Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Dawson, G. P. to Labouchere, Henry 22 December 1857, CO 305:8, no. 11619, 372.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Other documents (1).
Dawson writes to the Colonial Office to enquire if there are any ministerial or judicial
appointments available at the colony on Vancouver Island as “family considerations & circumstances” have “induced” in him a “wish” to settle
there.
The minutes advise that Vancouver Island is “already an established colony” and that there are “no appointments vacant there.”
Dawson to Labouchere
Osgodby Hall
W. Selby
22 Decr/57
W. Selby
Sir,
Having been informed that it is the intention of Government to form
a Colonial establishment in Vancouver's Island, I beg to be allowed to
present myself to your notice as an applicant for any ministerial or
judicial appointment that it may be the intention of Government to
establish there & that may be vacant.
I am a member of the
English bar of many years standing—and have
also acted for many years as a magistrate for the counties of Berkshire
and the West & East Ridings of Yorkshire & am a deputy lieutenant of the
latter Riding.
English bar of many years standing—and have
also acted for many years as a magistrate for the counties of Berkshire
and the West & East Ridings of Yorkshire & am a deputy lieutenant of the
latter Riding.
Family considerations & circumstances connected with that distant
locality have induced in me a wish to reside & probably finally settle
there. If you should incline to the opinion that there is
any ground
for entertaining my application, I could proceed immediately to lay
before you testimonials of my fitness from lawyers & brother magistrates
who have known me & with whom I have been in the habit of acting for
many years up to the present time.
any ground
for entertaining my application, I could proceed immediately to lay
before you testimonials of my fitness from lawyers & brother magistrates
who have known me & with whom I have been in the habit of acting for
many years up to the present time.
As an apology for the seeming indelicacy of thus intruding on you
my own pretentions, I can only urge my impression
that in the case of so
comparatively little known & remote a settlement, it is not likely that
many persons duly qualified for such an appointment & at the same time
willing to accept it, would be known to you unless they took the liberty
of introducing themselves.
that in the case of so
comparatively little known & remote a settlement, it is not likely that
many persons duly qualified for such an appointment & at the same time
willing to accept it, would be known to you unless they took the liberty
of introducing themselves.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Dawson, 6 January 1858, advising that as Vancouver
Island was already an established colony, there were no vacant
appointments.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
The writer supposes that the Government are about to form a Settlement at Van Couver's Island, and applies for an appointment there.
The writer supposes that the Government are about to form a Settlement at Van Couver's Island, and applies for an appointment there.
VJ
24 Decr
This gentleman seems from the Law List to be a barrister of more
than 30 years' standing. Inform him, I suppose, that Vanc. Id is
already an established colony, and that there are no appointments vacant
there.
HM
D 26
Yes.
HL
31