Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 25 July 1859, CO 305:10, no. 8946, 281.
Abstract
Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 25 July 1859, CO 305:10, no. 8946, 281.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (7), Enclosures (untranscribed) (14), Other documents (5).
No. 29
25 July 1859
I have the honor of transmitting herewith for the information of
Her Majestys Government, a communication from Mr Pemberton
Surveyor General of Vancouvers Island forwarding the reports of
Mr Pearse
Pearse and Mr Wells, two of his assistants descriptive of
certain districts of country at Cowichin and Nanaimo, lately
surveyed by them.
Pearse and Mr Wells, two of his assistants descriptive of
certain districts of country at Cowichin and Nanaimo, lately
surveyed by them.
2. Those reports are accompanied by Maps illustrative of the
situation of those Districts, and of their general character as
to soil and natural productions, and therefore form interesting
additions to the topography of this Colony.
3. I would submit how
how desirable it would be for these Maps to
be lithographed in England and distributed there as well as sent
out here for sale and distribution in the Colony.
how desirable it would be for these Maps to
be lithographed in England and distributed there as well as sent
out here for sale and distribution in the Colony.
4. The Maps and reports are packed in a small deal case and are
forwarded by the same mail.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
I think we might send these papers to the War Office with a request that they would cause the Maps to be lithographed at the Military Topographical Office. The work wd be done more cheaply, & I suppose quite as well, there than if we were to employ any body else?
I think we might send these papers to the War Office with a request that they would cause the Maps to be lithographed at the Military Topographical Office. The work wd be done more cheaply, & I suppose quite as well, there than if we were to employ any body else?
Copy also to Geographical Society? and Land Board. Would it be
advisable to desire the Land Board to print the reports of
these Surveyors of the favorable character of the Country they
have examined, & have them distributed, for sale in the Ports
where there are Emigration Agents. It is an important object to
secure British Settlers in a quarter where scarcely 4 per cent
are English subjects. A war with America, with 96 per cent
foreigners in B. Columbia & V. C. Island, wd be a serious
business & dangerous. It would be very satisfactory & easy to
have a census taken shewing nationalities in both of these
Colonies.
ABd
9 Sepr
Mr Fortescue
I agree with Mr Blackwood that it would be a very proper step to lead the Emn Commrs to make public the attractions of Vanc. I. as far as they justly can. But as to setting up one nationality against another—English against American—I think the time is past for such policy, if it was ever good at all. We are entering on a new & very singular place in our British-North-American history. Along the whole of the line 49o from Red River to Vanc. I. inclusive, the American population of the prairies is pressing into our territory, & will do so more & more as it presents the double attraction of gold & game. These wandering people are beyond our control. They will absorb us, or we shall absorb them. The tiny [dishlots?] of Emigration we might send out by sea would vanish altogether in the compound. What then is there to prevent
our provinces
from becoming Americanized? No remedies that I know of, except
those of better laws & better society and greater freedom from
taxation. And—strange as it may appear to those who remember
the days of Lord Durham & Lord Sydenham—
influence. The ancient enthusiasm of the Yankees for their
institutions has had some shrewd knocks of late. The license of
California, the Indian massacres of Oregon, & the civil war of
Kansas have done more for British influence than any
political devices of ours could have achieved. The change may
be very temporary: but we must profit by it while it lasts, &
not be jealous of the immigration it helps to produce. In the
mean time, whoever may ultimately profit thereby, it is
encouraging to receive such accounts 
of the natural capabilities
of Vancouver's Island. It seems to be a very attractive region:
& likely to prosper greatly, if the settlers can be secure
against the Indians: at present (thanks to Hudson's Bay Company
management) these seem very tractable.
I agree with Mr Blackwood that it would be a very proper step to lead the Emn Commrs to make public the attractions of Vanc. I. as far as they justly can. But as to setting up one nationality against another—English against American—I think the time is past for such policy, if it was ever good at all. We are entering on a new & very singular place in our British-North-American history. Along the whole of the line 49o from Red River to Vanc. I. inclusive, the American population of the prairies is pressing into our territory, & will do so more & more as it presents the double attraction of gold & game. These wandering people are beyond our control. They will absorb us, or we shall absorb them. The tiny [dishlots?] of Emigration we might send out by sea would vanish altogether in the compound. What then is there to prevent
our provinces
from becoming Americanized? No remedies that I know of, except
those of better laws & better society and greater freedom from
taxation. And—strange as it may appear to those who remember
the days of Lord Durham & Lord Sydenham—
influence. The ancient enthusiasm of the Yankees for their
institutions has had some shrewd knocks of late. The license of
California, the Indian massacres of Oregon, & the civil war of
Kansas have done more for British influence than any
political devices of ours could have achieved. The change may
be very temporary: but we must profit by it while it lasts, &
not be jealous of the immigration it helps to produce. In the
mean time, whoever may ultimately profit thereby, it is
encouraging to receive such accounts 
of the natural capabilities
of Vancouver's Island. It seems to be a very attractive region:
& likely to prosper greatly, if the settlers can be secure
against the Indians: at present (thanks to Hudson's Bay Company
management) these seem very tractable.
HM
S 10
I have no doubt of the truth of these remarks—particularly as
respects the country along the 49th parallel—(cut off as it is
from Canada &c by that intractable region between Lake Superior
& Red River) wh. we must expect to see mainly settled by
Yankees. But I confess I should like to see a good British
infusion into V.Couver's Island, wh. is likely to be so valuable
both as a Colony, and a Naval port—and the more encouragement
that can be given to emigration from home, the better.
CF
12
Many years ago I advocated British Colonization of Vancouvers
Island and subsequent events certainly have not tended to
diminish my sense of its importance, though I by no means wish
to see any obstacle thrown 
in the way of a Yankee Immigration.
Encouragement is quite another matter.
in the way of a Yankee Immigration.
Encouragement is quite another matter.
Adopt Mr Blackwood's proposals.
N
13
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Joseph D. Pemberton to Douglas, 22 July 1859, forwarding
reports of surveyors B.W. Pearse and Oliver Wells, along with
maps of the districts surveyed and statements of expenditure incurred.
"Statement [of] Cost of Survey of Cowichan Vancouver
Island," no date.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Elliot to G.A. Hamilton, Treasury, 6 October 1859, requesting
permission to have 300 copies of the survey reports printed
for the Land Board.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
On conferring with the Land Board I find that we must get the Treasury authority for this, before the Bd can move.
On conferring with the Land Board I find that we must get the Treasury authority for this, before the Bd can move.
ABd
30 Sep
Other documents included in the file
*
Other documents included in the file
*
Draft, Colonial Office to Under-Secretary, War Office, 19
October 1859, forwarding tracings from the surveys and
requesting that they be lithographed in the topographical department.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Blackwood
Is this to go now? And if so how many copies are wanted?
Is this to go now? And if so how many copies are wanted?
Other documents included in the file
*
Draft, Merivale to Emigration Commissioners, 24 March 1860,
forwarding lithographed copies of the maps that accompanied
the survey reports.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Map of "Saanich District 1855." Notation in file
reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 241," signed J.R. Crompton, 21
June 1927.
Map of "Vancouver Island B.C. South Eastern District 1855."
Notation in file reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 242,"
signed J.R. Crompton, 21 June 1927.
Map of "Shawnican District Vancouver Island 1859."
Notation in file reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 243,"
signed J.R. Crompton, 21 June 1927.
Map of "Somenos District Vancouver Island 1859." Notation
in file reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 244," signed J.R.
Crompton, 21 June 1927.
Map of "Lake District Vancouver Island 1859." Notation in
file reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 245," signed J.R.
Crompton, 21 June 1927.
Map of "Cowichan District Vancouver Island 1859." Notation
in file reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 246," signed
J.R. Crompton, 21 June 1927.
Map of "Quamichan District Vancouver Island 1859." Notation
in file reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 247," signed
J.R. Crompton, 21 June 1927.
Map of "Vancouver Island Colony 1859." Notation in file
reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 249," signed J.R. Crompton,
21 June 1927.
Map of "Comiaken District Vancouver Island 1859." Notation
in file reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 248," signed
J.R. Crompton, 21 June 1927.
People in this document
Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford Chichester
Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer