Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 21 November 1868, CO 60:33, no. 469, 467.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Marginalia (4).
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 circumstances that led him to ask for patience in confirming Young as the permanent Colonial Secretary of British Columbia. Seymour discusses the negative aspects of replacing Young with Hankin as the colonial secretary of the colony, which includes Hankin’s history in British Columbia, the availability of more qualified individuals, the need for strong leadership in
the current legislative session, and Hankin’s wife, whose father, Nagle, committed crimes in British Columbia. Seymour suggests that Hankin’s arrival will lead to pandemonium in the colony. Rogers’s minute discusses how Seymour’s action of delaying Young’s appointment as colonial secretary led to Hankin being appointed to the position and suggests patience before acting on Seymour’s claims that Hankin’s arrival in British Columbia will lead to turmoil. Granville’s minute agrees with Rogers that no action should be taken until more information is obtained from Seymour.
Confidential
Victoria
21st November 1868
My Lord Duke,
I received this morning with the greatest concern Your Grace's
despatch No. 85 of the 6th October, informing methat
that you had
appointed Mr Philip Hankin R.N. to be Colonial Secretary of
British Columbia. No mention is made of the present incumbent
of the office, Mr William A.G. Young.
that you had
appointed Mr Philip Hankin R.N. to be Colonial Secretary of
British Columbia. No mention is made of the present incumbent
of the office, Mr William A.G. Young.
2. I, on the 5th of June, requested Your Grace to defer the
formal confirmation of Mr Young until I had made some further
communication on the subject. I havenever
never made a complaint
against him, nor have I had cause for being anything but fully
satisfied with his zeal, integrity, temper, and knowledge. If I
hestitated in recommending his final confirmation it was only
because I was informed that he was
too well acquainted with the place and had too many interests in it.
There were statementsof
of his having been indiscreet in his
revelations to old friends but I do not believe in their truth.
I was but little prepared for the interpretation put upon my
letter by Your Grace. As soon as I heard that Your Grace
proposed to make an appointment I wrote to try to avert this
step, on the 16th November. I telegraphed to the sameeffect
effect
on the 14th November,
and this morning I telegraphed again to
beg Your Grace to pause. Possibly the matter may be
reconsidered if Mr Hankin shall not have left England.
never made a complaint
against him, nor have I had cause for being anything but fully
satisfied with his zeal, integrity, temper, and knowledge. If I
hestitated in recommending his final confirmation it was only
because I was informed that he was
too well acquainted with the place and had too many interests in it.
There were statementsof
of his having been indiscreet in his
revelations to old friends but I do not believe in their truth.
I was but little prepared for the interpretation put upon my
letter by Your Grace. As soon as I heard that Your Grace
proposed to make an appointment I wrote to try to avert this
step, on the 16th November. I telegraphed to the sameeffect
effect
on the 14th November,
Arrived too late.
He left on 4 Nov.
3. I may say that this would be a most unfortunate time for the
arrival of a new Colonial Secretary. The Session about to
commence, the first in Victoria, willbe
be one of particular
difficulty. The people, not satisfied with the steady
reductions I am making, are determined that their
representatives shall only allow our present estimates to pass
by the official votes. How a man totally ignorant of what has
passed in the Colony for the last few years can furnish the
information which will be called foron
on every petty item of
expenditure I am at a loss to know. Mr Hankin, even if he
were able to fill the place of Colonial Secretary would come
before the public with peculiarly bad grace. It is but last
year that he received from the impoverished funds of the Colony
£51.11.0 as compensation for loss of office and £165 for
passages of wife and family to England.It
It is a little
embarrassing to me to find that a man whose services I could not
avail myself of in any of the offices of middling importance and
with which therefore I had to dispense returns on my hands after
due compensation for loss of office, to the highest post in the
Colony. Then, he will come before the Public, during the fury
for retrenchmentwhich
which now rages, as a fresh burden on the
Colony. The President of the Council will appear weighted with
the money he got from my having dispensed with the
Services which might have been required of him in keeping
order below the bar. If Mr Young was to be removed, I
had in Mr Ball, Mr O'Reilly or Mr Trutch men of far
greater experience and better education than MrHankin
Hankin. One
of these could have been transferred to the Colonial
Secretaryship and the Salary of his office saved. Her Majesty's
Government directs me to retrench in every way.
be one of particular
difficulty. The people, not satisfied with the steady
reductions I am making, are determined that their
representatives shall only allow our present estimates to pass
by the official votes. How a man totally ignorant of what has
passed in the Colony for the last few years can furnish the
information which will be called foron
on every petty item of
expenditure I am at a loss to know. Mr Hankin, even if he
were able to fill the place of Colonial Secretary would come
before the public with peculiarly bad grace. It is but last
year that he received from the impoverished funds of the Colony
£51.11.0 as compensation for loss of office and £165 for
passages of wife and family to England.It
It is a little
embarrassing to me to find that a man whose services I could not
avail myself of in any of the offices of middling importance and
with which therefore I had to dispense returns on my hands after
due compensation for loss of office, to the highest post in the
Colony. Then, he will come before the Public, during the fury
for retrenchmentwhich
which now rages, as a fresh burden on the
Colony. The President of the Council will appear weighted with
the money he got from my having dispensed with the
Services which might have been required of him in keeping
order below the bar. If Mr Young was to be removed, I
had in Mr Ball, Mr O'Reilly or Mr Trutch men of far
greater experience and better education than MrHankin
Hankin. One
of these could have been transferred to the Colonial
Secretaryship and the Salary of his office saved. Her Majesty's
Government directs me to retrench in every way.
4. It is my duty to Your Grace and it is by no means unfair to
Mr Hankin to state what his antecedents in this Colony have
been and how far they will enablehim
him to secure the full
deference and respect to which the Colonial Secretary (next in
succession to the Governorship) has a right.
him to secure the full
deference and respect to which the Colonial Secretary (next in
succession to the Governorship) has a right.
5. Mr Hankin, a Lieutenant in H.M.S. "Hecate," resigned his
commission for the purpose of proceeding to our Northern Mines
to dig for gold. No one who does not know Cariboo can
understand the strangeassociations
associations and singular friendships
which gold digging there entails, where muscle is nearly
everything, the brain of little use. I should however say, he
was accompanied by a brother. That brother has stuck to the
diggings. It is in no way discreditable to the Messrs Hankin
that they did not succeed in their labours. Mr Philip Hankin
returned "dead broke"—that
that is, without a farthing in his pocket.
Worked his way down, on foot I believe, stopping necessarily at
the [strange pot?] houses by the roadside.
associations and singular friendships
which gold digging there entails, where muscle is nearly
everything, the brain of little use. I should however say, he
was accompanied by a brother. That brother has stuck to the
diggings. It is in no way discreditable to the Messrs Hankin
that they did not succeed in their labours. Mr Philip Hankin
returned "dead broke"—that
that is, without a farthing in his pocket.
Worked his way down, on foot I believe, stopping necessarily at
the [strange pot?] houses by the roadside.
6. On arrival in Victoria, after some delay he was appointed
Junior Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Office at a Salary of
£200 a year, under Mr Young; whom he is now to supplant.
7. But, as stated byGovernor
Governor Kennedy in his despatch No. 100
of 3rd Decr 1864, Mr Horace Smith the Inspector of
Police was indicted for "having received numerous bribes to
permit gambling in various public houses and for other immoral
purposes." He resigned, and into his somewhat tainted and never
very agreeable appointment Mr Hankin was placed, at a salary
of£350
£350 and a residence within the prison walls.
Governor Kennedy in his despatch No. 100
of 3rd Decr 1864, Mr Horace Smith the Inspector of
Police was indicted for "having received numerous bribes to
permit gambling in various public houses and for other immoral
purposes." He resigned, and into his somewhat tainted and never
very agreeable appointment Mr Hankin was placed, at a salary
of£350
£350 and a residence within the prison walls.
8. He was employed with Rear Admiral Denman on an expedition
against some Indian pirates, whom the natives declined to give
up. The scuttlers of a vessel and the murderers of her crew
were shelled for a considerable time by the flagship "Sutlej"
and the sloop "Devestation." The effect was considerableloss
loss
of lives, eighty say the Indians, but the murderers were not
surrendered. For personal gallantry on this occasion Mr
Hankin at the intercession of Admiral Denman was restored to the Navy.
loss
of lives, eighty say the Indians, but the murderers were not
surrendered. For personal gallantry on this occasion Mr
Hankin at the intercession of Admiral Denman was restored to the Navy.
9. I beg to refer Your Grace to Sir James Douglas' despatch No.
67 of the 25th of October 1861. He reports "I have been
obliged to dismissthe
the Acting Harbour Master of the Port of
Victoria, Mr Jeremiah Nagle, in consequence of discovering
irregularities in his accounts, and that he had been in the
habit of charging and appropriating to his own use, fees for
services rendered in his official capacity." Mr Hankin
married one of Mr Nagle's daughters. The family is still in
the Colony.Would
Would this connexion be a desirable one for the
highest officer in the Colony?
the Acting Harbour Master of the Port of
Victoria, Mr Jeremiah Nagle, in consequence of discovering
irregularities in his accounts, and that he had been in the
habit of charging and appropriating to his own use, fees for
services rendered in his official capacity." Mr Hankin
married one of Mr Nagle's daughters. The family is still in
the Colony.Would
Would this connexion be a desirable one for the
highest officer in the Colony?
10. I make these observations in no illnatured spirit, but the
knowledge that until more liberal Institutions are granted much
of the comfort of Board of Trade and of the easy administration of the
Government will depend upon the personal weight of the public
Officers. Andthis
this is not a time when an ounce of that weight
can be spared. The "dead broke" miner must have some curious
friends. The Junior Clerk must have had associates of a class
similar to his own. The Inspector of Police must be well
acquainted with Public Houses and less reputable places. But he
is not the man to lead the Legislative Council, more
particularlyif
if he comes back after having been paid in full for
the abolition of his police appointment and in acquital of
any claim he might be thought to possess, previously, upon the
Government of this Colony.
this is not a time when an ounce of that weight
can be spared. The "dead broke" miner must have some curious
friends. The Junior Clerk must have had associates of a class
similar to his own. The Inspector of Police must be well
acquainted with Public Houses and less reputable places. But he
is not the man to lead the Legislative Council, more
particularlyif
if he comes back after having been paid in full for
the abolition of his police appointment and in acquital of
any claim he might be thought to possess, previously, upon the
Government of this Colony.
10. [sic] On the other hand Mr Young has been Colonial
Secretary of Vancouver Island since 1852 and, according to the
Office List, "compiled from Official records withpermission
permission of
the Secretary of State,"
Colonial Secretary of British Columbia since July 1867.
permission of
the Secretary of State,"
Colonial Secretary of British Columbia since July 1867.
11. He is an excellent pains taking Public Officer and if the
only report that I ever heard against him—that he is still on
very intimate terms with his former friends and relations be
true—I look upon it at this present moment whenthe
the newspapers
are busy with a controversy as to the relative merits of Sir
James Douglas and myself, as fortunate that there is a mutual
friend who can and does prevent any asperity arising on either
side out of the Public arguments.
the newspapers
are busy with a controversy as to the relative merits of Sir
James Douglas and myself, as fortunate that there is a mutual
friend who can and does prevent any asperity arising on either
side out of the Public arguments.
12. The news of Mr Hankin's appointment reached Victoria
this morning and I learn that great excitement prevails and that
he would not nowbe
be allowed to land without personal violence.
As to his managing the Legislative Council during the
approaching Session I look upon that as impossible. Should he
unfortunately have left England before my telegrams reach Your
Grace, I do not know what circumstances may require, but the
people are in no pleasant humour. Fenians, if not Americans,would
would probably join in any riot which may arise.
be allowed to land without personal violence.
As to his managing the Legislative Council during the
approaching Session I look upon that as impossible. Should he
unfortunately have left England before my telegrams reach Your
Grace, I do not know what circumstances may require, but the
people are in no pleasant humour. Fenians, if not Americans,would
would probably join in any riot which may arise.
13. Your Grace will excuse me for speaking out thus plainly,
but I know that you have but one object in view, that of
promoting the peace, order and good Government of the Colony.
All these I respectfully submit would be emperilled
should I meet the Legislative Council with Mr Hankinas
as President
and Leader of it.
as President
and Leader of it.
Minutes by CO staff
Lord Granville
As this and the accompanying dph are marked confidential I pass them straight to you. They shd , I conceive, be registered & treated officially.
As this and the accompanying dph are marked confidential I pass them straight to you. They shd , I conceive, be registered & treated officially.
I dare say that the appointment is an unfortunate one, but I
also am under the impression that Mr Seymour makes the worst of
it—(It is rather his way to make the most of things)—and I
think that he has brought it on himself.
Mr Seymour having been Govr of B. Columbia since
1863 having been also Govr of V.C. Island since 1866 and
having had the services of Mr Young in the capacity of
Colonial Secretary since July 1867 ought in June 1868 to have
pretty well understood Mr Y's merits & demerits. But
it
has always appeared to me that Mr Seymour & other persons
connected with B. Columbia have shewn an adverse disposition
towards Mr Young—who has always been connected with the [one word
cut off microfilm] interest of V.C. Island. Mr Seymour did not
resign himself to the appointment of Mr Young as Colonial
Secretary, and in June 1868 with a mysterious kind of letter
("secret") deprecating Mr Young's apptmt witht further
communication with him. The result as will be seen by the
minutes was the Hankin appointment.
it
has always appeared to me that Mr Seymour & other persons
connected with B. Columbia have shewn an adverse disposition
towards Mr Young—who has always been connected with the [one word
cut off microfilm] interest of V.C. Island. Mr Seymour did not
resign himself to the appointment of Mr Young as Colonial
Secretary, and in June 1868 with a mysterious kind of letter
("secret") deprecating Mr Young's apptmt witht further
communication with him. The result as will be seen by the
minutes was the Hankin appointment.
I doubt myself whether there was at any time any sufficient
cause for delaying Mr Young's appointment after Mr Birch
gave up
the Colonial Secretaryship.
gave up
the Colonial Secretaryship.
I do not see that anything now can be done. Mr Hankin has by
this time arrived—and it will have been seen whether he can or
cannot maintain himself—between Mr Seymour, Mr Young and the
Assembly; guided probably by Mr Young's father in law Sir James
Douglas.
If anything portentous has happened we shall hear of it by
telegram through the U.S. and YL will be better able to judge
what must or can be done (i.e. to recall Mr Hankin). It wd be a
leap in the dark, I think, to take
any decisive step on the faith of mere prognostications.
Some private letters for H.G. from Mr Seymour arrived by the
same mail.
I saw Mr Hankin while he was in England, and thought his manner
frank & prepossessing. He seemed a man of sense and self reliance.
FR
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