The Hudson's Bay Company in the course of their trade with the
Natives of Queen Charlotte's Island on the North West Coast of
America—a trade to which they have an exclusive right under a Grant
from the Crown dated the 13th May 1838—having discovered that the
Natives were in possession of specimens of gold ore which they said were
found on the islands, lately sent a small expedition thither under the
command of Mr McNeill a Chief Trader in the Company's service, to
make the necessary investigations respecting this discovery and to
establish a trading post.

I have the honour to enclose herewith for the information of Her
Majesty's Government, Mr McNeill's Report of his proceedings, and
shall feel obliged if you will grant me an interview with the view of
considering what steps should be taken for obtaining the gold and
particularly for preventing Citizens of the United States from
trespassing on Her Majestys possessions and infringing the rights of the
Hudson's Bay Company.