Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Taylor, Richard to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 7 April 1853, CO 305:4, no. 4079, 306.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
Taylor writes to Newcastle on the subject of recently discovered gold at “Queen Charlotte's Island.” In what is, essentially, a mining application, Taylor discusses, among other points, the efficacy of systematic ore-extraction, license
agreements, and Crown-royalty fees and schemes.
In the minutes, Blackwood questions whether or not the HBC was, as part of the grant of Vancouver Island, granted mineral rights to “Queen Charlotte's Island.” Merivale thinks not, and adds that the HBC has only a trade license in the area. Finally,
Newcastle demands further information, on both the Aboriginal population and the geological
viability of the area, prior to any decision on Taylor’s application.
Of the two enclosed documents, the first is Easterby’s statement on the discovery of gold, which requests to lease land in "Mitchell’s Harbour," for auriferous extraction; the second is a draft letter, from the Colonial Office
to De la Becke, which forwards Taylor’s letter and enclosures for review and comment—Blackwood’s minute, on the same letter, notes that information on the Aboriginal population
on “Queen Charlotte Island” is scarce, and limited to Kuper’s report from 1852.
Taylor to Newcastle
I have the honor to avail myself of Your Grace's permission to lay
before you some further particulars of the discovery of a vein of
Auriferous Quartz in Queen Charlotte's Island, and to submit to you in
writing some of the considerations which, in the interview Your Grace
was pleased to favor me with, I stated in support of the application
made by the discoverers for a Lease to enable them to work for gold
silver and other metallic minerals within a certain portion of the
Island.
Particulars of the precise position of the vein andof
of the
circumstances which led to its discovery, together with the expenditure
and loss incurred by Mr Easterby and his partners are contained in
the accompanying Statement and map.
of the
circumstances which led to its discovery, together with the expenditure
and loss incurred by Mr Easterby and his partners are contained in
the accompanying Statement and map.
Mr Easterby has come to England in the hope of obtaining such a
grant as will enable him to make arrangements for applying a sufficient
Capital to the works necessary for realizing some of the fruits of the
discovery made through the enterprize of himself and partners in
exploring the shores of a portion of Her Majesty's dominions almost
unknown and which has hitherto contributed nothing to the commerce or
wealth of Great Britain.
Mr Easterby has broughtwith
with him specimens of the ore contained
in the vein, which shew clearly that it is auriferious quartz of a
character and richness similar to that obtained from the mines of
California. Some of these specimens have been assayed by Mr Arthur
Phillips, an eminent metallurgical Chemist, and have yielded gold
equivalent to 10 ounces and upwards per ton of ore; but from all the
information I can gather I am satisfied that the average produce of the
ore ought not to be estimated at a higher rate than 4 ounces per ton,
which appears to be the ordinary return from such of the quartz veins of
California as have been worked on an extensive scale.
with him specimens of the ore contained
in the vein, which shew clearly that it is auriferious quartz of a
character and richness similar to that obtained from the mines of
California. Some of these specimens have been assayed by Mr Arthur
Phillips, an eminent metallurgical Chemist, and have yielded gold
equivalent to 10 ounces and upwards per ton of ore; but from all the
information I can gather I am satisfied that the average produce of the
ore ought not to be estimated at a higher rate than 4 ounces per ton,
which appears to be the ordinary return from such of the quartz veins of
California as have been worked on an extensive scale.
Your Grace will readilyperceive
perceive that ores of this quality can only
be profitably worked upon a large scale and by means of systematic and
well arranged Mining operations, carried on with the aid of Machinery
and other applications of Modern Engineering, by which manual labour may
be economized and large quantities of the material may be won at a
moderate expense.
perceive that ores of this quality can only
be profitably worked upon a large scale and by means of systematic and
well arranged Mining operations, carried on with the aid of Machinery
and other applications of Modern Engineering, by which manual labour may
be economized and large quantities of the material may be won at a
moderate expense.
These requirements appear to me to render it impossible that veins
of this kind should be successfully worked by 'diggers' on their own
account, and to make it manifest that for the full developement of the
value of such deposits of gold it must be necessary to secure to
Capitalists, who will undertake the Mining operations, a certaindefined
defined area or extent of ground for a fixed turn of years and upon terms as to
Royalty or Rent proportioned to the circumstances of the case.
defined area or extent of ground for a fixed turn of years and upon terms as to
Royalty or Rent proportioned to the circumstances of the case.
Mr Easterby having furnished me with a map of that portion of
Queen Charlotte's Island in which the gold has been found, and having
described to me the course of the vein and the range of the
stratification of the country, I am enabled to suggest as the "limits"
for the grant, that the area should be "bounded" on the North or N.W. by
the sea or channel, and on all other sides by a line forming the segment
of a circle, the radius of which should be five miles and the centre at
Una point in Mitchell's Harbour.
The term proposed for the Lease is Sixty years, andthe
the Royalty
five per cent, that being the rate paid upon the produce of the Mines of
the precious Metals to the Governments of Spain and other countries
where they have been extensively worked.
the Royalty
five per cent, that being the rate paid upon the produce of the Mines of
the precious Metals to the Governments of Spain and other countries
where they have been extensively worked.
I am requested by Mr Easterby to state on behalf of his partners
and himself, that they can offer to the Crown security for the payment
of the Royalty and also facilities for its collection, from the
circumstance of their intending to ship the entire produce of the mines
direct to London for reduction at the works of the Colonial Gold Company
or some similar Establishment, from whom the Royalty can be directly
obtained: but I would suggest that if it be Your Grace's opinion thatthere
there would be risk of evasion under such a system that in lieu of a
Royalty the Lessees shall pay a rent or license fee proportioned to the
number of men employed monthly, guaranteeing such a minimum payment as
may be deemed reasonable.
there would be risk of evasion under such a system that in lieu of a
Royalty the Lessees shall pay a rent or license fee proportioned to the
number of men employed monthly, guaranteeing such a minimum payment as
may be deemed reasonable.
I may add that I know these gentlemen to be highly respectable, and
that they may safely be accepted as Lessees under the Crown: further
being thoroughly acquainted with California and the adjacent countries
and the difficulties encountered, they would be able to take measures
for their own safety and would not require from Her Majestys Government
any special protection.
To His Grace the Duke of Newcastle
&c &c &c
&c &c &c
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Are you aware whether the minerals are granted in this Island to the Hudson's Bay Company? I send you the Grant of V.Couver's Island to inspect.
Are you aware whether the minerals are granted in this Island to the Hudson's Bay Company? I send you the Grant of V.Couver's Island to inspect.
ABd
9 April
Nothing is granted to the Company in Q Charlotte's Island so far as
I know. Their only right there is under their trading license, and determinable if any settlement of the land is contemplated. The question I believe to be merely one of expediency.
I know. Their only right there is under their trading license, and determinable if any settlement of the land is contemplated. The question I believe to be merely one of expediency.
Before deciding upon this application I should wish for some
information as to the number & character of the Natives in this Island—
also a reference to the Director of the Museum of Practical Geology for
information as to the terms for such a Mining Lease as is here
asked for.
information as to the number & character of the Natives in this Island—
Have we any such information?
N
13
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Statement of Anthony Easterby on behalf of himself and partners
regarding their discovery of gold in April 1852 on Queen Charlotte's
Island, and requesting a lease to lands in Mitchell's Harbour. Coloured
map enclosed, about 10"x14", showing two Indigenous villages.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to H.T. De la Becke, Museum of Practical
Geology, 22 April 1853, forwarding copy of the letter and enclosures and
asking for any information he may have to offer on the terms and
conditions requested.
Minutes by CO staff
In ansr to the Duke of Newcastle's enquiry concerning the number
and character of the Natives in Queen Charlotte Island I am sorry to
state that we have scarcely any information. The best, if not the only
knowledge we possess about them is contained in Captain Kuper's report
(in 8866/52) which I annex, having marked the Passage.