Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Grenville, Richard to Seymour, Frederick 14 December 1867, NAC RG7:G8C/14, 505.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Marginalia (1).
Buckingham informs Seymour that Seymour’s telegram asking for financial aid does not provide adequate evidence to convince
the government in England to authorize such a
large advanceand that England’s government is determining how to maintain
regular communicationwith British Columbia. Buckingham explains why the United States provides
pecuniary assistanceto its holdings on the west coast of North America and England does not.
No. 97
14 December 1867
Sir,
I have received your Despatch noted in the margin
respecting the state of the finances of British Columbia, and
announcing the cessation of regular communication between that Colony
and San Francisco. I have also received a telegramin
in which you
request to be allowed to draw on the British Treasury for £50,000.
No. 130—27 Sept. 1867
‹133—28 " "
Secret ‹25 " "
‹133—28 " "
Secret ‹25 " "
in which you
request to be allowed to draw on the British Treasury for £50,000.
I have received these communications with great concern. They
are at present engaging the anxious attention of Her Majesty's
Government and I hope to be able soon to inform you what nature and
amount of regular communication ought in their opinion to be
maintained between British Columbia and Great Britain, and in what
manner in their opinion the cost should be provided.
I
I regret that I am unable to collect either from your telegram
or from the Despatches which I have noticed any facts which you would
justify Her Majesty's Government in authorizing the large advance
which you seek by telegram from the Imperial Treasury to aid in
defraying the liabilities of the Government of the Colony.
With regard to your repeated observations to the effect that
British Columbia does not receive that pecuniary assistance from the Governmentof
of Great Britain which
their neighbours receive from the Federal Government of the
United States. I must remind you that the inhabitants of the United
States who are aided by the Federal Revenue are called upon to
contribute towards that General Revenue. I will only repeat in
conclusion that the whole of the questions referred to in your
Despatches are receiving the earnest attention of Her Majesty's
Government.
of Great Britain which
their neighbours receive from the Federal Government of the
United States. I must remind you that the inhabitants of the United
States who are aided by the Federal Revenue are called upon to
contribute towards that General Revenue. I will only repeat in
conclusion that the whole of the questions referred to in your
Despatches are receiving the earnest attention of Her Majesty's
Government.