Hawkins to Blackwood (Senior Clerk)

I take the liberty of enclosing to you, at the request of
Mr W.B. Lord that I should do so, an application from that
gentleman to His Grace the Secretary of State for the Colonies for
a public appointment in British Columbia, to which Colony he is
thinking of emigrating with his family if he can feel assured of
his position on arriving there; which application I trust you will
feel yourself enabled to submit to the Duke of Newcastle, with
such a recommendation in Mr Lord's favour as your knowledge of
the circumstances will permit you to make.

You have met Mr Lord, who was introduced to you by myself.
My own acquaintance with him is very recent; but his brother
Mr J.K. Lord has been attached to the North American land
Boundary Commission as assistant Naturalist (zoologist) and
Veterinary Surgeon, and under my own immediate observation for
nearly five years, during which period his services were of the
most valuable description, and his conduct was irreproachable and
gentlemanlike—he is also favourably known to Governor Douglas.
Mr W.B. Lord has been for eight years in the Royal Artillery as
a Veterinary Surgeon, and he served throughout the Crimean War and
Indian Mutiny. I believe him to be of business habits, and of an
active, mechanical, and inventive turn of mind. He is I am
informed an educated Chemist and has had some practice in
assaying, and a practical geologist, and acquainted with several
branches of natural history—principally ornithology and
schthyology. It is no disadvantage in the country towards which
he thinks of turning his steps that he is a good sportsman and horseman.

Mr Lord's reasons for wishing to leave the service and proceed to a distant Colony are that in his particular line he has
little or no prospect of any further advancement, and that in a
new and rising Colony he thinks he will have better opportunities
for making his way than in an older community. I think it will be
admitted that a gentleman of his abilities would be a most
promising colonist; and as I feel convinced of his desire to make
a practical application of his various acquirements, I do not
doubt that he would prove a valuable public servant. I believe
Mr Lord has no wish or intention to emigrate as a mere
speculator, and I trust it will be within His Grace's power to
secure his services for the Colony to which he wishes to proceed.

My desire to serve Mr Lord will I trust plead my excuse
for being the channel by which he wishes to transmit his
application to the Duke, through you.