Colonial Despatches

Mr Elliot
I understand that Lord Carnarvon left it to Mr Seymour to appoint a Successor to Mr Birch. I suppose therefore Mr Birch may be allowed to receive 1/2 Salary until he comes back to this Office which I presume will be very soon.

But his decision to return or not must not be delayed after his return to Office.

Mr Adderley
I am sorry to say I cannot recommend that this leave shd be confirmed.

I annex the copy of the Minutes of 1863 recording the terms on wh leave of absence from the C.O. and the temporary apptmt at B. Columbia (with the option of keeping it) was given to Mr Birch—at his request.

The maximum salary of a Junior Clerk (wh Mr Birch then was) is £300—he was also Private Secretary wh is an addition of £150. The minimum of an assistant to wh class Mr Birch was likely to be soon promoted was £350.

The Salary of the Col Secy at B.C. was £800 with the chance of succeeding to the Admn of the Govt with half salary of £[blank] (both exclusive of travelling expenses). Mr Birch held the adminn for 14 months on a half salary of £2000.

I think arrangements of this kind very useful, both because it is convenient that offices in the Colonies shd be occasionally filled by Gentlemen who understand the transaction of business in this department and because it is still more useful that some member of this office shd know a little practically of the Colonies (though this has its drawbacks occasionally). But I think that arrangements of this kind should always be such that the temporary increase of Salary & pleasure & change of scene shd sufficiently compensate those who are thus detached for any incidental expenses involved in the change witht imposing any cost either on the Colony, or on any other Member of this Office or of the Colonial Service. I think in this case the temporary increase of Mr B's Salary and, while Admg the Govt, of position, is sufficient to cover all such incidental expenses & inconveniences: and that Mr Birch when he "elected" to give up his Colonial Secretaryship & resume his place in this Office was on the same footing as any other officer who resigns his Colonial Office after two or three years service witht any claim on the Colony for indulgence or compensation.

When he thus resigned, he had no claim on the Colony for half salary during his journey home; & still less was there any ground for permanently withholding that half salary from the officer provisionally appointed to do his work, to whom that salary wd become properly due if he was confirmed in his office. It appears at first sight that Mr Young—having been Coll Secretary of V.C.I. has a strong claim to the appointment though I learn from Mr Birch that his Vancouver connections or inclinations render him distasteful to the B Columbian party.

I think however that considering that the arrangement—though made at Mr Birch's request, is on principle useful a one and (particularly) useful to this Office, Mr Birch may well be considered as absent from the Colonial Office on leave (i.e. with the full salary of a junior,) from the date at which he ceased to draw Salary in B. Columbia. This will be at the rate of 300£ per ann instead of the rate £400.

On Mr Jadis' retirement a place will be vacant in the Assistant Class to wh Class I wd then propose that Mr B shd be advanced taking at once the place, in point of priority to wh he wd have been entitled had he remained at home & been promoted in order of seniority. Of course he cd only come in at the minimum salary.

This seems to me the right view.

Mr Blackwood
The Duke of Newcastle has appointed Mr A.N. Birch at his own request Colonial Secretary of British Columbia. He is to retain his position in this Office unaffected in any respect by this appointment (except of course that he will not draw any Salary from the Colonial Office)—but he is to be liable to be recalled at the end of two years from taking up the Appointment—unless he then elect[s]to to give up his Clerkship here and to retain his office in the Colony. At the same time it is understood that it will be open to him to apply for an extension of this period to three years, if it can be granted without inconvenience to the requirements of the Office. The Duke wishes this to be recorded in order that there may be no misunderstanding hereafter.

Certification granting A.N. Birch leave of absence for six months, signed by Seymour.