Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 18 February 1863, CO 60:15, no. 3746, 142.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1).
Confidential
18 February 1863
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your
Despatch of the 8th
December last marked "Separate" calling my attention to
Article 71 of the Colonial Rules and Regulations, and requiring
in accordance with that Article, Confidential Reports on thecharacters
characters and qualifications of public servants and candidates for employment within
my Government.
characters and qualifications of public servants and candidates for employment within
my Government.2. I thank your Grace for pointing out to me more clearly the intention of the Article
in question, as I had previously viewed it as scarcely yet applicable to the circumstances
of this Colony. I therefore forward herewith for your Graces information a Confidential
Report on the characters and qualifications of the principal Officers of my
Government, and of the different heads of the Departments throughout
the Colony, founded upon my closepersonal
personal and general official experience
of those gentlemen during a period in most cases of more than four years.
personal and general official experience
of those gentlemen during a period in most cases of more than four years.
So far as candidates for employment are concerned I am unable
to make any Report, as although I have a long list of persons
desiring employment in the Public Service yet I have no actual
experience of any of them, and can only be guided when vacancies
occur, to the selection of the most fitting by the testimonials
which they may produce, and by their apparent personal fitness for
the particularoffice
office vacant.
office vacant.
Trusting that Your Grace's requirements may be fulfilled by the
enclosed.
Minutes by CO staff
The enclosure is a curious document and worth glancing at.
The remarks are cleverly expressed, certainly most entirely free
from reserve, and convey the impression of being the work of a
shrewd and observing man.
The views conveyed both of
Colonel Moody and of Capt. Gosset
are not flattering, but I am bound to say that they are quite in
accord with the result of my observations. I do not think that
the officers of the Royal Engineers employed in B. Columbia have
done themselves credit. They have shown much too great a disposition
to employ their time in agitation, and in attempts to show that they
could manage matters better than the Governor, than which nothing
could be more remote than the truth.
Colonel Moody and of Capt. Gosset
are not flattering, but I am bound to say that they are quite in
accord with the result of my observations. I do not think that
the officers of the Royal Engineers employed in B. Columbia have
done themselves credit. They have shown much too great a disposition
to employ their time in agitation, and in attempts to show that they
could manage matters better than the Governor, than which nothing
could be more remote than the truth.
TFE
17 April
Mr Blackwood
This may be put by upstairs.
This may be put by upstairs.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
" British Columbia, 1863: Confidential Report upon the characters and qualifications of Public Servants."
(ten pages).