No. 27, Miscellaneous

I have to express my regret that the inconvenience caused to Your
Department by the use of paper of a size larger than that supplied
from Her Majesty's Stationery Office should not have been sooner
removed. The cause however was attributable to circumstances beyond
my control as was explained in my Despatch No 88 of the 8h October 1860, British Columbia. The paper referred to by Your Grace in your
Despatch No 86 of the 18h February last was shipped on board the
"True Briton" bound for Vancouver's Island in August 1860. That Ship
however met with a series of disasters and did not reach Vancouver's Island until more than Twelve months afterwards. By a curious
coincidence she had also on board the Duplicate supply of Stationery
which we had ordered from Home in April 1859, the original supply
having been lost with the Vessel conveying it, as mentioned in my
aforesaid Despatch. Therefore, until the arrival of the "True Briton" we were, as I have before explained, entirely dependant for
our stationery upon the American Market.

2. I trust Your Grace will pardon my being thus minute in my
explanation, but I am so to shew that our use of paper of an
inconvenient size after Your Grace had called my attention to the
circumstance by Your Despatch of the 3 July 1860 No 38, did not
arise from inattention, but from inability to comply with Your
Grace's wishes.

3. The Colonial Agents General were requested on the 10 February
last to pay to Her Majesty's Stationery Office the sum of £5:16:11
the same being the cost of the paper which Your Grace was good
enough to direct should be forwarded.