Colonial Despatches

Referring to my letters of Decr 15th, Jany. 6th and 19th I have the honor to inform you that some months since I wrote Mr Waddington requesting him to communicate with Mr Birch, the Acting Governor of British Columbia, with the view of constructing a railway in lieu of an ordinary wagon road. Since that time the money markets here have become so unsettled that the parties who were desirous of carrying out the project have deemed it desirable to abandon the railway scheme and in lieu of that they propose to construct an extra heavy wagon road capable of carrying the largest description of Traction Engine.

On the 9th Ulto. I had an interview with Governor Seymour on the subject, when His Excellency requested me to put the tenor of our conversation in the form of a letter, a copy of which I have the honor to enclose.

On the 20th Ulto. His Excellency wrote me "I have no power to grant Charters in British Columbia when not in the actual administration of the Govenment. I will however bring several of your proposals favorably under the notice of the Colonial Office." From the above you will see that my proposals have met with a favorable reception by His Excellency, and I may also state that Genl R.C. Moody who arranged the present Charter, having considered it very fully, is strongly in favor of my present proposals; therefore, I trust you will grant me what is necessary to carry out this important undertaking as it is desirable that it should be completed as soon as possible.