Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Easterby, Captain Anthony Y. to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 25 August 1859, CO 305:13, no. 10023, 237.
Abstract
Easterby, Captain Anthony Y. to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 25 August 1859, CO 305:13, no. 10023, 237.
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Easterby to Newcastle
Napa City California
August 25, 1859
His Grace
The Duke of Newcastle
Colonial Secretary
Downing Street
My Lord Duke
I again take the liberty of addressing your Grace in reference to
Queen Charlotte's Isld upon which place we discovered in 1852 a vein
of gold bearing quartz and had commenced at great expense to work the
Same when expelled by H.M. Ship Amphitrite.
Hence to obtain from H.M.'s government Permission to work this mine,
I visited London in 1853, and had the honor through the agency of
Mess'rs Jno. Taylor & Sons of submitting our claim to your Grace and
it was intimated to me through the same gentlemen, that the names
submitted in connection with my own, in our Petition 
for a Lease,
were accepted. With this impression I left England, having made
arrangements for the despatch of miners &c but on arrival in San
Francisco I found a letter from the Honble Sir F. Peel
in which it was stated that H.M. government declined making any lease
at present. I did not understand however that our claim was entirely
denied.
for a Lease,
were accepted. With this impression I left England, having made
arrangements for the despatch of miners &c but on arrival in San
Francisco I found a letter from the Honble Sir F. Peel
in which it was stated that H.M. government declined making any lease
at present. I did not understand however that our claim was entirely
denied.
I cannot help therefore submitting to your Grace, and by the enclosed
paragraph you will perceive, that others, without such claims are
about to reap with the assistance of one of H.M.'s Ships the result
of our discovery earned at the expense of our fortunes.
I respectfully submit therefore to your Grace that while these
parties are encouraged and aided in developing those mines which were
denied to our enterprise, we may be permitted to ask from H.M.'s
government some indemnity for the 
losses we have incurred.
losses we have incurred.
Submitting our case to your Grace's Justice.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
From the envelope attached to 6127/58 it is plain that the writer has not recd the answer from this Office—d. 12 July/58 to his former similar application. I see nothing for it except now to send our Letter again after him, with an explanation of the delay which has occurred. I may as well perhaps observe in addition that the Mr Taylor referred to, with whom I have conversed on the subject of this claim, considers the writer to have no shadow of foundation for his demand on the Govt.
From the envelope attached to 6127/58 it is plain that the writer has not recd the answer from this Office—d. 12 July/58 to his former similar application. I see nothing for it except now to send our Letter again after him, with an explanation of the delay which has occurred. I may as well perhaps observe in addition that the Mr Taylor referred to, with whom I have conversed on the subject of this claim, considers the writer to have no shadow of foundation for his demand on the Govt.
ABd
11 Oct
I should ackge his letter, send him in answer a copy of a letter
which was addressed to him on the subject in March 1858 which appears
not at that time to have reached his hands and state that the Duke of
Newcastle concurs in that communication.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Newspaper clipping, no name, no date, "The Prospecting Expeditions
to Queen Charlotte Island."
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Easterby, 25 October 1859, forwarding
copy of previous letter dated March 1858 and reaffirming the
response therein.