Colonial Despatches

I have the honor to enclose an Extract of a letter from Mr James A. Grahame the representative of the Hudson's Bay Company in Vancouver's Island dated Victoria September 2nd, in which he points out that a trade in Spirituous liquor is being carried on all along the North West Coast of British America in Schooners that clear from the port of Victoria and take on board liquor outsidethe the Harbour. Mr Grahame complains that while the Company pay heavy duties on all the goods imported by them they receive no assistance from the Colonial Government in trying to prevent parties from trading Spirits with the Indians on the Coast.

The Subject is one which the Company have had frequently brought under their notice, and being satisfied that this illegal traffic is carried on to a large extent the Committee request thatyou you will have the goodness to move the Earl of Kimberley to take such steps as may appear to His Lordship to be necessary to check, if not effectually to prevent trade in Spirits with the Indians on the North West Coast of America. I need not dwell upon its demoralizing effects upon the Indians, nor upon the dangers and difficulties experienced by the Company's officers in carrying on with them a comparatively unprofitable trade under such circumstances.