Watson to Secretary of State
The "Castle and Falcon" Hotel
London
8th July 1870
My Lord,
I have the honor to represent the following circumstances for Your Lordship's consideration.
From the Year 1861 up till 1867 I held the appointment of Treasurer of the Colony of Vancouver Island under a Royal Warrant of appointment.
During that period I discharged the duties of the Office, I have reason to believe,withManuscript image with satisfaction to the Several Officers Administering the Colonial Government.
On the faith that the Treasurership which I had been induced by Sir James Douglas to accept was of a permanent character, I relinquished a valuable position in the Bank of British North America with the prospects of advancement, which lengthened service in the Bank entitled me to expect, and subsequently married with a view of settling in the Colony.
In the Year 1867 the Imperial Act uniting Vancouver Island with British Columbia deprived me of the Office.
There being, at the time, no suitable employment in the Colony for an Officer of myrankManuscript image rank and Service I was offered by the late Governor Seymour leave of absence for Six months on full pay and my expenses to England together with a recommendation from His Excellency for suitable employment in the Government Service elsewhere which offer I gratefully accepted.
Upon my arrival in England, with my family, I applied to the Secretary of State for employment and was informed by the Private Secretary (Mr Bryant) that my name had been placed on the List but that a large number were before me. In answer to my enquiry Mr Bryant also informed me that the acceptance of temporary employment would not prejudice my claims on the Service. I accordingly sought for and obtained temporary employment as Inspector and Chief Colonial Officer in the Bank of British Columbia.
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This temporary office having been recently abolished I have been obliged again to return to England and I now beg leave respectfully to place these facts before Your Lordship and to solicit a favourable consideration of my claims for re-employment in the Colonial Service. I may add that the sudden termination of my engagement with the Bank necessitated my leaving my family unprovided for in British Columbia.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient
and humble Servant
Alexander Watson

The right Honourable
The Secretary of State for the Colonies
Downing Street
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Herbert
A question of Patronage as Mr Watson has no claim on this Office for an appt in consequence of loss of Office in B. Columbia.
See minutes on 58/5080/67 W/7606/67 & W/8394.
CC 11/7
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The Duke of Buckingham (5080) did not think him likely to be an eligible public servant.
? Reply that he omits in this letter to mention that on the abolition of his former office he was offered another of equal value, & that there is now no vacancy actual or prospective to which he could be appointed.
(If he is to be kept on the list, I suppose itwdManuscript image wd be well to ascertain from the Govr what reputation he bears in the Colony, & whether he is suitable for re-employment. We seem to know little about him.)
RGWH July 11/70
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I think that Mr Watson has no claim to remain on the list, & that the answer suggested by Mr Herbert should be made to his application.
ERW July 11/70
K July 11/70
Other documents included in the file
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Herbert to Watson, 16 July 1870, advising no hope of an appointment could be held out to him and observing that he had been offered a position "of equal value" when his previous office was abolished.