Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Fraser, Donald to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 21 January 1859, CO 60:6, no. 2727, 502.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Fraser presents Lytton with two memorials thanking the Colonial Office for their appointment of Douglas as Governor of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. The first memorial is from the property owners of Vancouver Island and the second from
residents and Miners of Fort Hope & Fort Yale & neighbourhood.
The minutes debate publishing the memorials and doubt Fraser’s
authorityon the matter. The Office
puts bywith
satisfaction.
Enclosed are the two memorials Fraser describes.
Fraser to Lytton
I beg leave to enclose a Memorial, addressed to you, by one
one
hundred and nine of the Property Owners, Householders and Residents
of Vancouver's Island: expressing their gratification at Mr Douglas
having been continued in his office of Governor of this Colony, and
of his having been appointed Governor of British Columbia:
congratulating You on Your judicious choice of Mr Douglas to these
important offices, on public grounds, on account of his peculiar
qualifications for office—particularly his influence over the
Indians and for other reasons set forth in the Memorial.
I
one
hundred and nine of the Property Owners, Householders and Residents
of Vancouver's Island: expressing their gratification at Mr Douglas
having been continued in his office of Governor of this Colony, and
of his having been appointed Governor of British Columbia:
congratulating You on Your judicious choice of Mr Douglas to these
important offices, on public grounds, on account of his peculiar
qualifications for office—particularly his influence over the
Indians and for other reasons set forth in the Memorial.
I would state that the Memorial is signed by most of the landed
proprietors of the Island and by a majority of it's older residents
whose experience enabled them to form a just estimate of Mr Douglas'
qualifications.
A Committee of the Memorialists deputed me to forward their
Memorial.
I also beg to enclose a Memorial of two hundred and forty nine
residents of the Colony of British Columbia addressed to You upon the
same subject, expressing their approval of and satisfaction at
at Mr
Douglas' Appointment as their Governor, for reasons set forth at
large in the Memorial.
at Mr
Douglas' Appointment as their Governor, for reasons set forth at
large in the Memorial.
This Memorial was brought to me to Victoria by a Miner of the
name of Snyder, an American Citizen, from San Francisco, whom I met
at Fort Yale in September last, who requested me, on behalf of the
Memorialists, to forward it with the enclosed Letter from himself to
You.
Mr Snyder informed me that the Memorialists are residents and
Miners of Fort Hope & Fort Yale & neighbourhood.
The Right Honble
Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Bart
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary
of State for the Colonies
&c &c &c
Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Bart
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary
of State for the Colonies
&c &c &c
Minutes by CO staff
Perhaps it wd be better to keep it in reserve in case of
Govr Douglas having a reverse in popular estimation. To print it
would look like an approval by Sir Edward of his own act of selection.
Acke: thro: Govr.
ABd
15/3
I do not think this had better be printed, as it has come
irregularly (not 
through the Governor) and we have of course no
guarantee of its authenticity, though there may be no reason to doubt
it.
through the Governor) and we have of course no
guarantee of its authenticity, though there may be no reason to doubt
it.
HM
Mh 17
Put it by—but it is satisfactory.
C
Mch 17
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Memorial, Residents of British Columbia to Lytton, no date,
expressing approval at the appointment of Douglas as per despatch,
approximately 275 signatures.
Memorial, Residents of Vancouver Island to Lytton, no date,
expressing approval at the appointment of Douglas as per despatch,
approximately 120 signatures.