No. 83

I have had the honor to receive your despatch No. 14, of
the 14th March, enquiring as to the fate of Captain Cavendish
Venables who has disappeared from this Colony.

2. I enclose a report from Mr Brew, Police Magistrate of
New Westminster on the subject, and one from Mr Charles Good,
Clerk of the Council.

3. There is not a suspicion of foul play in the matter.
There is almost a positive certainty that Captain Venables, in
a state of intoxication, has fallen from the wharf at New Westminster
into the Fraser and been drowned.

4. The peculiar circumstances of the case prevented any
immediate enquiry. His disappearance from this Town was simply
accounted for by his having gone to the island where he laterly
lived. When that supposition proved unfounded, there was still
a probability that he had gone direct to San Francisco where money
awaited him, regardless of the articles of small value left on the
Island.

5. It would be difficult to speak too highly of the kindness
shown by Mr Good to Captain Venables for many months previous to
the disappearance, and I may almost conclusively say, death, of
the latter. I believe that Captain Venables was entirely supported
at the expense of Mr Good.