Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 25 May 1859, CO 60:4, no. 6955, 387.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Douglas forwards Gosset’s letter on
the establishment of a Mintin British Columbia, and notes
the want of British Coinin
the Colony,a circumstance Douglas describes as
a serious evil.Blackwood’s minute addresses Gosset’s observations that Douglas has
‘inadvertently’ encouraged the impression that V.C. Island might have a Mint established there instead of in the natural place for it, B. Columbia,a bias that is
the wish of some persons to promote.
No. 158
Having called upon Captain Gosset, the Treasurer of British Columbia, to furnish me with such information in connection with
the establishment of a Mint as he had been able to acquire previous
to his departure from England, I received from him the enclosed
Letter, which in compliance with his request I forward for your perusal
perusal.
perusal.
2. The only point to which I would desire to draw your attention
is the allusion made by Captain Gosset to the inconvenience
experienced from the want of British Coin in this Country. This
is a serious evil and if Her Majesty's Government would entertain
the suggestion of sending out a supply of Coin, it would confer a
real benefit on the Colony.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
See Treasury Lr 6790. I presume that a copy of this desph & of the Treasurer's Letter on the establishment of a Mint and Assay Office in B. Columbia may be sent to the Treasury notwithstanding the recent report—6790—from that Office which I now pass on.
See Treasury Lr 6790. I presume that a copy of this desph & of the Treasurer's Letter on the establishment of a Mint and Assay Office in B. Columbia may be sent to the Treasury notwithstanding the recent report—6790—from that Office which I now pass on.
I should wish to draw your attention to the observations
made by Capn Gosset in respect to the Governor having
"inadvertently" encouraged the impression that V.C. Island
might have a Mint established there instead of in the natural place
for it, B. Columbia. It is, not perhaps unnaturally, the
wish of some persons to promote the importance of V. Couver
Island, at the expense of B. Columbia; and it will be well that
this office should not shut its eyes to the possibility of such
influences being at work.
might have a Mint established there instead of in the natural place
for it, B. Columbia. It is, not perhaps unnaturally, the
wish of some persons to promote the importance of V. Couver
Island, at the expense of B. Columbia; and it will be well that
this office should not shut its eyes to the possibility of such
influences being at work.
ABd
13 July
See on 6790.
CF
29
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to
G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 11 August 1859, forwarding
copy of the despatch and requesting favourable consideration
of Gosset's proposals.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
W.D. Gosset to Acting Colonial Secretary, 25 April 1859,
suggesting how a mint and assay office should be organized in the
colony.
Minutes by CO staff
The appointment of an officer to a Mint is vested in the T-y.
We have been a little premature and exceeded our powers in
encouraging Capn Gossett to suppose he might be made
Master of the Mint, if established.