No. 61
31st December 1864
Sir,
Having noticed in your Despatches by the last Mail various requisitions for articles for the use of your Government, I thought it expedient to call upon the Crown Agents for a report of the state of their account with British Columbia and of the date and amount of the periodical demands on them for interestManuscript image on the debt. I have the honor to enclose for your information, a copy of the letter addressed to the Crown Agents and of their reply.
I can assure you that I feel no want of confidence in your sense of importance of regularity in the pecuniary transactions of your Government. You have doubtless abstained from sending any remittances to meet the approaching half year's interest on the debt, from your knowledge that the Crown Agents held for disposal an amount of debentures far exceeding the amount required for this obligation. It would involve a superfluous cost to remit money from the Colony to pay interestinManuscript image in this Country so long as there are funds here belonging to the Colony which can be applied to the same purpose. But the state of the money Market during the past year has shown you that the power to borrow cannot be reckoned upon as equivalent to the possession of the money. You will have the best means on the spot of knowing the further amount of Bills which you may from time to time have drawn against the Loan or of supplies for which you shall have sent requisitions to the Agents. But whenever the time may come at which such demands will have exhausted the funds at your disposal here, I amsureManuscript image sure that you will be fully sensible of theManuscript image necessity of making remittances in such ample time as to ensure the periodical payment of the half yearly interest with the punctuality which is essential to the credit of the Colony.
I have the honor to be
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble servant
Edward Cardwell
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Copy, Elliot to the Crown Agents, 20 December 1864, requesting a statement of account with British Columbia.
Manuscript image
Copy, Crown Agents to Elliot, 21 December 1864, declaring the amount owed by the government of British Columbia is £2342.5.11.
Cardwell, Edward to Seymour, Governor Frederick 31 December 1864, NAC :, 427. 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/B647461.html.

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