Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Morris, Charles Lyde to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 10 March 1862, CO 60:14, no. 2447, 443.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
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.
Morris to Secretary of State
22 Manor Place S.
10 March 1862
Sir
I trust you will pardon the liberty I take in making the
present application and that you will so far oblige me as to
bestow your kind consideration on the statement I wish to make.
In July 1855 I entered the Pay Office of the London Recruiting
District as an Extra Clerk and I there gave such satisfaction that
I was promoted to Third Clerk on the Establishment; in Decr
1860 I was fortunate enough to be appointed Clerk in the War
Department and was attached to the Store Office at the Tower.
While there, I am proud to say that the most flatteringreports
reports
were frequently made of my zeal and ability, but my salary was
small and I had a mother to support, so on being offered an
appointment in Ireland at a slight increase, I resigned my
situation. Unfortunately a War Office Circular was immediately
promulgated which greatly reduced the pay of the Department I was
about to enter, and my resignation having been accepted at the
Tower, I was thus thrown out of employ. I did the best I could
for some months, and eventually made an appeal to the War Office,
when in consequence of my peculiar misfortune, I was told that Sir
George Lewis had with much pleasure placed my name upon the list
of candidates again. No hope
however can be held out of my
receiving an appointment for a very long period, and my wants are
so pressing, that having a small sum in my possession I
contemplate emigrating to British Columbia.
reports
were frequently made of my zeal and ability, but my salary was
small and I had a mother to support, so on being offered an
appointment in Ireland at a slight increase, I resigned my
situation. Unfortunately a War Office Circular was immediately
promulgated which greatly reduced the pay of the Department I was
about to enter, and my resignation having been accepted at the
Tower, I was thus thrown out of employ. I did the best I could
for some months, and eventually made an appeal to the War Office,
when in consequence of my peculiar misfortune, I was told that Sir
George Lewis had with much pleasure placed my name upon the list
of candidates again. No hope
however can be held out of my
receiving an appointment for a very long period, and my wants are
so pressing, that having a small sum in my possession I
contemplate emigrating to British Columbia.
My object in this application is to enquire whether you can
bestow upon me any appointment in that Colony, or whether you can
afford me the chance of obtaining any employment, if I paid my own
expenses out. My testimonials show that I have served Her Majesty
well and faithfully in this country and should I succeed in
obtaining what I now seek, I hope to do so again in a new field.
I may add that I have had two Uncles in H.M. Navy (one drowned
while on Service) and that my brother was Accountant in the Land
Transport Corps and was in charge of the Native Camp at Sinope
when His Grace the Duke of Newcastle visited it and expressed his
approval of its arrangements &c.
while on Service) and that my brother was Accountant in the Land
Transport Corps and was in charge of the Native Camp at Sinope
when His Grace the Duke of Newcastle visited it and expressed his
approval of its arrangements &c.
[P.S.] Please return enclosure.
The Secretary of State for the Colonies
London
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The answer is, in fact, that the S. of S. has no office which he cd bestow upon the applicant in B. Columbia & that he cannot either encourage him to expect any on reaching the colony, should he even go out at his own expense.
The answer is, in fact, that the S. of S. has no office which he cd bestow upon the applicant in B. Columbia & that he cannot either encourage him to expect any on reaching the colony, should he even go out at his own expense.
Return the enclosure.
ABd
13 March
Mr Fortescue
So I suppose.
So I suppose.
