No. 46
2 September 1862
I have the honor to enclose for Your Grace's information, a comparative statement of the imports into the Colony of Vancouver Island for the first six months ending with the30thManuscript image 30th day of June of the year 1861, and for the corresponding period of the present year 1862.
2. This statement shews an increase of $694,043 dollars or nearly 66 per cent in the Imports of the two first quarters of 1862, over the first six months of the year 1861. With the exception of a falling off to the extent of 61,506 dollars in the imports from Oregon there is almost, uniformlyaManuscript image a remarkable increase in the trade with other countries.
3. The direct imports from England alone, form an exception; as they exceed, only by 1821 dollars the imports of last year. A great part of the goods brought to this Colony from San Francisco are unquestionably of English manufacture, and are introduced through thatchannelManuscript image channel, and charged with several profits, instead of being imported direct, and at the smallest cost from England.
4. This state of business so expensive to the Colony, and so unfavourable to the growth of trade with the Mother Country, will I trust be superseded by a better system whenever the real wants of the Colony, and the largedemandManuscript image demand for English goods, existing here are better understood by the commercial public.
5. In hopes that Your Grace may cause this statement and the accompanying Return shewing the description of goods imported in the first six months of 1862, to be published in England for the informationofManuscript image of persons wishing to make shipments to this Country.
I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke
Your Grace's most obedient
and humble Servant
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
Copy to Bd of Trade.
ABd 30 Oct
(I sent this in circulation, previously, for the Duke of Newcastle's information, as it supplies a favorable account of the Trade of Vancouver Island).
TFE 30/10
Very satisfactory, except as regards direct trade with England.
N 31
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Not on microfilm.
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Elliot to J. Booth, Board of Trade, 5 November 1862, forwarding copy of the despatch and statements.
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 2 September 1862, CO 305:19, no. 10613, 250. The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.0, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/V62046.html.

Last modified: 2020-03-30 13:22:16 -0700 (Mon, 30 Mar 2020) (SVN revision: 4193)