Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Tait, Bishop of London Archibald Campbell to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 29 March 1859, CO 60:6, no. 3310, 585.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
The Bishop of London clarifies the credentials he vetted for ministers from the Colonial Church and School
Society and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel headed to British Columbia and Vancouver Island.
The minutes discuss possible hierarchical disputes between clergymen in the colonies.
Included in this document is a draft from Merivale to Bishop of Columbia, 9 April 1859, forwarding correspondence with the Bishop of London relating to the relative positions of the different missionaries in the colony; a
draft from Lytton to Douglas, 21 May 1859, transferring the Bishop of London's letters; and an example of the license granted by the Bishop of London to Crickmer upon his appointment, as per despatch.
Bishop of London to Lytton
London House S.W.
29th March 1859
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of the 24th inst, enclosing a copy of a letter
addressed by the Revd W. Burton Crickmer to the Governor of
British Columbia, on his arrival in that Colony.
I send you herewith the form, (if not an 
exact copy) of the
License which according to the usual practice, I granted to Mr
Crickmer, on his being nominated and recommended to me by the
Colonial Church and School Society, as one of their Chaplains.
exact copy) of the
License which according to the usual practice, I granted to Mr
Crickmer, on his being nominated and recommended to me by the
Colonial Church and School Society, as one of their Chaplains.
In the previous month (September) the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel applied to me, not for the usual license,
but for letters of introduction, for two of their Missionaries,
namely, the Revd J. Gammage and the Revd H. Dowson, to the
Governor of Vancouver's 
Island; of these informal credentials I find,
upon enquiry, that no copies were kept.
Island; of these informal credentials I find,
upon enquiry, that no copies were kept.
I shall regret if any misunderstanding has arisen from the
difference of form in which the two Societies desired that
the character of their Chaplains should be guaranteed by me, as being
at the time the only Bishop authorised to exercise ecclesiastical
jurisdiction within the Colony.
I beg to apologize for the delay which has taken place, before I
could answer your letter of the 24th inst owing to the necessity
of making 
search in the Register of the Diocese.
search in the Register of the Diocese.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Bishop of Columbia, 9 April 1859, forwarding
correspondence with the Bishop of London relating to the relative
positions of the different missionaries in the colony.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Example of the license granted by the Bishop of London to Crickmer upon his appointment, as per despatch.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
I think that before writing to the Governor it is due to the B. of Columbia that we shd Communicate this correspondence to his Ldship & enquire if he has any observations to offer upon the subject.
I think that before writing to the Governor it is due to the B. of Columbia that we shd Communicate this correspondence to his Ldship & enquire if he has any observations to offer upon the subject.
It is proper that I shd add that this affair has brought back to
my recollection a question which Mr Gammage—the Clergyman who was
first appointed to B. Columbia—put to me at an interview I had here
with me [him]. He asked whether he might not consider himself in the
light of Govt Chaplain, & take rank accly. I ansd that no
such office was in contemplation—on which he enquired how he shd
stand with regard to other Clergymen in the Colony. I declined to
ansr the question—but, speaking quite unofficially, presumed that
the first appd Clergyman would take precedence over Clergymen last
appointed.
ABd
31/3
Ld Carnarvon
I think so?
I think so?
HM
Mch 31
This conversation shows further the inconvenience likely to
arise from this unfortunate mistake 
of the Bp of London.
Meanwhile the Bp of B. Columbia ought to see the
correspondence—annex dt as proposed.
of the Bp of London.
Meanwhile the Bp of B. Columbia ought to see the
correspondence—annex dt as proposed.
C
Mch 31