Head to Fortescue (Parliamentary Under-Secretary)
Hudsons Bay House
London
7th June 1864
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that the Committee of the Hudsons Bay Company have sent Dr Rae to Ruperts Land with a view to ascertaining the Best and most practicable route for an Electric Telegraph across the Company's Territory from Red River to the head of Frasers River or thereabouts. The Committee are anxious that Dr Rae whilst he is in the Country may haveanManuscript image an opportunity of surveying (roughly at least), the probable route for a line of Telegraph from the head waters of the Fraser to New Westminster, but they are apprehensive that in making an examination of this kind without the authority of the Government of British Columbia the Hudsons Bay Company may appear to be assuming rights which they do not possess beyond the Rocky Mountains. The Committee would therefore request that instructions may be given to the Governor of British Columbia to permit such an examination to be made by DrRaeManuscript image Rae as a necessary step with a view to future arrangements.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
Edmund Head
Governor
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
Answer that this request will be complied with. Enclose a copy of this Letter to Govr Seymour, & request him to cause instructions to be issued to the Magistrates or Officials up the Country to enable Dr Rae to make the desired examination.
ABd 8 June
Mr Fortescue
Of course this should be done. I circulate the letter for information.
TFE 8 June
CF 9
Desp. to Govr Seymour, accordingly.
EC 10
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Cardwell to Seymour, No. 12, 11 June 1864.
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Fortescue to Head, 13 June 1864, advising that Dr. Rae would be given every assistance to enable him to make the desired survey.
Head, Sir Edmund Walker to Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford Chichester 7 June 1864, CO 60:20, no. 5267, 117. 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/B645MI05.html.

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