No. 30

1. I have much satisfaction in communicating for your information
that this Colony continues in a state of profound tranquility; that the
Native Indian Tribes are quiet and well disposed; that the harvest has
been housed in good condition, and though the grain crops are not so
heavy as in the year 1856, that there is nevertheless an abundant stock
of food in the settlement for the consumption of the year.

2. In connection with the state of this Colony I beg to enclose
herewith copy of a correspondence with the Governor of Washington
Territory, relative to outrages committed on citizens of the United
States, by the native Indian Tribes of the north west coast in and north
of the British Possessions, and my reply thereto.

3. You will observe that I did not for obvious reasons entertain
Acting Governor Mason's application for assistance.

4. It is a matter of difficulty to arrest a murderer in his own
country and without careful management the attempt is almost 
certain to
involve the assailants in hostilities with the Tribe at large, and the
consequences will necessarily become very serious.

5. The Indians who murdered Mr Ebey are reported to be natives
of the Russian American Territory and are consequently not within the
jurisdiction of the Law Courts of this Colony.

6. I have therefore recommended to the Executive of Washington
Territory that a well equipped force should be despatched without delay,
for the purpose of discovering the retreat and effecting the arrest of
the murderers; and that in the case of the expeditionary force, being
opposed, that they should make reprisals on the property and persons of
the Tribe at large.

7. Indian outrages should 
in all cases be promptly and severely punished, otherwise neither life nor property will be secure, and the
country will become intolerable as a residence for white settlers.

8. I was lately favored with a short visit from Governor McMullen,
who proposed that the forces of the two Governments should be united for
the purpose of undertaking a joint expedition against the northern
Indians, but I was necessarily obliged to decline his proposal.