No. 76
30 November 1861
I have the honor to transmit herewith a Memorial, which has been entrusted to me to lay before your Grace, from certain of the Inhabitants of British Columbia present at a Public meeting held at NewNewManuscript image Westminster, praying that a direct Steam communication may be established between Panama and New Westminster, and that a sum of Five Thousand Pounds (£5000), or more if necessary, should be granted from the Colonial Revenues to subsidize for present expediency a line between San Francisco and New Westminster.
2. I have already hadtheManuscript image the honor very fully to address your Grace upon the subject of the disadvantages under which Her Majesty's dominions in this section of the Globe labor, through the absence of direct Steam Communication with the Mother Country. It is therefore not necessary that I should here enter into any recapitulation of those matters. I will only say that the Memorial nowforwardedManuscript image forwarded is in perfect accordance with my own views as to the importance of our not being, as now, entirely dependent upon a Foreign Power for our intercourse with the Mother Country and the rest of the civilized world.
I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke,
Your Grace's most obedient
humble Servant
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
Previous despatches on this subject have been recd and forwarded to the T-y: & I apprehend the same course must be followed with this despatch. The improvement of the postal communications with England is a vital matter to these Colonies.
ABd 3 Feb
Request the opinion of the Treasury?
TFE 3 Feby
N 4
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Note in file: "Folios 206 r.—209 r. being too large, will be photographed later."
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 30 November 1861, CO 60:11, no. 1165, 203. 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/B61076.html.

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