No. 4
30 January 1864
My Lord Duke,
I duly received Your Grace's Despatch No 44 of the 9th August last, transmitting an extract from a Report of the Commissioners of Audit, upon the subject of the disallowance of a sum of Sixty pounds (£60) from the accounts of British Columbia fortheManuscript image the year 1861, and calling upon me for a report in respect of the circumstances under which credit for that sum was claimed.
2. The sum in question formed a portion of the Revenue collected by Constable Seymour in May 1861, under instructions from Mr Nind, the Magistrate in charge of the Alexandria District, and was stolen from his person while sleeping at a way side House near the Forks of Quesnelle. The circumstances of the loss were declared to on oath by Constable Seymour, and were verified,soManuscript image so far as they could be, by Mr Nind; from inquiries which he subsequently made. When therefore, the claim for credit on this account was first brought forward, I saw no reason to doubt the truth of the statements made, and having a full appreciation of all the difficulties attending the collection of revenue in a wild and desolate country, I approved of the claim for credit being allowed.
3. Since the receipt of Your Grace's Despatch now under reply, I have called upon Mr Nind for a special report inrespectManuscript image respect of this matter, and I have personally examined Mr Seymour upon the same subject. I forward herewith Mr Nind's report for Your Grace's information, and I can only express my own conviction that the loss occurred solely as represented, and was, under the circumstances, not the result of carelessness or neglect of precaution, but simply the result of the risk the custodian was compelled to incur.
4. I trust this explanation may prove satisfactory to Your Grace, and that the disallowanceofManuscript image of credit entry may now be removed.
5. In accordance with the requirements of the Commissioners of Audit, I forward herewith a Certificate from Mr Nind that the amount has been included in the sums brought to account as Revenue.
6. I have to apologize for not earlier replying to Your Grace's Despatch; but I deferred making any report upon the matter until I could personally gather the particulars from Mr Seymour, who is, IbelieveManuscript image believe a most respectable and trustworthy man, and who left the service of the Government about twelve months ago for the purpose of bettering his condition.
I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke,
Your Graces most obedient
and humble Servant
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
Copy to T-y with ref: to Col: Office Letter of 6 Augt/63—& saying that this explanation induces the Duke of Newcastle to recommend the allowance in the B.C. accounts of the £60 of which Constable Seymour was robbed.
ABd 22-3/64
I think so. Draft.
TFE 22/3
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Philip Henry Nind to W.A.G. Young, Colonial Secretary, 20 November 1863, providing detailed explanation of the loss of the £60, as per despatch.
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Certificate of Nind, no date, stating that the sum of £60 was entered as revenue of the Alexandria district.
Other documents included in the file
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Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 30 March 1864, forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosure for consideration.
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 30 January 1864, CO 60:18, no. 2779, 19. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B64004.html.

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