No. 206
Government House
Victoria, Vancouvers Island
18 August 1859
Sir,
I have the honor of transmitting herewith for your information a report, lately received from Colonel Moody of a reconnaissance of the Harrison and Lillooet routeManuscript imageroute to the Upper Fraser, under the command of Lieutenant W.S. Palmer, Royal Engineers, which contained much valuable information respecting the character and capabilities of those Districts of British Columbia explored by Lieut Palmer.
2. The report is accompanied with six explanatory plans, and three Photographic views, which greatly add to the general interest of the narrative.
3. If it should please Her Majesty's Government toManuscript imageto cause these plans to be lithographed, we have to request that a few sets may be sent out for distribution in this Colony.
I have etc.
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Merivale
I know not to what it is owing, but this is the first report from an Engineer Officer on the interior of the Country which we have recd. And this only refers to a Section up the Harrison River. The Engineers were sent out to explore, survey, lay out lands, make roads & Bridges. They have been for nine months in the Colony, & with the exception of laying out some Lots of land at Langley, & New Westminster, (and making a very few miles of road) this is all the produce of their Labors.
Acke. Lay before Parlt send to Geographical Society, & Land Board?
ABd 12 Oct
HM O 13
I have for some time thought that the labours of the Engineers make very little show!
N 18
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Elliot to Emigration Commissioners and Secretary to the Geographical Society, 29 October 1859, forwarding copy of the despatch and report.
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Draft, Elliot to Under-Secretary, War Office, 29 October 1859, forwarding plans with request that they be lithographed.
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Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 29, 20 October 1859.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Palmer to Moody, 14 July 1859, forwarding copy of his report.
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Palmer to Moody, 28 July 1859, forwarding photographic views of Douglas to supplement his report.
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List of plans accompanying Palmer's report.
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Palmer to Moody, 1 July 1859, "The Harrison-Lillooet Route from the Junction of the Fraser and Harrison Rivers to the Junction of the Fraser & Kayoosch Rivers with Notes on the Country beyond, as Far as 'Fountain,'" including tables (17 pages).
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Merivale to Secretary to the Royal Geographical Society, 24 March 1860, forwarding copies of the plans and maps accompanying the report for information.
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Draft, Merivale to Emigration Commissioners, 24 March 1860, forwarding copies of the plans and maps accompanying the report for information.