Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 25 April 1859, CO 305:10, no. 5895, 103.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Douglas forwards correspondence between himself and the House of Assembly for Vancouver Island;
in particular the possible creation of a Colonial Mint.
The minutes forward extracts on the mint to the Treasury and on public lands for government use to the Land Board.
Included in this document is correspondence between Douglas and House of Assembly from 21 February to 7 April 1859; and a draft from Merivale to G. A. Hamilton, Treasury, 17 June 1859, forwarding extracts of the despatch and enclosure relative to the establishment
of a mint in the colony; and a draft reply from Lytton to Douglas, 24 July 1859.
No. 13
25 April 1859
I have the honor of forwarding herewith for your information a
copy of my correspondence with the House of Assembly, on various
subjects relating to the public business of the Colony of
Vancouver's Island, from the 21st day of February last
last to the
7th day of April instant.
last to the
7th day of April instant.
2. The subjects referred to therein do not require separate and
distinct notice. I will however take the liberty of drawing
your attention to a few points of much importance; the first
being the establishment of a Mint in this Colony, a subject in
relation to which, the House feel a deep interest, and in their
address to me of the 31st of March last, express an earnest
wish that I should recommend it, for the consideration of
Her Majesty's Government.
3. Knowing
3. Knowing your own views with respect to the advantages of
that measure; its benificial
effects on Trade; in strengthening our connection with the
Mother Country, and in promoting the material interests of the
Colony; having also lately reviewed the question of establishing
an Assay Office in this Colony, as a preliminary step to the
establishment of a Mint, it does not appear necessary that I
should revert to the subject more fully in this communication.
3. Knowing your own views with respect to the advantages of
that measure; its benificial
effects on Trade; in strengthening our connection with the
Mother Country, and in promoting the material interests of the
Colony; having also lately reviewed the question of establishing
an Assay Office in this Colony, as a preliminary step to the
establishment of a Mint, it does not appear necessary that I
should revert to the subject more fully in this communication.
4. With respect to the recommendation of the House of Assembly
Assembly,
that the coinage of the Colonial Mint should be in decimal
currency, of the same value as that of the United States, that
is a question which I shall take care to reserve for the
decision of Her Majesty's Government.
Assembly,
that the coinage of the Colonial Mint should be in decimal
currency, of the same value as that of the United States, that
is a question which I shall take care to reserve for the
decision of Her Majesty's Government.
5. The other point to which I beg to draw your attention, is
respecting the reserves of public Land made for Government
purposes, in the several Districts of this Colony, which the
House of Assembly in their Address of the 31st of March desire
may be restricted to reserves for educational purposes, and
placed for
for that object, exclusively at the disposal of the
Legislature of Vancouver's Island.
for that object, exclusively at the disposal of the
Legislature of Vancouver's Island.
6. I declined, for the reasons stated in my reply to that
address, to act in compliance with their request, as it appeared
to me that the claim advanced by the House to the control of the
reserves of public land, is unconstitutional, and would be an
encroachment on the rights of the Crown.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Forward the portions of this despatch and the enclosure which relate to the establishment of a Mint in VanCouver's Isd, and to the reservations of public Lands for Govt purposes to the Treasury and Land Board respectively.
Forward the portions of this despatch and the enclosure which relate to the establishment of a Mint in VanCouver's Isd, and to the reservations of public Lands for Govt purposes to the Treasury and Land Board respectively.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Correspondence between Douglas and House of
Assembly from 21 February to 7 April 1859 (12 entries, 9 pages).
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 17 June 1859, forwarding
extracts of the despatch and enclosure relative to the
establishment of a mint in the colony.
