Colonial Despatches

In the course of last session of the Imperial parliament I sent your lordship a letter through my friend Lord Goderich which I trust you duly received. In that letter I informed you that I was resident in York, connected with the public press, and in my literary labours I wrote prize essays in connection with the working Men's essay on the Sabbath question, and to better my family, left England in October 1854, so that I am now resident in this country now nearly four years.

Ever since my entrance into Canada I have ever taken a deep interest in the opening up of the Hudson's Bay Territories, and have exerted myself in placing information before the public mind of England and also in high quarters where I believed it would be acceptable. Since you were honoured with being Colonial Secretary, I have weekly sent you copies of the Globe newspaper, the most reliable deliverer of information in Canada in covering all matters relating to the welfare of this Province—it is in fact the most energetic and reliable paper on this continent, even in the most simple and trivial matters.

Believe me, Sir, my heart is with you in the great and good work in opening up the Hudson Bay Territory and I am glad to find that to you has been Providentially granted the important enterprise of founding a new colony in the distant part of Her Majesty's dominions and that all that has already been done has met a world-wide approval, thus showing that literary habits do not disqualify any gentleman from grasping great and mighty schemes for the welfare of mankind.

In my letter to you, I expressed a wish and determination to locate in some part or other of Vancouver's Island, or British Columbia, or in the Sascatchawan Valley. I wish to know the terms of settlement and price of land in British Columbia. As a British subject—and a son of a father who fought nearly 33 years in the battles of his country—and as the father of a son now in the 100th Regiment in Thorncliff Camp—I feel that the terms of settlement is one important item in the establishment of a colony, and every way bearing on its peace and general prosperity. I told you that the great cause why hundreds and thousands of emigrants as soon as they land at Montreal and Toronto and elsewhere pass quickly on to the Western States of America, is owing to the heavy price of land in Canada and the great toil, hardships, and length of time before they can get a comfortable and good return for all their pains.

My mind would be much satisfied if you could also inform me as to what is to be done with the Sascatchawan Valley. The Imperial Parliament Committee decided that it should be reserved for colonization. Do you propose to speedily act upon it in the same manner as you are now doing with British Columbia, making every effort to open it for settlement? Myself and many others would be willing to go up and settle there, if assurance could be given that no molestations from Hudson's Bay Company or others would be experienced. Do you purpose to send a portion of British soldiers and other preventive means to assist in the settlement of the Sascatchawan Valley? No doubt hundreds of loyal British subjects would be willing to go up from here to the Sascatchawan for perpetual residence and as your humble servant I shall be most happy to harmonize in any scheme which your judgment may decide.

If you can inform me by return of an early English mail, you would be doing me and many others a good service.

I shall continue to send you Canadian newspapers of the most reliable stamp, which I trust will be acceptable to you.

I am well known in England to Sir W.M.E. Milner, Bart; Ald Meek, York; Ald Jas Meek, jun, York; Ald. Evers, York; and hundreds others. To satisfy you, I send one of my latest literary productions, cast up in my leisure moments, which I trust will not be overlooked by you, a gentleman of good taste and feeling.