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 10 June 1862, CO 60:13, no. 7711, 249.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Douglas writes to Newcastle to report on gold prospects on the Stikine River. Douglas notes that “one hundred and fifty men, were, by late accounts, encamped at Point
Rothsay near the entrance” to the river and that relations with local “Tribes” remain peaceable. Douglas conveys his desire for Newcastle's instructions on how best to govern the “Stickeen Country.”
The minutes ask to acknowledge Douglas's despatch and to refer him to “the recent Despatch of 26 of July.”
The first of the two documents included in the file is a note, from November 1950,
which indicates that two documents, a “Sketch” of the Stikine” and a copy of a portion of a map by Vancouver, were “removed to the Map Room;” the second is a draft reply from Newcastle to Douglas, which points Douglas to a “an order in Council providing for the Administration of Justice in the Stekin Territories.”
Separate
10 June 1862
No information of a reliable or very definite character
respecting the auriferous deposits on Stickeen River has been
received since the date of my Despatch to Your Grace marked
"Separate," of the 21st of January last.
2. The adventurers,to
to the number of one hundred and fifty
men, were, by late accounts, encamped at Point Rothsay near the
entrance of the Stickeen, awaiting the disappearance of the ice.
They had tried for gold at several points higher up the Stream,
in every instance with a favourable result, and it appears that
they were generally satisfied with their prospects.
to the number of one hundred and fifty
men, were, by late accounts, encamped at Point Rothsay near the
entrance of the Stickeen, awaiting the disappearance of the ice.
They had tried for gold at several points higher up the Stream,
in every instance with a favourable result, and it appears that
they were generally satisfied with their prospects.
3. They had met with no molestation whatever from the Native
Indian Tribes; and Iinfer
infer from a communicatiion of the 7th of
April, addressed to me by the present Stickeen Chief, "Shakes,"
that the Miners continue to maintain a kind and friendly intercourse
with the Natives; so far therefore as regards the security of the
former from Indian aggression, their position is most favourable.
infer from a communicatiion of the 7th of
April, addressed to me by the present Stickeen Chief, "Shakes,"
that the Miners continue to maintain a kind and friendly intercourse
with the Natives; so far therefore as regards the security of the
former from Indian aggression, their position is most favourable.
4. Many small Vessels are still fitting out at this place with
supplies and passengers for Stickeen; and I trust we shall soon
receive intelligence as to the true character and value of the
country as aproductive
productive gold field.
productive gold field.
5. I have not hitherto deemed it necessary to take any overt
steps for the Government of the Stickeen Country, and I am in daily
expectation of Your Grace's instructions on the subject.
6. I herewith enclose a copy of a portion of Vancouver's Chart
of the North West Coast, on which I have traced the position of the
Stickeen River, shewing its course to a distance of 30 Miles from
the Coast, and also a sketch of thesame
same portion of the River on a larger scale, shewing the main channel and depth of water up to
that point.
same portion of the River on a larger scale, shewing the main channel and depth of water up to
that point.
Minutes by CO staff
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Note in file: "Two documents, (1) Sketch of the Stickeen River, west of British Columbia; (2) Copy of a portion of Vancouver's chart of the North West
Coast, (north and west of B.C.) being fos. 252, 253 of C.O. 60,
have been removed to the Map Room. Map Roof Reference MPG 648,
November 1950, D.B. Wardle."
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 138, 16 August 1862, which points Douglas to a “an order in Council providing for the Administration
of Justice in the Stekin Territories.”