No. 13
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on the
16 April
last, of your Grace's Despatch dated
8 February 1853, transmitting
copy of a letter from
M James Cooper relative to a resolution moved
by me at a meeting of the Council of Government of
Vancouver's Island on
the
5 of October 1853,
expressive of the opinion of Council as to the impropriety of its
Members retailing spirituous liquors or following any calling subversive
of order, or injurious to public morals.
According
According to your Grace's instructions on that head I shall
acquaint
M Cooper that whenever any representation affecting his
position in the Council is submitted to your Grace, no decision will be
pronounced in the case, until any statements or explanations which he
may desire to offer, are brought before you, and also that your Grace
wishes it to be understood that in future all parties having
representations to make must conform to the established rule of Colonial
correspondence.
It is I presume unnecessary for me to make any remarks on the
subject of
M Cooper's letter, as I made no representation affecting
M Cooper's position as a Member of Council,
Was he or was he not, a retail dealer in spirits?
and your Grace will perceive that the motive, which influenced me in
moving the resolution referred to in his letter, was a desire to promote
the public good, and to increase the influence and respectability of the
Council.
His Grace The Right
Hon The Duke of Newcastle
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
Minutes by CO staff
M Merivale
As no complaint has been preferred by either party against the other I
think it
w be desirable for the peace of this small community to let
the correspondence drop. At the same time I consider it very advisable
to uphold
M Cooper, when it is right so to do, as he is almost the
only man in
V. Couver's Island who is independent of the H.B. Co. &
should be encouraged to speak out.
I own I cannot understand the case. If the resolution stands on
the minutes, it seems to be one "affecting
M Cooper's character as a member of Council." And considering the great delay which has occurred
owing to the incomprehensible detention of all our despatches, it is
best probably simply to acknowledge, with the expression of satisfaction
that the difference appears to have subsided.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply,
Grey to
Douglas, No. 2,
1 August 1854, expressing satisfaction that the conflict between
Douglas and
Cooper has ended.