Kennedy to Newcastle
J.U.S. Club
Charles Street London
Decr 30 1863
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receit of Your despatch dated 18 Decr 1863, transmitting The Queens Commission appointing me to be Governor of Vancouver Island; accompanied by Instructions under the Royal Sign Manual.
It is more than probable that circumstances may arise, which would render a personal conference with the Governor of British Columbia desirable,Manuscript image and I should therefore submit to Your Grace the expediency of furnishing me with authority, to guard me against an infringement of the last Article of the Royal Instructions forbidding me to leave the Island without leave first obtained.
I have the honor
to be My Lord Duke
Your very obedient
humble Servant
A.E. Kennedy
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
The last clause of the Royal Instructions forbid the Govr from absenting himself from his Govt without having first obtained leave from the Sovereign for so doing either under the Sign Manual & Signet or through one of H.M's Principal Secretaries of State.
Permission was granted to SirManuscript image George Bowen received permission to go to Sydney [marginal note: (June?) 1860] if he should think it desirable for the purpose of consulting the Governor General, and a Circular Dispatch was addressed to the Governors of the North American Colonies on the 30 April 1862, authorising them to visit the neighbouring Colonies provided that their absence from their Governments for such purpose did not exceed 3 Weeks at a time or 4 Weeks in the year & that the absences should be reported to the Secy of State. This is rather a Departmental question, but as the Letter has reference to a provision of the R. Instructions, I have given this explanation.
GG 1 Jany/64
Sir F. Rogers
The Govr of Bermuda has the power to go to N. America without special previous leave.
It may be most desirable that each of these two Governors, as occasion may demand, should visit the other: & the two Colonies are in close neighbourhood. I should give Govr Kennedy permission, saying that the S. of State leaves to his discretion the duration to be given to any one visit to the neighbouring Colony, and merely provides that his absence from his post, without previous leave from home, is not to exceed four weeks in a year in all, & that such absence is to be regularly reported. The same shd then be accorded to Governor Seymour.
TFE 4 Jany
Manuscript image
Mr Fortescue
I entirely agree.
FR 4/1
CF 5
Quite right.
N 7
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Newcastle to Kennedy, 14 January 1864, conveying permission to visit the governor of British Columbia as occasion may demand, and stating the conditions of such leave.
Minutes by CO staff
Sent to Govr Kennedy in London.
Draft to Gov. of B. Columbia.
Other documents included in the file
*
Manuscript image
Newcastle to Seymour, 14 January 1864, conveying permission to visit the governor of Vancouver Island as occasion may demand, and stating the conditions of such leave.
Minutes by CO staff
Sent to Govr Seymour in London.
Draft to Gov. Kennedy