No. 57
Victoria
5th June 1868
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward an Address to Her Majesty the Queen signed on behalf of the Municipal Council and people of New Westminster by the ChairmanofManuscript image of the Committee appointed to celebrate Her Majesty's last birthday.
2. There was not a more loyal little community in any part of the world than that which is now addressing Her Majesty, and I know that the congratulations on the failure of certain treasonable attempts are sincere. I am aware also that a thrill of horror passed throughtheManuscript image the Colony when intelligence was received of the murderous attack made on His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.
3. The address proceeds to comment upon the change made in the Seat of Government from New Westminster to Victoria. Your Grace is aware that I likewise was of opinion that the people of the former town had a grievance in this matter, but Your despatchNo.Manuscript image No. 67, of 1st October 1867, states that Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that the question of the selection of a Capital for a Colony must depend a good deal upon the public convenience. There could not be two Capitals for British Columbia. New Westminster has every advantage for becoming a large town. I throw aside as utterly without foundation the statements made bypersonsManuscript image persons interested in Victoria as to the difficulty of the Navigation of the Fraser. But the great embarrassment was that population would not come to New Westminster and that the greater portion of the political power of the Colony was centred in a rival town only seventy miles distant. Then, the Governor at New Westminster was separated from the Head Quarters of the Fleet, fromtheManuscript image the Head of the Local Church, from Banks and from the Hudson's Bay Company. The last being no mean power in this Colony. The people would not come to the Government. Were they to live apart or was the Government, without any sacrifice of its own convenience being required, to meet the people? However as the people of the Mainland never desired Union withVancouverManuscript image Vancouver Island, I think the inhabitants of New Westminster have a fair right to consider themselves aggrieved in this matter.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord Duke,
Your Grace's most obedient
humble Servant
Frederick Seymour
Minutes by CO staff
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Sir F. Rogers
A congratulatory Address on the escape of the Duke of Edinburgh. It however goes on to say that if it is not as joyous in expression as it might be it must be attributed to their being weighed down by the "ruthless, unjustifiable & unexpected removal" of the Seat of Govt from New Westminster.
Ackn. & say this Address has been laid before The Queen?
CC 17 July
FR 17/7
CBA 18/7
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But I think accompanied by some remarks in the Spirit of Govrs letter.
B&C 18/7
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Address, Citizens of New Westminster to Queen Victoria, 25 May 1868, expressing sentiments as per despatch, signed by George C. Clarkson and Henry Holbrook (two copies).
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 55, 27 July 1868 expressing the gratitude of the British Crown for New Westminster’s address and discussing why New Westminster was not chosen as the capital of British Columbia.
Minutes by CO staff
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Sir F. Rogers
In consequence of His Grace's minute I have added a paragraph for consideration—but I do not feel sure that it is what His Grace had in his mind.
I do not think the Address need go to the Queen.
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I read HG's minute "in the spirit"
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Yes.
not on the spirit of the Govrs dph & draft an alternative [anonly?].
FR 22/7