I am directed by the
Duke of Montrose to transmit to you the
enclosed copy of a letter which has been received from the
Postmaster General of the United States, referring to an
arrangement which, at the request of the Government of
British
Columbia, has been made for the transmission via
Portland in
Oregon, instead of viĆ¢
San Francisco, of closed mails despatched
from
British Columbia to England.
Before taking any steps for sending Mails from this country to
British Columbia by the same route, I am directed by His Grace
to enquire whether H.M. Secretary of State for the Colonies
has received any despatch from the Governor of
British Columbia
on the subject, stating the advantage of the new arrangement and
what means have been provided for conveying the Mails in
question between
Portland and
Victoria.