I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the 
Earl of Carnarvon's letter of the 
10th Instant on the subject of the
               property which is now and has been for many years past in the
               possession of this Company in the vicinity of their
               Establishments in various parts of 
Vancouver's Island and
               
British Columbia; and also of the Copy of the Despatch on the
               same subject and of equal date addressed by you to 
Governor Douglas.  On the part of myself and my Colleagues in the
               direction I beg to offer you our best thanks for this obliging
               communication.
Lord Lord Carnarvon
  
               Lord Carnarvon mentions that you would be glad
               to be put in possession of any further details as to the nature
               and character of the possessions thus claimed.
               
               At present we have no such information, but I shall lose no time
               in referring the matter to the officers in charge of the
               Stations, and as soon as I receive their reports I shall have
               the honour of again communicating with you upon the subject.