Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Tennent, James Emerson to Merivale, Herman 23 December 1858, CO 305:9, no. 13147, 530.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Tennent forwards to the CO a despatch from Nicolas, British Acting Consul General in the Sandwich Islands, regarding English Merchants desire to make Victoria a free port.
The minutes forward this request to Douglas and the Treasury, but
don’t think Victoria could yet afford to be a free Port.
Enclosed is a draft from Lytton to Douglas asking his opinion on making
Victoria a free port; Merivale to Tennent advising the
Governor had been asked for a report on the question of free trade; and B. T. Nicolas to Malmesbury
describing the general effect of making Victoria a free port
a successful rival of San Francisco [and] the great Depot of the North Pacific.
Tennent to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Office of Committee of Privy
Council for Trade,
Whitehall
23 December 1858
Council for Trade,
Whitehall
Sir,
I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for
Trade to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E.B. Lytton, the accompanying copy of a Despatch which they have
received through the Earl of Malmesbury from Her Majesty's
Acting Consul General in the Sandwich Islands expressing the
views of the English Merchants in those Islands with regard to
the creation of the Port of Victoria in Vancouver's Island as a
Free Port.
The question raised in this Despatchappears
appears to this Board one
which in the interests of British Trade deserves the serious
attention of Her Majesty's Government and I am to request that
you will state to Sir E.B. Lytton that My Lords would be glad to
be favoured with his opinion as to the expediency of acting upon
this suggestion.
appears to this Board one
which in the interests of British Trade deserves the serious
attention of Her Majesty's Government and I am to request that
you will state to Sir E.B. Lytton that My Lords would be glad to
be favoured with his opinion as to the expediency of acting upon
this suggestion.
Minutes by CO staff
Lord Carnarvon
This would seem to be a question more for the Board of Trade & Treasury to decide than this office, but I suppose the opinion of the Secretary of State is asked with reference to the Colonial Revenue, ie how far the making Victoria a free Port wd interfere with Such Revenue, by abolishing (if such would be the effect) customs an[d] other duties?
This would seem to be a question more for the Board of Trade & Treasury to decide than this office, but I suppose the opinion of the Secretary of State is asked with reference to the Colonial Revenue, ie how far the making Victoria a free Port wd interfere with Such Revenue, by abolishing (if such would be the effect) customs an[d] other duties?
VJ
24 Decr
It is the old question between merchants & consumers on the one
hand & the revenue on the other. I can only suggest consulting
the Governor.
HM
D 29
Write to the Govr.?
C
D. 30
Other documents included in the file
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Consul General B.T. Nicolas, Woahoo, to Earl of Malmesbury,
Foreign Office, 7 October 1858, describing the general effect
of making Victoria a free port.