Waddington to Secretary of State
Tavistock Hotel,
Covent Garden
January 17th 1870
My Lord,
Your Lordship may not be aware that I have spent a vast amount
of time and money in
British Columbia in attempting to promote
the construction of an Overland railroad through British North
America and that I obtained certain privileges there for that purpose.
I had the honor shortly after my arrival in England two years
ago to submit to his Grace the
Duke of Buckingham (
March 10th
1868) a letter from the then Governor of
British Columbia, dated
Septr 25th 1867 referring the whole matter to the Secretary
of State for the Colonies; and his Grace advised me to see the
Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company, who were at that time in
possession of the Saskatchewan Territory, and with whom some
previous arrangement was necessary before proceeding further.
Supposing that difficulty settled, I had the honor in
June last
of addressing two pamphlets to your Lordship, the latter
containing an exact description of the line of road I propose
following, and I now intend leaving for Canada next week, so as
to be in
Ottawa at the opening of the Parliament, and prepare
the way for obtaining, if possible, the necessary privileges for
carrying out this vast project.
Under these circumstances I take the liberty of asking the favor
of an
introduction introduction to the present
Governor General Sir John
Young, with whom I am not acquainted, explaining the nature of
my mission; and I trust your Lordship will have the Kindness to
grant my request.
To the Right Honorable
the Secretary of State
for the Colonies
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
Mr Waddington asks for an introduction to
Sir John Young. I
think that to do this
wd be taken by him, or he might use it as
such, as giving encouragement to his scheme from the Home
Govt.
As however he is going out to Canada might it not be well to let
Sir J.Y. have copies of
Mr Waddington's letters—this & 2277—&
of
Govr Seymour's despatches 1204/67 & 3371/68?
I
wd inform him that a copy of his letter will be sent to
Sir
J Young.
And in sending it
wd add that
Sir J.Y's ministers will of
course judge how far
Mr W's project is practicable & opportune.
Other documents included in the file
Rogers to
Waddington,
22 January 1870, advising that
relevant correspondence would be sent to
Sir John Young and that
it would be up to his ministers to judge the project on its merits.