Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
No. 74
4 December 1863
Adverting to my Despatch No 59 of the 23rd Septr
last, and to previous correspondence relative to the
maintenance by Mr Cox a Magistrate in British Columbia,
of his Wife now resident in England, I have the honor to
acquaint your Gracethat that Mr Cox has reported to me that
he is prepared to make an allowance to his Wife, at the rate of
Sixty pounds (£60) per Annum: and that he has already remitted:
By Bank of British Columbia
Draft No 2/2 22 June £10.0.0
Do No 240 1 August £ 5.0.0
By McDonald & Co
Draft No 4 20 October £ 6.0.0
and through Mr O'Reilly JP last March £10.0.0
He further reports that he will forward £9.0.0 on the 31st
October and that he will continue to remit £10 every
two Months unless otherwise directed.
2. Mr Cox has expressed his desire that some channel
might be indicated to him through which his periodical
payments might be remitted, so that it might be known that
they were made with promptitude and regularity. I am not
aware of any such channel with which it falls into my
province to deal, except indeed the Crown Agents for the
Colony, but even they, I apprehend, although perhaps not
averse to deal with a solitary case under peculiar circumstances,
are scarcely prepared to adopt the principle which it wouldinvolve
involve of becoming the medium of communication between
individuals in a Colony and their friends in England.
3. I shall call upon Mr Cox to report to me from time
to time that the remittances to his Wife have been duly made.
4. I trust that the information herein afforded may be
satisfactory to Your Grace.
I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke
Your Grace's most obedient
and humble Servant James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
This is so entirely a private transaction between Mr and
MrsCox that I think we can hardly allow the Crown Agents
to become the medium thro' which the payments shd be made.
The best way wd be to desire Mr Cox to make arrangements
with the Bank of B. Columbia in London for paying his wife
the £60 per ann: he placing that sum in the hands of the
Agent of the Bank in the Colony.
Mr Blackwood
I quite agree with you. I think our answer should say
that for the reasons anticipated by the Governor, the Crown
Agents could not conveniently be called upon to undertake
the management of this business, but that the Duke appreciates
Mr Cox's anxiety to possess evidence that he sends his
remittances punctually, and that His Grace would point out
that this end can be attained by making them through the
Bank of B. Columbia and furnishing to the Governor some
Certificate from the Bank that this has been done.