Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Walkem, Charles to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 16 July 1863, CO 60:17, no. 7419, 517.
Abstract
Walkem, Charles to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 16 July 1863, CO 60:17, no. 7419, 517.
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Walkem to Newcastle
Montreal
16th July 1863
My Lord Duke,
I had another letter written to Your Grace on the subject
of the admission of my Son to the Bar of Bh Columbia and had
sent it under Cover to Lord Monck requesting the favour that
His Excellency would support its object and kindly forward the
same for your Grace's consideration.
My letter had just arrived at Quebec when I was honoured
by His Lordship with a copy of Your Grace's despatch No 66
dated 27th June last, informing me
that the propriety of
admitting Canadian Barristers to practice in British Columbia
had been pointed out to Mr Justice Begbie by the Governor of
the Colony, and that rules have probably been made before this
date authorizing such admission.
In sending this letter direct to Your Grace (for reasons
afterwards explained) I take the opportunity both for myself
and son to Offer Your Grace our most sincere and heartfelt thanks,
not only for thecourtesy
courtesy extended to humble individuals like
ourselves but for the promptitude and decision in the matter,
brought however imperfectly under Your Grace's consideration.
courtesy extended to humble individuals like
ourselves but for the promptitude and decision in the matter,
brought however imperfectly under Your Grace's consideration.
We have just reason to thank God that however remote from
the Executive Authority of the Parent State, the humblest of
Her Majesty's subjects do not appeal in vain for the consideration
and redress of any reasonable cause of complaint.
Before receiving the copy of Your Grace's despatch I had
been informed by my Son in a letter from Victoria dated 5th May last, through the action of the Governor he had been admitted
to the Bar of British Columbia, and left that day to go on
Circuits in the Mining Districts. In the meantime however, a
few days ago I learned from the "British Colonist" (published
in Victoria) that the Judge had refused him the liberty to
practice.
In the Article of the "Colonist" which I beg to enclose Your
Grace my son is mentioned by name and I implore Your Grace
at least to read so much of this Article as specially bears
upon his case, there can be no doubt of the fact alluded to,
and hence the reason that I have ventured a second time to
address Your Grace, with a consciousnessthat
that however imperfectly
I have performed my duty, it will meet with such further
consideration at Your Grace's hands as the nature of the
subject may seem to require.
that however imperfectly
I have performed my duty, it will meet with such further
consideration at Your Grace's hands as the nature of the
subject may seem to require.
The question of admitting Canadian Barristers generally
to the Bar of British Columbia having been conceded in Your
Grace's despatch; instead of sending this letter through His
Excellency Lord Monck as usual I take the liberty of
sending it on my own responsibility direct to the Colonial Office.
I have the honor to remain
Your Grace's very humble
& most Obedient Servant
Charles Walkem
Surveyor & draftsman
Commandt R. Engineers Office
Your Grace's very humble
& most Obedient Servant
Charles Walkem
Surveyor & draftsman
Commandt R. Engineers Office
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I am inclined to think that Judge Begbie will have his own way if he can. As we have recd no intimation of the fact of Colonial Barristers having been admitted to practice at the Bar of B. Columbia as we had expected wd have been the case, I think we have good ground for sending this Letter to the Govr requesting a report & saying that the Duke of Newcastle had hoped that the views already expressed by him on this subject would have met with prompt attention on the part of the Judge, and inform the applicant that a commn has been made to the Governor.
I am inclined to think that Judge Begbie will have his own way if he can. As we have recd no intimation of the fact of Colonial Barristers having been admitted to practice at the Bar of B. Columbia as we had expected wd have been the case, I think we have good ground for sending this Letter to the Govr requesting a report & saying that the Duke of Newcastle had hoped that the views already expressed by him on this subject would have met with prompt attention on the part of the Judge, and inform the applicant that a commn has been made to the Governor.
ABd
30 July
Drafts.
TFE
30/7
Other documents included in the file
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Extract, The Weekly Colonist, 26 May 1863, discussing the
question of law reform.
People in this document
Monck, 4th Viscount Monck Charles