No. 24

I have to acknowledge your Despatch No 182 of the 2nd July
last,
in which you represent that the cost of the Military force now stationed
in British Columbia with the heavy charge of Colonial pay, is more than
the finances of the Colony can at present bear, and urge on Her
Majesty's Government the necessity of assuming some part of it.

From this Despatch, and from your other Correspondence, I am not
sure whether you clearly understand that it was never the intention of
Her Majesty's Government to throw the entire cost of this Military force
on the Colony. Their Regimental pay is to be defrayed from Imperial
Funds.

But with regard to the Colonial pay and allowances I cannot depart
from the instructions already given you by Sir E.B. Lytton, being
confident that the resources of the Colony are such as will in all
probability enable it to overcome existing difficulties and provide for
this portion of its expenditure within a reasonable time.