No. 31[a]
13 November 1858
Sir,
With reference to my Despatch of the 8th Instant No 25 1 upon the subject of the appointment of Officers to civil situations in the Colony of British Columbia, I would beg to state to you that I should much desire, if it could be arranged, that Mr William A.G. Young, oftheManuscript image the Royal Navy, should be appointed to the office of Colonial Secretary.
2. Mr Young is on the spot, and is at present filling the office of Secretary to the Commission for ascertaining the boundary between Vancouver's Island and the Territories of the United States on the Continent of North America, and as Mr Young was selected for this service by the Admiralty, and appointed thereto by the Foreign Office, the consent of their Lordships and of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs must necessarily be obtained before he could be removed from it.
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3. Mr Young has belonged to the Royal Navy for nearly Eighteen Years, and he has served as Secretary to several Flag Officers upon different Foreign Stations. His last appointment as Naval Secretary was with the "Captain of the Fleet" in the Baltic, and I forward to you herewith a Copy of a Testimonial shewing the appreciation entertained of his Services by that Officer. The whole of Mr Young's Testimonials throughout his entire service are of the highest order, but I think it unnecessary to trouble you with more than the one I enclose.
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4. Mr Young has already rendered me some assistance, and I consider him to be qualified both by ability and character for the Office of Colonial Secretary, and I trust you may be pleased to appoint him to it, and also to obtain the necessary permission from the Departments I have mentioned to enable him to enter upon it, as without such permission it would not be possible for him to accept the appointment.
I have etc.
James Douglas
Governor of Vancouver's Island
and of British Columbia
Other documents included in the file
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Merivale to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 14 February 1859, forwarding copy of the despatch and asking that Young be allowed to quit the service of the Foreign Office.
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Merivale to Secretary to the Admiralty, 14 February 1859, forwarding copy of the despatch and asking if they would permit Young to accept the office of colonial secretary.
Minutes by CO staff
I am informed that the salary for the Office of Colonial Secty is to be placed on the Estimate for B. Columbia. I conclude it was so determined after Sir E. Lytton's minute on 544059. 2
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Lytton to Douglas, No. 20, 3 March 1859.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Testimonial to W.A.G. Young by Fred. T. Pelham, Commodore 1st Class and Captain of the Fleet.
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Merivale
The Govr suggests the appointment of Mr Young R.N. to the office of Colonial Secretary, but he does not state the Salary he proposes to attach to the office.
VJ 19 Jan
See my Minute to the other Despatch 3 & add to it that I wd gratify his wish as to the selection of MrYoung on the terms therein named.
EBL Jan 22