Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 1 March 1865, CO 60:21, no. 4587, 85.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
Seymour forwards returns from the Assay Department and proposes removing the department from
the purview of the Colonial Treasurer, as he
has none of the scientific acquirements which would enable him to give assistance.Seymour suggests promoting Claudet to
Superintendent of Assayand arranging a salaried assistant for Claudet. In the margin, Blackwood notes that Franks should have acquired these skills before reaching the colony, as Gosset, his predecessor, had done. Blackwood’s minute suggests that, as the Assay Department has
been unprofitable since its establishment,it is unlikely the Treasury would support increasing the department’s staff.
No. 13
1st March 1865
Sir,
In obedience to the Instructions conveyed in the Duke
of Newcastle's despatch No. 41 of 31st July 1865 [1863], I have
the honor to forward the Returns connected with the Assay Department
in New Westminster for the Year ended 31st of December 1864.
[2]. The 
2. The balance, though but a small one, is at last shown
in favor of the Department, and I am happy to say that the
working of the Office gives very general satisfaction. I
strongly therefore urge that it be not broken up.
3. The reduced Establishment which performed the work
of the Assay Department in 1864, consisted of an Assayer,
Mr Claudet, with a salary of five hundred pounds a year, and
a Melter, Mr Hitchcock with one of three hundred pounds.It
It
seems however likely from present appearances that the business
of the Department will be greatly extended this year by the
inducement to assaying offered by the Gold Export Ordinance,
which allows of the exportation of Assayed Gold at six pence
an ounce less than the Metal in the less pure state. New
gold mines too of great promise have been discovered on the
Columbia and Kootenay Rivers and I have therefore thought it
necessary toincrease
increase the strength of the Office.
It
seems however likely from present appearances that the business
of the Department will be greatly extended this year by the
inducement to assaying offered by the Gold Export Ordinance,
which allows of the exportation of Assayed Gold at six pence
an ounce less than the Metal in the less pure state. New
gold mines too of great promise have been discovered on the
Columbia and Kootenay Rivers and I have therefore thought it
necessary toincrease
increase the strength of the Office.
4. As the present Treasurer has none of the scientific
acquirements which would enable him to give assistance to Mr
Claudet, I have thought it unnecessary to recommend that the
Assay Department be still under his direction.
I propose therefore, should you see no objection, to
confer on Mr Claudet the title of Superintendent of Assay,
without any increase of Salary. He would have direction of
the whole Department. It willbe
be absolutely necessary to give
him an Assistant for whom a Salary of three hundred and fifty
pounds has been already voted by the Legislative Council. Mr
Hitchcock has had an additional hundred pounds a year voted
to his pay, and I propose to make him Chief Melter with a
subordinate under him at one hundred and fifty pounds a year.
It is confidently expected that the receipts of the Department
will this year more than cover this increaseof
of expenditure.
Mr Franks had plenty of time before he went to B.C. to acquire some
knowledge on this subject. His predecessor Capn Gossett, did so.
be absolutely necessary to give
him an Assistant for whom a Salary of three hundred and fifty
pounds has been already voted by the Legislative Council. Mr
Hitchcock has had an additional hundred pounds a year voted
to his pay, and I propose to make him Chief Melter with a
subordinate under him at one hundred and fifty pounds a year.
It is confidently expected that the receipts of the Department
will this year more than cover this increaseof
of expenditure.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
This will have to be sent to the Treasury who are better able than we are to decide on the propriety of these charges. The Assay Dt has been unprofitable since its establishment, but as soon as there is a symptom of a surplus the Authorities propose an increase in the strength of the Office and in the expense. I can [forsay?] that Mr Peel will demur.
This will have to be sent to the Treasury who are better able than we are to decide on the propriety of these charges. The Assay Dt has been unprofitable since its establishment, but as soon as there is a symptom of a surplus the Authorities propose an increase in the strength of the Office and in the expense. I can [forsay?] that Mr Peel will demur.
ABd
17 May
Forward to the Treasury for consideration.
TFE
12 June
Mr Cardwell
If you will be good enough to look at the note
on the
margin of the annexed draft, you will see that Mr Blackwood
shows strong reasons for doubting the propriety of the
additional charges proposed by the Governor in this despatch.
I quite agree in substance with Mr Blackwood, and I would
on no account let the Treasury suppose that we support these
recommendations. But as their's is the proper Department
of financial control, and especially as it is they who are
technically conversant with the requirements of an Assay
Office, I think that instead of merely sending the Governor
a demurrer from ourselves, I would forward this despatch
to the Treasury.
If you will be good enough to look at the note
on the
margin of the annexed draft, you will see that Mr Blackwood
shows strong reasons for doubting the propriety of the
additional charges proposed by the Governor in this despatch.
I quite agree in substance with Mr Blackwood, and I would
on no account let the Treasury suppose that we support these
recommendations. But as their's is the proper Department
of financial control, and especially as it is they who are
technically conversant with the requirements of an Assay
Office, I think that instead of merely sending the Governor
a demurrer from ourselves, I would forward this despatch
to the Treasury.
In that case I would send it for consideration, and
would add that whilst Mr Cardwell think[s] it proper to bring
the despatch under their Lordship's notice, he entertains
the views, and would make the suggestion &c (the same as Mr Blackwood has embodied in his minute.)
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
"Return shewing the Total Receipts and Expenditure
of the Assay and Melting Department of British Columbia; and the Profit
and Loss on the sale of Gold bars during the year 1864," signed by
C.W. Franks, Superintendent, 20 January 1865.
Other documents included in the file
Colonial Office to F. Peel, Treasury, 24 June 1865, forwarding
copy of the despatch for consideration, and expressing the opinion
that the changes proposed were premature.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Will you look carefully at this? On further consideration I have some doubt about referring this despatch to the Treasury at present. Under the expectation of increased business it proposes an additional charge of £600 a year for a hitherto profitless Dt. And because Mr Franks, the Treasurer, is ignorant of the assaying art an Assistant to the Chief Superintendent
is found necessary to whom is to be assigned a Salary of
£350 a year. The Governor moreover informs us of another Assay Office
being contemplated at the Kootainie Mines. I shd be in favor of
telling the Govr that Mr Cardwell cannot recommend this additional
expense to the Treasury until it has been proved by experience that the
business & profits of the Dt realize his expectations.
Will you look carefully at this? On further consideration I have some doubt about referring this despatch to the Treasury at present. Under the expectation of increased business it proposes an additional charge of £600 a year for a hitherto profitless Dt. And because Mr Franks, the Treasurer, is ignorant of the assaying art an Assistant to the Chief Superintendent
is found necessary to whom is to be assigned a Salary of
£350 a year. The Governor moreover informs us of another Assay Office
being contemplated at the Kootainie Mines. I shd be in favor of
telling the Govr that Mr Cardwell cannot recommend this additional
expense to the Treasury until it has been proved by experience that the
business & profits of the Dt realize his expectations.
ABd
14 June