I have the honor to inform you that on my arrival at 
Esquimalt
               I learned from the Ships of War in Port that instructions had
               been received from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty dated
               in 1856 directing the payments of Ship's Crews on the Pacific
               Station to be made at the fixed rate of 4
s/- per American Gold
               Dollar irrespective of the rate of Exchange.
               
               Not being aware of any Regulations on the subject having been
               made for the payment of Troops, I propose being guided by the
               Admiralty instructions to their Paymasters,
and
 and as the present rate
               of Exchange here is 4
s/2
d per dollar, the loss on the payment of
               the men shall be shown in my accounts.
               
               P.S. I beg to add that 
Colonel Hawkins R.E.  the Boundary
               Commissioner  adopts the same system as that proposed, in the
               payment of the Royal Engineers under his Command.
               R.M.P.