Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Villars, Alexander to
Leveson-Gower, Granville George 12 July 1869, CO 60:37, no. 7870, 305.
Abstract
Villars, Alexander to
Leveson-Gower, Granville George 12 July 1869, CO 60:37, no. 7870, 305.
Public Offices document.
Minutes (9), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
Villars to Granville
London, 11 King Willam St
July 12th 1869
My Lord,
I had the honour at the request of a number of gentlemen
interested in British Columbia to address Your Lordship on the
19th of June on the subject of the presentation of a Memorial
on the condition of that Colony.
Not having received any reply to the above letter, owing
doubtless to the great pressure on Your Lordships time, I am
directed to enclose the Memorial for Your Lordship's
consideration and to state that the gentlemen who proposed
presenting the Memorial personally areunable
unable to remain in town.
unable to remain in town.
The Memorialists have large interests at stake in British
Columbia and desire to call Your Lordship's serious attention to
the condition of the Colony; and to the difficulty with which
the few remaining Colonists can bear the heavy public expenditure.
The words quoted in this Memorial "that the Colony is slowly
dying out &c" were written lately to one of the Memorialists by Sir
James Douglas K.C.B. formerly Governor of British Columbia, who
now resides in the Colony.
They express a truth that is well known to the Memorialists and
to all persons connected with British Columbia.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Sandford
The answer to Mr Villars' 1t letter is signed & was going off—but in consequence of this I have stopped it—as Lord Granville may like to give an answer at once to the application for an interview.
The answer to Mr Villars' 1t letter is signed & was going off—but in consequence of this I have stopped it—as Lord Granville may like to give an answer at once to the application for an interview.
CC
13 July
Lord Granville
The answer for the interview presses.
The answer for the interview presses.
As to the constitutional point there is a good deal of
difficulty
in settling the composition of the Legislature from
the migratory and alien character of the population. But I see
no reason why Mr Musgrave [could] not be requested to submit if
possible a scheme for giving the population strictly representative
institutions.
Responsible Govt will soon follow if Confederation does not.
in settling the composition of the Legislature from
the migratory and alien character of the population. But I see
no reason why Mr Musgrave [could] not be requested to submit if
possible a scheme for giving the population strictly representative
institutions.
Responsible Govt will soon follow if Confederation does not.
The real difficulty will be getting rid of office holders—& Gov
Seymour has, I believe got rid of a good many.
The finances I leave to Sir F. Sandford.
FR
13/7
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Memorial, "Gentlemen interested in British Columbia" to Granville,
no date, asking for "a reduction in the
public expenditure" and "a greater voice in the management of
their own affairs," seventeen signatures.
Newspaper clipping,
The Weekly British Colonist and Chronicle,
10 April 1869, respecting the dissatisfaction of the colonists
with the current form of government.
