Hawes to Under-Secretary of State

In reply to your Letter of the 23rd of March, on the
subject of the supply of Stores for British Columbia, to replace
those lost in the "Briseis";

I am directed by Secretary Major General Peel to acquaint
you, for the information of Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, that the
stores in question will be provided as requested, (with the
exception, in conformity with your Letter, of the "Iron Houses"
and the "Hay & Oats") as speedily as possible.

With reference however to the question raised as to the
cost of the new supply being defrayed out of Military funds,
"in conformity with the general practice of the Department,
which acts as its own Insurer," I am to observe that although
it is the practice of the War Department not to insure the
Stores sent by Sea—of which, as it appears by Mr Merivale's
Letter, the Colonial Office was fully aware, there is no reason
for charging the loss of these Stores upon this Department.

*

An application however must necessarily be made to the
Lords of the Treasury, if the value of the Stores in question
is to be charged to Imperial Funds, and therefore Major
General Peel is of opinion that such application should be
made by the Colonial rather than by the War Department.

In the case of any future supplies of Stores for the
Colonies which may be required to be furnished by this
Department, Major General Peel requests that you will move
Sir E. Bulwer Lytton to consider whether the Insurance for such
supplies should not in all similar cases be effected by the
Colonial Office, and the priced Bills of Lading transmitted
to the Colonial Agent who may be appointed for the purpose.

In the present case, the priced Bills of Lading were sent
to Col. Moody before he left England, who could have insured the
Stores had he thought fit to do so.