No. 32

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, within the hour, of
your Despatch No 78 of the 16th June last, transmitting for my
information and guidance the copy of a letter from the Board of
Trade, enclosing a further memorandum from Captain Sulivan with
two drawings, on the subject of the erection of Light Houses in
Fucas Straits and the approaches to Esquimalt Harbour, and as the
mail Steamer will leave immediately for San Francisco, I will hastily
reply to the subjects requiring immediate attention.

2. I have perused with much attention Captain Sulivans
Memorandum on the Subject of those Lights and examined the two
drawings shewing the dimensions which will be required at the
top of the Towers: and I have to thank him for many valuable
suggestions with regard to their construction.

3. I think it will in all respects be advisable especially in
the present state of our relations with the Federal Authorities
of Washington Territory to send the Lanterns and Light apparatus
by a Sailing vessel round Cape Horn as their conveyance by
Panama would be very expensive, and the Lanterns might be
injured in the frequent transhipments necessary by that route.

4. The Hudson's Bay Company's annual Ship will leave London for
this place in the month of September next, and if the Shipment
of all the Light House apparatus, which I beg strongly to
recommend, be made by that vessel, we might reasonably calculate
on their safe arrival here in January next, within Six weeks of
the time attainable by the Panama route.

5. I have also to remark in reply to the enquiry in Captain
Sulivan's letter that there is no competent person here for
superintending the fitting of the Lanterns and Light apparatus
and I therefore beg that one may be sent out by the same Ship,
for the purpose.

6. I would also recommend that two competent men, as head Light
Keepers, may be sent out to manage the lights and to instruct
others as no such men can be obtained in this country.

Something over the pay and allowances usually made to such men
in England, may be safely promised for their Services in this
Country.

7. The proposed height of the Towers required for the
arrangement of the light conductors will be furnished as soon as
possible.