[Private]

I left Victoria last night on my way to British Columbia, and
met the mail steamer from San Francisco at eight o'Clock P.M.
and she will leave on her return early tomorrow morning in order
to catch the Panama mail Steamer which should leave San Francisco on the morning of 28th of Instant, tho' I fear the
attempt is hopeless.

I have received your private note of 16th September. Mr Nugent's character and antecedents are well known in this
country and I was on my guard with him. The correspondence
forwarded will shew all that has passed between us, except one
note which I have not time to copy at present, but I have sent
copies of the whole correspondence to Lord Napier, with cuttings
from the two numbers of the Victoria Gazette which are herewith
forwarded. The articles to which I wish to direct your
attention are marked thus +. Will you be kind enough to inform
Sir Edward Lytton of those circumstances and that I will not
fail to send him the Victoria 
Gazette by every opportunity.

Mr Nugent leaves to day for Washington. I omitted to mention
in my public Despatches the arrival of Admiral Bains [Baynes]
with H.M.S. Ganges at this Port.