Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hamilton, George Alexander to Rogers, Frederic 5 June 1862, CO 305:19, no. 5579, 559.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (7), Enclosures (untranscribed) (3), Other documents (1).
Hamilton forwards questions from the Treasury concerning
costs related to
the occupation of San Juanto Newcastle through Rogers. The Treasury is particularly concerned about
the salary of a Magistrate at £250 a year.Ebden minutes that the magistrate
was required I imagine for Imperial purposes and the Imperial Govt I suppose should pay for him, but I cannot find any arrangement about salary.
Hamilton to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Treasury Chambers
5 June 1862
With reference to your letter of the 25th April 1861, in regard to the funds from which the extra pay issued by Governor Douglas to the
Royal Marines employed at San Juan Vancouvers Island is to be
defrayed I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majestys
Treasury to transmit herewith, for the information of the Duke of
Newcastle, copy of a letter addressed to the Admiralty on the 26
December 1861, with an extractfrom
from a letter from the War Department
dated 7 February last, with copies of three Accounts of the
Expenditure of the sums drawn for service connected with the
occupation of San Juan by a Party of Royal Marines—viz
Bill for £4000 for service - 9 Augt 1859 to 30 Sept 1860
" " £1800 " " 1 Octr to 31 Dec 1860
" " £3000 " " 1 Jany to 31 March 1861
____
6800
from a letter from the War Department
dated 7 February last, with copies of three Accounts of the
Expenditure of the sums drawn for service connected with the
occupation of San Juan by a Party of Royal Marines—viz
Bill for £4000 for service - 9 Augt 1859 to 30 Sept 1860
" " £1800 " " 1 Octr to 31 Dec 1860
" " £3000 " " 1 Jany to 31 March 1861
____
6800
Including a balance of £2936-6-4 which it stated to be required
for arrears of Extra Pay.
I am also to transmit copy of a letter of this days date which My
Lord has addressed to the Admiralty.
His Grace will observe that a portion of the Expenditure included in
these Accounts, has been incurred for Civil Service, to the extent of
£491.1.11the
the principal charge being for the salary of a Magistrate
at £250 a year.
the principal charge being for the salary of a Magistrate
at £250 a year.
Their Lordships wish to be informed whether this Salary and the other
Civil charges have received His Graces approval, and they would
remind His Grace that no provision has been made by Parliament for
any Civil Expenditure connected with the occupation of San Juan.
My Lords were under the impression until the receipt of these
Accounts that the Expenditure at San Juan, for which Bills have been
drawn by the Treasurer of Vancouvers Islandhad
had reference only to the
expenses of the Royal Marines.
had reference only to the
expenses of the Royal Marines.
As it now appears that certain expenses have been incurred
unconnected with Military or Naval Service, My Lords apprehend that
it will be necessary to make special provision, as well to meet the
Civil Expenditure up to the present time, as to cover the expenditure
to be incurred hereafter, if it is considered necessary to continue
the service of the Magistrate, and other Civil Expenses.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
This letter encloses accounts of the expenditure at S. Juan to the 31st of March 1861 including a civil expenditure of £497.1.11.
This letter encloses accounts of the expenditure at S. Juan to the 31st of March 1861 including a civil expenditure of £497.1.11.
The Governors despatch No 18 of the 30th of March last encloses
further accounts to the end of 1861 viz £4222.2 Military and Naval
and £104.3.4 Civil. This despatch was ready to be sent to the
Treasury but Mr Buckland mentioned that a letter was on its way from
the Treasury and thought the despatch had better be delayed till our
answer.
answer.
The correspondence enclosed in the Treasury letter shows that, with
the exception of the civil outlay, the expenditure should be divided
between the War Office and the Admiralty, the former taking barracks
and the latter the Royal Marines.
The Treasury propose special provision for civil expenses and ask how
far they have been approved. With the exception of two items
amounting to £21.18.4 for towing and piloting certain United States
vessels, the whole civil expenditure appears to have
been for the
salary and office expenses of the Stipendiary Magistrate from his
appointment in July 1859 to the abolition of his office in July last.
He was appointed in pursuance of the policy dictated by this office
on the S. Juan question, and was continued and removed by the same
authority. He was required I imagine for Imperial purposes and the
Imperial Govt I suppose should pay for him, but I cannot find any
arrangement about salary. However its amount viz £20.16.8 a month or
£250 a year does not seem excessive and the contingencies do not
appear to have been beyond what must have been necessary.
been for the
salary and office expenses of the Stipendiary Magistrate from his
appointment in July 1859 to the abolition of his office in July last.
He was appointed in pursuance of the policy dictated by this office
on the S. Juan question, and was continued and removed by the same
authority. He was required I imagine for Imperial purposes and the
Imperial Govt I suppose should pay for him, but I cannot find any
arrangement about salary. However its amount viz £20.16.8 a month or
£250 a year does not seem excessive and the contingencies do not
appear to have been beyond what must have been necessary.
Mr Fortescue
It seems to me that if you agree-as I do—in Mr Ebden's remark
that
the Magistrate in San Juan is a proper subject of Imperial charge,
his Salary must be provided for in any Estimate next year connected
with B Columbia. The expense appears to have ceased.
It seems to me that if you agree-as I do—in Mr Ebden's remark
that
the Magistrate in San Juan is a proper subject of Imperial charge,
his Salary must be provided for in any Estimate next year connected
with B Columbia. The expense appears to have ceased.
TFE
7 Jan
I quite agree.
CF
9
I concur entirely.
N
10
Mr Ebden
Will you prepare a draft to the Treasury; apprize them that the office of Magistrate is abolished, so that there will be no further Civil expenditure, so far as the Duke of Newcastle is aware, in respect of the Isle of San Juan. State that His Grace would recommend that the amount now due should be provided for by an item upon any Estimates which it may be necessary to submit to Parliament next year in connection with British Columbia.
Will you prepare a draft to the Treasury; apprize them that the office of Magistrate is abolished, so that there will be no further Civil expenditure, so far as the Duke of Newcastle is aware, in respect of the Isle of San Juan. State that His Grace would recommend that the amount now due should be provided for by an item upon any Estimates which it may be necessary to submit to Parliament next year in connection with British Columbia.
In this memo: I assume that there is no other civil expenditure than
about the Magistrate. If I am wrong please let me know.
TFE
11 June
Other documents included in the file
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
W.H. Stephenson, Treasury, to Secretary of the Admiralty, 26 December
1861, advising that in future the Admiralty would examine the accounts
of expenditure, including extra pay, relative to Seamen and Marines
serving ashore, and that the expense would be charged to Naval Funds.
Extract, War Office to Treasury, 7 February 1862, forwarding copies
of accounts with respect to the marines stationed at San Juan, and
advising that the only expense chargeable to Army Funds would appear
to be "that for the construction and repair of Barracks."
