Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Henson, James to Rogers, Frederic 12 July 1862, CO 60:14, no. 6890, 97.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Other documents (1).
Henson to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
12 July 1862
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 11th Instant, together with enclosure dated
Quebec 9th June.
I have also received from St Pauls and Red River letters
from our Agents on the Spot informing me that 150 emigrants (not forwarded by this
Company) have started this year Overland for
British Columbia by the Saskatchewan route and that others are following.
So fully impressed were the Company with the importance of
their passengers getting through safely, that we wrote to our Agent Mr Hime
at St Pauls, that should he find any real, or
serious difficulty presented, he wasauthorised
authorised to send our
passengers via the United States Overland Route, or the Panama
Route notwithstanding the heavy expense which would be incurred
thereby. We advised our Agent on receipt of letter from Colonial
Office enclosing extract from Red River respecting the Cereal Crops,
and instructed him to well enquire into the matter before letting
the passengers start by that route.
authorised to send our
passengers via the United States Overland Route, or the Panama
Route notwithstanding the heavy expense which would be incurred
thereby. We advised our Agent on receipt of letter from Colonial
Office enclosing extract from Red River respecting the Cereal Crops,
and instructed him to well enquire into the matter before letting
the passengers start by that route.
Mr James Hayward whom we sent as through Agent, received
similar instructions, and our Agent at Quebec has also had
instructions forwarded to him, that in the event of apprehended
danger on the route to send the passengers per "United Kingdom
Steamship," via Panama, and to draw upon the Company for such
extra expenses.
We are
We are fully cognisant of the importance of this question,
and have given by every Mail very careful instruction to our
Agents. We must remark at the same time that the most
contradictory, and conflicting accounts respecting this route
have reached us. The Red River Newspapers and a portion of
the Canadian Press represent the route as the most advantageous
and practicable on the Continent, while other Newspapers give a
contrary opinion.
We have in our possession letters from Mr Dawson offering
to Amalgamate his Company "The North West Navigation &c Compy"
with the "British Columbia Overland Company" and eulogising the route
in the most confident terms. What are we to believe with such
facts before one?
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Send copy of this Letter to the Governor of Canada. Mr Dawson's proceeding seems to expose him to comment, Tho' not by this Dt. The Duke of Newcastle is not unacquainted with certain importations against Mr Dawson.
Send copy of this Letter to the Governor of Canada. Mr Dawson's proceeding seems to expose him to comment, Tho' not by this Dt. The Duke of Newcastle is not unacquainted with certain importations against Mr Dawson.
ABd
15 July
The concluding sentence seems to destroy all value of
Mr Dawson as an authority. It is a pity that Ld Monck's
Despatches are usually so jejune, as to
leave us in the dark on information that we ought to
have. I think that, on forwarding this letter, I should
remark that if Mr Dawson be an interested party, as
the statement at the end of the letter shows to be the
case if it be correct, it is to be lamented that Viscount Monck in forwarding Mr Dawson's letter with all the
authority which it must derive from being transmitted
by the Govr of Canada, had not mentioned so
essential a fact.
(A Govr of Canada ought
to be very [careful?] that he is not [used?] for jobbing [purposes?].)
TFE
15 July
Duke of Newcastle
Write accordingly?
Write accordingly?
CF
16
