No. 22

1. I have the honor of communicating for your information the
substance of advices which I have lately received from the interior of
the Continent north of the 49th Parallel of latitude, corroborating
the former accounts from that quarter, respecting the auriferous
character of certain Districts of the country on the right bank of the
Columbia River, and of the extensive table land which divides it from
Fraser's River.

2. There is however as yet a degree of uncertainty respecting the
productiveness of those gold fields, for reports vary so much on that
point, some parties representing the deposits as exceedingly rich, while
others are of opinion, that they will not repay the labor and outlay of
working, that I feel it would be premature for me to give a decided
opinion on the subject.

3. It is however certain that Gold has been found in many places
by washing the soil of the River beds, and also 
of the mountain sides;
but on the other hand the quantities hitherto collected are
inconsiderable and do not lend much support to the opinion entertained
of the richness of those deposits, so that the question as to their
ultimate value remains thus undetermined, and will probably not be
decided until more extensive re-searches are made.

4. A new element of difficulty in exploring the gold country has
been interposed through the opposition of the native Indian Tribes of
Thompson's River, who have lately taken the high handed, though probably not unwise course, of expelling all the parties of gold diggers,
composed chiefly of 
persons from the American Territories, who had
forced an entrance into their country. They have also openly expressed
a determination to resist all attempts at working gold in any of the
streams flowing into Thompson's River; both from a desire to monopolize
the precious metal, for their own benefit, and from a well founded
impression that the shoals of salmon which annually ascend those rivers,
and furnish the principal food of the inhabitants will be driven off,
and prevented from making their annual migrations from the sea.

5. The officers in command of the Hudson's Bay Company's Posts 
in that quarter have received orders carefully to respect the feelings of
the Natives in that matter, and not to employ any of the Company's
Servants, in washing out gold without their full approbation and
consent.

There is therefore nothing to apprehend on the part of the Hudson's
Bay Company's servants, but there is much reason to fear that serious
affrays may take place between the natives and the motley adventurers,
who will be attracted by the reputed wealth of the country, from the
United States possessions in Oregon, and may probably attempt to
overpower the opposition of the natives by force of arms, and thus
endanger the peace of the country.

6. I beg to submit, if 
in that case, it may not become a question
whether the Natives are entitled to the protection of Her Majesty's
Government; and if an officer invested with the requisite authority
should not, without delay, be appointed for that purpose.