Mundy to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

Lord Panmure has had under his consideration your letter of the
10th ultimo, with its enclosure calling attention to the defenceless
state of Vancouvers Island, and I am to transmit to you for the
information of Lord John Russell, copy of a letter from the Chairman of
the Hudson's Bay Company, whom His Lordship had consulted with regard to
the probability of any attack from the side of Russian America, together
with copies of a correspondence, which has been obtained from the
Foreign Office, respecting the agreement with the Russian American
Company, for reciprocal neutrality, to which Mr Shepherd refers.

From these papers, Lord Panmure is led to believe, that there is no
reason to apprehend any danger of attack on Vancouvers Island.

His Lordship, has however, requested the Admiralty to instruct the
Senior Naval Officer on the Station to cause that Island to be more
frequently visited by one of Her Majesty's Ships of War.