I have the honor to acquaint you that I arrived here on the
26 inst. having been employed since the
1 of June in examining the channels in the
Gulf of Georgia; since that date the
Rosario and
Bellingham Channels have been surveyed, as well as an extensive group in
Haro Channel known![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00053v.jpg)
known (on the U.S. reconnaissance) as
Saturna Island, amongst which several good Harbours have been found.
The material for the construction of the Boundary Chart is now pretty well collected.
It remains to increase our number of deep soundings, & to seek for one or two sunken
Rocks said to exist but which have hitherto escaped us.
The![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00054r.jpg)
The "
Havannah" and the land party are daily looked for. I await their arrival here & in the mean
time am employed in getting our work on paper & surveying this port.
The excitement caused by the discovery of Gold in
Frazer River is daily increasing & has already arrived at a very high pitch, 14,000 people have
been imported from
San
San Francisco up to this time & from 30 to 40,000 have taken tickets there & are coming up as fast
as vessels can be got. A large Steamer is leaving that port daily, and the average
number landing here now is 1,400 per week. They are not confined as hitherto to the
lowest classes but many men of capital, & most of the first Merchants American as
well as
English![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00055r.jpg)
English are here purchasing land and establishing houses. A little more than a month
ago
Victoria was a quiet village. I can only compare it now to Greenwich Fair. Whole streets of
Canvas Houses have sprung up. Booths Restaurants & every description of public houses
have been called into existence within a few days. Hundreds of people are entirely
without
Shelter![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00055v.jpg)
Shelter, and this is merely the commencement of the thing.
From California alone we shall have 50,000 people before the end of the year, and
as soon as the confirmation of the intelligence reaches Europe, Australia & the Eastern
States, there can be little doubt, but that we shall have a second California with
tenfold difficulties in the way
of![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00056r.jpg)
of feeding such a multitude; already there is almost a scarcity of food here, & the
prices of all articles are enormous. The Governor tells me he has sent everywhere
to order provisions but they come in very slowly and
Frazer River is closed to all imports except through the Company.
The desp prohibiting such closing is dated the 16 July. It will have arrived about this time.
31 Augt. AB.
It is to be hoped however
that![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00056v.jpg)
that things will improve in this respect for if they do not he
must open the River to Free Trade, such a multitude
will not starve while provisions are to be had anywhere.
The present arrangement is that two American Steamers of light draught have licences
to carry passengers up the river with their mining
tools![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00057r.jpg)
tools, & as much provisions as the miners can carry but of course these latter are
soon exhausted. The Company's small Steamer "
Otter" is intended to carry up sufficient to replenish the H.B. posts on the river which
again supply the miners, but this method will soon prove entirely inadequate.
The great evil I
anticipated![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00057v.jpg)
anticipated, viz; disputes between the whites & Indians has come to pass, & I fear
will increase, many murders have taken place and a very bad feeling exists, at the
same time, law & order among the miners is apparent, in a high degree and up to this
time very few have evaded the license fee. They all express a willingness
to![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00058r.jpg)
to comply with our law and pay any thing that is demanded, but they
will dig and they will have food.
I am still under much anxiety as to the efficiency of our ships; desertion among "
Satellites" Crew has become very serious and
Captain Prevost has withdrawn his pinnace & crew which he had placed at my disposal.
We
We have as yet lost no men since the great excitement broke out but the temptations
are very great. It would be injudicious on my part, indeed it would be fatal to our
work to adopt the restrictive or prison system on board this Ship. Such a plan may
have the desired effect in a vessel casually visiting the Station but stationed
as![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00059r.jpg)
as we are here entirely on surveying duty, I feel that it would be totally ineffective,
& I have determined to make no alteration in our system unless it becomes absolutely
necessary, but rather trust to the good sense of the crew after having fully explained
to them the consequences.
The Americans from the other side have secret Agents all over the settlement to entice
our![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00059v.jpg)
our men away in order that they may supply the places of their own Labourers who have
gone to the diggings. Promises of Enormous wages have doubtless deluded [those?]
who have deserted from "
Satellite" who are mostly young men without any ties & with little service. Our people have
sense enough to know that
it![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00060r.jpg)
it is not at the diggings they will make their fortunes. The men who make money there
are those who go with some capital, and are enabled to buy the gold found by the old
experienced Californian Miners.
The man who has provisions to sell makes his fortune. Not one seaman out of a hundred
but would come back
worse![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00060v.jpg)
worse than he went. It is to be hoped that government will take some decided steps
at once. Gold Commissioners
These apptments must surely be left to the
Gov [
ABd].
with powers as magistrates should be immediately appointed, a police force organized
Chief Inspector will go out on the 2—or certainly on the 4 [
ABd].
and a good part of a Regiment sent overland without delay.
A few R. Engineers going imml [
ABd].
If this is done in time an infinity of crime and misery will be
averted![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00061r.jpg)
averted if not the worst is to be apprehended. For the present I fancy the Governor
intends urging that the Ships' Marines should form a small guard, and I hope he will
take upon himself to employ
Captain Hawkin’s Force at the Mines as police or Military appointing the Officers as Commissioners
& Magistrates. As to their doing anything to
further![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00061v.jpg)
further the boundary question--at present I suspect it would be impossible. The American
Officers are left to themselves. All their men have gone except the Military and desertions
among them are rife.
We have heard this already [
ABd].
I am happy to say that the Governor has acted on a suggestion brought to his notice
by
Captain Prevost & myself, viz to grant a Colonial allowance
to![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00062r.jpg)
to the two Ship's Companies Equivalent to the Government pay. This was done in Australia
under similar circumstances & I hope it will have the effect of keeping the men firm;
certainly it will have that effect on the majority of them. This measure of H.E. relieves
me from much apprehension & should it be deemed desirable that the entrance to
Frazer River should be
surveyed![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_6_25/co_6_25_00062v.jpg)
surveyed at once, I should feel justified in undertaking it without much fear as to
the result. There can be no doubt but that it must form an important part of our work
if not now at no great distance of time. I shall acquaint you with "
Havannah" arrival & with this Ship's subsequent movements which I suspect must depend much
on the events which transpire during the next few days. I trust that nothing will
occur to divert her from the pursuit of her legitimate work