No. 1

The British Barque "Lord Western", of about 500 tons burden, having
been wrecked through stress of weather, on the west coast of Vancouver's
Island, in the month of November last, while bound from Victoria to the
Port of San Francisco, with a full cargo of timber, and salt fish, the
greater part of which was shipped on freight, by Mr Robert Swanston,
Merchant of this place; I was apprised of those circumstances by him, in
a letter, of which I herewith enclose a copy, and which also contains a
requisition on this Government for assistance in relieving the Master
whose name 
is Parker, and three of the Mariners who were left near the
wreck, among the savages, in a state of great destitution, while the
remnant of the crew, effected a return to this place, in the Ship's
boats.

He moreover informed me in a personal conference, that he could
give no security for any expenses, incurred for that object, as he
possessed no interest in the ship, and knew that the owners had no other
property, and would be altogether ruined by the loss of their vessel;
and for that and other reasons, stated in his letter, he had made
application to me for assistance on the part of this Government.

The onus of relief was therefore thrown wholly upon the Government
and it being a case admitting of no delay, seeing that the unfortunate
men, unless speedily succoured, might perish of hunger, or fall a prey
to the merciless savage; I immediately proceeded to secure the services
of the Hudson's Bay Company's Steam Propeller "Otter," and despatched
her upon that Mission, on the 20th Ultimo. She fortunately reached the scene of the disaster, in time to save Captain Parker, and his
fellow sufferers, who 
were found among the natives, and brought in
safety to this Port, on the 26th Ultimo.

A copy of my correspondence, in reference to the steps taken for
the relief of the "Lord Western's" crew, and of a letter received from
Captain Parker, on his return to this place, expressive of his gratitude
for that relief, are herewith transmitted for your Grace's information.

I now beg to receive your Grace's instructions in respect to the
payment of the expenses incurred for that object; those being the
charter of the Steam Propeller "Otter", and for clothing given through
my orders, to the seamen of the "Lord Western", on their arrival here,
in a perfectly destitute state.

That account amounting in all to £131.0.0. is herewith transmitted.

Though I have in that instance acted for the best interests of
humanity, and in behalf of Her Majesty's subjects in distress, yet
having done so, without specific or even general instructions on the
subject; I naturally feel some anxiety to learn, if those proceedings
meet with Your Graces approval and whether the expenses incurred, are to
be defrayed out of the Trust 
Fund of this Colony, or by the Imperial
Government, and I have to beg that your Grace will direct accordingly.

Awaiting your Grace's instructions on that point and with respect
to the amount of aid, which I am authorised to afford, when applied to
for assistance, in behalf of persons shipwrecked, on the
uninhabited coasts of Vancouver's Island, when beyond the reach or
destitute of assistance from other sources.