Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Labouchere to Douglas
LAC, RG7, G8C/1, p. 480; received 21 October 1856
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- Labouchere writes to Douglas acknowledging the receipt of Douglas’s despatch reporting “the discovery of Gold...on the Upper Columbia River District.” Labouchere leaves it to Douglas’s discretion “to determine the best means of preserving order” in a population rush to the gold.
No. 14
Downing Street,
4th August 1856
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No 10 of the
16th April last reporting the discovery of Gold within the British
Territory on the Upper Columbia River District.
In the absence of all effective machinery of Government, I conceive
that it would be quite
abortive to attempt to raise a Revenue from
licenses to dig for Gold in that region. Indeed as Her Majesty's
Government do not at present look for a revenue from this distant
quarter of the British dominions, so neither are they prepared to incur
any expense on account of it. I must therefore leave it to your
discretion to determine the best means of preserving order in the event
of any considerable increase of population flocking into this new gold
district; and I shall rely on your furnishing me with full and regular
accounts of any event of interest or importance which may occur
in
consequence of this discovery.
abortive
in
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant
H. Labouchere
Your most obedient humble Servant
H. Labouchere
Governor Douglas
&c &c &c
&c &c &c
