Colonial Despatches

I am directed by Secretary Major General Peel to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 28th Ultimo, transmitting the copy of a Despatch from the Governor of Canada, with its enclosed Petition from Captain Cole, commanding a Volunteer Cavalry Corps in Upper Canada, in which he solicits permission to raise a force of one hundred Men for service in British Columbia—a proposal which you state Sir Edward Lytton sees no advantage in entertaining so far as British Columbia is concerned, but which he thinks might possibly be turned to account elsewhere.

In reply I am to request that you will acquaint Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton that, stipulating as Captain Cole does for conditions on behalf of himself and his men, far more advantageous than those which have been granted to the Officers and Men of the Royal Engineers who have proceeded to British Columbia, General Peel considers it too improbable that any terms which could in reason be proposed for securing the services of Captn Cole and his Men would be accepted, to render it worth while to instruct the Governor to make any communication to him on the subject.

I am to add that it is open to the men to whom Captain Cole refers as anxious to join the British Army, to present themselves to the Recruiting Agent in Canada for the 100th Royal Canadian Regiment.