Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Bradford, John to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 18 September 1858, CO 60:2, no. 9593, 464.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Bradford offers advice on the military defense of British Columbia. He suggests that the colonial government offer military training to new immigrants
and after “a term of servitude” these militia men should receive a grant of land “on
the same principle as that given to the Royal Engineers.”
The minutes state that colonial authorities in British Columbia have the task of enrolling military aid in necessary cases, but that “they cannot
encourage the writer or the persons referred to in his Letter, to go out to the Colony
under the impression that their services would be required there, or that they would
receive free grants of land.”
Bradford to Lytton
I am the conductor of an Educational establishment and a Commission
Agent. I have had considerable experience in managing business and
correspondence in and connected with the British Colonies.
I am interested for Miners and others desirous of proceeding
to British
Columbia. We read with great admiration and hearty
concurrence the sentiment laid down in your very excellent
despatch to the Governor General of the Leeward Islands:
the excessive importance of raising and maintaining from local resources,
and by local efforts, such a military force as will by its presence
guarantee the safety &c of the Colony.
Columbia. We read with great admiration and hearty
concurrence the sentiment laid down in your very excellent
despatch to the Governor General of the Leeward Islands:
the excessive importance of raising and maintaining from local resources,
and by local efforts, such a military force as will by its presence
guarantee the safety &c of the Colony.
This applies with ten fold force to the new Colony of British
Columbia
and we are convinced there is a method by which it can be
adopted and applied to it even more easily than to an old colony.
and we are convinced there is a method by which it can be
adopted and applied to it even more easily than to an old colony.
Every Englishman proceeding to the new Colony goes there deeply
impressed with the necessity of going there competent to his own defence
and eager to unite with the authorities in the common defence. Many
would therefore gladly enrol themselves for that purpose, and on their
arrival in the Colony place their services at
the disposal of the
Government to receive military instruction provided that when not wanted
like a disbanded militia, they could push their fortunes at the diggings
and after a term of servitude receive a grant of Land on the same
principle as that given to the Royal Engineers.
the disposal of the
Government to receive military instruction provided that when not wanted
like a disbanded militia, they could push their fortunes at the diggings
and after a term of servitude receive a grant of Land on the same
principle as that given to the Royal Engineers.
I should feel much honoured by your instructions and happy to
forward any other suggestions made by practical men on the subject.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Acke & say that H.M. Govt leaves to the Colonial Authorities in B. Columbia the task of enrolling, if it be necessary, a force for the repression of disorder, and that they cannot encourage the writer or the persons referred to in his Letter, to go out to the Colony under the impression that their services would be required there, or that they would receive free grants of land.
Acke & say that H.M. Govt leaves to the Colonial Authorities in B. Columbia the task of enrolling, if it be necessary, a force for the repression of disorder, and that they cannot encourage the writer or the persons referred to in his Letter, to go out to the Colony under the impression that their services would be required there, or that they would receive free grants of land.
Annex draft.
C
S 23
