Tindal to Buckingham

I venture to ask your Grace to assist me in your official
position to ascertain whether a nephew of mine (by name William
Ernest De Veulle) who went out to Vancouvers Island some years ago be
alive or dead; and I trust that your Grace will pardon this intrusion
upon your valuable time now so fully occupied.

My nephew left behind him a wife
(since dead) and three
small children; he went to the diggings
at Vancouver's Island, and was heard from last about a year ago, and
I am desirous to prove his death for the sake of placing his children
in the receipt of the Income of some settled property.

I have lately received intelligence proceeding from a Mr
Good, who married a daughter of Mr Douglas late Governor of
Vancouver's Island, and who holds some Government appointment in the
Island, that my nephew had recently been found drowned.

If your Grace could, by causing this letter to be forwarded to
some Official person in the Colony with directions to him to make
enquiry into the facts, with the view to obtain Evidence of the
death, I should be extremely obliged.

The young man would be readily identified as his left arm had
been broken and, not having been properly set, he had a stiff Elbow
joint.

With many apologies for thus troubling you.