No. 71, Separate

I have the honor to transmit the copy of a correspondence which has
passed between Governor Seymour, the Colonial Secretary of Vancouver
Island and myself on the subject of a claim made by me for repayment
to this Government of a moiety of the cost of maintenance of the Race
Rock and Fisgard Island Lighthouses.

The letter of Sir James Douglas dated 11th April 1864 is very clear
as to his intention and decision upon the distribution of the
liability and the question is can it be now departed from?

I do not see any satisfactory result likely to accrue from a
continuance of the correspondence between myself and Governor Seymour
who has doubtless local difficulties to contend with and local
prejudices to combat.

It would be an additional source of irritation to permit this claim
to become a subject of discussion in the local Legislature of either
Colony which can only be prevented by the intervention and decision
of Her Majesty's Secretary of State.

I will only further remark that Captain Richards R.N. will I am sure
be glad to furnish any information on the subject which these papers
fail to convey.

Any apparent delay in pressing this claim upon the Government of
British Columbia is accounted for by the absence of the Colonial
Secretary of Vancouver Island in England during a portion of 1864 and
1865.