Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
McNab, C. to
Elliot, Thomas Frederick 16 December 1858, CO 60:2, no. 12882, 213.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Other documents (2).
McNab elucidates the Bank of British North America’s purpose for requesting an interview
as a hope that their charter to operate may be extended another ten years after its
expiry in April 1861.
The minutes declare that reports from “respective governors” are required before the
CO can “express any opinion on the subject.”
Enclosed is a draft from Lytton to the Governors of Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island forwarding a copy of the letter from the Bank of British North America; and a draft
reply from Carnarvon to McNab advising that the memorial had been referred for comment to the governors of the
colonies in which the bank was authorized to establish branches.
McNab to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
In compliance with the invitation contained in your letter
of the 4th
Instant,
1
I beg respectfully to submit, that the object of the Directors in seeking
a personal interview with Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton was to explain to him
fully the purpose of their petition to the Queen of the 11th Novr
(referred by the Treasury to the Colonial
Office)
2
which petition was not for the grant of a new Charter, but simply that
Her Majesty would graciously exercise the power specially reserved to her
in the existing Charter, to continue, "by writing under her Sign Manual,"
its operation for a further term of ten years (or for such other period
as Her Majesty might think fit) from its expiry in April 1861.
The Directors would also beg most respectfully to submit that, in
the confidence that that power would be exercised by Her Majesty, they
have made arrangements for establishing Branches in the new Colonies of
Vancouvers Island and British Columbia, which, although calculated to
prove of great advantage to these Colonies, cannot be expected, for some
years to come, to yield much profit to the Bank, in return for the outlay
and risk incurred in their Establishment.
They would only beg leave further to remark, that the continuation
prayed for, would simply have the effect of bringing the termination of
this Banks Charter to the same period as the termination of the Charters
of the other Banks in Canada.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
The Memorial of the Bank of B.N. America praying for an extension of the term of their Charter has been referred to the respective Govrs for report. The Secretary of State therefore is not in a position (till the reports are received) to express any opinion on the subject?
The Memorial of the Bank of B.N. America praying for an extension of the term of their Charter has been referred to the respective Govrs for report. The Secretary of State therefore is not in a position (till the reports are received) to express any opinion on the subject?
VJ
17 Decr
This additional letter should be sent to Sir E. Head
& the writers so informed? Annex dt.
HM
D 17
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Lytton to Governors of Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, 23 December 1858,
forwarding copy of letter from the Bank of British North America.
Footnotes
- A draft of this letter appears in McNab to Lytton, 30 November 1858, 12266, CO 60/2, p. 206.
- = BBNA petition. See Trevelyan to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary), 23 November 1858, 12050, CO 60/2, p. 303.