Hammond to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)

I have laid before Lord John Russell your Letter of the 14th
Instant, transmitting Copies of a Despatch and it's Inclosures from
the Governor of British Columbia, explanatory of the cirucumstances
under which he had requested the opinion of Colonel Moody as to the
Site to be selected for the encampment of British Troops on the
Island of San Juan, but had declined the Services of an Engineer
Officer in surveying the position.

With reference to the proposal of the Secretary of State for the
Colonies to approve Governor Douglas' proceedings in this matter, I
am to observe that the Governor had doubtless some grounds for the
course which he pursued on the occasion in question, but that Lord John Russell does not understand His Excellency's Reasons for
requesting Colonel Moody's opinion, if he did not wish to have a
Military opinion upon the case.