I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No.
               72 of the 
4th September requesting to be informed of the decision with
               respect to the claims advanced by 
Van Couver Island against the Colony
               of 
BritishColumbia Columbia
 Columbia on account of the maintenance of Lighthouses and the
               conveyance of Mails.
               
               These two subjects were severally referred to 
Mr. Seymour, while in
               this Country on the 
31st October and the 
12th December 1865; but as no
               report was submitted by him to the Secretary of State and as the Union
               of the two Colonies necessarily entails measures for the adjustment of
               their respective liabilities which will now be undertaken by 
Governor
                  Seymour, I shall instruct him to consider and
report
 report upon the
               arrangements which it will be best to make for the settlement of these
               claims on the part of 
Van Couver Island.