Colonial Despatches

Sir F. Rogers
This Petition the result of a Public Meeting at New Westminster remonstrates agst certain disparaging statements made by Captain Richards—& which have been laid before the Duke of Buckingham by persons (D. Fraser & others) representing the interests of Victoria—agst the capabilities &c of their Harbour—in fact it is Protest in favor of New Westminster for the future Capital of B. Columbia.

In Dec: last Governor Seymour informed his Grace (1300) that he intended to let both parties eat their Christmas dinner in peace without letting them know that he had heard from his Grace on the subject—& in 2607 led his Grace to expect a further communication by the next opportunity.

He now 6th March sends home this Memorial but does not even allude to the Capital question.

I would therefore refer you to the minutes on 2710—from which it will be seen that it was proposed that if the next Mail (this was on the 18 March) did not bring a decision from Gov Seymour it should at once be settled here.

His Grace's despatch of the 1 Oct: last No 67 was in favor of Victoria.

I should decide the question now and I should decide it in favor of Victoria on the simple ground that it is far more populous & important.

I shd not be inclined to go into the Harbour question, because it is a question on wh, if people choose to argue, they may argue for ever.

I think the dph shd make Mr Seymour understand that HG is not very well pleased at having had the uncertainty & consequent agitation & irritation kept up all this time.

I agree.

Memorial, Citizens of New Westminster to Buckingham, 20 February 1868, protesting the statements made by Captain G.H. Richards and others about New Westminster, thirteen signatures.

Newspaper clipping, unnamed, no date, containing letters from Donald Fraser and Richards to the Colonial Office regarding the location of the capital, along with Elliot's reply.

Newspaper clipping, unnamed, no date, reporting proceedings of the public meeting that led to the protest.

Newspaper clippings, Vancouver Island Pilot, no date, describing the relative merits of Victoria and New Westminster harbours, including favourable comments about New Westminster attributed to Richards.

Newspaper clipping, unnamed, no date, reporting reply of Richards to a civic address of 1860 including his statement that the problems of navigation on the Fraser are "of a trifling nature."

Newspaper clipping, unnamed, no date, reporting letters from Vice Admiral John Kingcome to Seymour and from Lord Gilford to Kingcome, concerning the navigation of the Fraser River.

Newspaper clippings, unnamed, no dates, reporting letters from H. Holbrook, B.C. Chamber of Commerce, to James Cooper, Harbour Master; Cooper to Editor, British Colonist; and Cooper to Seymour, concerning misrepresentation of facts about the navigation of the Fraser by H.M.S. Malacca.