It is obviously desirable that I should acquaint myself as soon
               as possible with the character of the chief settlements in the
               Colony, and this is most effectively done by personal
visits.
 visits.
               As the winter is drawing on, I should not be able to reach
               
Cariboo, which is the most distant and most important, before
               the bad weather sets in, unless I proceed at once.  And I do not
               like to postpone my visit for so many months as I must otherwise
               be compelled to do, though I confess I should not have
been
 been
               unwilling to rest here for some weeks after my long journey of
               nearly 5,000 miles by the Pacific Railroad and by sea from
               
Newfoundland.  I intend therefore, having now enquired to some
               extent into the general business of the Colony, to leave 
Victoria
               on Tuesday next for a tour through 
New Westminster and the chief
               settlements to
Cariboo Cariboo
 Cariboo.  I shall be absent from the seat of
               Government about a month; but I can at most places be
               communicated with by Telegraph from 
Victoria.  I shall have
               opportunities during my tour for collecting information on the
               state of feeling with regard to Confederation and other matters,
               which will be
very
 very useful to me during the Legislative Session,
               and on my return I shall be better able to report to Your
               Lordship the fruit of my observation on any public questions.