No. 8, Miscellaneous
24 January 1860
My Lord Duke
I have the honor of transmitting herewith for Your Grace's information, the copy of a Report from Mr Ball, Assistant Gold Commissioner for Manuscript imagefor the District of Lytton, on the State and prospects of the Gold Regions of British Columbia, situated in the valley of Fraser's River and its tributary streams, between Lytton and Quesnel River.
2. Mr Ball's Report is a reliable source of information, and compared with the accounts of adventurers who have mined in that part of the country, moderate in the description of its auriferous wealth.
3. The extent of country over which the "Blue Lead" of Quesnel's River has been traced exceeds 300 square miles; and should it be continuous, as it Manuscript imageit has proved equally rich wherever struck, its wealth must be fabulous.
4. A detachment of 30 Chinese miners arrived yesterday, being it is supposed the pioneers of a large immigration of that people for British Columbia.
I have etc.
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Merivale
Send a copy of Mr Ball's very favorable report to the Geographical Society, and include it in the next collection of Papers presented to Parliament?
VJ 13 March
I do not think the "Geographical" would care for it. Perhaps Sir R. Murchison might. But it is a mere gold-finders' statement. It is interesting (and satisfactory) to find that it is practicable even in the present state of the country to winter on the Upper Fraser, & that many have done so.
HM Mh 14
To be included in the next Papers for Parlt?
CF 16
N 17
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Manuscript image
H.M. Ball to Douglas, 18 December 1859, reporting as per despatch.
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 24 January 1860, CO 60:7, no. 2749, 67. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B60008.html.

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