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 19 April 1859, CO 60:4, no. 5889, 317.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1).
Douglas relates the Colonial Treasurer’s practice of drawing bills at seven days sight when
it has been “absolutely necessary to do so.”
The minutes “Copy” to the Treasury.
Enclosed is W. Driscoll Gosset, Treasurer, to W.A.G. Young, Acting Colonial Secretary, 18 April 1859, requesting that bills from the home government be payable at seven instead of thirty
days sight.
No. 140
Referring to my Despatch of the 16th Instant, communicating
the requisition made upon me by Colonel Moody for the sum of Three
Thousand pounds (£3000) to defray expenses incurred on Military Account,
I have the honor to forward to you herewith the copy of a letter
addressed to me by the Colonial Treasurer
Treasurer, representing the
impracticability of obtaining Coin for Bills drawn at 30 Days
sight. I have therefore been compelled to instruct the Treasurer
to depart so far from established regulations, as to draw the
Bills at Seven Days sight in cases where it is absolutely necessary
to do so; and I trust that this proceeding will not cause any
inconvenience to the Department of Her Majesty's Paymaster General,
as the whole account drawn is comparatively insignificant, and
from the number of men of War now
now at and about Vancouver's Island,
the Market is so plentifully supplied with Navy Bills at Seven
Days sight, that it is difficult to obtain Cash even on any terms
at short notice in exchange for Bills, and those upon less
favorable terms than the Navy Bills are unhesitatingly rejected.
Treasurer, representing the
impracticability of obtaining Coin for Bills drawn at 30 Days
sight. I have therefore been compelled to instruct the Treasurer
to depart so far from established regulations, as to draw the
Bills at Seven Days sight in cases where it is absolutely necessary
to do so; and I trust that this proceeding will not cause any
inconvenience to the Department of Her Majesty's Paymaster General,
as the whole account drawn is comparatively insignificant, and
from the number of men of War now
now at and about Vancouver's Island,
the Market is so plentifully supplied with Navy Bills at Seven
Days sight, that it is difficult to obtain Cash even on any terms
at short notice in exchange for Bills, and those upon less
favorable terms than the Navy Bills are unhesitatingly rejected.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
£10,000 for 2 months is very like £60,000 a year. I think the Treasury will require us soon to make some different arrangement in respect to the drafts of this Colony on the Imperial Exchequer.
£10,000 for 2 months is very like £60,000 a year. I think the Treasury will require us soon to make some different arrangement in respect to the drafts of this Colony on the Imperial Exchequer.
At present the Treasury advances "on account" the money wanted,
though out of what fund I do not know. Copy to Treasury with 5890.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
W. Driscoll Gosset, Treasurer, to W.A.G. Young, Acting Colonial
Secretary, 18 April 1859, requesting that bills from the home government
be payable at seven instead of thirty days sight.