Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 26 April 1864, CO 60:18, no. 5303, 220.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4).
Seymour reports that he has not been able to find correspondence regarding a debt to the Treasury for the erection of barracks for the Royal Engineers at New Westminster. He requests that
no further steps be taken to enforce payment of the account claimeduntil he has an opportunity to express his views on the matter.
No. 3
26 April 1864
My Lord Duke,
A few days before my departure for British Columbia I
had a conversation in Downing Street with an Officer of Her
Majesty's Treasury, in the presence of several gentlemen of
the Colonial Office, respecting a claim advanced by the
ImperialGovernment
Government against this Colony for the sum of ten
thousand, seven hundred pounds (£10,700) expended on the erection of
Barracks for the Royal Engineers at New Westminster.
Even from the statement of the official gentlemen present
at the interview it appeared to me that the claim was one
which could not without some appearance of injustice be
pressed against the Colony; and I think itwas
was conceded
on behalf of the Treasury that no further steps would be
taken in the matter until I had reported with local knowledge
upon the question.
Government against this Colony for the sum of ten
thousand, seven hundred pounds (£10,700) expended on the erection of
Barracks for the Royal Engineers at New Westminster.
Even from the statement of the official gentlemen present
at the interview it appeared to me that the claim was one
which could not without some appearance of injustice be
pressed against the Colony; and I think itwas
was conceded
on behalf of the Treasury that no further steps would be
taken in the matter until I had reported with local knowledge
upon the question.
I have not been able in the short time which has elapsed
since my arrival in British Columbia to find the correspondence
respecting this supposed debt to the Treasury, but one glance
at the Engineer's Camphas
has convinced me that the buildings
are almost valueless to the Colony. I would therefore
earnestly beg that no further steps be taken to enforce
payment of the account claimed until I shall have had an
opportunity of laying my view of the question before Your Grace.
has convinced me that the buildings
are almost valueless to the Colony. I would therefore
earnestly beg that no further steps be taken to enforce
payment of the account claimed until I shall have had an
opportunity of laying my view of the question before Your Grace.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Though I was present at the interview referred to I do not recollect that it was conceded that no conclusive steps shd be taken in this matter until Govr Seymour had reported. My impression is that it was simply a case of remonstrance of Mr Seymour, against charging the Colony with
payment of the claim, to which, with some discourse on our
part, we all listened; but that no expectation was held out
by any person present that the Govt wd give way.
At this moment the case stands in this position. Sir Jas
Douglas has contracted a fresh Loan of £100,000 and by
desph 4383/64 he has told us that he has instructed the
Crown Agents to pay the debt due by the Colony out of that
Loan, as soon as the Loan receives the sanction of the
Govt. The Loan has been sanctioned—see T-y letter
5280/64—but will the terms of it justify us in directing
the Agents to repay the advance? You will observe that the
T-y confine the application of the Loan "to the survey and
first construction of Roads and Bridges & Public Works."
The Barracks, on account of which this debt has been incurred,
may surely be regarded as a "public work." But it would have
been convenient to us if the Treasury had more definitely said
that they concurred in the arrangement proposed by the Govr
in his Desph 4383—of which we sent them a copy.
Though I was present at the interview referred to I do not recollect that it was conceded that no conclusive steps shd be taken in this matter until Govr Seymour had reported. My impression is that it was simply a case of remonstrance of Mr Seymour, against charging the Colony with
payment of the claim, to which, with some discourse on our
part, we all listened; but that no expectation was held out
by any person present that the Govt wd give way.
At this moment the case stands in this position. Sir Jas
Douglas has contracted a fresh Loan of £100,000 and by
desph 4383/64 he has told us that he has instructed the
Crown Agents to pay the debt due by the Colony out of that
Loan, as soon as the Loan receives the sanction of the
Govt. The Loan has been sanctioned—see T-y letter
5280/64—but will the terms of it justify us in directing
the Agents to repay the advance? You will observe that the
T-y confine the application of the Loan "to the survey and
first construction of Roads and Bridges & Public Works."
The Barracks, on account of which this debt has been incurred,
may surely be regarded as a "public work." But it would have
been convenient to us if the Treasury had more definitely said
that they concurred in the arrangement proposed by the Govr
in his Desph 4383—of which we sent them a copy.
It will be necessary for us to
immediately tell the Crown
Agents that the Loan Act has been sanctioned. I assume that
no departure from the determination to make the Colony will be permitted.
immediately tell the Crown
Agents that the Loan Act has been sanctioned. I assume that
no departure from the determination to make the Colony will be permitted.
ABd
10 June
All that Governor Seymour asks is that we will take no
positive step till we receive a further letter which he means to write.
It will take a long time to raise the loan, and a still
longer time to pay away it's proceeds.
I feel no doubt therefore that there will be ample
opportunity to hear from him again before anything is done.
Meanwhile put by.
TFE
10 June
I think so.
CF
11
Notice may be given to the Crown Agents that this claim is
in suspense.
EC
14