No. 13

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Circular letter
of the 13th of February last requesting me to report on the following
points.

1st Whether Aliens arriving in Vancouver's Island are by Law or
usage required to exhibit Passports, or any Kind of Certificate of their
identity.

And 2ndly If so, whether the signatures of the British Ministers
or Consuls residing in the Countries 
of which those aliens are subjects
are considered necessary for the due authentication of their Passports.

I beg to observe in reply to those enquiries that there is no Law
in this Colony, which requires Aliens to exhibit Passports or
Certificates of identity, neither is it customary for Aliens to do so on
their arrival, and that consequently the signatures of the British
Ministers or Consuls, residing abroad are not necessary for the
authentication of Passports.