I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No.
56 of the
17th July enclosing copies of a correspondence between
yourself and the Acting Governor of
Washington Territory respecting the
proceedings of the "
Maria"
which which vessel after violating the provisions
of the Chinese Passengers' Act of
1865, had quitted the
Port of Victoria,
leaving her papers behind, and without obtaining a proper clearance.
I see no reason to doubt that the authorities of
Washington were
really desirous of assisting the Government of
Vancouver Island in
enforcing the Law, and would have given up the Vessel, if the law of
their country had enabled them to do so.