishes, thro' the H.B.Co or the Admiralty.
ABd 14/A
TFE 16 April
I think that the heavy charges for Postage are sometimes forgotten
in sending large parcels through foreign post offices e.g. the overland mail via Marseilles.
JB 17 Ap
Answer as suggested.
HL 21 A
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Labouchere to Douglas, No. 7, 26 April 1856.