64 The Fraser River Mines.

If Your Excellency should determine on writing to request that a
body of the Irish Constabulary be sent out to the Colony, I beg leave
to suggest that it would be expedient to name the rates of pay the men
would receive.

I have no doubt but if the men of the Irish Constabulary consid-
ered the rate of pay liberal a number of them would come out to the
Colony at their own expense.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your Excellency’s obedient Servant,
(Signed) C. Brew,
Chief Inspector of Police, British Columbsa.

To His Excellency Governor Douglas.

Forr Laney, B.C.,
12th January, 1859.

Str,—I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that the
“Plumper”? arrived at Fort Langly on yesterday evening; Colonel
Moody Lt. Governor and the party of Royal Engineers have not yet
returned, and the last time the steamer in which they
went up Fraser’s River was heard of here, the account
stated that she was struggling to ascend the river about 6 miles at
this side of Fort Hope.®

Captain Richards® found that it would not be practicable to send
men up the river just now in boats, so he dispatched an officer” on
this morning to Colonel Moody by an expert canoe with dispatches.
Capt. Richards would not allow any one to accompany the officer
lest the canoe might be overladen and delayed.

I intended going up to Fort Yale to-day, but I could not get a
Approve of his proceeding Canoe and men. I hope, however, to-morrow to
up the river without delay. be able to procure men to take me up to Fort
Hope in a second revenue boat which is here."

Acknowledge letter.

(7) H.M.S. ‘‘ Plumper,’’ an auxiliary steam-sloop, barque-rigged, then under the command
of Captain Richards, engaged in surveying the coastal waters. She was on the coast from 1857
until 1861. Her speed being only six miles an hour, she could not navigate the Fraser much aboye
Langley.

58) Colonel Moody and his party had left for Yale owing to the disturbance known as the
“* Ned McGowan War.’’ See a full account in Judge Begbie’s letters and the notes thereto.

(9) Captain George Henry Richards, the commanding officer of H.M.S. ‘“ Plumper.’’ Before
being employed in this service, Captain Richards had spent some years surveying on the south-
east coast of America and the coast of New Zealand. Under Sir Edward Belcher in 1852-54, he
had taken part in the search for Sir John Franklin.

(10) Lieutennt R. C. Mayne, of the ‘‘ Plumper.’’ See the notes to Judge Begbie’s letters.

(11) Brew did not actually leave Langley until 16th January. See the extract from his
letter in note (49) to Judge Begbie’s correspondence, ante, p. 37.