Chartres Brew. 65

A number of the well-disposed inhabitants at the little village of
Langly complained to Captain Richards and myself to-day of the riot
and outrage which almost nightly occur in the villages, and requested
that some measures would be adopted for their protection.1? I made
inquiries on the subject and have no doubt but the place is in a most
disorderly state and requires a Magistrate and peace officers. I
Mr. Bedford is in training €Xpected Mr. Bedford*® would arrive by the
fpaine oroeer) dlecharse ot “Otter” to act as Magistrate, and as he would
and will be sent to Langley Want some person on whom he could place reli-
by the first safe conveyance. O 5

ance to act as a principal peace officer, I deter-
mined to leave Mr. Ronaldson here to act in that capacity; but I have
just learned by the “ Otter ’’* that Mr. Bedford will not be up for
some days yet, so that the arrangement will not be as effectual as
I intended. However, I shall leave Mr. Ronaldson and swore him in
as a Constable, and also a Mr. Moore, who came up by the “ Otter,”
who is scarcely able to go up the river by the boats, and I shall instruct
them to exercise their duties as discreetly as they can until Mr. Bedford
arrives. I should remain here myself till then, only that Mr. Begbie
wrote to me to say that Colonel Moody desired that I should follow
him to Fort Yale.

I beg leave to urge on your Excellency the expediency of sending
a Magistrate to act at Langly as soon as practicable.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your Excellency’s obedient Servant,
(Signed) C. Brew,
Chief Inspector of Police and
Chief Gold Commissioner, British Columbia.
To Hts Excellency Governor Douglas, Victoria, VI.

BriTIsH CoLUMBIA,
Fort YALE,
20th January, 1859.

Sir,—I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that I conceive
that a force of at least twenty constables should be stationed in Fort
Yale to preserve peace and order in the town and to act when required
in the mining districts around. These men can be sent up or down

aNd See a description of conditions in Langley in a letter from Mr. W. H. Bevis, ante,

(13) C. J. N. Bedford, the magistrate at Langley. He had arrived there prior to January
29, 1859. See his letter, ante, p. 32.

(14) The Hudson’s Bay Company’s steamer ‘‘ Otter,’’ which arrived in 1853, the second
steam-vessel on the coast.