Colonial Despatches

Having noticed in your Despatches by the last Mail various requisitions for articles for the use of your Government, I thought it expedient to call upon the Crown Agents for a report of the state of their account with British Columbia and of the date and amount of the periodical demands on them for interest on the debt. I have the honor to enclose for your information, a copy of the letter addressed to the Crown Agents and of their reply.

I can assure you that I feel no want of confidence in your sense of importance of regularity in the pecuniary transactions of your Government. You have doubtless abstained from sending any remittances to meet the approaching half year's interest on the debt, from your knowledge that the Crown Agents held for disposal an amount of debentures far exceeding the amount required for this obligation. It would involve a superfluous cost to remit money from the Colony to pay interestin in this Country so long as there are funds here belonging to the Colony which can be applied to the same purpose. But the state of the money Market during the past year has shown you that the power to borrow cannot be reckoned upon as equivalent to the possession of the money. You will have the best means on the spot of knowing the further amount of Bills which you may from time to time have drawn against the Loan or of supplies for which you shall have sent requisitions to the Agents. But whenever the time may come at which such demands will have exhausted the funds at your disposal here, I amsure sure that you will be fully sensible of the necessity of making remittances in such ample time as to ensure the periodical payment of the half yearly interest with the punctuality which is essential to the credit of the Colony.