Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Sargeaunt, William Charles to Elliot, Thomas Frederick 23 May 1863, CO 305:21, no. 5070, 56.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Sargeaunt to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 20th
Instant, I transmit to you for the information of the Duke of
Newcastle an abstract shewing the state of the Vancouver Island
Government Account with the Agents General to this date.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I understand that this letter was received after you had left the Office on Saturday.
I understand that this letter was received after you had left the Office on Saturday.
VJ
25 May
The abstract furnished with this letter shows the present state of
the account between the Agents General and the Governorof
of Vancouver
Island. A sum of £667 is due to the Agents General and a sum of
£231.19s/- to the Board of Trade. Mr Douglas is so careless (on
the best construction) and so unreliable about his pecuniary
arrangements, that I believe that it is not only just in itself, but
desirable as a lesson, to repay out of the Vancouver money now in our
hands the money which has been disbursed for that Colony. I would
recommend that the Agents be instructed to repay to themselves the
sum which is due to them of £667, and to pay to the Board of Trade
the sum which is due to that Department. I should transmit to the
Governor a copy of the present account, I should inform him that the
above course has been taken, and I should point out that after
providing for the Bills from him now under acceptance, and for the
liability of £6,000 for the Steam Tug which the Colonial Govt is
about to purchase, as well as about £74 for incidental expenses, the
balance that remains available is reduced to £14,975. I should tell
him that up to that limit such Bills as may arrive from him will be
accepted and paid, but that he is to understand that he is strictly
prohibited from drawing for any more, and that if Bills arrive from
him beyond the above mentioned amount, so that there will be no
disposable funds in this Country to meet them,those
those Bills will be
refused and the Colonial Govt will have to bear all the consequences.
of Vancouver
Island. A sum of £667 is due to the Agents General and a sum of
£231.19s/- to the Board of Trade. Mr Douglas is so careless (on
the best construction) and so unreliable about his pecuniary
arrangements, that I believe that it is not only just in itself, but
desirable as a lesson, to repay out of the Vancouver money now in our
hands the money which has been disbursed for that Colony. I would
recommend that the Agents be instructed to repay to themselves the
sum which is due to them of £667, and to pay to the Board of Trade
the sum which is due to that Department. I should transmit to the
Governor a copy of the present account, I should inform him that the
above course has been taken, and I should point out that after
providing for the Bills from him now under acceptance, and for the
liability of £6,000 for the Steam Tug which the Colonial Govt is
about to purchase, as well as about £74 for incidental expenses, the
balance that remains available is reduced to £14,975. I should tell
him that up to that limit such Bills as may arrive from him will be
accepted and paid, but that he is to understand that he is strictly
prohibited from drawing for any more, and that if Bills arrive from
him beyond the above mentioned amount, so that there will be no
disposable funds in this Country to meet them,those
those Bills will be
refused and the Colonial Govt will have to bear all the consequences.
TFE
5 June
Mr Elliot
I think if you refer again to the minutes on Agents/5070 and the statement enclosed in the Same letter that you will find that there is no sum of £667.1.4 due to the Agents from Vancouver I. but that they have paid this sum out of their receipts and that it has been covered as far as £600 by sums remitted from the Colony. If this is so, in drafting your minute on 5070 would not a slight deviation from it be necessary. I have written two drafts with the deviation in question and send them direct to you before sending them on in the usual way.
I think if you refer again to the minutes on Agents/5070 and the statement enclosed in the Same letter that you will find that there is no sum of £667.1.4 due to the Agents from Vancouver I. but that they have paid this sum out of their receipts and that it has been covered as far as £600 by sums remitted from the Colony. If this is so, in drafting your minute on 5070 would not a slight deviation from it be necessary. I have written two drafts with the deviation in question and send them direct to you before sending them on in the usual way.
RE
11 June
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to Agents General, 13 June 1863, discussing the financial
arrangements of the colony and providing instructions regarding
future disbursements.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Abstract showing the status of "The Government of Vancouver
Island in Account with The Agents General for Crown Colonies, for the
period from the 1st Janry to the 22nd May 1863 inclusive.