Romaine to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

Having laid before my Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty your letter of the 26th January last,
with its enclosures from the Governor of British Columbia,
on the Subject of the establishment of a Sea Port Town
for that Colony, on which Secretary Sir Edward Lytton
wished to receive any observations which my Lords might
have to offer on this important matter; I am commanded
by their Lordships to acquaint you for the information of
Sir E. Lytton that if Vancouver's Island be included, there
is no doubt but that Esquimalt is the best harbour in
the vicinity of the Colony of British Columbia, and that
in its shores would be the site for a Sea Port Town.
The Harbour is easy of access, it has sufficient depth of
water for the largest Ships, ample space, good shelter,
fresh water, a large supply of Timber fit for Ships Masts
and Ship building, and every requisite for a harbour, either
Naval or Mercantile; and from its natural advantages must be
eventually one of the great Sea Ports of this part of the West.

Vancouver Island however is not at present within the
Limits of the Colony of British Columbia; and if a site for
a sea port town within those limits is required my Lords
are not aware (until a more extended survey is made) that a
better can be found, in the southern part of the Colony,
than on the Frazer River, at the spot pointed out by Governor
Douglas, just above Annacis Island of the charts, on
the North bank of the Stream, at about 14 Nautical Miles
within the Sand Heads, and ten miles below Fort Langley.
It is here that the riding ground begins, the river is 400
yards broad, or wider and deeper than the Thames at
London Bridge; the shore is bold, suitable for wharves and
quays for vessels to lie alongside; and Ships with a
fair wind might reach so far without difficulty under
sail. The site is well-placed, locally, in a Military
point of view, and it has the river between it and the
boundary line. It is however not far from the frontier.

The channel with the river, as far as is yet known,
is rather tortuous; it is reputed to have a depth of 18
feet at low water, with a six feet ride of tide, and it is
not exposed to any very heavy sea. When Captain Richards
in Her Majesty's Ship Plumper can find time to examine the
bar, and buoy off the channel, it may prove to be better.

Should this site be adopted, it would be absolutely
necessary to station a pilot vessel at the entrance of the
river, which should also be fitted to serve as a Light
Ship by night, and should sound a gong or ring a bell in foggy weather.

With respect to a site for a sea port town in the
same Northern portion of the Colony, it would be
better that this question be postponed until Captain
Richards has had an opportunity of examining the
Coast. There are numerous inlets, but at present the
information is so limited that it could be unwise
to hazard a conjecture as to the next best site.