I am directed by
Lord Herbert to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the
4th instant together with its enclosure from the
Foreign Office expressing the wish of
Lord John Russell that a
Regiment should be sent to
Vancouver Island without delay.
In reply I am to acquaint
you you for the information of the
Duke of Newcastle that orders could be sent by the Mail of the
26th for a
Regiment to go from China to
Vancouver Island; but, before giving
them,
Lord Herbert desires to represent to His Grace that His Royal
Highness the General Commanding in Chief entertains a strong opinion,
in which
Lord Herbert concurs, that it is not advisable,
except except in
cases of great emergency, to isolate small bodies of Troops in
positions where it is impossible to support them if attacked.
I am to add that, should Her Majesty's Government decide that a
Regiment should be stationed at
Vancouver Island, provision should be
made by the Admiralty that a sufficient Naval Force should be so
stationed as to afford the necessary
support support.