Rowlandson to Lytton

On the departure of the last mail from this City I took the liberty
of addressing to you a letter containing some remarks incidental to
the prospect of the new Colony of British Columbia accompanied, by
an application that desired an appointment suited to my capacity,
on the staff of the governor which related to the management of the
lands & minerals of that country and also if requisite a connexion
with its tidal rivers, the appointment of cities and attention to
their engineering hygiene requirements and commercial aptitude.

For my capacity to fill such an office I respectfully forward a
copy of testimonials and references.

In my last letter which was rather a hasty melange I alluded to
some topics which might most probably appear rather utopian or
bordering on the hyperbole.

I have therefore in order to strengthen my position on such points
taken the liberty of forwarding to you some San Francisco newspapers
*
which contain references to some of the objects which I alluded to.
The first "the Bulletin" of the 6th instant where in the
commercial article it is mentioned that a company is about to be formed
for prosecuting the woolen manufacturing in California. I was
under the impression that the same paper contained a notice of
several rich Chinese having purchased several acres of land at
Vancouvers Island in order to erect Wharves for the convenience of
their own ships (that is chartered British & American Vessels).
[Marginal note: I find I am in error the paragraph must have
appeared in some other paper.] A reference also to the article in
the same paper of the 20th instant "On the breaking up of Chinese
exclusiveness" will offer pretty good evidence that the bulk of
Mongol immigration will make its way to the British Possessions.

Incidental to this subject I may allude to the fact that the
British Ship Carribeean sailed from here yesterday with thirteen
Japanese who were picked up at sea by Captain Winchester, who is
about to try to get them restored to their Country, and tomorrow
one Joseph Hui a most intelligent Japanese one of a crew similarly
picked up by an American vessel about eight years ago is to depart
on the U.S. Surveying Schooner "Fennimore Cooper" the Captain of
which has instructions to put him ashore as near as possible to his
native place (about 300 miles from the only port open to foreign
Vessels in Japan).

Had Lord Clarendon when an officer chosen, this gentleman "Joseph
Hui" might have been most usefully employed as interpreter &c to
Lord Elgins Japan Expedition, he may yet be made of great use to
British interests in Japan.

I allude to these matters because it will be seen by others on
reading the article and notice (what is well known to English
residents here) that the Americans will make desperate efforts to
obtain the Chinese & Japanese trade; the English will have proven
the best choice—owing to the facilities that can be made for this
intercourse in British Columbia.

In conclusion I trust I have shown that I have an earnest desire to
promote the interests of my country and I flatter myself I am not
devoid of the mental capacity for doing so if placed in a situation
such as I seek, whilst my local knowledge will necessarily prove
advantageous.