Romaine to Merivale

I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that passage from Southampton to Colon has been provided for one Officer and 20 Men of the Royal Engineers in the Mail Steamer of the 2nd Sept. next, en route to Vancouver's Island, but there is probably no vessel of War at Panama to convey them to their destination. Nor could any of Her Majesty's Ships be diverted from their present duties for the purpose of conveying so small a party of men such a long distance. Probably some arrangement might be made for having the party conveyed by a Merchant Vessel.