Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Murdoch, Thomas William Clinton to Rogers, Baron Blachford Frederic 31 March 1862, CO 60:14, no. 3235, 59.
Abstract
Murdoch, Thomas William Clinton to Rogers, Baron Blachford Frederic 31 March 1862, CO 60:14, no. 3235, 59.
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
Murdoch to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Emigration Office
31 March 1862
I enclose herewith, for the consideration of the Duke of
Newcastle, the copy of a letter addressed to me by Mr W.S. Lindsay on the subject of the promotion of Emigration to B. Columbia.
2. The promotion of Emigration to VanCouvers Island was
very much desired by the Foreign Office something more than
two years ago, and I would beg to refer to the reports on the
subject from this
Board dated 24 Novr 1859 and 6th Janry 1860. The success of Gold digging in British Columbia has since attracted much notice to that Colony, and the
enquiries made from time to time at this Office lead to the
belief that if there were any easy and certain means of getting
there a considerable Emigration would spring up. At present the
transport on the other side of the Isthmus of Panama is so
uncertain as to deter all but persons of an adventurous
disposition. Whether looking to the
political importance of
promoting Emigration from the Mother Country to VanCouvers
Island & British Columbia it might be advisable to grant some
assistance towards the establishment of a regular Steam
communication between Panama and those Colonies I do not
venture to pronounce.
Board dated 24 Novr 1859 and 6th Janry 1860. The success of Gold digging in British Columbia has since attracted much notice to that Colony, and the
enquiries made from time to time at this Office lead to the
belief that if there were any easy and certain means of getting
there a considerable Emigration would spring up. At present the
transport on the other side of the Isthmus of Panama is so
uncertain as to deter all but persons of an adventurous
disposition. Whether looking to the
political importance of
promoting Emigration from the Mother Country to VanCouvers
Island & British Columbia it might be advisable to grant some
assistance towards the establishment of a regular Steam
communication between Panama and those Colonies I do not
venture to pronounce.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The Treasury has lately refused to give any help towards the conveyance of Letters to this Colony. They will have much greater reason for refusing if asked to find money for the conveyance thither of human beings. In short the Treasury has not got the means of promoting Emigration to B. Columbia—& Parliament is the only resource if it be judged proper to apply to that Body.
The Treasury has lately refused to give any help towards the conveyance of Letters to this Colony. They will have much greater reason for refusing if asked to find money for the conveyance thither of human beings. In short the Treasury has not got the means of promoting Emigration to B. Columbia—& Parliament is the only resource if it be judged proper to apply to that Body.
ABd
2 Apl
The subject of aid for the conveyance of mails was at
least an admissible question on which much might be said. But
it seems to me that to attempt to get a grant from Parliament
in order to make the passage to B. Columbia cheaper or easier would be wholly unjustifiable. If a Colony producing a vast
yield of gold cannot flourish by it's own attractions, it does
not deserve to flourish at all; and it would be the height of
injustice to tax the resident population of Great Britain, in
order that a fortunate few of their Countrymen might have the
means of going out to make their fortunes in British Columbia.
When this Country was supposed to be overpeopled, there was
the appearance of a domestic object in schemes for using the
proceeds of English taxes to encourage emigration. But that state
of things has long ceased to exist.
TFE
8 April
A postal subsidy wd be the only admissable shape in wh
public aid could be given to steam communication with B. Columbia and the Try will not entertain that question at present. So answer Mr Lindsay?
CF
9
Certainly.
N
[date cut off microfilm]
Other documents included in the file
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
W.S. Lindsay to Murdoch, 27 March 1862, promoting the establishment of regular steam communications to the colonies.
Signed statement by W.S. Lindsay & Co. and S. Austin Friars, London, announcing their intention to send a steamship to British Columbia with passengers "if sufficient inducement offers."