Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 15 May 1865, CO 60:21, no. 6412, 490.
Abstract
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 15 May 1865, CO 60:21, no. 6412, 490.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
No. 54
15th May 1865
Sir,
I have the honor to forward an Authenticated and two
plain Copies of an Ordinance of the recent Session of the
Legislature of this Colony, entitled;
No. 8. An Ordinanceto
to establish a Decimal system
of Accounts in the Colony of British Columbia.
I add the Report of the Attorney General.
to establish a Decimal system
of Accounts in the Colony of British Columbia.
I add the Report of the Attorney General.
2. This Ordinance contains a suspending Clause. Had
I not been informed that a similar enactment has been allowed
in Vancouver Island, I should not have much hope for the enclosed.
3. Much
3. Much as I approve of the simplicity of the Decimal
system of Accounts, I do not approve of our taking a Foreign
Coinage as the Standard, and regulating our own Gold Coins
thereby. In most of the West Indian Colonies the cent and
half penny are declared to be equivalent. Under this system
the sovereign is only valued at four dollars, eighty cents,
and escapes from circulation. In British Honduras where noBank
Bank notes are in circulation, but a most abundant supply of
Mexican, South and Central American Coin, the Sovereign is
by law made equal to five dollars, the shilling to the quarter
dollar or twenty five cents. Of course the Spanish doubloon
and dollar, and United States Gold are at a premium and are
withdrawn from general circulation.
Bank notes are in circulation, but a most abundant supply of
Mexican, South and Central American Coin, the Sovereign is
by law made equal to five dollars, the shilling to the quarter
dollar or twenty five cents. Of course the Spanish doubloon
and dollar, and United States Gold are at a premium and are
withdrawn from general circulation.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Sir F. Rogers wd in all probability refer this at once to the Treasury. Whenever that course is taken the reference made to the Treasury on the 23 April/63 of the Decimal Currency Act of Van C. Island, which is at present unanswered, should be adverted to.
Sir F. Rogers wd in all probability refer this at once to the Treasury. Whenever that course is taken the reference made to the Treasury on the 23 April/63 of the Decimal Currency Act of Van C. Island, which is at present unanswered, should be adverted to.
The Decimal system is a large question which the Treasury
like deliberating upon for a long while.
ABd
11 July
Mr Blackwood
Refer to Treasury in manner proposed.
Refer to Treasury in manner proposed.
TFE
11/7
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General, to Colonial Secretary, 16 May
1865, reporting on the ordinance as per despatch.
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 15 July 1865, forwarding
copy of the despatch and ordinance for consideration.