Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Carnarvon, Earl 17 April 1867, CO 60:28, no. 5839, 79.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), 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 describes the different reactions people in British Columbia have towards the US’s purchase of the Russian North American territory. Seymour advocates for more attention to be given to British Columbia and notes how British Columbia’s value in resources was overstated. Seymour also describes the financial situation of British Columbia, in particular, referencing how public officers, including himself, have gone without
pay for four months and the impact of paying the Royal Engineers for erected buildings
as well as the expenses for suppressing
an Indian insurrection.Seymour states that it would
be good policy and good economy if some pecuniary assistance was grantedand sends newspaper articles regarding the fervor around the US’s purchase of Russian North American territory. Elliot minutes that British Columbia cannot be repaid for the work of the Royal Engineers, and that, in his opinion, Seymour, as governor, should be paid from Imperial funds as an Imperial officer. Adderley’s minute disagrees with Elliot regarding paying Seymour from imperial funds, states that the Royal Engineers’
service was something,and advises that
the Yankees will only think us green if we try to un-yankee them by paying these expenses.
Secret
17th April 1867
My Lord,
It is but right that I should mention that considerable
excitement exists here on account of the cession of the
Russian North American Territories to the United States.All
All the American merchants and public house keepers hoisted
their national flag yesterday in honor of the event and the
English feel somewhat despondent as to their future condition.
All the American merchants and public house keepers hoisted
their national flag yesterday in honor of the event and the
English feel somewhat despondent as to their future condition.
2. In time of peace I think it will be rather advantageous
to us to have the United States on both sides of British Columbia.
Victoria will be a sort of half way port between San Francisco
andSitka
Sitka. There is I fear no doubt that the
having the United States North and South of us will tend to strengthen
the American sympathies felt by a considerable number of persons
in Victoria. On the mainland, though I believe half the
population is alien, much good feeling prevails and political
excitement is scarcely to be found.
Sitka. There is I fear no doubt that the
having the United States North and South of us will tend to strengthen
the American sympathies felt by a considerable number of persons
in Victoria. On the mainland, though I believe half the
population is alien, much good feeling prevails and political
excitement is scarcely to be found.
3. Possibly under the peculiar circumstances in which
the Colony will be placed theLords
Lords of the Treasury may be
induced to mitigate in some degree the rigour with which in
financial matters British Columbia has been treated. The making
the Colony pay ten thousand seven hundred pounds (£10,700)
for the useless buildings
erected by the Royal Engineers, and the causing it to bear the
total expense of the suppression of an Indian insurrection
created much ill feeling at the time and the financial conditionof
of the Colony has, since these payments were made, been anything
but satisfactory. I may mention that all the principal Public
Officers have now been four months without salary. I myself
have an overdrawn account at the Bank of British Columbia upon
which interest at the rate of eighteen per cent per annum is charged.
Lords of the Treasury may be
induced to mitigate in some degree the rigour with which in
financial matters British Columbia has been treated. The making
the Colony pay ten thousand seven hundred pounds (£10,700)
for the useless buildings
erected by the Royal Engineers, and the causing it to bear the
total expense of the suppression of an Indian insurrection
created much ill feeling at the time and the financial conditionof
of the Colony has, since these payments were made, been anything
but satisfactory. I may mention that all the principal Public
Officers have now been four months without salary. I myself
have an overdrawn account at the Bank of British Columbia upon
which interest at the rate of eighteen per cent per annum is charged.
4. I am well aware that a new principle inColonization
Colonization
was attempted here and that it was intended that British Columbia
should, from its earliest days, be self supporting. Its natural
resources were greatly overvalued by my predecessor and the local
correspondent of the "Times" and now instead of the population
steadily increasing there is considerable emigration from the
Colony. When I say that the resources were greatly overvalued I
do not in any way mean to say that were we nearerto
to England or
in an insular position there would not be abundant attractions to
immigrants but unfortunately our future political destiny seems
unsettled, and we have to compete for population with California
one of the richest Countries in the world, highly favoured by
nature and by the Government of the United States. We have two
competing towns here, living in a continual state of irritation
against each other,while
while in California the great resources of the
State are concentrated in San Francisco, which has become at least
as attractive to the lower classes as any of the great cities of
the Eastern States.
Colonization
was attempted here and that it was intended that British Columbia
should, from its earliest days, be self supporting. Its natural
resources were greatly overvalued by my predecessor and the local
correspondent of the "Times" and now instead of the population
steadily increasing there is considerable emigration from the
Colony. When I say that the resources were greatly overvalued I
do not in any way mean to say that were we nearerto
to England or
in an insular position there would not be abundant attractions to
immigrants but unfortunately our future political destiny seems
unsettled, and we have to compete for population with California
one of the richest Countries in the world, highly favoured by
nature and by the Government of the United States. We have two
competing towns here, living in a continual state of irritation
against each other,while
while in California the great resources of the
State are concentrated in San Francisco, which has become at least
as attractive to the lower classes as any of the great cities of
the Eastern States.
5. Then the exuberant confidence of the Americans in the
future, depresses the minds of the English inhabitants of this
Colony, and the greater number of Miners and others who periodically
resort to thisplace
place are aliens. It is believed by many that but
little interest is felt in England as regards British Columbia.
place are aliens. It is believed by many that but
little interest is felt in England as regards British Columbia.
6. I think it really would be good policy and good economy
if some pecuniary assistance was granted, either in the repayment
of the ten thousand seven hundred pounds (£10,700) charged for the
Engineers huts or of the eighteen thousand pounds (£18,000),
more or less, which the
Chilicoten expedition cost, the payment bythe
the Mother Country of
the Governor's Salary, or by showing in some manner that Her
Majesty's Government feel some sort of interest in this far portion
of Her dominions.
the Mother Country of
the Governor's Salary, or by showing in some manner that Her
Majesty's Government feel some sort of interest in this far portion
of Her dominions.
7. The mere fact that Sitka, with all its disadvantages
of climate, soil and hostile natives, is now attracting attention
and enterprise through the Pacific States and Colonies, shews that
the American flag has certain charms for the unattachedpopulation
population
of this coast.
population
of this coast.
8. I send a sample of the Articles which are appearing in
all the newspapers of British Columbia, Oregon and California,
[newspaper clipping as follows:]
The Sitka fever has commenced to rage in this locality, and,
no doubt exists in quite a virulent form at San Francisco. Already
visions of a great metropolis in the Polar regions and dreams of
sudden wealth by a rise in town lots begin to form the day dreams of
speculative citizens, and anxious inquiries are made as to when, a
steamer by means of which they may visit the locality and prospect
for "rich strikes," will arrive. The owners of the New World have
been approached with an offer for the trip, express themselves in
favor of accepting it should a sufficient number of passengers offer.
Minutes by CO staff
I think with Governor Seymour, and always did think,
that the Treasury behaved with undue and short-sighted
rigor in forcing British Columbia to pay for the huts built
by that great sham the Royal Engineer Garrison of the
Colony. But to get repayment must be out of the question.
As to Governor's salary, my own private opinion has
always been that whilst all other civil grants to Colonies
should be progressively curtailed and got rid of as soon
as possible, it is by no means unreasonable that in all
except the largest and richest Colonies the Imperial
Parliament should be asked to provide the salary of the
Governor, who is the connecting link between this Country
and the Colony. He is in a large measure an Imperial Officer,
and may therefore not unreasonably be paid from Imperial funds.
TFE
19 June
I cannot agree with this; unless the whole Empire,
incg Colonies will consent to pay for our Court at
home. The outskirts of Empire must pay for their vice
courts, or all pay for all.
The Engineers I thought only a part of the folly of
B. Columbia but the service was something. But the
Yankees will only think us green if we try to un-yankee them
by paying these expenses.
CBA
20/6
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, Confidential, 24 June 1867 acknowledging receipt of Seymour’s despatch regarding the “state of public feeling in colony” following the US purchase
of the Russian North American territory.