No. 73

I have had under my consideration your despatch No. 24 of the 25th
of March last, transmitting an address from the House of Assembly of
Vancouver Island in which they pray for the assistance of Her Majesty's
Government in extinguishing the Indian title to the Public Lands in the
Colony and set forth the evils that may result from a neglect of this
precaution.

I am fully sensible of the great importance of purchasing without
loss of time the Native title to the soil of Vancouver Island: but the
acquisition of the title is a purely Colonial Interest and the
Legislature must not entertain any expectation that the British
Taxpayer will be burthened to supply the funds or British Credit
pledged for the purpose. I would earnestly recommend therefore to the
House of Assembly that they should enable you to procure the requisite
means; but if they should not think proper to do so, Her Majesty's
Government cannot undertake to supply the money requisite for an object
which, whilst it is essential to the interests of the people of
Vancouver Island, is at the same time purely Colonial in its character,
and trifling in the charge that it would entail.