No. 17

I have had under my consideration the Ordinance No. 3 of 1864,
enclosed in your Predecessor's Despatch No. 9 of 29th of February

to apply a sum of One hundred and thirty five thousand Six hundred and
thirty nine pounds sixteen shillings and seven pence out of the General
Revenue of the Colony for the service of the year 1864.

I have communicated on the subject with the Lords Commissioners of
the Treasury—But in order to enable their Lordships to form a correct
judgment whether there exist any objections to the mode in which the
Revenue is appropriated according to the Schedule annexed to this
Ordinance, it is necessary that they should possess the Estimates of the
Revenue and Expenditure of British Columbia for the present year,
prepared in the usual form, and accompanied by a Report from yourself,
together with such information as may have been laid before the Council
at the time of the passing of the Ordinance.

Forms marked A and B were transmitted to your Predecessor and have
been in use in the preparation of the annual Estimates since the first
establishment of the Colony in the year 1858. I have to request that
you will supply me with the required information in those forms.