Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 30 November 1861, CO 60:11, no. 1164, 175.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (8), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (3).
Douglas writes to Newcastle to forward an estimate for the expenditure required to retain the detatchment of
Royal Engineers serving in British Columbia. Douglas ascribes the soaring costs of “this infant Colony” to “richest gold field yet known
in the world,” and to the transport-infrastructure to access the same. He closes with
the point that, with one exception, BC has “paid all her Civil expenses.”
The extensive minutes discuss, among other points, the pay scheme for Royal Engineers,
Parliament's desire for a self-sufficient colony, and the admonishment and personal
financial penalty Douglas should receive for his cavalier expenditures.
The first Of the several documents included in the file is Douglas's “Military Department” cost-estimates for April 1 to March 31, 1862; the second is a draft letter from Elliot to Hamilton, which forwards copies of two despatches on BC-colonial finances, for consideration; the third is a draft reply from Newcastle to Douglas, which rejects Douglas's request for “Imperial Funds;” the final document is a note that reads as follows:
"Folios 191 r.—202 r. being too large, will be photographed later."
No. 75, Military
30 November 1861
With reference to Your Grace's Despatch of the 14th
July last, marked "Separate," I have the honor to forward
herewith an Estimate of the Expenditure necessary for the
maintenance of the Detachment of Royal Engineers serving in
this Colony, during the financial year 1862-63, amounting in the
wholeto
to the Sum of Seventeen Thousand, Nine Hundred pounds (£17,900).
to the Sum of Seventeen Thousand, Nine Hundred pounds (£17,900).
2. I earnestly trust it may be within the power of Your
Grace to provide this aid from Imperial Funds. The Colony
cannot undertake this expenditure without suffering material
injury. I fully recognize the weight of Your Grace's remarks
in your Despatch of the 11th May last No 78, and heartily
appreciate the evidence of Your Grace's desire to accord to
this infant Colony every assistance that can consistently be
expected. But the demands now upon me for money are greater
than ever. The present circumstances of the Colonypressingly
pressingly call for the outlay of every available fraction upon the
development of the communications to the recently discovered
Gold fields in the Carriboo District, distant some 500 miles.
The reports that have gone abroad backed as they have been,
by the production of the gold, proclaim that District as the
richest gold field yet known in the world. A rush to the mines
when the season opens will be the natural consequence. Provisions
must be thrown into the Country, and the present enormous cost of
transport must be reduced to render them more within the reach
of all, else the most fruitful source of evil will result. The
sum we hope to raise on Loanwill
will not be more than sufficient to start the work. We have but the Revenue of the
Colony to rely
on to prosecute it.
pressingly call for the outlay of every available fraction upon the
development of the communications to the recently discovered
Gold fields in the Carriboo District, distant some 500 miles.
The reports that have gone abroad backed as they have been,
by the production of the gold, proclaim that District as the
richest gold field yet known in the world. A rush to the mines
when the season opens will be the natural consequence. Provisions
must be thrown into the Country, and the present enormous cost of
transport must be reduced to render them more within the reach
of all, else the most fruitful source of evil will result. The
sum we hope to raise on Loanwill
will not be more than sufficient to start the work. We have but the Revenue of the
Colony to rely
on to prosecute it.
3. I feel confident Your Grace will readily appreciate
these circumstances, and I need not further dilate upon them
to induce you to continue to us an aid that is most essential
in the present condition of the Colony. Were it not so, I would
not so anxiously beg for it, but in doing so, I would respectfully
remind Your Grace that, with but small exception, the Colony of
British Columbia, has paid all her Civil expenses, and that the only assistance she hasobtained
obtained from the Imperial Treasury has been for the maintenance of the Military
Force which must be
present in the Country to guard Imperial interests.
obtained from the Imperial Treasury has been for the maintenance of the Military
Force which must be
present in the Country to guard Imperial interests.
Minutes by CO staff
See separate minute.
TFE
Feby
Pay of the Royal Engineers in British Columbia
In considering this subject, it will be necessary to bear in mind the peculiar nature of the remuneration of the Corps of Royal Engineers. They are paid—both Officers and Men—by a small fixed pay, called, I believe, Engineer pay (analagous in the case of Officers to Half-pay in the line) with working-pay and additional allowances wherever they may be employed. For brevity's sake, we distinguish all the receipts of the Royal Engineers in British Columbia beyond their small fixed pay, as "Colonial Pay", but it must be remembered that at least half of this would probably have to be paid to the same Engineers if they were at home or in any other Colonial Garrison. I mean that the Colonial Pay in British Columbia is not a sheer extra allowance caused exclusively by their being there, like the extra allowances to Troops of the line in Australia or other places.
The amount voted by Parliament for the Colonial Pay of the
Engineers in British Columbia has been for each of the last two
years £12,200. The present despatch estimates their Colonial
pay next year at about that sum; but there are other annual
charges for provisions, fuel, Barracks, &c amounting to
£5,900, thus making up £18,100. The Engineer Pay provided
for on Army Estimates is nearly £4000; so that the grand total
may be slated in round numbers at £22,000.
I apprehend that to increase the vote submitted to Parliament,
which the Governor wishes, must be quite out of the question. In
England everyone will be wishing for a diminution.
Such being the facts, three courses occur to me as open to
consideration:
1st To continue to ask for a Parliamentary Grant on the
Colonial Estimates of £12,200 for Colonial Pay, leaving
the Colony to meet the other local demands of nearly £6000.
2nd To divide the whole Colonial expense of £18,000 into twomoieties
moieties, and ask Parliament to grant on the Colonial
Estimates one moiety, amounting to £9000.
moieties, and ask Parliament to grant on the Colonial
Estimates one moiety, amounting to £9000.
3rd To take the entire cost both Imperial and Colonial of
the Engineers, amounting to £22,000, and to require the
Colony to find one moiety amounting to £11,000, whilst the
Army Estimates do already provide £3,800, so that £7,200
would remain to be voted on the Colonial Estimates.
The last plan would of course be the best in an English point
of view, if we can be sure that the Colony is capable of doing it's
share. I agree in a remark of Mr Blackwood's that Governor Douglas
is off-hand in his way of dealing with financial questions, and I
have shown on his annual estimates that with a great appearance of
copiousness in his returns, the information he gives is in fact
superficial. This is calculated to shake confidence in his
representations of his exigencies: and with regard to the important
matter of Roads it must be borne in mind that authority to raise
a considerable loan iscontemplated
contemplated which would admit of his sparing
more than could otherwise be done out of the proceeds of the current
revenue.
contemplated which would admit of his sparing
more than could otherwise be done out of the proceeds of the current
revenue.
In conclusion I must say that I understand that the accounts
show that Governor Douglas has quietly disregarded all our successive intimations of the amount granted for
the Engineers, and has actually
drawn Bills on the Treasury, not merely for their Colonial Pay, but
even for the miscellaneous allowances which are above shown to be
at the rate of £6000 per annum. I think that he ought instantly
to receive a stern admonition on that subject, and I should almost
go so far as to tell him that if he ventures to draw Bills on the
Treasury, disregarding instructions, he must be prepared to find
himself held personally responsible for the amount.
TFE
6 Feby
Duke of Newcastle
I would adopt Mr Elliot's third course.
If Govr Douglas
has really disregarded positive instructions in the way mentioned
by Mr E., I think he should be called upon to refund from Colonial
funds the sums so drawn.
I would adopt Mr Elliot's third course.
If Govr Douglas
has really disregarded positive instructions in the way mentioned
by Mr E., I think he should be called upon to refund from Colonial
funds the sums so drawn.
CF
8
I agree. The English Public & Parlt will naturally expect that
a Colony the produce of whose gold-diggings is now so marvellous
should be self-supporting, and in addition to the information
proposed above of an unpleasant character to the Govr I should
be inclined to say that B. Columbia must appear on the Colonial
Estimates this year for the last time.
N
9
Mr H. Irving
As the Colonial Estimates are on the eve of being delivered, I will take Mr Fortescue's views today about an item for extra pay to the Marines. Will you therefore look into the correspondence to see whether we can state any particular sum for their pay whilst doing Engineer work in Columbia? We must also I suppose try to get from the Admiralty by personal application the amount of pay necessary from the time of their landing in San Juan to the 31st of March 1862. This will be simple for it will be single pay of that amount of force. The best way will be to ask General Wellesley, Adjutant General of Marines, Spring Gardens.
As the Colonial Estimates are on the eve of being delivered, I will take Mr Fortescue's views today about an item for extra pay to the Marines. Will you therefore look into the correspondence to see whether we can state any particular sum for their pay whilst doing Engineer work in Columbia? We must also I suppose try to get from the Admiralty by personal application the amount of pay necessary from the time of their landing in San Juan to the 31st of March 1862. This will be simple for it will be single pay of that amount of force. The best way will be to ask General Wellesley, Adjutant General of Marines, Spring Gardens.
TFE
9 April
Mr Elliot
As regards the pay of the Marines
employed under Colonel Moody
I think that it may be estimated at £2500. The number
of men and the rates of pay are given in a despatch from the
Governor of 8 June 1859 No 168. Their employment lasted from
14 April to 31 July.
As regards the pay of the Marines
employed under Colonel Moody
I think that it may be estimated at £2500. The number
of men and the rates of pay are given in a despatch from the
Governor of 8 June 1859 No 168. Their employment lasted from
14 April to 31 July.
The pay of a detachment of 100 Marines amounts to about £2500
per annum. It will be necessary to provide for two years pay of
the
Detachment in San Juan to March 1862, as they were sent to
the Island early in 1860.
Detachment in San Juan to March 1862, as they were sent to
the Island early in 1860.
The Item therefore for extra pay for the Marines in San Juan (being a sum equivalent to their regular pay) will be £5000.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
"Estimate of the probable sums required to defray the
Expenditure of the Military Department irrespective
of Regimental Pay from 1st April 1862 to March 31st 1863,"
signed by Douglas.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 21 February 1862,
forwarding copies of two despatches on the finances of the colony
for consideration.
Minutes by CO staff
Note in file: "Folios 191 r.—202 r. being too large, will be photographed later."