No. 4
21 October 1858
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 7 [Vancouver Island] of the 14th of August last, 1 transmitting to me copy of an Act, providing for the Government of British Columbia; and mentioning thatthereManuscript image there had not been time by that mail to furnish me with the order in Council, Commission, and Instructions as Governor, which are necessary in order to complete my legal powers. 2
You nevertheless are pleased to authorize me to act, during the brief interval before their arrival as I have hitherto done, as the authorized representative of Her Majesty's Government, in the Territory of British Columbia, and to take such steps as I may deem absolutely necessary for the Government of the Territory, and as are not repugnanttoManuscript image to the principles of British Law, and as are in conformity with the directions you have transmitted to me, on several subjects, in your despatches No. 8, and 9 of the 14th of August last, 3 and in such others as I may receive from you hereafter, and I have in reply to assure you that your instructions on every subject respecting the public duties I have to perform, will be implicitly obeyed.
I have etc.
James Douglas
Governor
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Merivale
Put by? The Commission & Instructions were subsequently sent to him.
VJ 14 Decr
C D 15
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Draft reply, Lytton to Douglas, No. 7, [Vancouver Island,] 14 August 1858.
Footnotes
  1. Lytton to Douglas, No. 7, 14 August 1858, PABC. CO 410/1, p. 158.
  2. = Commission & Instructions Lytton was delayed in getting Queen Victoria's signature on the Order in Council and Douglas's Commission and Instructions, until a special cabinet meeting could be held at her summer residence at Osborne House, Isle of Wright, on 2 September 1858. Citation needed?? 537/59, Douglas to Lytton, No. 18, 5 November 1858.
  3. Lytton to Douglas, No. 8, 14 August, and No. 9, 14 August 1858, PABC. CO 410/1, p. 160, 174.
People in this document

Carnarvon, Earl

Douglas, Sir James

Jadis, Vane

Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer

Merivale, Herman

Victoria, Queen Alexandrina

Places in this document

British Columbia

Vancouver Island

Victoria

Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 21 October 1858, CO 60:1, no. 12722, 237. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B58004.html.

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