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 4 November 1858, CO 60:1, no. 533, 348.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Other documents (1).
Douglas acknowledges the CO’s desire to have British Columbia self-sustaining but argues that the required infrastructure necessary to make the
colony profitable cannot be afforded by his office at the present time. He hopes that
in time he will be able to repay “the mother country.”
The minutes expected this reply, the CO “Put by” and print a copy for parliament.
No. 14
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch
No 8 of the 2nd of September last, referring to your Despatch No
6
1
in which it is mentioned that the detachment of Royal
Engineers which Her Majesty's Government have taken measures to
send to British Columbia would be maintained at the Imperial cost
for only a limitedperiod
period, and that the Colony would afterwards
have to defray the expense thereof, but that the more recent
intelligence received, since the date of your despatch No 6 of
the prospect of raising a large and early revenue in the Colony
had caused an alteration in your view, with respect to the first
charge for the Engineer Party, and that Her Majesty's Government
now expect that British Columbia shall be self supporting, and
that the first charge upon the Land sales must be that of defraying
all expenses which this Engineer party shall occasion, and directing
me to make suitable provision to re-imburse the British Treasury
forany
any expenditure incurred on this account, as soon as the
circumstances of the Colony permit.
period, and that the Colony would afterwards
have to defray the expense thereof, but that the more recent
intelligence received, since the date of your despatch No 6 of
the prospect of raising a large and early revenue in the Colony
had caused an alteration in your view, with respect to the first
charge for the Engineer Party, and that Her Majesty's Government
now expect that British Columbia shall be self supporting, and
that the first charge upon the Land sales must be that of defraying
all expenses which this Engineer party shall occasion, and directing
me to make suitable provision to re-imburse the British Treasury
forany
any expenditure incurred on this account, as soon as the
circumstances of the Colony permit.
I shall not fail to attend most carefully to those instructions,
without, however, entertaining much hope of being immediately able
to meet the expense of the military establishments of the country,
or of roads, surveys, public buildings, and other indispensable
outlay, which must be incurred before the country can possibly
become a fruitful source of revenue; like a nurseling it must for
a time be fed and clothed, yet I trust it will before many years
re-imburse the outlay and re-pay the kind care of themother
mother
country, with interest.
mother
country, with interest.
Minutes by CO staff
This is the answer wh might be expected. The Colony must of
necessity be supported for this first year to a very considerable extent,
though that support will be a loan on the part of the Mother Country.
There is nothing to be done on this desp. Put it by.
C
Jany 18
Print for Parlt.
EBL
Jan 19 1859
Other documents included in the file
Footnotes
- = Lytton to Douglas, No. 8 & No. 6, 2 Sep 58, referring to Lytton to Douglas, No. 6, 31 July 1858, PABC. CO 410/1, p. 147.