I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordships
communication of the 19th May 1851, transmitting a Commission under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, appointing me to be Governor and

Commander in Chief in and over the Island of Vancouver, and its dependencies, together with instructions under the Royal Sign Manual and
Signet for my guidance in the administration of the Govern==mentGovernment thereof,
and also a Commission under the Seal of the High Court of Admiralty,
appointing me to be Vice Admiral of that Island and of its dependencies, all which instructionsments were duly received by me on the 30th Instant. ⎯
I beg through your Lordship to convey to Her Most Gracious
 Majesty, my humble thanks for those distinguished marks of confidence,
which, it shall be my endeavour to prove, are not misplaced. ⎯ The Royal
Instructions, will be faithfully executed, and in the exercise of the
power and authority vested in me by the Royal Commiss--ionCommission, it shall be my
study to promote, to the utmost of my ability, the honor and advantage
of the Crown, as well as the interests of Her Majestys Subjects in this
Colony. ⎯

I am happy to inform your Lordship that nothing has occurred to
disturb the tranquility of the Settlements on this Island, since the
departure of the late Governor BlanchardBlanshard by Her Majestys
Ship "Daphne" on the 1st September last. The Natives generally profess the most friendly disposition, and prove their sincerity, by the character of their daily intercourse with the Settlers. ⎯
The late operations of Her Majestys Ship "Daphne" acting under
instructions from Governor BlanchardBlanshard against the Neweeti Tribe,
inhabiting the north end of Vancouvers Island, have been attended with the happiest effects, and so filled their mind with terror, that they
made no attempt at reprisals. They since abandoned their former place of residence, and took refuge among the Tribes living on the West Coast of Vancouvers Island. ⎯
To that point as Soon as their retreat was discovered a party
of friendly Indians were dispatched by Mr George Blenkinsop the
Hudson's Bay Companys Officer in command of Fort Rupert, with a message
from this Government proffering peace to the Tribe at large, on
Condition of the delivery of the three Indians concerned in the murder.
Those terms were at once accepted by the Neweete Chiefs, but
before the proposed seizure could be effected the murderers received
notice of their danger and fled from the Camp. They were however chased
into the woods, and put to death by their own people after making a
desperate resistance, in which one of the assailants was severlyseverely
wounded. ⎯
The mangled remains of the Criminals were taken to Fort Rupert and after being identifi=edidentified by the Chiefs of the Quaheolth Tribe, were interred near the Fort, so that there is no doubt as to their having met with the fate they so Justly merited. ⎯
The war with that nation may be now considered as virtually at
an end, and I beg to express, to your Lordship, how greatly I feel
indebted to Mr GeoGeorge Blenkinsop, for his able and active aid, in bringing it to a satisfactory and honourable close. ⎯
I propose in a short time to visit that part of Vancouvers Island for the purpose of establishing amicable relations with that, and other Tribes of Indians whose friendship will greatly conduce, to the well being of the Colony. ⎯
I am happy to inform your Lordship that the Grain Crops throughout the Settlements were abundant this season, and were secured
in fine condition; though Singular to say, in the American Settlements
about Nisqually and on the Columbia River, the harvest was remarkably
wet, and it is estimated that at least one third of the grain of this
season perish==edperished on the field, and a larger proportion was much damaged by the wet, a circumstance which tells greatly in favour of the climate
of Vancouvers Island. ⎯
The grain raised in the Colony this year will not be
Sufficient to meet the home demand, and we shall be under the necessity
of making up the deficiency by importing bread stuffs from abroad. ⎯
On the other hand the potatoe crops will greatly exceed our
annual consumption, and the potatoes are remarkably large and of good
quality. ⎯
The Natives generally are turning their attention to the
cultivation of the Potatoe, and to other useful arts, such as the manufacture of Shingles and Laths which are becoming popular among them.
I shall probably take the liberty of calling your Lordship's
attention hereafter to the best means of improving the condition of the
aborigines of this Island, who are in many respects a highly interesting people, and I consider worthy of attention.
They will become under proper Manage=mentManagement of service to the Colony
and form a valuable auxiliary force, in the event of war with any
foreign power. ⎯ From my long experience of Indian character and of the
tribes on this Coast in particular, I am led to regret that the
Missionary Societies of Britain, who are sending Teachers to so many
other parts of the world have not turned their attention to the natives
of Vancouvers Island; as by the aid of those Societies, Schools might be established for the moral training and instruction of the Aborigines, to
the manifest advantage of the Colony. ⎯
On the subject of internal improvements, I may remark that a high road along the Coast from Victoria to Soke Inlet about 25 miles distant, is greatly needed to facilitate intercourse, and we have that object now in contemplation, having already surveyed the ground and found it not ill adapted for the purpose. ⎯
I have further to inform your Lordship, that the natives have
discovered Gold in Englefield Bay, on the West Coast of Queen Charlottes
Island. One of the Hudson's Bay Company Vessels visited the spot, in
the month of July last, and succeeded in procuring about 60 oz of Gold,
principally by barter from the Indians. One lump of nearly pure Gold weighing 1 lb 11 oz was seen in the possession of one native, who demanded a price beyond its value, so that it was not purchased. ⎯ The Gold is associated with white Quartz rock, similar to that of the auriferous deposites in California; it is yet found in small quantities, but I am of opinion that it exists abundantly in that and other parts of
the Island. ⎯
The report of that discovery having become known in this
Country, I am informed that several American Vessels are fitting out in
the Columbia, for Queen Charlottes Island, for the purpose of digging
Gold—a circumstance to which I would request your Lordships attention,
as it may be the desire of Government to exclude foreign vessels from
that part of the Coast. ⎯
As the Council of this Island nominated by Governor BlanchardBlanshard, consisted originally of three members, myself included, and is now reduced by my late appointment, to two members, a number insufficient to form a quorum, I have selected Mr Roderick Finlayson, a Gentleman of worth and great experience, to fill the vacancy until your pleasure thereupon is made known. ⎯
I shall do myself the honor of addressing your Lordship from
time to time, on the affairs of Vancouvers Island, as circum==stancescircumstances occur, deserving of your notice.