[No. 8]

I had last the honor of addressing you on the 27th August, and
have now to report that the ‸graingrain crops in the several Districts of this
Colony were secured in good condition. The wheat land generally yielded
a fair return, averaging about 23 Bushels to the acre, but the oats were
thin and deficient both in grain and straw, in consequence of a
remarkably dry summer, which also greatly injured the potatoe and other
green crops. Those useful esculents have however been raised in
sufficient abundance to meet the wants of the Colony, and even to afford
a quantity for exportation, but I have ascertained that there is a
deficiency of bread stuffs, which must be made up by timely importations
from abroad.

I reported in my last letter the important discovery of Coal lately made
on Wentuhuysen Inlet, or more properly speaking Nanaimo Harbour, on the
east coast of Vancouver's Island. The researches since made by the Miners of the Hudson's Bay Company have confirmed the opinion then
formed of the vast mineral wealth of that District of Vancouver's
Island. About 1 1/2 miles from the great bed mentioned in my last
letter the natives, who are now indefatigable in their researches for
Coal, lately discovered a magnificent seam over 6 feet in depth,
cropping to the surface on New Castle Island, where several thousand
Tons of Coal may be procured without the trouble & expense of Mining.
Such places are left entirely to the Indians, who work with a surprising
degree of industry, and dispose of the Coal to the Agents of the
Hudson's Bay Company, for clothing and other articles of European
manufacture. The Miners of the Hudson's Bay Company have carried down a
shaft, at a short distance from the coast, and struck the great seam, on
the 6th Inst at the depth of 48 feet below the surface, an event
which has diffused a general feeling of satisfaction in the Colony as
every inhabitant naturally takes a lively interest in the success of an
undertaking on which the prosperity of the country, and in a great
measure, his own private interests, so much depends.

We have received no intelligence from Queen Charlotte's Island
since my last communication, and I have not heard of any vessel
proceeding thither from the American Ports in Oregon. The excitement
with respect to the Gold products of the Island was still, by our last
advices very great in California; but I am of opinion that no vessels
will be despatched to that quarter, until spring, as the cold and stormy
climate of the coast in winter is now well known, both in Oregon and
California, and will probably have the effect of detering ship owners
from adventuring their property at that dangerous season of the year.

In respect to the administration of public affairs in the Colony I
have nothing very important to relate. The Government has ‸been hitherto
carried on by the Governor and a Council of three Members, as it was not
considered expedient to enter upon the subject of legislation nor to
call General Assemblies of the Free holders until the population
increases, and there be a sufficient number of persons of education and
intelligence in the Colony, to form the Members of such assemblies. In
the administration of Justice, we follow the Laws of England which
provide fully for every emergency that has yet arisen.

I would except from that remark a local Law regulating the
importation and sale of Spirits, which was passed during the
administration of my Predecessor in Office and was intended to
discourage the Sale of intoxicating drinks, which are the bane of the
settlement and the great source of poverty and crime. That Law had a
salutary effect for a time, and until the settlement of the American
side of the Straits of De Fuca, where there is no restriction on the
sale of Spirits, when the Law became a dead letter, in consequence of
the facility with which it could be evaded and Spirits introduced
clandestinely into the settlement. Drunkeness is now the crying and
prevalent sin of this Colony, and will I fear continue to be so, until a
better and more respectable class of people are sent to the Country, or
a    improvement takes place in the moral tone of the great bulk of
the present population.

There is no want more severely felt at present than the services of
an earnest and zealous clergy, and Her Most Gracious Majesty, could not
in my opinion Confer a greater or more lasting benefit upon Her Colony
of Vancouvers Island, than by making an immediate provision for the
moral and religious instruction of Her faithful subjects in this part of
the world. The Colonists being with few exceptions of the poorer
classes, and destitute of means, stand greatly in need of the fostering
care, and material aid of the mother country, or I should not have drawn
your attention to these wants at present.

Our relations with the Native Tribes, continued in the most
satisfactory state up to the 5th Inst, when an event occurred which I
fear may lead to serious difficulties with the Cowegin Tribe. The event
of which I have reference is the foul and wanton murder of Peter Brown a
servant of the Hudson's Bay Company, by some Cowegin Indians, at one of
the Company's sheep stations, about 5 miles distant from this place,
under circumstances of great atrocity. In such cases we are naturally
led to suspect the existence of some exciting cause, of some previous
injury or provocation, that has tempted the untutored mind of the Savage
to commit a fearful crime, but after the closest investigation of that
case I have not been able to discover any mitigating circumstance
whatever, which can be urged in extenuation of its guilt. The murder of
Peter Brown may be therefore regarded in the light of a mere wanton
outrage, as this unfortunate victim, of savage treachery was known to be
a remarkably quiet and inoffensive young man, the only son of a
respectable widow in Orkney.

The circumstances attending the murder are detailed in my
correspondence with Captain Kuper of Her Majesty's Ship "Thetis" now
fortunately stationed in the neighbouring Port of Esquimalt, of which I
herewith transmit a copy, and I feel gratified in reporting, for your
information, that he has promised to cooperate with this Government, by
means of the force under his command in the measures that may be adopted
for bringing the criminals to justice. It is reported that they have
fled towards the Nanaimo Country, with the intention of taking refuge
among their friends in that quarter, and a force will be sent as  soon as we collect the means of transporting it, to that part of the coast, to
apprehend them wherever they may be found, as the peace and quiet of the
Colony will be best preserved by bringing them to justice with as little
delay as possible. Messengers were despatched to the Cowegin Chiefs on
the 7th Inst to demand the surrender of the criminals, and they
 have just returned accompanied by Soseeah the Chief, who possesses the
greatest degree of influence with that people.

I had a conference with him to day on the subject of the murder,
and he expresses the utmost regret, that such an unhappy event should
have taken place, as his people are not disposed to quarrel with the
whites to whom they are under so many obligations, and he assured me
that all his Tribe, with the exception of one little party called Thlim
Thlimelits, who are related to one of the assasins have
resolved to give up the murderers, and should the latter attempt to
screen them from justice, the rest of the Tribe are not disposed to aid
or assist them in any manner in resisting the Queen's authority.

This is so far satisfactory, as we are desirous as far as possible
to prevent the effusion of blood, and to avoid implicating the Tribe in
the guilt of individuals, acting without their knowledge or consent.

The Thlim Thlimelits may also see the folly of taking part with the
murderers, and shun a contest, which would be disagreeable to us, and
calamitous to themselves.

We are now daily expecting the arrival of the Hudson's Bay
Company's Steam Vessel, and I propose as soon after as possible to
despatch her with a sufficient force to seize the assasins wherever they
may be found.

I shall do myself the honor of advising you from time to time of
our proceedings, which I trust will soon be brought to a satisfactory
issue.

I beg also to communicate for your information, that I have found it
necessary, with the advice and consent of the Council, to appoint an
Officer bearing the Title of "Collector of Her Majesty's Customs for
Vancouver's Island." No salary is attached to the Office; as from the
circumstance of there being no Customs dues levied in this Colony, its
present duties will not be onerous, and will chiefly consist of entering
and granting clearances to vessels arriving at, or leaving the Ports of
Vancouver's Island. and of causing the observance of Port regulations
and the laws relating to the domestic or foreign trade of the Colony.
Mr James Sangster, a gentleman of worth & experience, has been
provisionally appointed until Her Majesty's pleasure is known.