Colonial Despatches

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo wherein you say that you send me enclosed a copy of Governor Douglas's dispatch upon the subject of reducing the price of Land in Vancouvers Island. This enclosure however appears to have been omitted as it did not accompany your letter consequently I am unable to give you any opinion upon it.

In reference to the question as to whether our people are receiving money paid for land I am not aware that any public lands have been disposed of since the 31st of May last nor can I conceive that such should have been the case as Mr Dallas has been frequently instructed that no legal Titles could be granted either by the Govt or ourselves until the reconveyance of the Colony shall have been effected. I am also under the impression that since the 31st of May being the termination of our exclusive license of trade the Affairs of the Colony have been entirely separate from those of the Hudsons Bay Company. In reply to your question of allowing the Governor to sell the Land and account to HM Government for the proceeds pending the Question of rightful ownership I am now preparing to answer to the letter of the Duke of Newcastle of the 30th Decber last in which this subject must necessarily be fully adverted to and which I hope to be able to forward to your office very shortly. Should you however upon the perusal of it consider that there [be] any subject upon which you desire further information I shall be very glad to supply it.