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 14 December 1858, CO 60:1, no. 1067, 514.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1), Marginalia (2).
Douglas reports that affairs in British Columbia are in a “state of tranquility.”
The minutes regard this as “very satisfactory” and print for parliament.
No. 51
1. Since my report of the 30th of
November
1
on the state
of British Columbia there has been a change in the weather, from
mild to cold, the mercury fell, on the 5th of Instant, to 12o
Fahrenheit; there have been several falls of snow, to the depth of
ten inches, and Fraser's River from Langleyto
to Point "Aitch Bee
Cee,"
2
is frozen over, and impassable for ships. The River above Langley
was by last accounts also frozen, and winter fairly set in, though
at an unusually early season of the year.
to Point "Aitch Bee
Cee,"
2
is frozen over, and impassable for ships. The River above Langley
was by last accounts also frozen, and winter fairly set in, though
at an unusually early season of the year.
2. No accounts from Langley have, in consequence, of the
cold weather been received here, for the last week; but the weather
being now milder two Steamers are preparing to leave to day, with
freight and passengers for that place, and it is hoped they will
succeed in forcing a passage through the ice.
We
3. We have had no tidings from Fort Yale since the 25th
of November last, the weather was then mild but exceedingly wet,
and the miners doing little in consequence of the state of the
weather, others of that class were nevertheless still moving
onwards by the River with goods and provisions for the upper country.
4. The country was then generally in a state of tranquility.
5. The American Steamer
"Pacific"
3
left this place on the 4th
of Instant with 400 passengers principally returning miners,
for the Port of San
Francisco.
Probably the Miners will be very migratory—for when the
Season for working suits one place it is not available for the other.
ABd.
The export of Gold dustby
by that vessel was reported to be
ten thousand ounces, exclusive of a large amount in private hands.
by that vessel was reported to be
ten thousand ounces, exclusive of a large amount in private hands.
6. An export duty on gold
would now yield a respectable
amount of revenue, and together with the duties levied on imports,
would probably yield an income of £100,000 per
annum.
4
The Governor can if he chooses impose an export duty. That
tax was suggested to him on the 14 Augt., & he has the power of
establishing it. ABd..
7. With some assistance from Parliament in the outset,
either by way of loan or as a free grant, the Colony will soon
emerge from its early difficulties, and defray all its own expenses.
This
8. This has hitherto been accomplished without assistance from
any quarter, as I have not yet drawn upon you for any expenditure
incurred in the Colony; which have all, nevertheless, been paid.
9. I cannot however undertake immediately to defray the cost of
the detachment of Royal Engineers appointed for the protection of
the country; as a large sum must, this year, be provided for the
erection of the many public buildings so much needed, in British
Columbia.
10. I propose building a small Church and Parsonage, a Court
house, and Goalimmediately
immediately at Langley and to defray the expense
out of the proceeds arising from the sale of Town Lands there.
immediately at Langley and to defray the expense
out of the proceeds arising from the sale of Town Lands there.
11. The Mail Steamer is expected in tonight, but will
probably leave again immediately afterwards for San Francisco,
allowing no time for replying to letters by the same mail.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Sir Edward Lytton will doubtless regard this despatch as very satisfactory: especially as Govr Douglas is not a man to express exaggerated opinions.
Sir Edward Lytton will doubtless regard this despatch as very satisfactory: especially as Govr Douglas is not a man to express exaggerated opinions.
It sd be answered by an expression of approval & satisfaction
& it ought to be printed for Parlt.
C
Jany 29
You will approve the proposal of an Export Duty on gold which with
other resources will, I trust, defray all expenses even those of
the R. Engineers & that tho there may be an advance in our
estimates of their pay—it is an advance to be repaid. Refer
him to my former letter.
Print for Parl.
EBL
Feb 1
Footnotes
- = Douglas to Lytton, 30 November 1858, No. 40, 1056, CO 60/1, p. 471.
- I.e., the point on which the "H.B.C." tree stood; cf. footnote in Douglas to Lytton, 3 November 1858, No. 9, 528, CO 60/1, p. 331. above.
- The Pacific was a sidewheel steamship, 225' long, 1004 tons, built by William H. Brown of New York at a cost of $100,000. Launched 24 September 1850, it arrived in San Francisco on 2 July 1851 and the Nicaragua Steamship Company operated it on the coast from 1853 to 1858 and the Merchants Accommodation Line from 1858 to 1863, from San San Francisco to the Columbia River. On 18 July 1861 it sank in waters off Oregon but was raised and repaired. In 1872, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company bought the Pacific, selling it to Goodall, Nelson, and Perkins in 1875. On 4 November 1875, it collided with the sailing ship Orpheus, off Cape Flattery in Washington Territory, and sank almost immediately. Only two survived of nearly two hundred fifty people on board. See Heyl, Early American Steamers, pp. 331-32; Kemble, The Panama Route, 1848-1849, p. 241; and account in the Colonist, 9 November 1875. Also 1 November 1903, and 14 November 1965??
- = export duty on gold. The export tax was never inaugurated.