No. 69, Military

Referring to your despatch of the 10th July last
No 34 containing Instructions for the withdrawal at the end
of the year of the Detachment of Royal Engineers serving in
British Columbia, I have now the honor to report to your Grace
that the details in connection therewith have been completed
and that the residue of the Detachment are awaiting the
arrival of the Steamer, now hourly expected, to convey them
to San Francisco, and thence to England viâ Panama and the
West Indies in accordance with arrangments made for the
purpose by the Admiral commanding on the Station.

2. The following are the numbers returning under the
command of Colonel Moody:

3 Captains

1 Subaltern

1 Staff Assist Surgeon

6 Officers

1 Serjeant Major

1 2nd M Serjeant

3 Serjeants

2 Corporals

8 Sappers

15 N.C. Officers and men

All matters of pay &c so far as the Colony is concerned have
been settled up to and have ceased on and from the 14th instant.

3. The remainder of the Detachment have accepted their
discharge and will for the most part become settlers in the Colony.

4. I cannot permit the connection which for nearly 5
years has existed between the Detachment of Royal Engineers
and this Colony to be severed without bearing my testimony
to the remarkable good conduct, intelligence, and trustworthiness,
of the non-commissioned Officers and men comprising it. So
far as the experiment is concerned of uniting Civil with Military
duties I cannot conceal that in my opinion it has not been
attended with that degree of success anticipated, but I believe
that had such a valuable body of men been employed in Civil
duties alone results the most advantageous to the Colony would
have been followed.

The mild, conciliatory and gentlemanly bearing of Colonel
Moody has always been conspicuous and I believe he quits the
Colony leaving many friends behind him. At the same time I
cannot refrain from expressing my sense of the value of the
Officers who have been serving under him.

5. Of Captain Grant the officer next in seniority I can
speak with much confidence. He has generally been detached in
charge of the Road parties and on numerous occasions I have
personally witnessed his exertions and have observed with much
pleasure, the ability, zeal and hearty co-operation he has always
brought to bear upon whatever he was engaged in. This past
summer he was specially employed in superintending the work
of improving the trails in Carriboo, and the energy, skill, and
untiring assiduity with which he discharged the trust won the
admiration of all who visited the District and have afforded me
infinite comfort and satisfaction.

6. Captain Parsons' duties have been chiefly confined to
surveying operations, in which he has always exhibited great skill
and accuracy and I believe him to be a gentleman of high scientific
attainments and one who in the higher branches of science has
rendered good service to the Colony.

7. Captain Luards intelligence, method, order and gentlemanly
character I have also had personal experience of, and I think the
Colony will be fortunate if your Grace should see fit to adopt the
recommendation I have already had the honor to make of placing
Captain Luard in the position of Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works.

8. Lieutenant Palmer has been the Subaltern of the Detachment,
but upon one or two occasions he has conducted exploring trips
through the Colony with great credit to himself, and has done good
service in fixing points and distances in the Upper Country.

9. In short so admirable has been the conduct and bearing of
all the officers serving under Colonel Moody that I trust I may not
be considered out of order in asking your Grace to bring it specially
to the notice of the Department to which they more immediately belong.