Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Carnarvon, Earl 11 January 1867, CO 60:27, no. 1948, 97.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (11), Other documents (1).
Seymour reports the steps he is taking to amalgamate the two former colonies into a united
body and forwards a number of documents informing
of the improved relations now subsisting between the inhabitants of Vancouver Island andhimself. Seymour also mentions how
The Island press has become moderate in its tone.Blackwood’s minute notes there is little fear that
Seymour will not make a favourable impression.
No. 23
11th January 1867
My Lord,
I informed Your Lordship in my despatch No. 1 of 20th
of November that I had been received with great coldness in
Victoria, with considerable warmth in New Westminster.
2. I
2. I considered it advisable to return, shortly after
Union had been effected, to the former town and endeavor to
remove the suspicion with which my assumption of the Government
of the Island was evidently received. Duties too, of a very
important and far from pleasant nature, required my presence
in the Capital of the late Colony of Vancouver Island. I had
to prepare measures for the amalgamation of thelaws
laws of the two
sections of the community. To fuse into one two distinct staffs of
Public Officers and to provide without Legislative assistance
for many difficult details which it would have been impossible
for Your Lordship to have foreseen—No Appropriation Act had been
passed. The conflict of some of the Laws of the two Sections
of the Colony rendered it necessary for me in more than one
instance to take very extraordinary
powers into myhands
hands. These questions will form the subjects
of distinct reports. The despatch which I am now writing has
for its object only to inform you of the improved relations now
subsisting between the inhabitants of Vancouver Island and myself.
laws of the two
sections of the community. To fuse into one two distinct staffs of
Public Officers and to provide without Legislative assistance
for many difficult details which it would have been impossible
for Your Lordship to have foreseen—No Appropriation Act had been
passed. The conflict of some of the Laws of the two Sections
of the Colony rendered it necessary for me in more than one
instance to take very extraordinary
powers into myhands
hands. These questions will form the subjects
of distinct reports. The despatch which I am now writing has
for its object only to inform you of the improved relations now
subsisting between the inhabitants of Vancouver Island and myself.
3. I have the honor to forward:
1st An Address presented to me by the New Mayor of Victoria
and of my reply.
2ndly One from the Minister and Manager representingSt.
St.
Andrews' church in Victoria and my reply.
St.
Andrews' church in Victoria and my reply.
3rdly One from
the Settlers and property holders in the Cowitchan Valley: and
4thly An Address from the people of Nanaimo.
This last, it will be seen, from my letter to the Chairman of the
Public Meeting I could not, under peculiar circumstances, receive
in person.
4. Various deputations waited on me in reference tomatters
matters of importance and I hope that the replies I gave were
generally satisfactory. Victoria presents every aspect of
adversity, yet I think a feeling generally prevails that better
days are before us.
matters of importance and I hope that the replies I gave were
generally satisfactory. Victoria presents every aspect of
adversity, yet I think a feeling generally prevails that better
days are before us.
5. The British Columbian Customs Act has been extended
over Vancouver Island without embarrassment. I have established
in obedience to the instructions of Your Lordship's predecessor
a most liberal system of Bonding.6. It
6. It may seem perhaps a trifling matter to mention officially
but I would beg leave to state that during my months stay in
Victoria I gave three Balls which were very numerously attended.
I do not believe that a single person invited declined to come
for political reasons.
7. The Island press has become moderate in its tone. The
"Evening Telegraph" which excelled all other periodicals in
invective has ceased to exist.
*. I
8. I enclose as a sample of the distrust which prevailed in
regard to my administration a Memorial respecting the removal
of certain Public Offices together with my reply.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Express satisfaction. There is not much fear, I think, that Govr Seymour will not make a favorable impression in V.C. Island, in a very short time.
Express satisfaction. There is not much fear, I think, that Govr Seymour will not make a favorable impression in V.C. Island, in a very short time.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Seymour to Minister and Managers of St. Andrew's Church, response
to address.
Dunsmuir to Seymour, 19 December 1866, forwarding the address
and expressing disappointment that the deputation had not been
received on board the
Sparrowhawk.
Newspaper clipping, unnamed, no date, containing address from
the citizens of Victoria on the subject of public offices, and
copy of the governor's response thereto.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Carnarvon to Seymour, No. 1, 8 March 1867 expressing satisfaction over Seymour’s improved relations with the inhabitants of Vancouver Island.