Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Gosset, William Driscoll to Elliot, Thomas Frederick 8 July 1863, CO 60:17, no. 6641, 446.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (4), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
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Gosset to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
58 Gloster Crescent
Hyde Park
July 8 1863
Hyde Park
Sir,
I have the honor to request extension of leave, to enable me
to comply with possible requirements, connected with British
Columbia, in England, where my presence lately has I trust
not been entirely useless. Sought for the purpose indicatedand
and not for the sake of mere leave, I submit this application
without naming a period.
and not for the sake of mere leave, I submit this application
without naming a period.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
See minutes on 10317/62 and 38/63. Capn Gossett had 6 months leave from the Governor, & 4 months more from us: having only been in B.C. 3 years & 10 months. The grounds for further indulgence are most indefinite; nor am I aware what "possible requirements connected with the
Colony" Capn
Gossett can have in England. Mr Fortescue, & the Duke of Newcastle may, however, have reasons for desiring the
presence of Capn G. with which I am not acquainted.
See minutes on 10317/62 and 38/63. Capn Gossett had 6 months leave from the Governor, & 4 months more from us: having only been in B.C. 3 years & 10 months. The grounds for further indulgence are most indefinite; nor am I aware what "possible requirements connected with the
Colony" Capn
Gossett can have in England. Mr Fortescue, & the Duke of Newcastle may, however, have reasons for desiring the
presence of Capn G. with which I am not acquainted.
ABd
13 July
If Captn Gossett's presence is really required for an
adequate public object, of course he ought to remain: if not
I am quite unaware of any reason which entitles him to special
favor. The only thing is, that as B. Columbia is so remote,
a twelvemonth in all may not be an exorbitant period of
absence, after an officer has once been allowed to come away.
If it be the fact, as I should imagine, that he is not
wanted for any public object, I should not allow him or any
other Officer to ride off on a pretext. If he wants his leave
as a favor he ought to say so, and not to disguise it.
For these reasons, the answer which I would suggest (unless
I am mistaken about the public reasons) would be to the following
effect: the Duke of Newcastle is
not aware of any public
ground which renders it necessary that Captn Gossett should
prolong his stay in England, but if he wishes to do so for his
own accommodation, His Grace will have no objection to allowing
him an additional leave of two months so as to make his total
absence from the Colony amount to a twelvemonth. But he
must distinctly understand that no further extension can be
granted to him after that time, and that he will be expected to
be present in B. Columbia at the expiration of a year from the
date of his departure.
not aware of any public
ground which renders it necessary that Captn Gossett should
prolong his stay in England, but if he wishes to do so for his
own accommodation, His Grace will have no objection to allowing
him an additional leave of two months so as to make his total
absence from the Colony amount to a twelvemonth. But he
must distinctly understand that no further extension can be
granted to him after that time, and that he will be expected to
be present in B. Columbia at the expiration of a year from the
date of his departure.
The Govr should be informed.
Despch to Govr on 7365.
[EBP]
TFE
14 July
I agree, I know of no public reasons for Capt. Gossett's
presence in England.
CF
15
I suspect the "public reason" is a hope that he may be
appointed Governor—in which case only he intends to return.
Answer as proposed.
N
16
