Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 27 August 1859, CO 305:11, no. 10036, 137.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Other documents (2).
Douglas reports an
embarrassinglack of
the necessary officers to assist…in carrying on the duties of the Government,and the subsequent, temporary appointments of Gosset,
to be Acting Treasurer for Vancouver's Island,and Cary
to be Acting Attorney General for Vancouver's Island, roles both perform for the British Columbia colony. respectively. Merivale minutes that
It is clearly Govr Douglas's policy to exempt Vanc. Id from the expense of self government as long as he can.
No. 43
27 August 1859
The increasing necessities of this Colony having, for some time
past, placed me in a very embarrassing position for want of the
necessary officers to assist me in carrying on the duties of the
Government, I have been glad to avail myself of the services
kindly volunteered, of such officers belonging to British
Columbia as were available.
2. It being necessary to give
give two of these Officers due
authority for performing the functions of their Office, I have
to report to your Grace that I have appointed Captain W.D.
Gosset, the Treasurer of British Columbia, to be Acting
Treasurer for Vancouver's Island, and George H. Cary Esqre the
Attorney General for British Columbia to be Acting Attorney
General for Vancouver's Island.
give two of these Officers due
authority for performing the functions of their Office, I have
to report to your Grace that I have appointed Captain W.D.
Gosset, the Treasurer of British Columbia, to be Acting
Treasurer for Vancouver's Island, and George H. Cary Esqre the
Attorney General for British Columbia to be Acting Attorney
General for Vancouver's Island.
3. I have acquainted these Gentlemen that I regret it is not in
my power to guarantee them any Salary, for the additional duty
thus imposed upon them, but which they are quite willing, under
existing circumstances, to
to undertake notwithstanding.
to undertake notwithstanding.
4. I therefore leave the matter in Your Grace's hands to deal
with as you may think fit, but I may perhaps be pardoned for
mentioning that I conceive in the present state of the two
Colonies, that one Civil List would be sufficient for both, so
far as the principal Officers of Government are concerned.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Is there any reason why the Legislature of Van C. I. should not impose sufficient taxes on the community to defray the charge of such officers as the Governor requires to assist him in that Govt? The B. Columbia Officers have hitherto been helping him in V.C.I. at the Expense of this Country. Further now that the Govr, by desph of 5 Sepr, has been desired to send the B.C. officials to their own Colony the Arrangement proposed herein by the Governor would seem impossible.
Is there any reason why the Legislature of Van C. I. should not impose sufficient taxes on the community to defray the charge of such officers as the Governor requires to assist him in that Govt? The B. Columbia Officers have hitherto been helping him in V.C.I. at the Expense of this Country. Further now that the Govr, by desph of 5 Sepr, has been desired to send the B.C. officials to their own Colony the Arrangement proposed herein by the Governor would seem impossible.
ABd
12 Oct
It is clearly Govr Douglas's policy to exempt Vanc. Id from
the expense of self government as long as he can. It seems to
me this can hardly be allowed, & that it must be distinctly
notified to him that this little colony must provide for the
very trifling wants of its own government, while the officials
of B. Columbia, paid by this country, must
attend to the affairs of the continental colony, and, as already
ordered, reside there. No executive union should take place
without a legislative union also, for which Vanc. I. can by Act
of Parlt provide when it chooses.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 14, 20 October 1859, acknowledging Douglas's temporary civic appointments and reiterating that
Vancouver Island, like other British Communitiesmust expect, eventually, no financial
assistance from without towards these ordinary and regular expenses.
Minutes by CO staff
Other documents included in the file
*
Draft, Merivale to H.H. Berens, Hudson's Bay Company, 31 October
1859, forwarding copy of the despatch and draft reply.