Shepherd to Grey

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Under
Secretary Peel's letter of the 28th ulto, requesting such
information as the Hudson's Bay Company may possess regarding
the qualifications of Mr David Cameron for the office of Acting
Judge of Vancouver's Island, to which he had been appointed by
Mr Governor Douglas; and further enclosing an Extract from a
Memorial addressed to the Secretary of State by certain
inhabitants of that Island, objecting to Mr Cameron's appointment.

In reply, I have the honor to inform you that previously to Mr
Cameron's employment by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1853, he
resided for several years in British Guiana. He was strongly
recommended to this Company as a man of integrity and excellent
business habits by Mr James Stuart, a highly respectable and
influential gentleman of that Colony, and Governor Douglas (to
whose sister Mr Cameron is married) having recommended him as
being well qualified for the responsible office of
Superintendent of the Company's Coal mines in Vancouver's
Island, he was accordingly engaged for that duty.

In corroboration of the truth and justice of these
recommendations, the Hudson's Bay Company have had the
satisfaction of receiving substantial proof. Mr Cameron's
conduct in managing the important business entrusted to him has
been such as to meet with our entire approval.

Our principal dependence, however, as regards his character and
qualifications for the office of Acting Judge of Vancouver's
Island, is our conviction that Governor Douglas would 
not have
appointed him on any other than public grounds, and we are of
opinion that it will ultimately be found that as regards his
education, talents & integrity Mr Cameron was as well qualified
as any one whom Mr Douglas had within the sphere of his choice.
No legal talents, I apprehend, were available for the office;
but I hope the period is not far distant when the Colony will be
enabled to afford such remuneration as would secure the services
of a respectable member of the legal profession for the office
of Judge or Recorder.

With respect to the extract from the Memorial of certain
inhabitants of Vancouver's Island, the statement is so vague and
hypothetical that it is difficult to deal with it, and I am
inclined to attribute it to the feelings of a Party, anxious to
bring forward any charge which might appear plausible against
Governor Douglas. This hostile feeling towards the Governor, we
have reason 
to believe was principally excited by the Revd Mr
Staines, who incurred his displeasure, and who not only
neglected, but abandoned his duties as Chaplain to the Company,
without previous notice or leave granted.

With reference to disputes which may arise, and which the
Memorialists state have arisen, connected with the working of the
Companys Coal mines, we have received no information whatever, whilst it
is certain that if disputes of a serious nature had occurred, they would
have been duly reported to us. Under these circumstances I am not
inclined to attach much weight to the remarks of the Memorialists on
this point. The Company work these coal mines by the labour
of their own Servants; the coals raised are sold on the spot at a
fixed price, or transported to a foreign market in the Company's own,
or in freighted vessels; and under such arrangements there would
not 
appear to be much risk of disputes with the Settlers of
Vancouvers Island requiring legal interference, but if such did
occur between parties whose interest was at variance with that
of the Company, I feel assured that it would be sufficiently
obvious to Mr Douglas & Mr Cameron that such cases ought not,
and would not be adjudicated by the latter, if he continued to
hold the office of Superintendent of the Coal Mines.

With regard to the case alluded to by the Memorialists in
paragraph 4, we have received no information, and as no names or
particulars are given we have no certain means of enquiring into
it. A copy of the statement shall, however, be forwarded to
Governor Douglas and Mr Cameron, with the expression of our
desire to be furnished with a full report of all the
circumstances of any such case, if any such did really occur.

Trusting that these remarks 
may prove satisfactory.