Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 31 August 1864, CO 60:19, no. 10594, 95.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Seymour reports on a meeting with “Fraser River Indians” on Queen Victoria’s birthday. About 3500 people attended the meeting. Seymour also submits an address signed by 55 Stó:lō chiefs to the Queen as well as his address to the delegation.
No. 30
31st August 1864
Sir,
On the departure of Sir James Douglas, who had been known
by the Indians as a great Chief, the principal Authority in this
territory, for upwards of forty years, an impression was allowed
to arise among them that their protector was withdrawn and would
have no successor. The Fraser River Indians uttered many
lamentations over theirdeserted
deserted condition, and it became desirable
for me to make myself known to the natives and show them that I had
succeeded to all the power of my predecessor and to his solicitude
for their welfare. With this object I invited the Catholic priests
and others to bring in all the Indians who were willing to come
to New Westminster and meet me on the Queen's birthday.
deserted condition, and it became desirable
for me to make myself known to the natives and show them that I had
succeeded to all the power of my predecessor and to his solicitude
for their welfare. With this object I invited the Catholic priests
and others to bring in all the Indians who were willing to come
to New Westminster and meet me on the Queen's birthday.
2. About three thousand five hundred attended the Summons.
They came by water, and the priests marshalled the procession
of canoes, which formed an extremely striking scene as they
roundeda
a point of the Fraser and approached my house. The
Indians sang a Catholic hymn until they passed under my windows,
when they cheered vociferously. They landed at the site selected
for a Public Park, where luncheon was provided at the expense of
the Government. I joined them in the afternoon when the enclosed
addresses were exchanged between the Chiefs and myself.
a point of the Fraser and approached my house. The
Indians sang a Catholic hymn until they passed under my windows,
when they cheered vociferously. They landed at the site selected
for a Public Park, where luncheon was provided at the expense of
the Government. I joined them in the afternoon when the enclosed
addresses were exchanged between the Chiefs and myself.
3. The day was observed as a holiday by all, and passed off
with perfect tranquillity. For the following week the shopsin
in
New Westminster were constantly filled with eager purchasers, and
then the Indians began to return home, their canoes loaded with
goods. On my recent tour in the interior the Chiefs who had spent
Her Majesty's birth day at New Westminster everywhere came
forward to give me a respectful and friendly welcome. I am now
as well known on the Valley of the Fraser and the Thompson as
my predecessor—No white man better in the Bella Coola and
Chilicoten Country.
in
New Westminster were constantly filled with eager purchasers, and
then the Indians began to return home, their canoes loaded with
goods. On my recent tour in the interior the Chiefs who had spent
Her Majesty's birth day at New Westminster everywhere came
forward to give me a respectful and friendly welcome. I am now
as well known on the Valley of the Fraser and the Thompson as
my predecessor—No white man better in the Bella Coola and
Chilicoten Country.
4. The Native gathering, probably the largest ever seen on this
side of the Rocky Mountains was themore
more interesting and important
from the fact that all were then excited by the recent intelligence
of the terrible massacre of our Countrymen at Bute Inlet, and
vague rumours were in circulation of a general insurrection of
the Indians being imminent. But the aspect and behaviour of the
thousands who came to New Westminster was reassuring, and I may
mention that on the day after the celebration, when the Theatre
at the Camp was burnt down, the Indians proved their good will
towards the Government by bringing out from Town andworking
working,
one of the fire Engines gratuitously. As the Natives returned
home they seldom failed to give farewell cheers as they passed my house.
more interesting and important
from the fact that all were then excited by the recent intelligence
of the terrible massacre of our Countrymen at Bute Inlet, and
vague rumours were in circulation of a general insurrection of
the Indians being imminent. But the aspect and behaviour of the
thousands who came to New Westminster was reassuring, and I may
mention that on the day after the celebration, when the Theatre
at the Camp was burnt down, the Indians proved their good will
towards the Government by bringing out from Town andworking
working,
one of the fire Engines gratuitously. As the Natives returned
home they seldom failed to give farewell cheers as they passed my house.
5. I regret that unavoidable circumstances growing out of
other and very different transactions with the Indians, prevented
my earlier forwarding the enclosed speeches, which show good
feeling to exist, in this neighbourhood, at least, between the
Natives and the immigrants.
Minutes by CO staff
I think that this despatch might be acknowledged
with some expression of approval of the kind disposition
shown by the Governor towards the Fraser River Indians,
and of his endeavour to make them receive with satisfaction
his accession to the Government.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Address, Assembled Indian Chiefs of the districts of New Westminster, Fort Yale, Fort Douglas, and Lillooet to Seymour, no
date, expressing welcome and their sense of loyalty to the Queen and
her admiministration in the colony, 55 Stó:lō chiefs represented.
Seymour to "My Indian Friends," responding to the address and
promising that "good Indians" will be treated well by the administration,
and that "bad white men" and "bad Indians" would be treated accordingly.
