No. 17

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No.
72 of the 4th September requesting to be informed of the decision with
respect to the claims advanced by Van Couver Island against the Colony
of British Columbia on account of the maintenance of Lighthouses and the
conveyance of Mails.

These two subjects were severally referred to Mr. Seymour, while in
this Country on the 31st October and the 12th December 1865; but as no
report was submitted by him to the Secretary of State and as the Union
of the two Colonies necessarily entails measures for the adjustment of
their respective liabilities which will now be undertaken by Governor
Seymour, I shall instruct him to consider and report upon the
arrangements which it will be best to make for the settlement of these
claims on the part of Van Couver Island.