Murdoch to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)

I have to acknowledge your letter of 2nd instant, with a despatch
from the Governor of VanCouvers Island requesting instructions as to
the answer to be given to an Address from the Legislature of that
Colony, in which they ask for copies of the correspondence between
the Colonial Office and the Governor, and between the Governor and
the Hudsons Bay Co respecting the Townsite of Victoria.

2. As far as relates to the correspondence between the Colonial
Office and the Governor I am aware of no objection to the production
of the papers which the Legislative Council desire to have. As
regards the correspondence between the Governor and the Hudsons Bay
Co I can express no opinion, as no complete copy of that
correspondence has been sent home. Upon that point the Governor must
I think be left to his own discretion—but if one part of the
correspondence is produced it does not occur to me that there can be
any objection in principal to the production of the whole.