No. 46
               
            
            
               2 September 1862
               
            
            
               I have the honor to enclose for Your Grace's information, a
               comparative statement of the imports into the Colony of 
Vancouver Island for the first six months ending with the
30th 30th day of June of
                  the year 1861
 30th day of June of
                  the year 1861, and for the corresponding period of the present year
               
1862.
               
               2.  This statement shews an increase of $694,043 dollars or nearly 66
               per cent in the Imports of the two first quarters of 
1862, over the
               first six months of the year 
1861.  With the exception of a falling
               off to the extent of 61,506 dollars in the imports from Oregon there
               is almost, uniformly
a
 a remarkable increase in the trade with other
               countries.
               
               3.  The direct imports from England alone, form an exception; as they
               exceed, only by 1821 dollars the imports of last year.  A great part
               of the goods brought to this Colony from 
San Francisco are
               unquestionably of English manufacture, and are introduced through
               that
channel
 channel, and charged with several profits, instead of being
               imported direct, and at the smallest cost from England.
               
               4. This state of business so expensive to the Colony, and so
               unfavourable to the growth of trade with the Mother Country, will I
               trust be superseded by a better system whenever the real wants of the
               Colony, and the large
demand
 demand for English goods, existing here are
               better understood by the commercial public.
               
               5.  In hopes that Your Grace may cause this statement and the
               accompanying Return shewing the description of goods imported in the
               first six months of 
1862, to be published in England for the
               information
of
 of persons wishing to make shipments to this Country.
               
               I have the honor to be
               My Lord Duke
               Your Grace's most obedient
               and humble Servant
               
James Douglas
               
               Minutes by CO staff
               
               
               
               
               
               
                  
                  
                     Very satisfactory, except as regards direct trade with England.
                     
                  
                  
                  
                   
                
            
            
               Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
               
               
                
            
            
               Other documents included in the file
               
                
                  
                  
                     Elliot to J. Booth, Board of Trade, 
5 November 1862, forwarding copy
                     of the despatch and statements.