No. 62
Downing Street,
30 December 1858
Sir,
With reference to my Despatches of this day's date on the present condition of British Columbia, I wish to add a few observations on the policy to be adopted towards the Indian Tribes.
The success that has attended your transactions withthoseManuscript image those Tribes induces me to inquire if you think it might be feasible to settle them permanently in Villages; with such settlement, civilization at once begins. Law and Religion would become naturally introduced amongst the Red Men and contribute to their own security against the aggressions of Immigrants and while by indirect taxation on the additional Articles they would purchase they would contribute to the Colonial Revenue, some light and simple form of direct taxation the proceeds of whichwouldManuscript image would be expended strictly and solely on their own wants and improvement, might obtain their consent.
Sir George Grey has thus at the Cape been recently enabled to locate the Kafirs in Villages, 1 and from that measure, if succeeding Governors carry out, with judgment and good fortune, the designs originating in the thoughtful policy of that vigorous and accomplished Governor, I trust that the posterity of those long barbarous populations may date theirentranceManuscript image entrance into the pale of civilized life.
I have the honor to be
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble Servant,
E B Lytton
Footnotes
  1. = Indigenous peoples policy Sir George Grey (1812-98) was appointed governor of Cape Colony and high commissioner in South Africa in 1854, having served previously as governor of South Australia, 1841-45, and New Zealand, 1846-54. Grey believed the Kafirs (Bantu speaking Africans, also called Xhosa) should be assimilated into "civilized" white culture. He therefore promoted involvement of blacks in the local economy and encouraged white settlers, mostly Germans, to migrate to British Kaffraria, which was constituted as a crown colony without any legislature whatever. The British government rejected Grey's plans and recalled him in 1859. Grey was reappointed in 1860 but remained at the Cape only for a year before returning to New Zealand. Laura, add notes for citation. Cf. minutes on ?? above.
People in this document

Douglas, James

Grey, George

Grey, George

Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer

Organizations in this document

Colonial Office

Places in this document

British Columbia