No. 15

It has appeared to Her Majesty's Government that the public
service in British Columbia will require at an early period the
appointment of an active Officer to superintend the business connected
with the landing and embarkation of passengers and goods, which will
probably be of considerable and pressing importance.

As far, however, as I am at present informed, no regular harbour
exists or is likely to be immediately established on the Coast of
British Columbia while Esquimalt in Vancouver's Island, appears to
possess qualities which will render it eventually, if they have not done
so already, of great value in the communication between the Island and
the Continent.

I have therefore advised Her Majesty to appoint Mr James Cooper,
Cooper, Jamesappointment as harbour master at Esquimalt
Harbour masterappointment of Cooper
lately resident in Vancouver's Island, to the office of harbour master
at Esquimalt. But it will be understood that this appointment is made
chiefly for the purposes of British Columbia; and I wish you to consider
with what office in that Colony, his services at Esquimalt can best be
combined, or, if you find it more convenient, to alter the title of his
Office. Considering the uncertainty of the precise form which the
arrangement may ultimately take I have not caused him to be appointed by
warrant from the Crown in the usual manner, but leave it to yourself to
issue his Commission in such style as you shall think proper. His
salary will be Four hundred pounds (£400) a year, payable from British
Harbour mastersalary of
Salaryof harbour master
Columbian funds, in the same manner as other salaries, and to be
defrayed out of the local revenue, as you have been already apprised.

I have selected Mr Cooper for this appointment on account of the
very very valuable information which he gave to the Committee of inquiry into
the affairs of the Hudson's Bay
Company,

and the general intelligence which he has shown on matters connected with
North Western America.
I am aware that Mr Cooper left Vancouver's
Island in circumstances of some
ParliamentSelect Committeeinquiry into HBC
embarrassment,

which I mention lest you might suppose that I had
been in any way deceived as to his position. But I do not find that any
discreditable conduct has been proved against him in respect of those
circumstances, and I trust that his former pecuniary position will not
interfere with the advantage which may be expected from the employment
of his talents and industry in the public service in the Colony under
your Government, considering the very limited number of persons
qualified by any practical knowledge of the Country and its requirements.