Berens to Lytton

I have the honour of transmitting for your information copious extracts from the correspondence of Governor Douglas on the subject of the Gold diggings in British Columbia and Vancouver's Island. And as an act of justice to Governor Douglas I take this opportunity of expressing the strong feeling of the Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company on the admirable judgment with which that gentleman, in the face of unprecedented and unlooked for difficulties, has contrived to maintain peace and order among the lawless* crowds who have so suddenly assembled in the territory. The Committee feel confident that Governor Douglas's [efforts] will also meet with the approbation of Her Majesty's Government.

As the extracts from Governor Douglas's despatches which we have sent are rather voluminous, I take the liberty of drawing your special attention to one which appears under the date of June 23rd, with respect to the sending out of an additional number of Surveyors. Governor Douglas not being aware that this territory had been erected into a Colony, and that consequently the authority of the Hudson's Bay Company had ceased, wrote to us to send out Surveyors. Such a duty no longer devolves upon us, but as he seems to attach importance to the prompt arrival of assistance in the Surveying Department, I take the liberty of drawing your attention to his request.