Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Berens, Henry Hulse to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 20 May 1859, CO 305:13, no. 5176, 104.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Berens forwards to Lytton a copy of Reverend Cridge’s letter on renewing his position as colonial chaplain, and observes that since “the
grant of Vancouver's Island has been withdrawn from the Hudson's Bay Company,” the question of Cridge’s renewal is a government matter. Berens then endorses Cridge’s renewal.
In the minutes, Blackwood suggests that Berens’s letter be sent to “the Governor” of Vancouver Island, Douglas at the time, to direct him to pay for Cridge’s renewal from his own funds, or through the House of Assembly. Merivale argues that to have the Governor pay for Cridge “is in fact to initiate a ‘State Church,’” something he notes as “most unpopular
to North Americans,” and he recommends the decision be deferred to “the Legislature
of Vanc. I.” Carnarvon agrees with Merivale and notes Cridge’s entitlement “to a passage home,” should the Legislature decline Cridge’s renewal.
The first of the three documents included in the file is a draft reply, from Lytton to Douglas, which asks that the matter of Cridge’s reappointment as chaplain be “the decision of the Legislature of the Island;” second is a draft letter, from Merivale to Berens, advising that the question of Cridge’s renewal be decided by the Vancouver Island legislature; third is a copy of a letter,
from Cridge to Douglas, that expresses Cridge’s desire “to enter into a fresh Agreement” as chaplain.
Berens to Lytton
20 May 1859
I have the honor to transmit to you herewith, a copy of a letter
addressed by the Revd Edward Cridge, Colonial Chaplain of
Vancouver's Island to Governor Douglas and transmitted by the latter
to us in the event of our having any instructions to give on the
subject.
As the grant of Vancouver's Island has been withdrawn from the
Hudson's Bay Company, the question of the renewal of Mr Cridge's
engagement which is about to expire is one which rests, not with the
Company, but with Her Majesty's Government. I however consider
consider it
right, in justice to Mr Cridge who has always given satisfaction to
the Company in his Ministerial capacity to forward a Copy of his
Memorial for your consideration.
consider it
right, in justice to Mr Cridge who has always given satisfaction to
the Company in his Ministerial capacity to forward a Copy of his
Memorial for your consideration.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
I do not know what else is to be done in this matter except to refer this Letter on to the Governor of V.C.Id and tell him to provide this Clergyman with adequate remuneration. I suppose the Governor must get the ways & means out of the Ho: of Assembly, if he has no funds at his own disposal.
I do not know what else is to be done in this matter except to refer this Letter on to the Governor of V.C.Id and tell him to provide this Clergyman with adequate remuneration. I suppose the Governor must get the ways & means out of the Ho: of Assembly, if he has no funds at his own disposal.
ABd
21/5
Lord Carnarvon
I cannot myself see any reason for calling on the Governor to undertake, or recommend even, the remuneration of Mr Cridge. It is clear his agreement is at an end, & he only expresses his readiness to enter into a new one. To make his employment [a] matter of government recommendation is in fact to initiate a "State Church" of all things most unpopular to North Americans. It is a matter on which I should be disposed to leave the Legislature of Vanc. I. wholly free, & to inform the Company that this has been done, sending out the correspondence to the Governor, & I believe this is the likeliest way of securing the object itself.
I cannot myself see any reason for calling on the Governor to undertake, or recommend even, the remuneration of Mr Cridge. It is clear his agreement is at an end, & he only expresses his readiness to enter into a new one. To make his employment [a] matter of government recommendation is in fact to initiate a "State Church" of all things most unpopular to North Americans. It is a matter on which I should be disposed to leave the Legislature of Vanc. I. wholly free, & to inform the Company that this has been done, sending out the correspondence to the Governor, & I believe this is the likeliest way of securing the object itself.
HM
May 21
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Berens, 3 June 1859, advising that the question
was to be left to the decision of the Vancouver Island legislature.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Edward Cridge to Douglas, 24 February 1859, expressing a
desire to have his engagement as colonial chaplain renewed.