Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Sargeaunt, William Charles to Elliot, Thomas Frederick 9 March 1863, CO 60:17, no. 2390, 72.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (6), Other documents (1).
Sargeaunt to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
Crown Colonies Office
6 Adelphi Terrace, W.C.
9 March 1863
6 Adelphi Terrace, W.C.
Sir,
In answer to your letter of the 26th Ultimo, I have
to state for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, that
British Columbia has been indebted to the Agents General since the
12th July
1862, at which date the overpayment amounted to the sum of £172.2.6.
No remittance has been received since January 1862, but
the Colony has been credited since that date with the sum of
£77.11.8, the proceeds of the sale of certain Gold Dollars
sent to this Country for theInternational
International Exhibition of last year, as
well as with the small sum of £4.12, received from the War Department.
International Exhibition of last year, as
well as with the small sum of £4.12, received from the War Department.
At the present date the Agents General have advanced for
British Columbia the sum of £486.15/- and have incurred by
orders of the Secretary of State liabilities amounting to £289.10.5.
To place the Agents General in a proper position, as regards
funds the Governor should remit
1st An amount to repay the Agents General £486.15
2nd To defray liabilities already incurred £289.10.5
]3rd Funds to meet current orders (say) £200.14.7
Total £977. 0.0
The1st An amount to repay the Agents General £486.15
2nd To defray liabilities already incurred £289.10.5
]3rd Funds to meet current orders (say) £200.14.7
Total £977. 0.0
The local Government has been furnished regularly on the
termination of each Quarter with a copy of their Account, but
no special application for remittances has been made.
As regards Vancouvers Island it will be doubtless sufficient
to state that the Agents General have a large balance in hand
in favor of that Colony amounting to the sum of £30,576, part
of which (£26,000) has been deposited at interest at the London
Joint Stock Bank in accordance with the arrangement sanctioned
by His Grace in your letter of the 27th Ultimo.
Minutes by CO staff
MrElliot
In apprizing the Governor, in ansr to 436, that the Assay Stores have been ordered to be sent out to him, as requested, some peremptory instructions will have to be conveyed to him to keep the Agents in funds as well as for repaying them the advances they have made.
In apprizing the Governor, in ansr to 436, that the Assay Stores have been ordered to be sent out to him, as requested, some peremptory instructions will have to be conveyed to him to keep the Agents in funds as well as for repaying them the advances they have made.
ABd
11/3
See minute annexed.
[TFE]
Mr Fortescue
I quite agree with Mr Blackwood. With reference to the Governor's despatch of the 18 Novr, I should inform him that the Duke of Newcastle had authorized the Agents to supply the articles required by the Assay Department. Although His Grace had taken it upon himself to sanction that course, I should state that he must take the opportunity of strongly calling the Governor's attention to the large amount in which the Colony of British Columbia has now become indebted to the Colonial Agents General. I should enclose a copy of their letter containing a report which His Grace had deemed it necessary to demand from them of the state of their account with the Colony. I should instruct him forthwith to remit the sum of £776.5 in which the Colony is already indebted to them, together with an additional amount of about £200 to meet current or future orders. I should say that the Duke of Newcastle must insist onprompt
prompt attention to this requisition as he cannot permit
the Colonial Agents General to have to draw upon the fund
of other Colonies in order to perform the services of British
Columbia or of any other Colony which does not provide money
for it's own wants, and I should warn him that unless he
keeps the good faith of his Govt by discharging without delay
the debt incurred for complying with it's requisitions, the
Duke of Newcastle will be compelled to refuse to allow the
Agents General to comply with any further requisitions from
him, however urgent may be the services for which they are made.
I quite agree with Mr Blackwood. With reference to the Governor's despatch of the 18 Novr, I should inform him that the Duke of Newcastle had authorized the Agents to supply the articles required by the Assay Department. Although His Grace had taken it upon himself to sanction that course, I should state that he must take the opportunity of strongly calling the Governor's attention to the large amount in which the Colony of British Columbia has now become indebted to the Colonial Agents General. I should enclose a copy of their letter containing a report which His Grace had deemed it necessary to demand from them of the state of their account with the Colony. I should instruct him forthwith to remit the sum of £776.5 in which the Colony is already indebted to them, together with an additional amount of about £200 to meet current or future orders. I should say that the Duke of Newcastle must insist onprompt
prompt attention to this requisition as he cannot permit
the Colonial Agents General to have to draw upon the fund
of other Colonies in order to perform the services of British
Columbia or of any other Colony which does not provide money
for it's own wants, and I should warn him that unless he
keeps the good faith of his Govt by discharging without delay
the debt incurred for complying with it's requisitions, the
Duke of Newcastle will be compelled to refuse to allow the
Agents General to comply with any further requisitions from
him, however urgent may be the services for which they are made.
TFE
11 March
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 15, 14 March 1863, informing Douglas that Newcastle has "authorized the Agents General of Crown Colonies to procure [the] articles and
forward them to British Columbia" and bidding that Douglas attend to British Columbia's dept with the "Agents General."