No. 71

I have received your Despatch of the 7th July, No. 91 forwarding a
petition from Mr. Alfred Waddington, together with other papers,
applying for compensation for the losses he has sustained in his attempt
to open up a route into the interior of British Columbia by the way of
the "Bute Inlet," and also asking for the protection of Government to
enable him to resume that undertaking.

You will acquaint Mr. Waddington that I have attentively perused
his memorial; that it is impossible for me to sanction the payment to him
of any indemnification for his losses, and that I cannot hold out to him
any encouragement in an undertaking which has led to so lamentable
results, and, I collect, is not received favourably by the Authorities
of the Colony. As however it appears that in 1862 Mr. Waddington
entered into some agreement with the Government respecting this road, it
is for your consideration whether he ought not to be allowed, if he
wishes, to throw up that agreement.