Walkem, Charles to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 16 July 1863, CO 60:17, no. 7419, 517.

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Correspondence (private letter)
Walkem, Charles to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 16 July 1863, CO 60:17, no. 7419, 517.

Abstract

Correspondence (private letter). Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).

Walkem to Newcastle

Montreal

16th July 1863

My Lord Duke,

I had another letter written to Your Grace on the subject of the admission of my Son to the Bar of Bh Columbia and had sent it under Cover to Lord Monck requesting the favour that His Excellency would support its object and kindly forward the same for your Grace's consideration.

My letter had just arrived at Quebec when I was honoured by His Lordship with a copy of Your Grace's despatch No 66 dated 27th June last, informing me that the propriety of admitting Canadian Barristers to practice in British Columbia had been pointed out to Mr Justice Begbie by the Governor of the Colony, and that rules have probably been made before this date authorizing such admission.

In sending this letter direct to Your Grace (for reasons afterwards explained) I take the opportunity both for myself and son to Offer Your Grace our most sincere and heartfelt thanks, not only for thecourtesy

courtesy extended to humble individuals like ourselves but for the promptitude and decision in the matter, brought however imperfectly under Your Grace's consideration.

We have just reason to thank God that however remote from the Executive Authority of the Parent State, the humblest of Her Majesty's subjects do not appeal in vain for the consideration and redress of any reasonable cause of complaint.

Before receiving the copy of Your Grace's despatch I had been informed by my Son in a letter from Victoria dated 5th May last, through the action of the Governor he had been admitted to the Bar of British Columbia, and left that day to go on Circuits in the Mining Districts. In the meantime however, a few days ago I learned from the "British Colonist" (published in Victoria) that the Judge had refused him the liberty to practice.

In the Article of the "Colonist" which I beg to enclose Your Grace my son is mentioned by name and I implore Your Grace at least to read so much of this Article as specially bears upon his case, there can be no doubt of the fact alluded to, and hence the reason that I have ventured a second time to address Your Grace, with a consciousnessthat

that however imperfectly I have performed my duty, it will meet with such further consideration at Your Grace's hands as the nature of the subject may seem to require.

The question of admitting Canadian Barristers generally to the Bar of British Columbia having been conceded in Your Grace's despatch; instead of sending this letter through His Excellency Lord Monck as usual I take the liberty of sending it on my own responsibility direct to the Colonial Office.

I have the honor to remain
Your Grace's very humble
& most Obedient Servant
Charles Walkem
Surveyor & draftsman
Commandt R. Engineers Office

Minutes by CO staff

Mr Elliot
I am inclined to think that Judge Begbie will have his own way if he can. As we have recd no intimation of the fact of Colonial Barristers having been admitted to practice at the Bar of B. Columbia as we had expected wd have been the case, I think we have good ground for sending this Letter to the Govr requesting a report & saying that the Duke of Newcastle had hoped that the views already expressed by him on this subject would have met with prompt attention on the part of the Judge, and inform the applicant that a commn has been made to the Governor.

ABd 30 July

Drafts.

TFE 30/7