Hamilton to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Treasury Chambers
3 February 1860
Sir,
With reference to your Letter of the 24th Ultimo, upon the subject of the inadequacy of the present salary of the Governor of British Columbia, and Vancouver's Island, and recommending that an allowance of £1200 should be made to him in reimbursement of the expense he has been compelled to incur during the last year, in maintaining his position as Governor of those Manuscript image those Colonies; I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, to acquaint you, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, that They are of opinion that, in the present uncertain state of the Finances of British Columbia, it would be unadvisable, and probably difficult, to fix a permanent amount for the Salary of the Governor of that Colony and Vancouver's Island.
Under the circumstances stated in the correspondence enclosed in your Letter, Their Lordships will not object to Governor Douglas being authorized to appropriate the sum of £1200 Manuscript image £1200 out of the Revenues of British Columbia, as an Allowance for the year ending the 31st December, leaving the question of the amount of his salary, for the future, to be hereafter considered, with reference to the circumstances of the Colony and the cost of living.
I am etc.
Geo. A. Hamilton
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Merivale
So write to the Govr in ansr to his desph of the 24 Oct last.
ABd 4 Feb
HM F 6
CF 7
N 8