Colonial Despatches

With reference to your Letter of the 26th ulto. together with its enclosures (herewith returned) relative to the Cargo shipped in the "Thames City" with the Detachment of Royal Engineers sent to British Columbia, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, that the greater proportion of the stores referred to were not obtained through this Department but were procured and shipped under the directions of Colonel Colonel Moody Colonel Moody.

There is therefore no means, in this Department, of ascertaining the amount of tonnage, but as far as can be judged from the list of stores, it would appear that the Broker's claim for 93 tons 15 Cwt., is not unreasonable.

With regard to the articles stated to be damaged or deficient, I am to acquaint you that steps have already been taken for arranging with the owners in regard to the several items referred to in Capt Luard's Letter, excepting the four casks of Brandy shipped by Messrs Silver and the 112 lbs of Tobacco deficient. Mr S. Herbert conceives conceives that the owners should be required to pay for the Brandy; and the value of the Tobacco has apparently been deducted by the Admiralty from the amount due for freight. As however it may be inferred from Capt Luard's Letter that he has made good the supply of Tobacco for his men, directions will be given for placing the amount in question (£7.9.4) to his credit at Messrs Cox & Co, charging the sum to the Admiralty.