No. 31
               
            
            
               
               
                     New Westminster
                     
                  
               29th April 1868
               
               My Lord Duke,
                
            
            
               In obedience to the Instructions conveyed in Your Grace's
               despatch No. 67 of the 
1st of October 1867, I have fixed upon
               a Capital for the United Colony.  The
Message
 Message which I enclose
               will shew that I have selected 
Victoria.
               
               2.  There is one circumstance in the affair which I trust you
               will pardon:  and that is, my having ventured to lay Your
               Grace's despatch before the Council.  The feeling existing in
               both 
New Westminster and 
Victoria is so strong on the subject of
               the seat of Government that I felt it necessary when
acting
 acting
               in the matter to invoke the assistance of a stronger power than
               my own in order to prevent disturbance.
               
               3.  I forwarded Your Grace's despatch in the Message I enclose.
               I received the following reply.  I commenced my despatch with
               the final conclusion.
               
            
            
               4.  I sincerely trust I have acted for the best.  I well know I
               have secured but present tranquillity.
               
5. In 
            
            
               5.  In my own heart I must allow, there was a feeling in favour
               of the manly, respectable, loyal and enterprising community
               established on the banks of the 
Fraser.
               
               I have the honor to be,
               My Lord Duke,
               Your most obedient,
               humble Servant.
               
Frederick Seymour
               
               Minutes by CO staff
               
               
               
                
                  
                  
                     When

 this selection of Capital is formally sanctioned, inform
                     
Mr Sproat & other persons who have written on the subject, that
                     this has been done.
                     
                     See draft on Admy 4660.
                     
                  
                  
                  
                   
            
            
               Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
               
               
               
                
                  
                  
                     Printed copy of proceedings of Council, no date, proposing a
                     resolution against the removal of the government to 
Victoria, which
                     was defeated fourteen votes to five.
                     
 
                  
                  
                     Printed copy of Address, 
Seymour to Legislative Council, 
28
                        April 1868, advising that 
Victoria would be declared the capital of
                     the united colony on the Queen's birthday.
                     
                     
 
            
            
               Other documents included in the file
               
               
                  
                  
                  
                     Minutes by CO staff
                     
                      
                        
                        
                           Mr Cox
                           Is any confirmation of what the 
Govr has done necessary, see
                           desp to him No. 28—
16 May—attached to 15—4517.
                           
 
                        
                        
                         
                        
                        Sir F. Rogers
                           I think there ought rightly to be some formal

 approval—but
                           perhaps this may be done when the Gov
rs Proclamation is 
recd.
                            
                        
                        
                         
                   
               
               
               
                
            
            
               
                  People in this document
                  
                        Adderley, C. B.
                  
                        Anderson, Honorary Secretary to the Memorialists James Y. S. 
                  
                        Blake, Ernest Edward
                  
                        Cox,  Charles
                  
                        Fraser, Donald
                        
                  
                        Grenville, Richard
                  Rogers, Baron Blachford Frederic
                  Seymour, Governor Frederick
                  Sproat, Gilbert Malcolm
                  
                        Verney, Lieutenant Commander Edmund Hope
                
               
                  Places in this document
                  British Columbia
                  Fraser River
                  New Westminster
                  Vancouver Island
                  Victoria