Shepherd to Molesworth

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Merivale's
letter of the 16th Instant addressed to Mr Colvile the Governor of
the Hudson's Bay Company, stating that upon the production of a properly
certified account of the expenditure connected with the charter of the
Steamer "Otter" as a Guardship for the protection of the Settlement in
Vancouver's Island Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to repay
the same. In reply I beg to state that although the Governor and
Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company are aware that the "Otter" was employed for the purpose above mentioned, they are not in possession of
any proper account of the expenditure. They have however addressed
their Agent in Vancouver's Island on this subject, and as soon as a
reply has been received I shall do myself the honour of laying it before
you.