Moody to Under-Secretary of State
4 New Street
Spring Gardens
28th Octr 1858
Sir,
I do not know, whether it may be in the power of any department to furnish the enclosed list of Parliamentary Blue Books for H.M. Service in British Columbia, but I beg to submit that if such a boon could be granted, it would be of very great service in the Colony. Much useful information could be extracted from them, which would be of material assistance, and they would form the commencement of a Legislative Council Library.
Possibly they could be supplied on the Secretary of State's order, from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
They should be packed in a box addressed to me "B. Columbia" per Euphrates immediate and sent to the care of Richard Eaton Esq. Military Store Keeper, Tower.
I have the honor to be
Your most obedient humble Servant
R.C. Moody
Col. R.E.

The Under Secretary
of State for the Colonies
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
There are a few of these works that it seems to me might be omitted; otherwise it wd be very desirable to Comply with Colonel Moody's suggestion. If Sir E. Lytton approves write to the Treasury to request that the Books may be procured at once and sent on board the Euphrates addressed to Governor Douglas.
Inform Governor Douglas of this order.
ABd 1 Novr
Captn Moody's requisition is of reckless magnitude. Had he beenManuscript image more moderate in his demands, they might have been more readily complied with. As it is, there can be no prospect that such voluminous documents can be collected and packed in time for shipment by a vessel now getting ready for sea.
I have been through the list and have struck out numerous parliamentary papers which are either of too old date, or too irrelevant to the immediate wants of a new Colony, or too bulky and expensive to be fit to be granted. Even with these omissions the cost and difficulty of supply will probably be very great.
I would suggest that the abridged list be sent to the Treasury with a request that the Comptroller of Stationery be called on to state whether these documents can be furnished within a short time, and at no immoderate expense, for shipment to B. Columbia.
TFE 3 Novr
C Novr 4
As Mr E. suggests.
EBL Novr 9
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Elliot to C.E. Trevelyan, Treasury, 18 November 1858, forwarding copy of Moody's letter and amended list as per minute, and asking whether the materials requested could be readily and inexpensively procured.
Minutes by CO staff
Send to the Treasury a reduced list, leaving out all those which are marked for omission in the margin of the list submitted by Coll Moody.
TFE 17/11
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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"List of Parliamentary Papers required by Col. Moody R.E. for the use of the British Columbian Expedition," eleven pages with deletions and amendments by colonial staff noted in the margins.
Moody, Colonel Richard Clement to Carnarvon, Earl 28 October 1858, CO 60:3, no. 11072, 368. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B586M28.html.

Last modified: 2020-03-30 13:22:16 -0700 (Mon, 30 Mar 2020) (SVN revision: 4193)