Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Birch, Arthur Nonus to
Carnarvon, Earl 25 October 1866, CO 60:25, no. 12135, 182.
Abstract
Birch, Arthur Nonus to
Carnarvon, Earl 25 October 1866, CO 60:25, no. 12135, 182.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (transcribed) (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents
(1).
No. 68
25th October 1866
My Lord,
I have the honor to forward Copy of a Report addressed to me
by the Revd L. Fouquet, showing the state and progress of the
Roman Catholic Mission school established at St. Mary's for the
education of Children ofIndian
Indian Tribes on the Lower Fraser.
Indian Tribes on the Lower Fraser.
2. I recently visited the school at St. Mary's and was much
struck with the progress made by the Children since my visit with
Governor Seymour in May 1865. I enclose copy of an address
presented to me by the Scholars.
3. A similar School is established in the Okanagan Valley,
and is well attended. The Indians are all anxious to have their
children educated.Many
Many of the Chiefs of the various tribes I
met during my recent tour have sent their Sons to these Mission Schools.
Many of the Chiefs of the various tribes I
met during my recent tour have sent their Sons to these Mission Schools.
4. The Roman Catholic Mission is about to increase the
number of Indian Schools. One has already opened in New Westminster
and another is in course of organization on the North Coast.
5. Much praise is due to the noble and persevering manner
in which the RomanCatholic
Catholic Missionaries devote their lives to
the civilization of the native race.
Catholic Missionaries devote their lives to
the civilization of the native race.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
A favorable account of the Roman Catholic Schools for the education of the Native Tribes. Acknowledge & express satisfaction?
A favorable account of the Roman Catholic Schools for the education of the Native Tribes. Acknowledge & express satisfaction?
VJ
26 Decr
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Reverend L. Fouquet to Officer Administering the Government, no
date, reporting on the academic year for 1865-1866. Transcribed below.
Address, Peter Ayessick, on behalf of the students, to Birch,
expressing welcome and thanks for the interest shown by the government
in their school.
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Sir,
In gratitude for the encouragement we have received from Her Majesty’s Government
for our school at St. Mary’s I beg to furnish a report on its state during the academic
year 1865-1866
The grant we have received
received from the Government in August 1865 has enabled us to admit ten additional boys from amongst the numerous applicants
who were most anxious to become partakers of a good Education and thus we increased
our number to an average of sixty boarders.
received from the Government in August 1865 has enabled us to admit ten additional boys from amongst the numerous applicants
who were most anxious to become partakers of a good Education and thus we increased
our number to an average of sixty boarders.In the beginning our endeavors have been more especially directed to develop the moral
intellectual and physical faculties of
of the boys and furnish them with ideas and notions absolutely required before they
can read with interest and understand what they read, and one of our greatest satisfactions
is to notice the wonderful diffusion of those notions not only amongst the school
boys but also amongst the Indians in general. I have the same statement to make in
regard of the English language which begins to be more known amongst
amongst them. Then they will be able to comprehend fully the meaning of what they
read we hope that they will make the same progress in ready they have made in writing,
arithmetic, and geography.
of the boys and furnish them with ideas and notions absolutely required before they
can read with interest and understand what they read, and one of our greatest satisfactions
is to notice the wonderful diffusion of those notions not only amongst the school
boys but also amongst the Indians in general. I have the same statement to make in
regard of the English language which begins to be more known amongst
amongst them. Then they will be able to comprehend fully the meaning of what they
read we hope that they will make the same progress in ready they have made in writing,
arithmetic, and geography.In this last branch of study we have for instance to teach them the distance by the
time required to travel on foot or by canoe rather than by the number of miles.
The school boys are alsotaught
taught how to cultivate the soil and notwithstanding the natural indolence of the
native race the Fields and Gardens at St.Mary's will demonstrate the progress they
have made in this respect. I must state moreover that these boys do all that is to
be done in the establishment; some are fishermen, some wood choppers and bakers, some
cooks etc. etc. and filling their respective offices with a sort of point d’honneurthey
they do it much better than we could ever have expected.
taught how to cultivate the soil and notwithstanding the natural indolence of the
native race the Fields and Gardens at St.Mary's will demonstrate the progress they
have made in this respect. I must state moreover that these boys do all that is to
be done in the establishment; some are fishermen, some wood choppers and bakers, some
cooks etc. etc. and filling their respective offices with a sort of point d’honneurthey
they do it much better than we could ever have expected.To their new habits of industry and serious bodily exercises as well as to their cleaner
and more comfortable lodging and their better regulated dirt, we attribute the remarkable
improvement in their health which has taken place. Three years ago when we commenced
our boarding school at St.Mary’s more than half the boys had the scrofula whilst at
the close of this last
last year only one of them was affected by it. During the last year two out of sixty
boys died, one by phthisis, and the other by a pustular disease, the latter patient
was removed by his parents and died in his village.
last year only one of them was affected by it. During the last year two out of sixty
boys died, one by phthisis, and the other by a pustular disease, the latter patient
was removed by his parents and died in his village.The Indians seem to appreciate more and more the benefit which their children are
deriving from their now modes of training and are well pleased to see Her Majesty’s
Government countenancing our establishment
establishment at St. Mary’s; it has made a good impression upon the Native population, a result
I am happy to notice.
establishment at St. Mary’s; it has made a good impression upon the Native population, a result
I am happy to notice.I have & c.
Sigd L. Fouquet
Sigd L. Fouquet
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
British Columbia
Enclosure
in despatch no.68. Of 25. Oct. 1866
in despatch no.68. Of 25. Oct. 1866
Copy of address presented to His Honor A. N. Birch by the school Boys of St. Mary’s Mission
We the school Boys of St. Mary's have the pleasure of once more welcoming your Honor
on this your second visit to our school.
We have already had a proof of the kind interest you take for the welfare of us poor
Indian children and we gratefully remember your coming here last year in company with
His Excellency Governor Seymour.
We are most happy of having another opportunity of thanking you as representative
of Her Majesty as well for your kind visits as for the pecuniary assistance which
we have already received and which shall always be remembered by us with feelings
of the most sincere gratitude.
Your Honor may perceive that our numbers have considerably increased since
since last year and that now a large number of poor Indian boys have the happiness
of participating in a good Christian education.
since last year and that now a large number of poor Indian boys have the happiness
of participating in a good Christian education.In conclusion we wish once more to return our best thanks to Her Majesty’s government
for the grant bestowed upon our school last year which has enabled our good Father Gendre to enlarge very considerably the number of his pupils and to work with increased
energy in the amelioration of our condition.
Signed in name and on behalf of the school of St. Mary.