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 containingManuscript image a Resolution upon the subject of the project for establishing overland postal and telegraphic Communication from Lake Superior to New Westminster.
I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke,
Your Grace's
Most Obedient
humble Servant
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
Send copy of this desph, & of its enclosure to Mr Watkin.
ABd 1 Feb.
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.
Manuscript image
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.
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
Duke of Newcastle
This should be done? The Canadian Govt seems unwilling to move.
CF 3
Write to Ld M: as proposed.
N 4
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Manuscript image
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.
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Fortescue (for Newcastle) to Monck, 9 February 1864, forwarding copy of the resolution and asking for the views of his government upon the subject in question.
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 8 December 1863, CO 305:20, no. 876, 412. 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/V63049.html.

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