No. 8

I have had the honor to receive Your Lordship's Despatch No 104
of the 15th November, 1869, transmitting copy of a Letter from
the Secretary of the Aborigines Protection Society relative to
the condition of the Indians in Vancouver Island.

2. If the statements made in Mr Sebright Green's Letter
forwarded to Your Lordship by the Society were statements of
facts they would be matter of great reproach to the Colonial
Government; but I have satisfied myself that his representations
are in some cases quite incorrect, and in others greatly
exaggerated. As the circumstances alleged and referred to by
Mr Green were antecedent to my acquaintance with the Colony I
referred his Letter to Mr Trutch, the Commissioner of Lands and
Works, and Surveyor General, for a Report; and I now enclose a
Memorandum from that Officer upon the subject. From other
sources of information I have every reason to believe Mr
Trutch's Statements to be correct.

3. It is very difficult if not impossible to place Indian
Tribes exactly in the same position as more civilized races but
they do substantially enjoy equal protection from the
Government; and I believe that those of them who are most in
contact with the white population quite understand that this is
the case. Complaints are frequently brought by the Indians in
the neighbourhood of Victoria before the Police Magistrate
against each other. And since my arrival here Indians have been
the principal Witnesses in trials for Murder.