Colvile to Labouchere

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Merivale's letter of the 14th Ultimo, covering copy of Despatch from Rear Admiral Bruce on the subject of his visit to Vancouver's Island; and
have to convey the thanks of the Hudson's Bay Company for the
communication.

With reference to the superiority of Esquimalt Harbour over
Victoria for the site of a Settlement, I beg to refer you to the
accompanying Extract of Letter from Rear Admiral Moresby transmitted
from the Colonial Office under date 3rd November 1851, with Extract
from the late Sir J.H. Pelly's reply of the 7th November; and to
state that directions will be transmitted to the Agent of the Hudson's
Bay Company in Vancouver's Island to make no further sales of land in
the vicinity of Esquimalt Harbour, so as to obviate any difficulties in
the formation of a Naval Establishment, should Her Majesty's Government
determine to adopt the suggestion of Rear Admiral Bruce.