No. 132
Victoria
28th September 1867
My Lord Duke,
The finances of the Colony are still deplorably bad, principally on account of all the stores having been filled with goods while Victoria was a free port, which goods on Union being effected come free on to the Mainland. Then we have to pay, as YourGraceManuscript image Grace is but too well aware heavy interest and sinking funds on our London Loans. Every reduction is being made in the expenditure on Public works, and many Government officers have been discharged, Still the number we have at present is beyond our requirements and means of support.
2. Among the Gentlemen whose services I am afraid I shall have to dispense with is Mr Warner Reeve Spalding.
3. Mr Spalding arrived intheManuscript image the Colony in the early part of 1859. He brought the ordinary letter from the Colonial Office. It was dated 21st October 1858.
4. He was in March 1859 temporarily employed in the Colonial Secretary's Office of British Columbia. In April 1859 he was sent to New Westminster as Magistrate. The active duties of that office were however taken out of his hands as soon as Mr BrewarrivedManuscript image arrived from England, which happened as soon as any population centred there. Mr Spalding's principal duties at New Westminster were those of Postmaster, and in the beginning of 1864, he was created by Sir James Douglas, Postmaster General. In the summer of 1866 he was detached by Mr Birch to Cariboo West, and subsequently to Cariboo East to act as Gold Commissioner. He was relieved by Mr Ball in MayMayManuscript image 1867 and in June I sent him to Nanaimo to take temporary charge of the district.
5. Mr Spalding served in the Army until he reached the rank of Captain. He has performed with efficiency all the duties which have been entrusted to him in the Colony and bears a blameless reputation. Possibly Your Grace might find means of providing for him in some other Colony.
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I have the honor to be,
My Lord Duke,
Your most obedient,
humble Servant.
Frederick Seymour
Minutes by CO staff
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Sir F. Rogers
A question of Patronage.
CC 4 Dec
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FR 4/12
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What Salaries has he received?
HSB 6 Dec
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Mr Cox
£350 as Magistrate. Would he not do for the Asst Postmastership H Kong.
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Mr Bryant
SeeManuscript image 8146 Hong Kong. An Ass. P.M. is wanted.
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Ack, has been noted.
HSB 11 Dec
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 96, 13 December 1867.
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Bryant
I pass this on to you because the phraseology appears to me calculated to leave Mr Spalding to hope that he will be provided for, & I doubt whether this is the Duke of B's meaning. It wd be well to have some recognized form—or two or three forms ofManuscript image different degrees of promise.
I would at any rate insert the words wh used I think to be usual wh I have suggested.
Mr Spalding has made no claim whatever on the Imperial Govt. He went out not on an apptmt but as an adventurer—& obtained an apptmt from the Col Govt.
I shd be inclined to say in such case that his name had been noted "with those of other applicants for Colonial Appointments who, I am to add, are very numerous."
Encouragement is a fault on the unkind side.
FR 13/12
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Yes. Alter draft accordingly.
B&C 13/12
Seymour, Governor Frederick to Grenville, Richard 28 September 1867, CO 60:29, no. 11762, 271. 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/B67132.html.

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