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Despatch from London
Labouchere, Henry to Douglas, James 4 August 1856, LAC RG7:G8C/1, 480.

Abstract
Despatch from London.
Labouchere writes to Douglas acknowledging the receipt of Douglas’s despatch reporting the discovery of Gold…on the Upper Columbia River District. Labouchere leaves it to Douglas’s discretion to determine the best means of preserving order in a population rush to the gold.
No. 14
Downing Street,
4th August 1856
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No 10 of the 16th April last reporting the discovery of Gold within the British Territory on the Upper Columbia River District.
In the absence of all effective machinery of Government, I conceive that it would be quiteabortiveManuscript image abortive to attempt to raise a Revenue from licenses to dig for Gold in that region. Indeed as Her Majesty's Government do not at present look for a revenue from this distant quarter of the British dominions, so neither are they prepared to incur any expense on account of it. I must therefore leave it to your discretion to determine the best means of preserving order in the event of any considerable increase of population flocking into this new gold district; and I shall rely on your furnishing me with full and regular accounts of any event of interest or importance which may occurinManuscript image in consequence of this discovery.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant
H. Labouchere

Governor Douglas
&c &c &c
People in this document

Douglas, James

Labouchere, Henry

Places in this document

Columbia River