Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 27 November 1858, CO 60:1, no. 1050, 437.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Other documents (2).
Douglas announces his proclamation of the Act of Parliament for the Government of British Columbia at Fort Langley on 19 November 1858.
The minutes approve of Douglas’s
stepsand submit his report with other British Columbia papers for parliament.
No. 34
I have the honor to communicate for your information,
that I proceeded, on the 16th of instant, by Her Majesty's
Ship "Satellite" to Point Roberts, and from thence by the
Hudson's Bay Company's steamers "Otter" and
"Beaver"
1
to Fort Langley to proclaim the Act of Parliament providing
for the Government of British Columbia.
for the Government of British Columbia.
2. I was kindly accompanied by Rear Admiral Baynes,
on that occasion, by Mr Cameron Chief Justice of Vancouver's
Island, and Mr Begbie the Judge of British Columbia, who
arrived from San Francisco on the Evening of the 15th
of instant, just in time to take part in the solemnity.
3. Capt Parsons with the first Detachment of Royal
Engineers also accompanied me from this place, Captain Grant
with the second detachmentand
and also Inspector Brew having
preceeded me by a few days.
and also Inspector Brew having
preceeded me by a few days.
4. The ceremony was performed at Fort Langley with
becoming solemnity on the 19th inst. in the presence
of these Gentlemen, Her Majesty's Troops, and the inhabitants
of the place, and the officers holding appointments from Her
Majesty were installed in the usual manner, and with the
accustomed forms.
5. Proclamations were then made
1st of the Revocation by Her Majesty of allthe
the
exclusive privileges of the Hudson's Bay
Company.
2
the
exclusive privileges of the Hudson's Bay
Company.
2
2nd Indemnifying the Officers of Government from
all irregularities previous to the proclamation of the
act.
3
3rd Proclaiming English Law to be the Law of the
Colony.
4
6. Copies of those Proclamations are herewith transmitted
for the information of Her Majesty's Government.
7. I returned to this place on the 21st of inst. with
Rear Admiral Baynes and all the other Gentlemen who accompaniedme
me to Fort Langley, except Inspector Brew and Captain's Grant
and Parsons who were left with the Royal Engineers at old Fort Langley.
me to Fort Langley, except Inspector Brew and Captain's Grant
and Parsons who were left with the Royal Engineers at old Fort Langley.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Signify approval of the steps taken by the Governor for the inauguration of the Colony of B. Columbia.
Signify approval of the steps taken by the Governor for the inauguration of the Colony of B. Columbia.
Apprize the Hudson's Bay Co of the fact of the revocation
of their License in the Colony having been promulgated there on the
[blank].
Communicate to Parlt with the other papers which are
in
preparation for that object.
in
preparation for that object.
It would, I think, be very desirable that all the B. Columbia
papers which are to be given to Parlt should be placed
immediately in the hands of the Parliamentary Clerk as
an early account of what H.M. Govt have done in the matter
will enhance the good effect, which I trust will be produced
on the public, when the details in the establishment of this
new Colony are known.
ABd
31 Jany
Very desirable indeed.
HM
Jan 31
Annex drafts as proposed to Govr & H.B.C.
C
Feby 1
Other documents included in the file
Carnarvon to H. Berens, Hudson's Bay Company, 15 February 1859, informing him of the revocation of the license.
Minutes by CO staff
This letter to be inserted in substitution for one of the same date.
Footnotes
- The Beaver, one of British Columbia's best-known steamships, was a wooden sidewheeler, 100' 9" x 20 ' x 11', built for the Hudson's Bay Company by Green, Wigrams and Green, in Blackwall, England and launched in May 1835. It arrived at Fort Vancouver in April 1836 and was used by the company until 1874, when it was sold to ?? for ?? The ship was wrecked at Prospect Point in Burrard Inlet in July 1888. For a history of the ship's construction and arrival in the colony, see W. Kaye Lamb, The Advent of the 'Beaver', BCHQ 2 (1938): 163-84.
- = Proclamation, 19 Nov 58, HBC license Revocation of license of 30th May, 1838, to Hudson's Bay Company, for Exclusive Trading with Indigenous peoples, in so far as the same embraces the Territories comprised in British Columbia, 3 November 1858, in Revised Statutes of British Columbia 1871, Appendix, pp. 228-29). Cf fn in Douglas to Lytton, 26 October 1858, No. 6, 12724, CO 60/1, p. 245.
- = Proclamation, 19 Nov 58, Indemnification Proclamation having the Force of Law to indemnify the Governor and other Officers for Acts done before the Establishment of any Legitimate Authority in British Columbia, 19 November 1858, in Revised Statutes of British Columbia 1871, Appendix, pp. 230-31).
- Proclamation Having the Force of Law to Declare that English Law Is in Force in British Columbia, 19 November 1858, British Columbia, List of Proclamations. Or in Papers?? Delete from 7016, ??