Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Henson, James to Rogers, Baron Blachford Frederic 21 May 1862, CO 60:14, no. 5148, 90.
Abstract
Henson, James to Rogers, Baron Blachford Frederic 21 May 1862, CO 60:14, no. 5148, 90.
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Marginalia (3).
Henson to Rogers
British Columbia Overland Transit Company,
6, Copthall Court, Throgmorton Street, E.C.
21 May 1862
6, Copthall Court, Throgmorton Street, E.C.
Having observed a notice of question intended to be put by
Mr Malcombe, M.P. on Thursday night, with reference to the
Overland Route to British Columbia, and the chance of passengers "Starving between Montreal & British Columbia"—
I have the honor to inform you that on the 10th Inst.
two gentlemen interested in this Company, had a lengthy interview
with Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners, and gave full details
of the steps adopted to ensure the provisioning of our Passengers
to British Columbia.
The Substance of this interview was reduced to writing and
forwarded from this Office to the Commissioners on the 16th
instant. This letter will furnish you with every information.
The Emigratn Crs letter is in circn.
I have the honor further to state
that we have received a
letter from Mr Hine, Agent of Masonic Hall, Toronto, dated April 26th in which he writes:
that we have received a
letter from Mr Hine, Agent of Masonic Hall, Toronto, dated April 26th in which he writes:
I attended a Meeting of intending emigrants a short time
since and strongly advocated the Overland Route via St Paul and Red River, since which a party of 52 have gone from here by that route, and other parties from
different places round about.
We have also advices from St. Paul's up to the 30th April announcing the arrival of another body of Emigrants from St. Thomas's Canada West,
and their departure for Red River and British Columbia
by this route. Numerous other parties are proceeding by the same road.
We forward with our passengers Waggons, containing provisions
for 60 days subsistence not calculating upon the game and fish
which abound along the Saskatchewan.
Our Agents are upon the Spot and
our Passengers are guaranteed
safe transit by our Waggons and Pack Horses through the Rocky Mountains.
our Passengers are guaranteed
safe transit by our Waggons and Pack Horses through the Rocky Mountains.
I have further the honor to direct your attention to a letter
forwarded from this Office to the Under Secretary of State for the
Colonies, dated the 14th instant, tendering to Contract for
the establishment of a Pony Express, and which letter was entrusted
to Colonel Pierce Somerset Butler, later M.P. who informs us that
he laid the same before the Colonial Office on the 19th Instant.
Not registered.
I would also direct your attention to the "Canadian Memo
of the 10th" inst. in which you will perceive reference to
the operations in Toronto of the Committee engaged in forwarding
passengers via the Red River.
The St Pauls "Pioneer" 30th April will also furnish you with other reliable information, irrespective of that forwarded
from this Office.
Governor Douglas's despatch of the
19th December 1859
to His Grace the Secretary of State for the Colonies, states that this
Route is no mere theory. The experiment having been repeatedly
made by parties of Red River people travelling to Colville from whence there is a good road to Lytton, so much so indeed that I am assured that the whole distance from Lytton to Red River, with the exception of the Coutannais Pass, may be safely travelled with carts.
19th December 1859
18 Octr/59.
In conclusion I beg to state that we have lost no opportunity
in forwarding every information in our power at all times to Her
Majesty's Government.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Probably Mr Fortescue has ackd the rect of this Letter—which has been written in view of Mr Malcolm's inquiry in the H.C. last night.
Probably Mr Fortescue has ackd the rect of this Letter—which has been written in view of Mr Malcolm's inquiry in the H.C. last night.
When Govr Douglas talks "of an open prairie
country of great beauty, & replete with objects of interest
to the Tourist and the Sportsman" he rather adorns his
subject; for according to Palliser & other travellers in those
parts the beauties are few, and the buffalo uncertain.
ABd
23/5
TFE
24/5
Acknowledged.
[EBP]
26 May/62
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
A. Brown to President of the Board of Trade, 21 March 1862, questioning what progress had been made for a Canada-wide railway link.
People in this document
Butler, Colonel Pierce Somerset
Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford Chichester