No. 39

I have the honor to forward Copy of a Resolution passed
by the Legislative Council of this Colony, requesting that the
Imperial Government may be solicited to pay one half of the
expenses of the expeditions despatched against the Chilicoten
Indians last summer under the circumstances detailed in my
despatches mentioned in the margin.

*

Those expenses amounted in round numbers, to seventeen thousand
pounds (£17,000). A very heavy outlay
for a young Colony with a decreasing Revenue.

2. The Council rely mainly on the fact that these great
expenses fell upon the Colony "in the consequence of the
actions of persons living out of the Colony, and over whom
the Government of British Columbia had no control."

3. The timely display of energy on the part of the
Colonists perhaps prevented a general rising of the Indians,
which would have dragged Her Majesty's forces ultimately
into the struggle. It might be well to make some public
acknowledgment of your approval of the self reliance displayed
by so small a community under such peculiar difficulties,
immediately after the withdrawal of all Imperial assistance.
On this ground I beg to recommend the prayer of the Council
very respectfully for your consideration.

4. It is with extreme satisfaction, but without any
overweening confidence in the future, that I mention that
since the events of the last summer, I have had no intelligence
of any outrage, even of the most trifling description, having
been committed by the Indians on the white men in the vast
territory comprised within this Colony.