Colonial Despatches

I again take the liberty of addressing your Grace in reference to Queen Charlotte's Isld upon which place we discovered in 1852 a vein of gold bearing quartz and had commenced at great expense to work the Same when expelled by H.M. Ship Amphitrite.

Hence to obtain from H.M.'s government Permission to work this mine, I visited London in 1853, and had the honor through the agency of Mess'rs Jno. Taylor & Sons of submitting our claim to your Grace and it was intimated to me through the same gentlemen, that the names submitted in connection with my own, in our Petition for a Lease, were accepted. With this impression I left England, having made arrangements for the despatch of miners &c but on arrival in San Francisco I found a letter from the Honble Sir F. Peel in which it was stated that H.M. government declined making any lease at present. I did not understand however that our claim was entirely denied.

I cannot help therefore submitting to your Grace, and by the enclosed paragraph you will perceive, that others, without such claims are about to reap with the assistance of one of H.M.'s Ships the result of our discovery earned at the expense of our fortunes.

I respectfully submit therefore to your Grace that while these parties are encouraged and aided in developing those mines which were denied to our enterprise, we may be permitted to ask from H.M.'s government some indemnity for the losses we have incurred.

Submitting our case to your Grace's Justice.