Moody to Granville
Caynham House
Near Ludlow
17th June 1869
My Lord,
It is so currently & confidently reported that Governor Seymour has recently died at Victoria, that I venture—with the utmost deference—to submit my name to you, offering my services as his successor.
Naturally there will be many applicants tendering claims with recommendations. On my own part I would only ask your Lordship to consider my hearty devotion to the public service for many years, and how much of it was in high office in the Colonial Department.
With respect to British Columbia I think I may submit that from a variety of circumstances there are few who know the people of that Colony and their interests better perhaps on the whole at present, and few who would nowhaveManuscript image have a better prospect of being able to reconcile local disagreements and to remove an irritating intensified and injurious dissatisfaction existing on the part of a strong minority.
I believe also, judging from past experience there & in similar positions—I would be found to possess some advantage in encouraging the self-reliance of all.
I entered the Public Service in 1830 and am now Fifty Six years of age, entirely unoccupied and free for any duty.
The Union of the two Colonies having been effected, and the Seat of Government determined by the Colonists themselves there is no question on which I at present entertain any special views beyond perhaps the desirability of bringing about the Confederation with the Dominion of Canada at the earliest possible date.
OnManuscript image
On this subject if your Lordship be disposed to examine me, I am ready to submit my views based on facts of much weight.
I have the honor to be
Yr Lordship's most obedt Sert
R.C. Moody
Maj. General

Right Honble
The Earl Granville
Minutes by CO staff
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Sir F. Sandford
Answer already filled up.
Dft. herewith.
CC 18/6
Other documents included in the file
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Monsell to Moody, 25 June 1869, advising that the vacancy created by Seymour's death had already been filled.
Moody, Colonel Richard Clement to Leveson-Gower, Granville George 17 June 1869, CO 60:37, no. 6835, 559. 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/B696M01.html.

Last modified: 2020-03-30 13:22:16 -0700 (Mon, 30 Mar 2020) (SVN revision: 4193)