No. 1

I have laid before the Queen the Proclamations noted in the margin

*

which were transmitted to me together with your predecessor's despatch
No. 71 of the 23rd of November last and I am commanded to acquaint you
that H.M. has been pleased to confirm and allow them.

You will communicate Her Majesty's decision upon these proclamations to
the inhabitants of B. Columbia in the usual and most authentic manner.

I have however to observe that Agreements such as that referred to
in the preamble of Proclamation No. 10 should be reported home as soon
as made, even though it may not be possible to delay their practical
completion in order that Her Majesty's Government may be enabled at once to
express an opinion upon them, and thus, if they should be objectionable,
to prevent the completion of any fresh transactions of the same kind.

So anomalous an expedient as that of taxing water carriage for the
support of a bridge could only be justified by exceptional
circumstances.

I have advised Her Majesty to confirm the Proclamation in which it is
embodied in reliance upon your Predecessor's judgment as to it's
necessity.