No. 27

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on the 13th Inst. of
your Grace's Despatch No 14 of the 13th January last acknowledging
the receipt of my despatch No 9 of the 24th October 1853.

I have also to acknowledge the receipt on the same date of your
Grace's letter of the 24th Jany acknowledging the receipt of my
letters No 9 and 10 of the 24th November.

I have also the honor to inform your Grace that I received on the
same date your Circular Despatch of the 24th February last
transmitting copy of a circular instruction addressed to Her Majesty's
Diplomatic and Consular Agents abroad directing them to afford
protection to French subjects and commerce.

I beg to assure your Grace, that I will not fail to exercise the
Powers vested in me as Governor of Vancouver's Island in accordance with
those instructions, and to impress on all the authorities acting under
my superintendence the duty of affording similar protection to French
subjects and commerce, and of co-operating for that purpose with Her
Majesty's naval authorities.

Your Grace has further directed me to report to you without delay
any measures which I may deem it expedient to take in reference to these
instructions. I beg in consequence to submit that Vancouver's Island is
at present without any military protection, and that I am not empowered
to arm and equip such levies of men, as might be made in the Colony. An
irregular force of whites and Indians could be raised here and be made
exceedingly useful in harassing and impeding the march of an enemy
attempting to leave the sea coast or penetrate into the country. To arm
and equip such a force for the protection of the settlements, is a
measure which I conceive should be immediately adopted and carried into
effect, otherwise the whole country may fall a prey to the first invader
or be plundered by any maurauding party that may land upon the coast.

I would therefore earnestly recommend that precautionary steps
against invasion, may be immediately resorted to, and if approved by
your Grace that I may be empowered to carry the same into effect and to
draw on the proper Department to defray the expense attending such
measures.

The accompanying Requisition which will probably be found
incomplete, will show what I conceive to be necessary for the equipment
of any military force raised in the country. A battery with a few heavy
Guns to defend the entrance of the harbour would also prove of very
decided advantage.

Your Grace will I presume order a detachment from the fleet in the
Pacific, to be sent hither for the protection of the colony in addition
to the military force raised in the colony itself.

Those defensive measures will involve the erection of Store Houses
and Barracks for the accommodation of the Troops, and on the whole lead
to a considerable outlay of money, which will not be lost to the
country, as long as protection is afforded to the lives and property of
H.M. Subjects.

I would further remark in reference to the Earl of Clarendon's
communication that a very serious injury might be inflicted on Russia by
taking possession of all their settlements on the American coast, north
of Queen Charlotte's Islands; they are all upon the sea board and
accessible to shipping. Their defences are on a scale merely calculated
to cope with savages, and could not be maintained against a regular
force of 500 men. The occupation of those settlements may be regarded
as an indispensable measure of protection against the piratical vessels
of all nations which may seek to prey upon our commerce in the Pacific,
and find a refuge there, the enemy will also be deprived by that measure
of all their possessions in America, and of a most valuable branch of
trade producing a large public revenue, and would thereby sustain a most
serious loss.

I beg that your Grace will send me immediate instructions in
respect, to the payment of any expenses necessarily incurred in
providing for the defense of the Colony, and inform me to what amount I
may so apply the public money, and on whom I may draw for the sums
required.