Colonial Despatches

Pauline Verheyden was the daughter of Charles Vereydhen, a prominent Belgian-Dutch architect who worked in Victoria, British Columbia from 1859 to 1872.1 In a despatch from 18 March 1869, Governor Seymour forwarded to Earl Granville a note from the Belgian Minister…to [obtain] from a person named Verheyden…his consent to the Marriage of his daughter Pauline.2 According to the Belgian Minister's despatch, Pauline was a dressmaker in Ghlin, the Hainaut province of Belgium…and Gustave Bruart, a coppersmith in the same town.3 The minister writes that the deed in question should be drawn up by a notary or posted before the authority [of Charles Verheyden] residing in Victoria.4 In an enclosed letter from Charles Vereydhen to the Acting Colonial Secretary, he writes that he had no knowledge of this engagement…with Gustave Bruart and promised to write to [his] daughter by the next mail.5 Currently, there is no record of Verheyden's reply to the minister's request.

• 1. Obituary, Victoria Daily Standard, 22 July 1872, 3.
• 2. Governor Frederick Seymour to Granville George Levenson-Gower, 18 March 1869, CO 60:35, no. 5398, 231.
• 3. Baron du Jardin to Lord Clarendon, letter to Foreign Office [translated from French], 1 January 1869, CO 60:37, no. 47, 133.
• 4.Ibid.
• 5. Charles Verheyden to Acting Colonial Secretary, 11 March 1869, CO 60:35, no. 5398, 231.

Biographical information is not yet available for this person.