Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 8 December 1863, CO 305:20, no. 876, 412.
Abstract
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 8 December 1863, CO 305:20, no. 876, 412.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (6), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
No. 49, Legislative
8 December 1863
My Lord Duke,
With reference to Your Despatch of the 1st May last, I have the
honour to transmit herewith copy of a Message forwarded to me by the
Legislative Assembly of Vancouver's Island containing
a Resolution
upon the subject of the project for establishing overland postal and
telegraphic Communication from Lake Superior to New Westminster.
a Resolution
upon the subject of the project for establishing overland postal and
telegraphic Communication from Lake Superior to New Westminster.
Minutes by CO staff
Has any answer been received from Canada to the Duke of Newcastle's
despatch to that Province on this subject, 1st May 1863?
TFE
1 Feby
No ansr has been recd from Canada, nor notice taken of any sort, of
which I, at least, am aware.
Mr Fortescue
The Legislature of Vancouver, although expressing an interest in the project, abstain from forming a decision until they hear the conclusion of Canada and of the other Eastern Provinces interested in the matter. We wrote about it to Lord Monck on the 1st of May, but His Lordship has never taken any notice of the despatch. I see that we did not write to the other Provinces which indeed were not mentioned in Mr Watkin's paper. I presume that for them whatever telegraphic Communications are required with Canada already exist. The only practical question was as to continuing such communications beyond their present limit in Canada.
The Legislature of Vancouver, although expressing an interest in the project, abstain from forming a decision until they hear the conclusion of Canada and of the other Eastern Provinces interested in the matter. We wrote about it to Lord Monck on the 1st of May, but His Lordship has never taken any notice of the despatch. I see that we did not write to the other Provinces which indeed were not mentioned in Mr Watkin's paper. I presume that for them whatever telegraphic Communications are required with Canada already exist. The only practical question was as to continuing such communications beyond their present limit in Canada.
I presume that Lord Monck ought to be reminded of the despatch on
this important subject, which appears to have escaped his attention.
TFE
2 Feby
CF
3
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
House of Assembly to Douglas, 25 November 1863, advising of the
failure to arrive at a decision in the question of an overland mail
and telegraphic link without input from the governments of Canada and
the other eastern provinces.
