Colonial Despatches

Adverting to my Despatch No 74 dated 25th August 1865, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt this day of your Despatches of the numbers and dates noted in the margin.

These Despatches were forwarded to me by Her Majestys Consul at San Francisco who informs me that he received them from thePostmaster Postmaster at Crescent City a place at the northern extremity of the State of California, and near to which they were cast ashore.

Although somewhat damaged by the sea water these Despatches are all perfectly legible and are apparently complete with the following exceptions:

Circular 19th May 1865.

With this Circular I have received a copy of the Regulations for the Royal Naval Reserve in England. I have also received six parchment forms of Commissions in Her Majesty'sFleet Fleet much obliterated and which I presume were inclosed with this Circular—but the copy of the Colonial Naval Defence Act and the copy of the letter addressed to the Colonial Office by the Lords of the Admiralty relative to Colonial ships of war and any other Enclosures which may have accompanied it are missing.

Circular 29th May 1865. None of the Enclosures of this Circular have come to hand.

The duplicate Despatches herein acknowledged were not accompaniedby by any Enclosures.