Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Murdoch, Thomas William Clinton to Rogers, Frederic 20 May 1862, CO 60:14, no. 5116, 64.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (6), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (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.
Murdoch forwards Rogers a review of Arthur Sleigh's
plan to create an overland travel route from Canada to British Columbia, including a summary
of an interview conducted with Sleigh himself. The lengthy minutes show that while
the Colonial Office believes overland travel to the colony will one day become routine, it feels the
infrastructure to support
such a route does not yet exist, and that Sleigh should be regarded as
a reckless and unreliable speculator.
Murdoch to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Emigration Office
20 May 1862
I have the honor to report, for the information of the
Duke of Newcastle, that our attention having been called to
advertisements in the public Papers of a Company formed for
the purpose of forwarding Emigrants through Canada overland
to British Columbia, we thought it our duty to make some
enquiry on the subject. We accordingly requested an interview
with the Secretary of the Company
and on Saturday the 18th
instant Coll Sleigh, who appears to have been actively
engaged in getting up the Company, called upon us with the
Company's Broker.
and on Saturday the 18th
instant Coll Sleigh, who appears to have been actively
engaged in getting up the Company, called upon us with the
Company's Broker.
2. Coll Sleigh stated that the Company had undertaken
the project of forwarding Emigrants overland to British Columbia
very much on the information derived from Governor Douglas' despatches and from
Mr Pemberton's "VanCouvers Island and British Columbia."
The despatch from Governor Douglas to which he principally referred is that of
18th Octr 1859
in which it is said that the experiment of a land journey from the
Red River to British Columbia had been repeatedly made by parties
of Red River people—and that it had been stated that the whole
distance from Lytton to Red River, with the exception of the
Coutannais pass, might be safely travelled by Carts.
18th Octr 1859
in which it is said that the experiment of a land journey from the
Red River to British Columbia had been repeatedly made by parties
of Red River people—and that it had been stated that the whole
distance from Lytton to Red River, with the exception of the
Coutannais pass, might be safely travelled by Carts.
3. Coll Sleigh stated that arrangements had been
already made at St. Pauls, through which the Emigrants will
pass on their way to Red River, to provide the necessary stores of food, horses and carts for the journey across
the Saskatchewan
Country and in answer to the objection that great hardship and
exposure might be encountered on that journey he alleged, that
the party would be accompanied by a number of Indians as Guides
and Assistants; and that it would consist exclusively of Men in
the prime of life, many of whom had been in Australia and America,
and all were accustomed to horses and firearms—that there would
not be a single old man, woman or child with them—and that
accordingly they might be safely
trusted to take care of
themselves. At our request Coll Sleigh has since put in writing the
main points of what he stated to us, a copy of which I enclose.
Country and in answer to the objection that great hardship and
exposure might be encountered on that journey he alleged, that
the party would be accompanied by a number of Indians as Guides
and Assistants; and that it would consist exclusively of Men in
the prime of life, many of whom had been in Australia and America,
and all were accustomed to horses and firearms—that there would
not be a single old man, woman or child with them—and that
accordingly they might be safely
trusted to take care of
themselves. At our request Coll Sleigh has since put in writing the
main points of what he stated to us, a copy of which I enclose.
4. It appears to me that if, as we are assured, the party
going out is composed exclusively of young men accustomed to a
Country life, it is not necessary that the Government should
interfere in the matter. No doubt some hardships will be
encountered—but none greater than is encountered every day by
persons of adventurous disposition—and
none that men of courage
& resource may not safely face. For their own credit and
advantage the Company will probably form its first parties of
the materials specified by Colonel Sleigh—and if they succeed
in opening and rendering safe the overland journey to B. Columbia,
there cannot be a doubt that an essential service will thereby be
rendered to that Colony—and the connection between it and the
Mother Country be materially strengthened. All therefore that will
be necessary,
as it appears to me, is to watch the proceedings
of the Company to see that their engagements with their Emigrants
are carried out in good faith, and I would submit that the
attention of the Governors of Canada and B. Columbia should be
called to that point. The portion of the Company's operations
carried on in this Country will be comparatively unimportant.
none that men of courage
& resource may not safely face. For their own credit and
advantage the Company will probably form its first parties of
the materials specified by Colonel Sleigh—and if they succeed
in opening and rendering safe the overland journey to B. Columbia,
there cannot be a doubt that an essential service will thereby be
rendered to that Colony—and the connection between it and the
Mother Country be materially strengthened. All therefore that will
be necessary,
as it appears to me, is to watch the proceedings
of the Company to see that their engagements with their Emigrants
are carried out in good faith, and I would submit that the
attention of the Governors of Canada and B. Columbia should be
called to that point. The portion of the Company's operations
carried on in this Country will be comparatively unimportant.
5. I enclose a Copy of the prospectus of the Company with
the names of the Directors &c, and the Copy of a Notice issued
by them. I
have only to add that Coll Sleigh is the same
Gentleman who in 1857 was connected with a scheme for a
Military Colony in New Brunswick on which a report was made from
this Office on 8th June of that year.
have only to add that Coll Sleigh is the same
Gentleman who in 1857 was connected with a scheme for a
Military Colony in New Brunswick on which a report was made from
this Office on 8th June of that year.
This report has been handed over to the War Office with the rest
of the Military correspondence.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The antecedents of Col. Sleigh (a Prince Edward Isld Colonel of Militia, I believe) may perhaps raise a prejudice in this office against the bona fides of a Company with which he is associated: but for all that the idea of Colonel Sleigh may be, and is, in my judgement a very good one. Everything will depend on the organization of the undertaking. The Country to be traversed is suitable for carts:
The
Saskatchewan R. is available, & I can see no reason why
strong people should not go by the proposed route—the carts
& the boats carrying their food and impedimenta. We know
that from St Louis the Americans travel, through a rough
wild Country to California—indeed I think there is a regular
post from one point to the other—and we have yet to learn
that Englishmen cannot accomplish what Americans can do.
As I have observed above success can alone be achieved by the
organization of the undertaking, & if women & children are
excluded from some of the early journies I do not see why
the project shd not answer. It is unnecessary to dwell for
a moment on the obvious benefit to B. Columbia & V. Couver's
Isld if this route can be opened.
The antecedents of Col. Sleigh (a Prince Edward Isld Colonel of Militia, I believe) may perhaps raise a prejudice in this office against the bona fides of a Company with which he is associated: but for all that the idea of Colonel Sleigh may be, and is, in my judgement a very good one. Everything will depend on the organization of the undertaking. The Country to be traversed is suitable for carts:
The
Saskatchewan R. is available, & I can see no reason why
strong people should not go by the proposed route—the carts
& the boats carrying their food and impedimenta. We know
that from St Louis the Americans travel, through a rough
wild Country to California—indeed I think there is a regular
post from one point to the other—and we have yet to learn
that Englishmen cannot accomplish what Americans can do.
As I have observed above success can alone be achieved by the
organization of the undertaking, & if women & children are
excluded from some of the early journies I do not see why
the project shd not answer. It is unnecessary to dwell for
a moment on the obvious benefit to B. Columbia & V. Couver's
Isld if this route can be opened.
ABd
21 May
Mr Fortescue
That future generations will traverse the Continent of North America and enjoy good roads and railways, I think highly probable. I feel equally confident that any large party of ordinary and inexperienced Travellers from England who might now attempt that journey would encounter dreadfulhardships
hardships, and the greater number of them perish. But I do
not believe that they will attempt the journey at all. What
I expect is that this Company will pocket a large sum of
money from the Emigrants for taking them to Columbia, and will then convey them to Canada, where the impossibility of their
proceeding further will be made manifest, and thereupon will
arise great complaints and disputes in which the Company will
logically demonstrate that the failure is not their fault, but
the poor people will nevertheless be planted in quite a
different place from that which they intended to reach, having
paid five times too much for the distance accomplished.
That future generations will traverse the Continent of North America and enjoy good roads and railways, I think highly probable. I feel equally confident that any large party of ordinary and inexperienced Travellers from England who might now attempt that journey would encounter dreadfulhardships
hardships, and the greater number of them perish. But I do
not believe that they will attempt the journey at all. What
I expect is that this Company will pocket a large sum of
money from the Emigrants for taking them to Columbia, and will then convey them to Canada, where the impossibility of their
proceeding further will be made manifest, and thereupon will
arise great complaints and disputes in which the Company will
logically demonstrate that the failure is not their fault, but
the poor people will nevertheless be planted in quite a
different place from that which they intended to reach, having
paid five times too much for the distance accomplished.
This is what I should have expected at all events. But I
confess that my anticipation is confirmed by seeing that this
precious scheme is one of the numerous projects of Colonel
Sleigh, whom I believe to be a reckless and unreliable
speculator. I append a letter from him last Decr on which
the minutes will show you that he is unfavorably known to
this Department.
The Post from St Louis to California consists of a
man who rides for his life on horseback, and who not unfrequently
disappears being slain by the Indians or destroyed by some
of the other perils of the road.
TFE
22 May
No doubt this Co with Col. Sleigh as its Spokesman, has a
highly suspicious look. But these adventurers may prove
pioneers of something better. It wd be quite right that the
Governors of Canada & B. Columbia sh. be written to, as suggested
by this Report.
CF
22
I should not take so unfavourable a view of this scheme as
Mr Elliot does if it were in other hands than Coll Sleighs,
but [remainder cut off microfilm].
There is more than this regular communication by coaches
& waggons. See Burton's book.
[Cut off microfilm]
Mr Elliot
The following is as nearly as I can recollect the substance of the Land Board Report of 6th June 1851.
The following is as nearly as I can recollect the substance of the Land Board Report of 6th June 1851.
Captain Sleigh issued a document professing to be the
prospectus of a Company formed for promoting a mixed Military
and Naval settlement in New Brunswick.
This paper was such as to lead to a belief that the
Company had acquired the necessary land and comprized a list
of governors, deputy governors and officers—a description of
the position of the proposed colony—a description of the
class of emigrants required and of the advantages offered.
The Emigration Commission found on enquiry that several
persons had been unwarrantably named as governors—that the
list of deputy governors had not been settled as was
alleged—that the land had not been acquired—that the
advantages offered were delusive if not impossible.
They observed that the description of the position of the proposed
Colony was very vague and calculated to mislead—and they
did not under any circumstances consider an attempt to form
a settlement of discharged soldiers & sailors deserving of
public encouragement.
There was no evidence of capital to enable [the] company to fulfill any engagements
into which it might enter.
They added that a few months if not weeks previously
Captain Sleigh had been declared bankrupt with debts of
£3000 and assets of £1000.
Other documents included in the file
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Arthur Sleigh, British Columbia Overland Transit Company, to
S. Walcott, Emigration Commissioner,
16 May 1862, reporting at length on their recent interview and
providing more detail on the company and it's operation.
People in this document
Murdoch, Thomas William Clinton
Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes