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 22 May 1853, CO 305:4, no. 5432, 322.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (4), Other documents (1).
Taylor writes to Newcastle to convey the intention of “the Solicitor of certain gentlemen” who propose to join
Easterby, Gray, and Rooney’s scheme to lease "a portion of Queen Charlotte's Island" for mining operations. Taylor adds that "the Solicitor" has been instructed to ask for the “particulars of the
discovery of Gold,” and any further evidences, as described by Easterby.
In the minutes, Blackwood admits to a merely general knowledge of gold at “Queen Charlotte Island,” and suggests that all information on the subject be “circulated to the public in
the Shape of a Parliamentary Blue Book,” to avoid favoritism and to promote public
knowledge of British “settlements in the Pacific on the American Coast.” Newcastle agrees, and asks that Taylor be informed of the public printing.
This file encloses a letter, from the Colonial Office to Taylor, that relates that all information relative to gold on “Queen Charlotte Island” will be printed and presented to Parliament.
Taylor to Newcastle
6 Queen Street Place
May 22 1853
My Lord Duke
I have the honor to inform you that the Solicitor of certain
gentlemen who propose to join Messrs Easterby Gray & Rooney in taking
the Lease of a portion of Queen Charlotte's Island has intimated to me
that it would
be very satisfactory to them to learn any particulars of
the discovery of Gold in the locality pointed out by Mr Easterby &
his Partners or in other parts of the Island which may have reached Her
Majesty's Governmt & which your Grace might be pleased to permit to
be
communicated to them.
be very satisfactory to them to learn any particulars of
the discovery of Gold in the locality pointed out by Mr Easterby &
his Partners or in other parts of the Island which may have reached Her
Majesty's Governmt & which your Grace might be pleased to permit to
be
communicated to them.
I understand the arrangements between Mr Easterby & these
gentlemen who are to be proposed by him to your Grace as his Co-Lessees
are nearly complete, but that they would value very much a corroboration
of the evidence which they have already received, & I should be much
gratified by receiving from your Grace
any intimation whether you may
think it right to communicate to these Gentlemen the Reports on this
discovery received from the Officers of the Ship of War who have
surveyed the locality or any parts of them.
any intimation whether you may
think it right to communicate to these Gentlemen the Reports on this
discovery received from the Officers of the Ship of War who have
surveyed the locality or any parts of them.
His Grace The Duke of Newcastle
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Though we possess general information concerning the supposed existence of gold in Queen Charlotte Island I do not think we have any respecting the particular locality for a grant of which Mr Esterby [Easterby] is applying. I do not conceive that it would be
otherwise than beneficial
to communicate all we know—which is very little however—to this
proposed association though I do not feel certain whether it would not
be more to the advantage of the public at large if the information we
have were circulated to the public in the Shape of a Parliamentary Blue
Book.
It wd be a very small affair, and the papers once collected
together & published might call general attention to our settlements in
the Pacific on the American Coast—which are perhaps destined at some
time to be of great value & importance to Great Britain.
Though we possess general information concerning the supposed existence of gold in Queen Charlotte Island I do not think we have any respecting the particular locality for a grant of which Mr Esterby [Easterby] is applying. I do not conceive that it would be
otherwise than beneficial
to communicate all we know—which is very little however—to this
proposed association though I do not feel certain whether it would not
be more to the advantage of the public at large if the information we
have were circulated to the public in the Shape of a Parliamentary Blue
Book.
It wd be a very small affair, and the papers once collected
together & published might call general attention to our settlements in
the Pacific on the American Coast—which are perhaps destined at some
time to be of great value & importance to Great Britain.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Taylor, 11 June 1853, with information
that all material relative to the discovery of gold on Queen Charlotte
Island would be printed and presented to Parliament.