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 12 May 1859, CO 60:4, no. 6951, 361.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Other documents (2), Marginalia (1).
Douglas replies to Lytton on the subject of “the sale of Town Lots at Langley,” and lists several reasons for Langley’s suitability as “the site of a commercial Town.” Finally, Douglas refutes that he had proposed Langley as “the Sea Port Town of Frasers River,” earlier, noting Queensborough the “proposed Port of Entry.”
In the minutes, Blackwood asks that a copy of Douglas’s despatch, and correspondence related to sea ports, be sent to the Board of Trade,
noting the unsuitability of Langley as a “Commercial Sea Port” due to its proximity to “United States Town of Semiamhoo.”
The first of the two documents included in the file is a draft letter from Merivale to Booth, which forwards copies of despatches on commercial sea ports in the British Columbia colony; the second is a draft letter from Merivale to the Emigration Commissioners, which forwards a copy of Douglas’s despatch.
No. 153
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch
of the 11th February No. 20 referring to the sale of Town Lots
at Langley and conveying to me your approval of my proceedings in
that matter.
2. I have perused with much
much attention your remarks upon the
subject of aliens acquiring Land, and I return you my best thanks
for the same and for your kindness in furnishing me with the
Canadian Acts, which will prove of great service, in legislating
for that Class in British Columbia.
much attention your remarks upon the
subject of aliens acquiring Land, and I return you my best thanks
for the same and for your kindness in furnishing me with the
Canadian Acts, which will prove of great service, in legislating
for that Class in British Columbia.
3. With reference to your remarks respecting the position of
the Town I would beg to state that I was guided
guided in choosing old
Langley as the site of a commercial Town chiefly by the partiality
displayed for that spot by the Mercantile community of the Country
whose instincts in such matters, is generally unerring.
guided in choosing old
Langley as the site of a commercial Town chiefly by the partiality
displayed for that spot by the Mercantile community of the Country
i.e. of Van Couver's Island. There is no such community yet in B.
Columbia.
4. The place moreover possesses great natural advantages
for trade being accessible by land from Semiamhoo, having deep
water, a bold shore and good anchorage. The land is also clear
of trees, and was surveyed at a very small expense
expense, and therefore
perfectly suiting our pecuniary means.
expense, and therefore
perfectly suiting our pecuniary means.
5. The operation on our part was a financial measure rather
than one founded on any cogent reason of policy. The locality
was popular, and the land realized a larger return of revenue than
any other spot on the river would have done. You will doubtless
have perceived from my Despatch No 9, 5th November last that I
never proposed constituting Langley
Langley the Sea Port Town of
Frasers River, for which purpose it would not in my opinion have
been adapted owing to the obstructions caused by Ice in the Winter
and its greater distance from the sea than the proposed Port of
Entry, Queensborough.
Langley the Sea Port Town of
Frasers River, for which purpose it would not in my opinion have
been adapted owing to the obstructions caused by Ice in the Winter
and its greater distance from the sea than the proposed Port of
Entry, Queensborough.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
I should suggest sending a copy of this desph & of the one to which the Governor refers—No 9 of 3 Novr last—to the Board of Trade—which Dt has at present under its consideration questions relating to the Sea Ports of B. Columbia as ports of entry & delivery.
I should suggest sending a copy of this desph & of the one to which the Governor refers—No 9 of 3 Novr last—to the Board of Trade—which Dt has at present under its consideration questions relating to the Sea Ports of B. Columbia as ports of entry & delivery.
If Old Langley had been retained as the Commercial Sea Port,
it is so close to the United States Town of Semiamhoo that
the chief Town of B. Columbia wd necessarily, from the
effect of constant intercourse with Semiamhoo, have become
thoroughly Americanized.
ABd
13 July
Communicate also to Land Bd for information.
HM
Jy 13
Fort Langley, it seems, is 28 miles up the River. The point proposed for a Sea Port in the Governor's
desp. No 9 of the 5th Novber last, about 10 miles up.
CF
14
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Emigration Commissioners, 29 July 1859,
forwarding copy of the despatch for information.
People in this document
Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford Chichester