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 10 March 1859, CO 60:4, no. 4475, 189.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Other documents (1).
Douglas reports on the status of the Fraser River gold fields, particularly quantities and the construction of canals to bring water
from the mountains.
The minutes find Douglas’s report “sufficiently interesting” and print a copy for parliament.
Enclosed is a draft from Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 14 May 1859, enclosing copy of the despatch for consideration.
No. 111
My report No 95, of the 7th Ultimo on the state of
British Columbia, contains advices from Fort Yale to the end
of January; the intelligence since that date is satisfactory
in all respects, except the weather which has been severely
cold and
and trying to the miner, whose operations have been in
consequence nearly altogether suspended for the last two months.
and trying to the miner, whose operations have been in
consequence nearly altogether suspended for the last two months.
Mr Commissioner Brew has, owing to the same cause,
also been unable to collect the Mining Licence fees, for that
time, a circumstance, which for obvious reasons, I much regret.
2. It appears from late reports that the Miners on
"Hill's" and "Emery's" Bars, have abandoned the Beach workings,
and transferred their labors to the Banks or elevated table
land reaching from the River to the mountains. Those banks
are
are of great extent varying from a few hundred yards to two
miles in breadth, and should they prove, as expected, more
remunerative than the River beds, they will offer a wide field
for mining enterprise.
are of great extent varying from a few hundred yards to two
miles in breadth, and should they prove, as expected, more
remunerative than the River beds, they will offer a wide field
for mining enterprise.
3. Water for washing the auriferous soil is at present
the chief want; it must be brought from the mountains, by
means of artificial canals, and in consequence of the
encouragement given on the part of Government, many persons
are now engaged at their own private expense, in the construction
of
of such works.
of such works.
4. Those enterprises will materially aid in the development
of the Gold fields and other industrial resources of British
Columbia. The miners, to their praise be it said, are full
of ardour, grasping eagerly at every opening, for the profitable
employment of their labour or capital, and require no urging
beyond the protection and regulating care of Government.
5. Those elevated table lands were until lately covered
with deep snow, and therefore inac[c]essible to mining operations
operations,
but will soon I trust become the cheerful scene of successful
and wide spread industry.
operations,
but will soon I trust become the cheerful scene of successful
and wide spread industry.
6. I may here state as a valuable fact, corroborating
what has been before stated in my despatches, concerning the
general productiveness of the gold fields in British Columbia,
that a company of 6 men, holding a gold claim, on Hill's Bar,
worked by a sluice took out the enormous return of 110 ounces
of gold, in one week, and this I am informed, is not an isolated
case of successful mining, many other claims having been proved
equally productive, but I particularize
particularize this instance, in
consequence of there being no doubt as to the fact.
particularize this instance, in
consequence of there being no doubt as to the fact.
7. I will add to the preceding another corroborative fact
in support of the same conclusion, supplied by the following
statement received yesterday from Mr Latham, their Agent;
of the quantity of Gold dust, shipped to San Francisco, and
received on special deposit by the House of Wells Fargo &
Co, of this place from June last, to the present time.
Shipped to San Francisco $525,000 value of, in Gold dust.
Received on Special Deposit 97,000 " " " " "
dollars 622,000 which valued at the current price
price of gold 15 1/2 dollars an
ounce, gives 40,029 ounces nearly, as the quantity of gold
dust that has passed through their hands for the period
mentioned. This statement compared with the quantities
given in my Despatch No 40 of the 30th November last,
as the export of Messrs Wells Fargo & Co, up to that date,
shows an export of gold by that House, since that statement was
prepared, to the extent of 23,436 ounces of gold.
Shipped to San Francisco $525,000 value of, in Gold dust.
Received on Special Deposit 97,000 " " " " "
dollars 622,000 which valued at the current price
price of gold 15 1/2 dollars an
ounce, gives 40,029 ounces nearly, as the quantity of gold
dust that has passed through their hands for the period
mentioned. This statement compared with the quantities
given in my Despatch No 40 of the 30th November last,
as the export of Messrs Wells Fargo & Co, up to that date,
shows an export of gold by that House, since that statement was
prepared, to the extent of 23,436 ounces of gold.
8. The most favourable reports continue to arrive from
Bridge River, and from the bank diggings of Fraser's River
between
between Lytton and the Fountain. Many private companies are
engaged in bringing in water from the mountains for sluicing
the elevated table land in that District, and though the mining
season has not properly speaking yet commenced, the miners
appear to have unbounded confidence in the resources of the
Country and are gradually moving towards the upper District.
between Lytton and the Fountain. Many private companies are
engaged in bringing in water from the mountains for sluicing
the elevated table land in that District, and though the mining
season has not properly speaking yet commenced, the miners
appear to have unbounded confidence in the resources of the
Country and are gradually moving towards the upper District.
The weather being now fine and the country accessible,
the tide of immigration will soon be setting towards Fraser's River.
9. The report of a
a Mr Lindhart, a person residing at
Port Douglas, speaks favorably of the banks of Harrisons River,
situated between the Lake of that name and Lillooet Lake, as
a productive gold field.
a Mr Lindhart, a person residing at
Port Douglas, speaks favorably of the banks of Harrisons River,
situated between the Lake of that name and Lillooet Lake, as
a productive gold field.
10. He states that a company of French miners are sluice
washing, when the weather permits, on the Harrison River, ten miles
beyond Port Douglas and are making from 28/- to 40/- a day, to the man.
One mile further up and on the opposite side of the River,
three miners, hand washing with cradles are making from 10/ to
20/s a
a day.
a day.
11. The same Mr Lindhart also states, as a generally
received opinion, of the Miners about Port Douglas, that there
is an extensive Gold field on the 35 mile table land, which
separates the Lillooet from Anderson's Lake, and in proof
thereof he has forwarded several specimens of the Gold
procured at those place respectively.
12. Mr Commissioner Brew further reports that the country
is in a state of perfect tranquility; that Gold is being
brought down Fraser's River in "large quantities" and that
the gold brought down is "coarse grain
grain and scale gold," which
may be collected at any temperature.
grain and scale gold," which
may be collected at any temperature.
13. It also appears from Mr Brew's communication that
it is difficult in very cold weather to collect the fine or
dust gold by amalgamation, as the quicksilver will not take
up the gold when below a certain temperature.
14. Mr Brew further confirms the general belief in the
rich auriferous deposits of British Columbia, and of the River
Bars, above "Lytton", which he remarks, are said to be "rich
beyond anything that was ever known."
15. It
15. It does not however appear from Mr Brew's report
that he has made any further collection of revenue, a subject
on which I therefore cannot give you the information I would desire.
15. It does not however appear from Mr Brew's report
that he has made any further collection of revenue, a subject
on which I therefore cannot give you the information I would desire.
16. I may nevertheless remark that we have hitherto paid
all the expenses of Government out of Colonial funds, and we
shall endeavour by the careful and frugal application of the
public revenue, to indespensable objects only, to tax the
Imperial Treasury to as small an extent as in the circumstances
of
of the Colony may be possible.
of the Colony may be possible.
Minutes by CO staff
2. Send also to Sir E. Lytton.
3. Print immediately for Parliament. (done)
5. Acke with satisfaction.
I almost think, though the suggestion should have come from the
Governor (Capn Gossett did raise the question of a Mint
to Sir Edward who viewed it favorably) that the time has come
when an assay Office at once, & a mint shortly, shd be
established; in order that the miner may ascertain, & obtain
the full value for his gold, & that he may convert it into
coin & spend it in the Colony, instead of, as many
thousands have done, walking off to the S. Francisco Mint
for dollars to the great benefit of the San Franciscan trade,
& detriment to B. Columbians ditto. Miners will mistrust
the private assayers, & private carriers of their dust;
preferring an expensive process, sale of tools, and passage
to S. Francisco, rather than send there the produce of their
labor. I scarcely like to venture such a suggestion; but do
you not think it might be worth while to ask the T-y as to the
expediency of sending the Colony an assay outfit. I am
persuaded Capn Gossett, under whom the Office wd be worked,
would make the Department more than defray it's own expenses.
I doubt the outfit costing more than £1000, whh must be put
down in the bill agt the Colony—(whose back I hope we
shant break at starting). We should, at the same time, ask
the Treasury whether the moment has yet arrived for the
establishment of a Mint—for an Assay Office without a Mint—would
be an inconsequent piece of business; and whether they
would approve of this Office directing the attention of the
Governor to the subject and instructing him to report thereon.
When the distance of this Gold bearing Colony from the United
Kingdom is considered, whh renders it difficult and expensive
to supply it with English Coin, and that the Colony must
therefore resort to the United States for the requisite
accommodation in the circulating 
medium it may well deserve
attention whether some steps should not be taken by the
Imperial Govt which shall have the result of preserving
a business to the Colony which will otherwise pass into the
hands of Foreigners.
persuaded Capn Gossett, under whom the Office wd be worked,
would make the Department more than defray it's own expenses.
I doubt the outfit costing more than £1000, whh must be put
down in the bill agt the Colony—(whose back I hope we
shant break at starting). We should, at the same time, ask
the Treasury whether the moment has yet arrived for the
establishment of a Mint—for an Assay Office without a Mint—would
be an inconsequent piece of business; and whether they
would approve of this Office directing the attention of the
Governor to the subject and instructing him to report thereon.
When the distance of this Gold bearing Colony from the United
Kingdom is considered, whh renders it difficult and expensive
to supply it with English Coin, and that the Colony must
therefore resort to the United States for the requisite
accommodation in the circulating 
medium it may well deserve
attention whether some steps should not be taken by the
Imperial Govt which shall have the result of preserving
a business to the Colony which will otherwise pass into the
hands of Foreigners.
ABd
2 May
I agree in all Mr Blackwood's proposals. Perhaps he will
be good enough to prepare a draft to the Treasury raising the
question of a Mint, and enquiring as to the probable minimum
expense of the first establishment. I am afraid that this
is more considerable than we cd desire.
C
May 4
It was the great expense of a Mint which alone deterred me from
forming it in the first instance.
Print this for Parlt. Print for Parlt the annexed
[cut off file] to Treasury [cut off file].
EBL
May 10
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 14 May 1859, enclosing
copy of the despatch for consideration.
Minutes by CO staff
Not yet printed. I ventured to defer the execution of Sir Edward's
instruction, as the correspondence was incomplete, & I had misgivings
as to the views the T-y wd take on the subject.
ABd
13 July