Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Stanley, Lord Edward Henry 1 July 1858, CO 60:1, no. 7833, 75.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2).
Douglas reports on the gold activity. He relates the number of licenses issued and revenue
accrued. He also records approximate gold returns from the “Morman Bar.” [sic] Douglas explains the basic operation of “rocker machines” and discusses the ethnicity of
immigrants.
The minutes note “very important information that a very small proportion of the immigrants
are Americans.”
Enclosed is a form of receipts for mining licenses and a letter from Travaillot to Douglas (in French).
No. 29
1. Since I had last the honor of addressing you on the 19th of
Instant,1
the excitement on the subject of the Fraser's River
Gold Mines, has been more than ever exhibited, in the rush of people
from all parts of the coast to this Colony.
The Custom House Books of this place shew a return of
which have entered at the Port of Victoria, since the 19th of
May last, having 6133 passengers on board; all either bound directly
for Fraser's River, or proposing to settle at this place with the view
of entering into business connections with parties at the mines.
- 19 Steam Ships
- 9 Sailing do
- 14 decked Boats
which have entered at the Port of Victoria, since the 19th of
May last, having 6133 passengers on board; all either bound directly
for Fraser's River, or proposing to settle at this place with the view
of entering into business connections with parties at the mines.
2. The ascertained number of persons who had actually sailed
from the Port of San Francisco, with the intention of going into the
Fraser's River Mines, up to the 15th of Instant, was 10,573,
and there was then no abatement, in the demand for passages, every vessel
being taken up as soon as advertised to sail for Vancouver's Island.
3. Those statements give a proximate idea of thenumber
number of
persons, at and on the way to Fraser's River, from Calefornia, and other
more distant countries, but do not represent the increase of population
derived from the United States Territories of Washington and Oregon,
through parties of adventurers who have entered the British Possessions
by land.
number of
persons, at and on the way to Fraser's River, from Calefornia, and other
more distant countries, but do not represent the increase of population
derived from the United States Territories of Washington and Oregon,
through parties of adventurers who have entered the British Possessions
by land.
We are therefore led to the inference that this country and
Fraser's River have gained an increase of 10,000 inhabitants within
the last six weeks, and the tide of immigration continues to roll
onward without any prospect of abatement.
4. No complaints have been made as to the deportment of the
emigrants, who notwithstanding the weakness of the ColonialExecutive
Executive, have been quiet and submissive to the Laws of the country.
Executive, have been quiet and submissive to the Laws of the country.
5. We continue successfully to enforce at this place the
pre-payment of one month's Licence Fee, that is the sum of Five
dollars, on all persons entering Fraser's River for the purpose
of gold mining, for which a receipt is given in the accompanying form.
6. We have up to this day issued 2221 such receipts at this
place, and 304 more were issued by Captain Prevost of Her Majesty's
Ship "Satellite," when stationed off the entrance of Fraser's River,
making a total issue of 2525 Licence receipts to as many respective
miners, and we have thereby collected thesum
sum of 12,625 dollars on
account of the Territorial Revenue, which I hold subject to your
instructions.
sum of 12,625 dollars on
account of the Territorial Revenue, which I hold subject to your
instructions.
7. I have lately received a communication from Mr Travaillot
a gentleman who has resided for some months past in the Couteau gold
diggings. He represents the country as exceedingly rich, and abounding
in gold, fully to as great an extent as Calefornia in its better days.
8. The returns given in his report refer to "Morman
Bar,"2
in the bed of Fraser's River, six miles above the junction of
Thompson's River, and state the produce as follows vizt:
The
| One Rocker yielded in 8 days a quantity | dollars | cents |
| of gold dust equal in value to . . . . . . | 830. | 00 |
| A second Rocker yielded in 12 days . . . . | 800. | 00 |
| A third Rocker yielded in 5 days . . . . . | 248. | 00 |
9. The second Table shews the yield procured from the "dry
diggings," on the table land at the distance of thirty yards from
the bed of Fraser's River, at the
"Fountain,"3
64 miles above the junction of Thompson's River, and gives the following
as the average daily return of each of Five Rockers, employed there for
seven days between the 1st and 7th of June instant.
| dollars | cents | ||
| 1st Rocker | 42. | 12 | return per diem |
| 2nd " | 55. | 58 | " " " |
| 3rd " | 37. | 69 | " " " |
| 4th " | 46. | 58 | " " " |
| 5th " | 54. | 57 | " " " |
It may perhaps be necessary to explain that the Rocker is a
machine for washing out gold, made in the form of a child's cradle, and
fitted withperforated
perforated plates of iron and transverse bars of wood to
intercept the pieces of gold, in the process of washing. Those referred
to in the foregoing statement were worked by two white men; which gives a
daily return, ranging from 18 to 27 dollars to the man.
perforated plates of iron and transverse bars of wood to
intercept the pieces of gold, in the process of washing. Those referred
to in the foregoing statement were worked by two white men; which gives a
daily return, ranging from 18 to 27 dollars to the man.
10. Mr Travaillot's report is important in consequence of
its being the first authentic information received of gold being
discovered in the soil, apart from the River beds.
11. I have thus, much pleasure in communicating for your
information that every succeeding report tends to confirm the belief as
to the great value and extent of the auriferous deposits in this country.
12. I have appointedMr
Mr Travaillot revenue officer for
the District of Fort Dallas, or Forks of Thompson's
River,4and will authorize him to issue Licences to Miners, and to collect the
legal Fees in that District. The Law must however be imperfectly
executed until there be a military Force placed at my disposal.
Mr Travaillot revenue officer for
the District of Fort Dallas, or Forks of Thompson's
River,4and will authorize him to issue Licences to Miners, and to collect the
legal Fees in that District. The Law must however be imperfectly
executed until there be a military Force placed at my disposal.
13. I will authorize Mr Travaillot to raise and maintain
a force of eight men for the service of Government, and to swear in
all persons who take out mining Licences as Special Constables,
for the maintenance of Law and order, granting to them also certain
privileges in respect to mining claims in order to secure their
fidelity and attachment.
14. About two thirds ofthe
the emigrants from Calefornia are
supposed to be English and French, the other third are Germans and
native citizens of the United States. There is no congeniality of
feeling among the emigrants, and provided there be no generally felt
grievance to unite them in one common cause there will in my
opinion always be a great majority of the population ready to
support the measures of Government.
the emigrants from Calefornia are
supposed to be English and French, the other third are Germans and
native citizens of the United States. There is no congeniality of
feeling among the emigrants, and provided there be no generally felt
grievance to unite them in one common cause there will in my
opinion always be a great majority of the population ready to
support the measures of Government.
Minutes by CO staff
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Footnotes
- Douglas to Stanley, 19 June 1858, No. 28, 7832, CO 305/9, p. 116.
- Mormon Bar was located six miles north of Lytton. Source??
- The Fountain was an important local landmark situated in the middle of the big reverse curve on the Fraser, approximately midway between Lillooet and Pavillion. It was so named because of a small natural spring located there. Cite Mayne ?? G.P.V. and Helen B. Akrigg, 1001 British Columbia Place Names (Vancouver: Discovery Press, 1973), p. 67.
- The junction of the Thompson and Fraser was commonly called the Forks, until November 1858 when Douglas named the settlement that arose there Lytton, after the secretary of state for the colonies. A year previous, ?? the Hudson's Bay Company had selected a site two and one-half miles to the south for Fort Berens, named after Henry Hulse Berens, Governor?? of the H.B.C. Dallas or Berens?? See ??, below for time?? Akrigg, 1001 British Columbia Place Names, pp. 106-7.
- Douglas to Stanley, 10 June 1858, No. 24, 7828, CO 60/1, p. 29.
- = sufferances. Douglas ordered all persons bringing goods or passengers to the Fraser gold fields to compensate the Hudson's Bay Company, by way of a sufferance or charge, because he misunderstood the extent of the company's monopoly rights. For an explanation of Douglas's position, see Victoria Gazette, 7 July 1858; footnote on Douglas to Stanley, 10 June 1858, No. 24, 7828, CO 60/1, p. 29; and Douglas to Lytton, 30 September 1858, No. 42, 12179, CO 60/1, p. 169. The Conditions of Sufferance are printed in Papers Relative to British Columbia, p. 21. Also Gazette ?? Unnecessary if enclosure taken?? OMIT??