No. 2

1. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of
the 2nd of August, with copy of a letter from Mr Blanchard
[Blanshard] late Governor of Vancouver's Island, in reply to your demand
calling upon him, to deliver to the Colonial Office, copies of his
correspondence with the Secretary of State, while holding the Office of
Governor of Vancouver's Island.

2. I observe that Mr Blanchard remarks in his reply, that Copies or originals of his whole official correspondence, as Governor of
Vancouver's Island, were left by him among 
the documents, which on his
retirement he transferred to the Council of which Mr Douglas was the
Senior Member, and that if now missing they must have been abstracted
since that transfer.

3. The means are fortunately at hand of relieving the Council from
the imputation of permitting documents to be abstracted from the public
records, and with that view I herewith transmit an attested copy of a
list, drawn up in Mr Blanchard's own hand, of the Official papers,
which he transferred to the Council when that body was by him first
appointed, on the day preceeding his departure from Victoria. *
That list was bound up with the official papers, and was then compared
and found to agree with them before the Council adjourned.

It was remarked at the time that the Governor's correspondence with
the Secretary of State, was not among the documents transferred; but the
Council having no official authority, beyond that derived from the
Governor's appointment, did not consider it proper to call for other
papers. I also beg to draw your attention to the fact, that no mention
is made in the list of such correspondence.

4. I trust that the evidence of his own list will satisfy Mr
Blanchard, that he labours under a singular mistake with respect to the
correspondence in question, which was assuredly never delivered to the
Council.

5. I learn with much satisfaction from your Despatch, that my
proceedings in the settlement of the difficulty with the Songies Indians
have met with your approval, and I beg to assure you that I shall be
careful to avoid collisions, and as far as may be possible to cultivate
the friendship of all the Native Tribes.

6. I have also received the Book of Regulations for the guidance
of the Governor's of Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions, forwarded with
your Despatch, and observe that you have directed my attention to the
Rules laid down in the 6th Chapter, as to the manner in which the
correspondence with the Secretary of State should be conducted, and my
attention shall 
be directed to that subject in future.