Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Leveson-Gower, Granville George 30 January 1869, CO 60:35, no. 3404, 40.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1).
Seymour discusses
the telegraphic system in operation in British Columbiaand comments on his treatment by Western Union. Hemming’s minute suggests sending the despatch to the Post Office. Monsell minutes that
The Compy are curiously liberal to Gov Seymour.
No. 12
30th January 1869
My Lord,
I have had the honor to receive the Duke of Buckingham &
Chandos' Circular despatch of 1st September requiring
information respectingthe
the telegraphic system in operation in
British Columbia.
the telegraphic system in operation in
British Columbia.
2. I now forward a Map shewing the course of the line of cable
and wire.
3. The telepraph belongs to an American company. It wasestablished
established with a view of communicating with Asia and Europe by
way of Behring's Straits. But the successful laying of the
Atlantic Cable has caused the abandonment of the work. The line
between Quesnelmouth on the Fraser River, and the Skeena River
isnow
now utterly useless. That between Victoria and Cariboo, I
fear hardly pays the working expenses.
established with a view of communicating with Asia and Europe by
way of Behring's Straits. But the successful laying of the
Atlantic Cable has caused the abandonment of the work. The line
between Quesnelmouth on the Fraser River, and the Skeena River
isnow
now utterly useless. That between Victoria and Cariboo, I
fear hardly pays the working expenses.
4. The system in operation is that known by the name of "Morse's."
5. It would be ungrateful of me to close this despatchwithout
without
bearing testimony to the extreme liberality of the Western Union
Company to whom the Wire belongs. My Messages pass free to all
parts of the line; and in San Francisco, where, not choosing to
use the concession accorded to me, the money I paid, as a
stranger, was returnedto
to the hotel where I was staying in less
than half an hour.
without
bearing testimony to the extreme liberality of the Western Union
Company to whom the Wire belongs. My Messages pass free to all
parts of the line; and in San Francisco, where, not choosing to
use the concession accorded to me, the money I paid, as a
stranger, was returnedto
to the hotel where I was staying in less
than half an hour.
Minutes by CO staff
Other documents included in the file
Rogers to Secretary to the Post Office, 14 April 1869,
forwarding copies of despatches from British Columbia and
Tasmania regarding the "Telegraphs and Railways in operation in
those Colonies."