Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes to Douglas, James 19 October 1861, LAC RG7:G8C/2, 573.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Newcastle, responding to
an address from the House of Assembly of Vancouver Island [requesting] the assistance of Her Majesty's Government in extinguishing the Indian title to the Public Lands in the Colony,informs Douglas that, since this extinguishment is the responsibility of the Colony, the British Government is not willing to fund the project.
No. 73
Downing Street
19 October 1861
Sir,
I have had under my consideration your despatch No. 24 of the 25th
of March last, transmitting an address from the House of Assembly of
Vancouver Island in which they pray for the assistance of Her Majesty's
Government in extinguishing the Indian title to the Public Lands in
the
Colony and set forth the evils that may result from a neglect of this
precaution.
the
Colony and set forth the evils that may result from a neglect of this
precaution.
I am fully sensible of the great importance of purchasing without
loss of time the Native title to the soil of Vancouver Island: but the
acquisition of the title is a purely Colonial Interest and the
Legislature must not entertain any expectation that the British
Taxpayer will be burthened to supply the funds or British Credit
pledged for the purpose. I would earnestly recommend therefore to the
House of Assembly that theyshould
should enable you to procure the requisite
means; but if they should not think proper to do so, Her Majesty's
Government cannot undertake to supply the money requisite for an object
which, whilst it is essential to the interests of the people of
Vancouver Island, is at the same time purely Colonial in its character,
and trifling in the charge that it would entail.
should enable you to procure the requisite
means; but if they should not think proper to do so, Her Majesty's
Government cannot undertake to supply the money requisite for an object
which, whilst it is essential to the interests of the people of
Vancouver Island, is at the same time purely Colonial in its character,
and trifling in the charge that it would entail.