No. 52
2 September 1863
Adverting to my Despatch of this date forwarding a
communication from
Mr Young tendering the resignation of
his appointment as Colonial Secretary of this Colony, with
the
view view of being confirmed as Colonial Secretary of
Vancouver's
Island, I have the honor in the event of
Mr Young's request
being complied with to place before Your Grace the name of
Mr Chartres Brew, as a Successor to
Mr Young.
2.
Mr Brew was especially selected by Your Grace's
predecessor to fill the Office of Chief Inspector of
Police Police
a position which in the early state of the Colony was deemed
of importance and responsibility. Upon sick leave being
granted last year to
Captain Gosset, the Treasurer, I placed
Mr Brew in charge of the Treasury, a proceeding which Your
Grace approved; and in this as in the other duties which
Mr
Brew has discharged in the Colony he has given
me me unqualified
satisfaction. He is possessed of discretion, of an even
temper, and of mild unassuming manners, joined to good
business habits, and sound common sense: Qualities which are
essential in a Colonial Secretary. I therefore feel I
may safely recommend
Mr Brew as a gentleman who will faithfully
and satisfactorily fulfill the duties of Colonial Secretary
if
if that Office be vacated by
Mr Young.
3. I am not aware of
Captain Gosset's movements, but as
his leave has expired by more than two months, I presume
that the rumours current in the Colony that he does not intend
returning are correct. In such case should Your Grace appoint
Mr Brew to be Colonial Secretary the Office of Treasurer will
become become vacant, and for this Office I would take the liberty
of recommending to Your Grace
Mr Charles Good, who has for
the last four years and a half served as Chief Clerk in the
Office of the Colonial Secretary, and has during my absence in
the interior of
British Columbia occasionally accompanied me,
acting as my private Secretary.
Mr Good is the son of the
ReverendHenry Henry Good of Wimborne Minster, Dorset. He is a
graduate of Exeter College Oxford, is a gentleman of high
integrity and good address; and during the period he has
been in the Service of the Colony, has acquired an intimate
knowledge of public business, and is well versed in the
system of accounts established in the Colony. I beg therefore
to place him before Your
Grace Grace as a fit and proper person
to fill the Office of Treasurer.
4. In concluding this Despatch I deem it right to state
in justice to a very efficient and valuable Officer—
Mr
Hamley the Collector of Customs—that I should have recommended
him for the Office of Colonial Secretary, had he not represented
to
me me that his state of health would, he feared, unfit him for
the constant application required from such an Office.
I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke
Your Grace's most obedient
Humble Servant
James Douglas
P.S. Adverting to Your Grace's Circular Despatch of
4th
February 1863 I forward herewith to avoid inconvenience
printed forms called for in cases of Colonial appointments made at home.
J.D.
Minutes by CO staff
The Governor forgets to add to
Mr Good's other qualifications
that he is his Son in Law.
I should prefer taking all the appoint
s and changes in
B.C. &
V.I. together. For the present therefore to
Mr Engleheart.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Return of office of colonial secretary, stating the salary and
other particulars of the job.
Return of office of treasurer, stating the salary and other
particulars of the job.
People in this document
Birch, Arthur Nonus
Blackwood, Arthur Johnstone
Brew, Chartres
Douglas, Sir James
Engleheart, Sir John Gardner Dillman
Good, Charles
Good, Reverend Henry
Gosset, Captain William Driscoll
Hamley, Wymond Ogilvy
Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes
Rogers, Baron Blachford Frederic
Young, William Alexander George
Places in this document
British Columbia
Vancouver Island