Colonial Despatches

I have to express my regret that the inconvenience caused to Your Department by the use of paper of a size larger than that supplied from Her Majesty's Stationery Office should not have been sooner removed. The causehowever however was attributable to circumstances beyond my control as was explained in my Despatch No 88 of the 8h October 1860, British Columbia. The paper referred to by Your Grace in your Despatch No 86 of the 18h February last was shipped on board the "True Briton" bound for Vancouver's Island in August 1860. That Ship however met with a series of disasters and did not reach Vancouver's Island until more than Twelve monthsafterwards afterwards. By a curious coincidence she had also on board the Duplicate supply of Stationery which we had ordered from Home in April 1859, the original supply having been lost with the Vessel conveying it, as mentioned in my aforesaid Despatch. Therefore, until the arrival of the "True Briton" we were, as I have before explained, entirely dependant for our stationery upon the American Market.

2. I trust Your Grace will pardon my being thus minute in my explanation, but I am so to shew that our use of paper of an inconvenient size after Your Grace had called my attention to the circumstance by Your Despatch of the 3 July 1860 No 38, did not arise from inattention, but from inability to comply with Your Grace's wishes.

3. The Colonial Agents General were requested on the 10 February last to pay toHer Her Majesty's Stationery Office the sum of £5:16:11 the same being the cost of the paper which Your Grace was good enough to direct should be forwarded.