Tennent to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for
Trade to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E.B. Lytton, the accompanying copy of a Despatch which they have
received through the Earl of Malmesbury from Her Majesty's
Acting Consul General in the Sandwich Islands expressing the
views of the English Merchants in those Islands with regard to
the creation of the Port of Victoria in Vancouver's Island as a
Free Port.

The question raised in this Despatch appears to this Board one
which in the interests of British Trade deserves the serious
attention of Her Majesty's Government and I am to request that
you will state to Sir E.B. Lytton that My Lords would be glad to
be favoured with his opinion as to the expediency of acting upon
this suggestion.