With reference to your letter of
17th Instant, stating that the
Duke
of Newcastle has no objection to such a short preliminary examination
of the Accounts of the Hudson's Bay Company as this Board may deem
indispensable before making the payment to the Company of £25,000
towards the adjustment of their claims consequent upon the resumption
of
Vancouver's Island by the Crown, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury
to
acquaintacquaint you, for the
information of His Grace, that they have appointed
Mr Foster, the
Assistant Paymaster General to inspect the accounts in question in
conjunction with an Officer of the Emigration Office, and that the
necessary instructions have been given to
Mr Foster to lose no time
in making such a preliminary investigation and report as will satisfy
My Lords of the propriety of issuing the sum of £25,000 on account,
in accordance with the
desiredesire expressed by His Grace the Secretary of
State.