No. 64

I beg to enclose for the information of Her Majesty's
Government copy of an important communication worthy of
confidence though the writers name is, for obvious reasons, with held.

The communication refers to Mr Nugent late Special
Agent for the United States at this place and points out
the particular designs which the writer discovered he had in view.

I forward this document rather as an illustration of
the ideas floating in the mind of the simple American,
who talks with confidence of the realization of such
visions than with the view of creating alarm.

Mr Nugent would no doubt have protected to the best
of his ability the interests of his country and countrymen
in British Columbia and he might have succeeded in exercising
a pernicious influence over the latter, and have excited a
spirit of disatisfaction with the established regulations
of the country; but I conceive that nothing more serious
could have occurred; as there are resources at our disposal,
sufficient to meet any emergency that may have arisen;
and I feel satisfied that as long as we hold, with a firm
hand, and superior force, the avenues to British Columbia,
no other power can wrest it from our grasp.