Colonial Despatches

I have had under my consideration the Ordinance No. 3 of 1864, enclosed in your Predecessor's Despatch No. 9 of 29th of February to apply a sum of One hundred and thirty five thousand Six hundred and thirty nine pounds sixteen shillings and seven pence out of the General Revenue of the Colony for the service of the year 1864.

I have communicated on the subject with the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury—But in order to enable their Lordships to form a correct judgment whether there exist any objections to the mode in which the Revenue is appropriated according to the Schedule annexed to this Ordinance, it is necessary that they should possess the Estimates of the Revenue and Expenditure of British Columbia for the present year, prepared in the usual form, and accompanied by a Report from yourself, together with such information as may have been laid before the Council at the time of the passing of the Ordinance.

Forms marked A and B were transmitted to your Predecessor and have been in use in the preparation of the annual Estimates since the first establishment of the Colony in the year 1858. I have to request that you will supply me with the required information in those forms.