Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to
Carnarvon, Earl 24 February 1867, CO 60:27, no. 3712, 245.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (2), Marginalia (1).
Regarding the financial situation of the united colony and the reduction of staff
Seymour has had to make, Seymour discusses why Franks, the treasurer for the former mainland colony, was removed from office, the dismissal
offer made to Franks, and how Franks left British Columbia “without [providing] any notice” to Seymour. Blackwood’s, Elliot’s, and Buckingham’s minutes discuss how to proceed with Franks’s termination of employment with the Colonial Office and the decision to offer Franks “the usual gratuity.” Included documents describe correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Treasury, and Buckingham and Seymour, regarding Franks’s dismissal.
No. 35
24th February 1867
My Lord,
On the Union of the two Colonies of British Columbia and
Vancouver Island and the extraordinary financial depression into
which both had been allowed to fall, it becamenecessary
necessary to make
considerable reductions in the Public Establishments.
necessary to make
considerable reductions in the Public Establishments.
The Official Staff of Vancouver Island has suffered most
inasmuch as it was abolished by the Act of Parliament which
brought about Union, but in one or two cases I have acted upon the
authority given me in Your Lordship's letter of the 14th of
September 1866, and effected such reductions in the staff of
Public Officers on the Mainland as the financial depression required.
2. Among
2. Among the Gentlemen who lost Office is Mr Charles
Franks, appointed as Treasurer by the late Duke of Newcastle.
It would be rather an abuse of terms to speak of Mr Franks'
Services to the Colony in the very light duties he has
had to perform, yet he has come to British Columbia on the
faith of a permanent appointment and he has had nothing to say,
beyond drawing a considerable Salary, to bringing the Colony
toits
its present wretched financial condition.
its present wretched financial condition.
3. Although I do not consider Mr Franks as a valuable
public officer on account of his infirmity of temper there may
be situations which he is qualified to fill. He has received a
good education and is not deficient in quickness of apprehension.
4. As a Compensation for the loss of an Office, to which in
my candid opinion he ought never to have been appointed Ihave
have
offered Mr Franks the amount of his passage to England and
three months full pay. He has not drawn either. Should Your
Lordship think fit to bestow this allowance or something higher
upon Mr Franks, Your order upon the Colonial Agents will of
course meet the case.
have
offered Mr Franks the amount of his passage to England and
three months full pay. He has not drawn either. Should Your
Lordship think fit to bestow this allowance or something higher
upon Mr Franks, Your order upon the Colonial Agents will of
course meet the case.
5. After lingering long in the Colony Mr Franks suddenly
departed without giving me any notice and thus it came about
that he went homeunaccompanied
unaccompanied by any despatch from me.
unaccompanied by any despatch from me.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Mr Franks holds a warrant of apptment from this Office—with instructions from the Treasury as to his conduct as Treasurer. Perhaps the Treasury may feel that they have a voice in this case. Any how we should have to obtain their concurrence in any payment to Mr Franks. Much as this Gentleman has made himself disliked by his Brother Officials we must be just to him. He has lost his Office, worth £750 a year, owing to the Union of the 2 Colonies, & is entitled, I think, to some gratuity as compensation. And it wd be better probably to grant that than to let him reenter the public service, of which, according to all accounts, he is not an ornament. He has been nearly 3 years in Office.
Mr Franks holds a warrant of apptment from this Office—with instructions from the Treasury as to his conduct as Treasurer. Perhaps the Treasury may feel that they have a voice in this case. Any how we should have to obtain their concurrence in any payment to Mr Franks. Much as this Gentleman has made himself disliked by his Brother Officials we must be just to him. He has lost his Office, worth £750 a year, owing to the Union of the 2 Colonies, & is entitled, I think, to some gratuity as compensation. And it wd be better probably to grant that than to let him reenter the public service, of which, according to all accounts, he is not an ornament. He has been nearly 3 years in Office.
ABd
15 April
I believe however that Mr Frankshas
has obtained access
to Mr Hunt, and is a very constant applicant to him at
present for further employment.
has obtained access
to Mr Hunt, and is a very constant applicant to him at
present for further employment.
I cannot say that I see any reason for awarding to him more
than the Governor offered.
I think that we would be well to send a copy of this
despatch officially to the Treasury (which will incidentally
show them the Governor's account of Mr Franks) and to tell
them of such decision as may be adopted here as to offering
the same payment as was offered by the Governor.
Refer to confidential despatch recd from Gov. Seymour—after
reading which it appears to me that Mr F. is fairly
entitled—not having been dismissed—to the usual gratuity
which is a month for each year of office—and his expenses
home—if Treasury concur in this Mr F. will have no claim
for reemployment under this department, & shd be so
informed at once. Govr Seymour's despatch hardly indicates
Mr F.'s conduct as [detailed?] in the Confid: desp with accuracy.
The Treasury must be made aware of both.
B&C
18/4
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 23 April 1867, forwarding
copy of the despatch for consideration and advising that it was
intended to extend the same terms as offered by the governor.
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 22, 3 May 1867 transmitting a copy of a letter to Franks regarding end of employment with the Colonial Office.