Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes to
Douglas, Sir James 1 March 1861, LAC :, 399.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Newcastle writes to Douglas to advise that the Government has under consideration Douglas's request for a loan of £50,000 to construct roads in British Columbia; Newcastle notes the enclosure of copies of correspondence on the subject [which do not appear
in the file] between the Colonial Office and the Treasury, in which the Treasury cites
the absence of precise financial information on BC, which will be required prior to further considerations of any loans.
No. 68
1 March 1861
H.M. Govt have had under their consideration
the application contained
in your despatch No. 84 of the 28th of August last for permission to
raise a loan of £50,000 in this Country to be applied to the
construction of Roads in B. Columbia, and I enclose,
for your information, the copy of a correspondence which has passed on the
subject between this Department and the Board of Treasury.
for your information, the copy of a correspondence which has passed on the
subject between this Department and the Board of Treasury.
You will perceive from this correspondence that while the
importance of opening up as promptly as possible the internal
communications of the Country is fully appreciated, and while every wish is felt on
the part of H.M. Govt to assist you in accomplishing that
object, the absence of precise informationas
as to the financial position
of British Columbia would render fruitless any attempt to raise a loan
in this country upon the credit of the Colony. In another despatch I
have called your attention to the omission to supply this information,
and to the prejudice which in the present instance the neglect has
inflicted on the interests of the Colony. It only remains to state that
upon receiving from you the accounts required by the Lords Crs. of the
Treasury I shall beprepared
prepared to submit your proposal again to their
Lordship's conson.
as to the financial position
of British Columbia would render fruitless any attempt to raise a loan
in this country upon the credit of the Colony. In another despatch I
have called your attention to the omission to supply this information,
and to the prejudice which in the present instance the neglect has
inflicted on the interests of the Colony. It only remains to state that
upon receiving from you the accounts required by the Lords Crs. of the
Treasury I shall beprepared
prepared to submit your proposal again to their
Lordship's conson.
With respect to the loans which have been raised by you in the
Colony to provide the means of completing roads which were in course of
construction I have received and will communicate to the L. Crs. of
the Treasury your despatch No. 104 of the 12th Dec. explaining the
circumstances under which you have had recourse to that step withoutthe
the
previous sanction of H.M's Government.
the
previous sanction of H.M's Government.