Hamilton to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

With reference to your Letter of the 9th Inst.,
Enclosing a Copy of a Despatch from the Governor of British
Columbia, forwarding a Proclamation imposing a Toll on goods
wares and merchandize taken from New Westminster to any part
of the Colony; I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her
Majesty's Treasury, to acquaint you, for the information of
the Duke of Newcastle, that They would observe that the Toll
that has been

imposed by the Proclamation, appears to be
high; but as it is stated that the Tax has not excited any
discontent among the Proprietors of the Steam Vessels, Their
Lordships see no reason for interfering with the Enactment.

They presume that the Governor has made the necessary
arrangements for the improvement of the Navigation, to
which object the Tax in question is to be applied.