Fraser to Buckingham

In conjunction with other Gentlemen interested in British
Columbia I had the honour to transmit on the 24th Ultimo, A
Memorial to Your Grace on the subject of the site of the Capital of
that Colony.

2. It was suggested that if Your Grace should desire further
information on the subject matter of the Memorial or on the affairs
of the Colony generally, some of the Memorialists would visit upon
Your Grace for the purpose of furnishing such information.

3. As some of these Memorialists are about to leave London; and
as we have not received any intimation from The Colonial Office on
the subject of the Memorial, I beg respectfully to call your Grace's
attention to the matter.

4. I feel persuaded Your Grace will pardon me for doing so when
I state that my interest in the Colony as a Landowner is greater than
that of any of the other Memorialists—that I am pressed by many of
the Colonists to bring the matter of the Capital under the notice of
the Government—and that I consequently feel Considerable anxiety on
the question at issue.

5. The other Gentlemen who moved in this matter having left it
very much in my hands, I would state that the Memorialists, although
ready to meet Your Grace if required, do not wish to press a formal
Deputation upon you, knowing how much Your Grace's time is occupied at
present.

6. It has therefore been suggested that I should offer to your
Grace such information as my experience, gained by long residence and
varied relations with the Colony may enable me to supply; and I beg
to state that I shall be happy to adopt this suggestion should your
Grace wish to see me.

7. I beg leave to avail of this opportunity to enclose for Your
Grace's information two Notes written to me by Capn Richards, the
Hydrographer, on the question of the most suitable position for the
Capital.

8. Captain Richards' testimony in favour of Victoria confirms
the truth of the statements made in the Memorial on this head and
justifies the prayers of the Memorialists to have the Capital placed
there.

9. Captn Richards' private character and professional
position guarantee any opinion he gives; but in this case, the value
of his opinion is enhanced by the fact that his knowledge of the
locality was gained by long personal experience while on the Survey
of the North West Coast for several years during which period he
visited Fraser River and all parts adjacent often.

10. In further corroboration of the accuracy of our Statements
as to the unsuitableness of New Westminster I beg to bring to Your
Grace's knowledge the fact that in June last Her Majesty's Ship
"Malacca" when bringing Governor Seymour from New Westminster to
Victoria Struck and took the ground upon The Sand Heads off the Mouth
of Fraser River and remained there in a dangerous position for a
whole night, although the Ship had the benefit of Captain Cooper the
Harbour Master's presence on board to navigate her.

11. It is added by a Gentleman in the Colony writing from the
spot and whose letter I received Yesterday that

The Enterprize, one of The Hudson's Bay Company's Steamers, assisted
the 'Malacca' off the following day. Fortunately it was calm. Had
there been any wind the officers say the Ship would have bumped
herself to pieces. She has to go to San Francisco to be docked. The
same Vessel received injuries in the same place—on The Sand Heads—in
January last on her passage to New Westminster when she struck twice.

12. To these recent accidents to the "Malacca" have to be added
an accident which befel Her Majesty's Ship "Tribune" on the same
dangerous Sand Heads on a voyage from New Westminster by which she
was so seriously injured that she had to be broken up on her return
to England.

13. These facts demonstrate the unsuitability of the Site of
New Westminster for either a Commerical or Political Capital, since
even large and full handed Steam Vessels can neither approach nor
leave that place without incurring the risks of the gravest
casualties and of probable destruction; and, since Sailing Vessels
cannot be expected to incur such risks, as no insurance would cover
such palpable and notorious hazards.

Begging to be excused for troubling Your Grace with this letter
and for its length,