Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer to
Douglas, Sir James 1 July 1858, CO 410:1, 128.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Lytton approves of the “course” taken by Douglas regarding the “dominion of the Crown” over the gold fields in the Fraser River district and Vancouver Island. The CO wishes him to continue his “vigilance” and to use his discretion in the “preservation
of law and order.”
No. 2
1 July 1858
I have to acknowledge your Despatch No 19 of the 8th Ulto in
continuation of former despatches informing the Secretary of State from
time to time of the progress of the Gold discoveries on Fraser's River,
and the measures which you had taken in consequence. I am anxious not
to let the opportunity of the present Mail pass without informing you
that Her Majesty's Government have under their consideration the
pressing necessity for taking some steps to establish public order and
government in that locality, and that I hope very soon to be able to
communicate to you the result.
In the meantime Her Majesty's Government approve of the course
which you have adopted in asserting both the dominion of the Crown over
this region and the right of the Crown over the precious metals. They
think however, that you acted judiciously in waiting for further
instructions before you endeavoured to compel the taking out of Licenses
by causing any force to be dispatched for that reason from Vancouver's
Island.
They wish you to continue your vigilance, and to apply for
instructions on any point on which you may require them. They are
however, in addition particularly anxious to impress on you, that while
Her Majesty's Government are determined on preserving the rights both of
Government and of Commerce which belong to this country, and while they
have it in contemplation to furnish you with such a force as they may be
able to detach for your assistance and support, in the preservation of
law and order, it is no part of their policy to exclude Americans and
other foreigners from the Gold fields. On the contrary, you are
distinctly instructed to oppose no obstacle whatever to their
resort thither for the purpose of digging in those fields, so long as
they submit themselves, in common with the subjects of Her Majesty, to
the recognition of Her Authority, and conform to such rules of Police as
you may have thought proper to establish. The National right to
navigate Fraser's River is of course a separate question, and one which
Her Majesty's Government must reserve.
Under the circumstance of so large an immigration of Americans into
English Territory, I need hardly impress upon you the importance of
caution and delicacy in dealing with those manifest cases of
international relationship and feeling which are certain to arise, and
which but for the exercise of temper and discretion might easily lead to
serious complications between two neighbouring and powerful States.
It is impossible by this Mail to furnish you with any instructions
of a more definite character.
Her Majesty's Government must leave much to your discretion on this
most important Subject; and they rely upon your exercising whatever
influence and powers you may possess in the manner which from local
knowledge and experience you conceive to be best calculated to give
development to the new Country and to advance Imperial interests.
I have etc.