Wolley to Under-Secretary of State

With reference to my letter of the 4 January 1869, in regard to
a detachment of marines having been furnished as a guard for
service at Government House Victoria, which would however be
withdrawn as soon as the unsettled state of affairs in British
Columbia had subsided; I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty to request you will inform the Secretary of
State for the Colonies that a despatch has been received from
the Naval Commander in chief on the Pacific Station stating that
he was inclined to coincide in the opinion expressed by His
Excellency the Governor in a letter dated 1st January (copy
enclosed) to the Senior Naval Officer at Esquimalt as to the
desirability of the services of the guard being retained, and
that consequently the removal of the men had been deferred until
the receipt of further instructions.

2. My Lords will have no objection, if Earl Granville considers
it expedient, to leave the question of the withdrawal or
retention of the guard to the discretion of the Naval Commander in Chief.