Colonial Despatches

Having given every encouragement to the formation of a Volunteer Corps in this Colony, I have the satisfaction to state that a Company numbering 60 efficient men, British Subjects, has been enrolled and drilled under highly respectable Officers, andI I intend to introduce the necessary law for their legal embodiment at the next meeting of the local Legislature.

There is now a movement on foot for the formation of a second Company which many Residents who are not naturalized British subjects are anxious to join—Prussians, Germans, and some Americans. These persons naturally objectto to taking the "Oath of Officer and Volunteer" contained in page 29 of "Regulations for the Volunteers Force" dated War Office 18th September 1863, and some of them waited upon me to know whether they would be permitted to join, on taking the oath referred to, omitting the words "be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria and that I will." The oath wouldthen then stand thus I, A.B. do sincerely promise and swear that I will faithfully serve Her Majesty Queen Victoria in Vancouver Island and its Dependencies for the defence of the same against all Her enemies and opposers whatsoever according to the conditions of my service.

I have simply deferred giving any reply to this application and would feel obliged foryour your instructions.

I may observe that such a force would never in all probability be employed except in cases of emergency against Indians and in the event of any national rupture the subjects of any nation with which we were at war would immediately resign. Some of our most active and respectable residents are foreigners.