Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Pelly, John Henry
to Pakington, John Somerset 3 April 1852, CO 305:3, no. 2689, 445.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1).
Pelly’s letter to Pakington reiterates the necessity for a meeting to discuss the HBC’s gold prospects at Haida Gwaii, since word of the gold discovery has reached Oregon.
The minutes suggest that the American awareness of the gold discovered at Haida Gwaii warrants an immediate response to Pelly’s request for a meeting.
This file encloses Ballenden’s letter to Barclay on the American reaction to the discovery of gold at Haida Gwaii.
Hudson's Bay House
April 3rd 1852
Sir,
On the 26th Ultimo I had the honour of addressing a letter to you, enclosing a Copy of a Report on the
subject of the gold mine discovered in Queen Charlotte's Island, and requesting an interview, to which I have not yet had an answer.
Since then I have received a letter from Mr Ballenden, the
officer in charge at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River, of which I
enclose an Extract, from which you will percieve that the discovery had
occasioned great excitement among the American population in that
quarter who were making preparations for a descent on the Island.
Minutes by CO staff
Lord Desart
This seems to require immediate notice. I annex the draft answer to Sir J. Pelly's former letter, with proposed addition.
This seems to require immediate notice. I annex the draft answer to Sir J. Pelly's former letter, with proposed addition.
HM
Ap. 3
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Extract, Ballenden to Barclay, Hudson's Bay Company, 3 February 1852, describing the excitement caused in Oregon by the discovery of gold in Queen Charlotte Island and efforts to recruit one hundred armed men to proceed to the island.