Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hay, J. H.
to Merivale, Herman 6 September 1853, CO 305:4, no. 9016, 147.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1).
Hay, as commanded by the Admiralty, writes to Merivale, for Newcastle’s information, to forward extracts from a letter by Moresby on the “Commander Prevost of Her Majestys Steam Sloop Virago at Vancouver's Island.”
The minutes make note of Prevost’s observations of a static HBC monopoly in the colony.
This file encloses copied extracts of Moresby’s letter to the Admiralty, which discusses the price of coal at Nanaimo, American economic competition, and Douglas’s ignorance of vessels bound to “Queen Charlotte’s Island.”
Hay to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Admiralty
6th Septr 1853
Sir
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send
you herewith for the information of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle
Extracts from a Letter from Rear Adml Moresby dated the 23rd of
July last No 48, relative to the proceedings of Commander Prevost of
Her Majestys Steam Sloop Virago at Vancouver's Island.
Minutes by CO staff
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Extract, Moresby to Admiralty, 23 July 1853, stating the HBC has
fixed the price of coal at Nanaimo at 30 shillings per ton, and
reflecting unfavorably on the company's lack of progress compared with
the industry of the Americans; although Douglas had no knowledge of
vessels proceeding to the Queen Charlottes, "from other sources several
were reported as having already arrived there."