Hamilton to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

Referring to your letter of the 16th Instant requesting that a
Court of Vice Admiralty may be Established at Vancouvers Island, I am
Commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you
that this Court has been Established since the 8th Sepr 1849 two
persons only have been appointed to offices therein both in the Capacity
of Vice Admirals one in 1849, the other Mr Douglas on 16th May 1851.

Such being the case all that is necessary to be done is to appoint
a Judge, Registrar, Advocate and Marshal, when the Warrant may be issued
adding the powers of a Court of Prize to those already conferred as a
Court of Instance should such be intended.

I am therefore to request that Sir George Grey will cause their
Lordships to be informed of the names of those persons who are destined
to fill the above mentioned appointments.