No. 50, Financial
               
            
            
               17 November 1862
               
            
            
               I have had the honor of receiving Your Grace's Despatch N
o
               137 of the 
16th August last, alluding to the circumstances under which I had been compelled to resort to the
               expedient of issuing
               promissory notes, and
trusting
 trusting that with the aid of the authorized
               loan I should be enabled to withdraw such notes from circulation.
               
               2.  I have much pleasure in informing Your Grace that by the
               issue of these Notes no inconvenience or embarrassment was
               occasioned to this Government.  The temporary purpose they were
               designed to answer was attained.  The notes were taken freely
               in the upper Country, and indeed were sought after by Traders
               and others who desired to remit; and as in
no
 no single instance
               was there a failure in prompt payment upon presentation, the
               public credit was inviolably sustained.
               
               3.  I have managed to withdraw nearly the whole of the notes
               from circulation; about One Hundred Pounds worth only now remaining
               unpaid, and these I hope to redeem before the close of the year.
               
            
            
               4.  I trust, therefore, notwithstanding that upon general
               principles the expedient of the issue of these notes may be
               deemed questionable, that Your Grace will feel satisfied that by
               the proceeding
no
 no injury has been done to the credit of the
               Colony, and that I did not resort to the measure without guarding
               it in every way that the means at my command would permit against
               evil consequences.
               
               I have the honor to be
               My Lord Duke
               Your Graces most obedient
               and humble Servant
               
James Douglas
               
               Minutes by CO staff
               
               
               
               
                  
                  
                  
                  
                     I suppose the despatch may be put by.