Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 21 October 1858, CO 60:1, no. 12722, 237.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Other documents (1).
Douglas acknowledges the receipt of “an Act, providing for the Government of British Columbia.” He promises to obey all instructions “respecting the public duties” he is required
to perform.
The minutes “Put by” as the “Commission & Instructions were subsequently sent to him.”
Enclosed is a draft reply from Lytton to Douglas regretting that he has not yet had time to furnish Douglas with “the necessary Order in Council, Commission and Instructions” which would complete
his “legal powers.” He expects Douglas to carry on acting as the “authorized representative of Her Majesty’s Government.”
No. 4
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 thatthere
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
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 repugnantto
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.
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.
Minutes by CO staff
Other documents included in the file
Footnotes
- Lytton to Douglas, No. 7, 14 August 1858, PABC. CO 410/1, p. 158.
- = 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.
- Lytton to Douglas, No. 8, 14 August, and No. 9, 14 August 1858, PABC. CO 410/1, p. 160, 174.