Pemberton to Newcastle
London
Victoria Hotel
Euston Square N.W.
26 October 1863
My Lord Duke,
I had the honor, in my letter of the 25 of July last, to make application to your Grace for a short extension of Leave of absence, from Vancouver Island Colony, and Your Grace was pleased by letter of 1st August to extend that leave, 3 months.
I now beg very respectfully to represent to Your Grace, that notwithstanding every exertion made, arrangements connected with the machinery and forwarding of mechanics are not yet completed,and to suggest toManuscript image and to suggest to Your Grace, that a further short extension of that leave, say in all not exceeding twelve months, may be conducive to the interests of the Public Service. Provided I make it my business to arrive in the Colony in advance of the Machinery and the Mechanics which I shall of course make a point of.
In confirmation of this view, I would remind Your Grace, that Public Works are in the Colony, from motives & economy, during the winter months very generally suspended, and are recommmenced about the middle or end of February, when the days begin to lengthen and the weather to take up.
I beg in conclusion to state Manuscript image
I beg in conclusion to state to your Grace, that no exertion on my part will be wanting to bring the business on which I am deputed, to a rapid and satisfactory issue.
Awaiting Your Grace's commands
I have the honor to be
Your Graces most obedient
and most humble Servant
J. Despard Pemberton
Surveyor General
Vancouver Island Colony
To His Grace
The Duke of Newcastle
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Sir F. Rogers
The Governor granted 6 months leave of absence to Mr Pemberton—on full salary—he paying his travelling expenses to & fro', though the business on which he had come home was of a public character.
The C.O. sanctioned an extension of the leave for 3 months on 1/2 salary.
Mr Pemberton now wants 3 more months: saying that his business has not been concluded.
Assuming that Mr Pemberton's statement is to be depended upon comply with his request—informing him that the Governor has been told that he cannot draw full salary for longer than 6 months of his leave & that he must be in the Colony without fail within the expiration of 12 months from his time of departure?
Send the Governor copy of the correspondence for his infn.
ABd 26 Octr
Duke of Newcastle
I confess I feel much doubt about giving this leave: and I shd be inclined to ask the Agents General whether they will have any difficulty in concluding the transaction & sending out the machinery [without] Mr P's assistance.
FR 26/10
N 28
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Rogers to Agents General, 31 October 1863, asking whether they felt they could complete Pemberton's business without his assistance.