Secret
Victoria
25th September 1867
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward a Return shewing what our financial position will probably be at the end of the year. I deeply regret this pecuniarydifficultyManuscript image difficulty at a time when the Americans are making such energetic efforts to improve their recent purchase to the North of us. I fear that the annexation feeling prevalent in Victoria will be stimulated by the contrast of the total self reliance imposed upon us and the absence of all assistance from Home.
Troops are to be poured into Alaska. We have hadtoManuscript image to pay locally £17,000 for the suppression of an Indian Insurrection, and to the Imperial Government, £10,700 for the Engineers huts at New Westminster which are utterly valueless to us. Can no assistance of any kind be furnished to us? I almost dread the growth of feeling in this Colony adverse to the connexion with the Mother Country which may lead to some complications.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord Duke
Your most obedient, humble Servant
Frederick Seymour
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Statement showing estimated revenue for the period 1 September to 31 December 1867, showing a total of $197,070.
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Statement showing amounts required to meet liabilities and expenditures for same period, showing a total of $290,330.
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 97, 14 December 1867 informing Seymour that authorities in Great Britain are concerned with maintaining a cost efficient method of communication with British Columbia and informing Seymour that not enough information was provided to argue in favour of British Columbia receiving financial assistance.
Minutes by CO staff
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Duke of Buckingham
This is founded I think, on YG's instruction.
FR 13/12
B&C 14/12