No. 51

1. Since my report of the 30th of
November

on the state
of British Columbia there has been a change in the weather, from
mild to cold, the mercury fell, on the 5th of Instant, to 12o
Fahrenheit; there have been several falls of snow, to the depth of
ten inches, and Fraser's River from Langley to Point "Aitch Bee
Cee,"

is frozen over, and impassable for ships. The River above Langley
was by last accounts also frozen, and winter fairly set in, though
at an unusually early season of the year.

2. No accounts from Langley have, in consequence, of the
cold weather been received here, for the last week; but the weather
being now milder two Steamers are preparing to leave to day, with
freight and passengers for that place, and it is hoped they will
succeed in forcing a passage through the ice.

3. We have had no tidings from Fort Yale since the 25th
of November last, the weather was then mild but exceedingly wet,
and the miners doing little in consequence of the state of the
weather, others of that class were nevertheless still moving
onwards by the River with goods and provisions for the upper country.

4. The country was then generally in a state of tranquility.

5. The American Steamer
"Pacific"

left this place on the 4th
of Instant with 400 passengers principally returning miners,

for the Port of San
Francisco.

*

The export of Gold dust by that vessel was reported to be
ten thousand ounces, exclusive of a large amount in private hands.

6. An export duty on gold

would now yield a respectable
amount of revenue, and together with the duties levied on imports,
would probably yield an income of £100,000 per
annum.

**

7. With some assistance from Parliament in the outset,
either by way of loan or as a free grant, the Colony will soon
emerge from its early difficulties, and defray all its own expenses.

8. This has hitherto been accomplished without assistance from
any quarter, as I have not yet drawn upon you for any expenditure
incurred in the Colony; which have all, nevertheless, been paid.

9. I cannot however undertake immediately to defray the cost of
the detachment of Royal Engineers appointed for the protection of
the country; as a large sum must, this year, be provided for the
erection of the many public buildings so much needed, in British 
Columbia.

10. I propose building a small Church and Parsonage, a Court
house, and Goal immediately at Langley and to defray the expense
out of the proceeds arising from the sale of Town Lands there.

11. The Mail Steamer is expected in tonight, but will
probably leave again immediately afterwards for San Francisco,
allowing no time for replying to letters by the same mail.