<persName ref="prs:douglas_j"><surname>Douglas</surname>, <forename>James</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:merivale_h"><surname>Merivale</surname>, <forename>Herman</forename></persName> 29 October 1858, CO 60:1, no. 586, 329. Douglas addressee Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Douglas, James to Merivale, Herman 29 October 1858, CO 60:1, no. 586, 329.The Colonial Despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871, Edition 2.6, ed. James Hendrickson and the Colonial Despatches project. Victoria, B.C.: University of Victoria. https://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/B58008PR.html. CO 60:01 CO 60 1 586 329 Private B.C. 1858 received 17 January 1859 co_60_01_00329r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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Despatch to London. Minutes (5).

Douglas acknowledges the receipt of The printed Scheme of Hong Kong Papers and the report of the Commission of 1855 on the state of the Gold Fields in Victoria. He also laments that at the moment he is in great perplexity for want of efficient help with the administration of BC not having a Colonial Secretary, Treasurer or Accountant.

Douglas further reports on the class of men mining the Fraser River region. He does not doubt that some of them are respectable but was struck by the more ruffianly looking men, about three thousand and many of them drunk.

The minutes acknowledge that these positions have been sent to Douglas and that Lytton has already responded to all concerns in another minute.

 Douglas, James
Victoria, Vancouver's Island
Merivale, Herman Inserted revisionDesc with @status="unproofed". Changed idno @type="received" into a date element. Gave existing date an @type="sent" and reordered bibl contents.
Private 586, CO 60/1, p. 329; received 17 January 1859
Victoria, Vancouver's Island
29 October 1858 My dear Sir,

I have received 'The printed Scheme of Hong Kong Papers' printed Scheme of Hong Kong Papers FIND Hong Kong Papers?? Parliamentary Papers?? and the report of the Commission of 1855 Commission of 1855 = Gold fields of Victoria Report of the Commission of 1855, Australia. FIND?? on the state of the Gold fields in Victoria, which you have kindly forwarded with Gold fieldsconditions at your private note of the 1st of September, and you have my cordial thanks for that and former considerate attention.

I am at present in great perplexity for want ofefficient efficient help, having neither the assistance of a Colonial Secretary, Douglas, Jamesneed for assistance Colonial secretaryneed for Treasurerneed for Accountantneed for Treasurer or Accountant, while it would require a full staff of efficient Officers, to perform the duties that now devolve upon me alone, a misfortune for myself and the Country, as both suffer in consequence of that want.

The class of men who are mining in Fraser's River are Minersnature of composed of all nations, some of them no doubt, respectable, but when I landed at Fort Yale in my late journey to Fraser's River, Fort YaleDouglas at it struck me that I had never before seen a crowd of more ruffianly looking men, than were assembled on that occasion.

About

About 3000 were present, and to add to the horror of the scene, many of them were drunk; things however, wore a better appearance next day, and after saying a few kind words to them, they were profuse in acclamations, and did, at my command, give three cheers for the Queen, but evidently with a bad grace. There is a strong American feeling among them, and they will require MinersAmerican feeling among constant watching, until the English element preponderates in the Country. Let me therefore have the assistance of Officers, Officersneed for capable of managing the subordinate departments, of drafting dispatches and so forth, so as to leave me time for the executive functions of Government which are more than enough tooccupy occupy my attention. Pray be kind enough to let me know in what way I can serve you, as I am sure it will give me infinite pleasure to do so.

I have received your note enclosing a Copy of a private letter from Mr Begbie, and much regret that gentleman's illness, which Begbie, Matthew B.illness of I trust will not be protracted. not be protracted = Begbie, illness Merivale to Douglas, 2 September 1958, enclosing 8851, Begbie to Lytton, 31 August 1858, CO 6/27, p. 154.

I remain etc. James Douglas
Mr Merivale In a public Despatch 544, sent forward today, the GovrGovernor asks that an Attorney General, Colonial Secretary & Treasurer may be Attorney generalappointment of Colonial secretaryappointment of Treasurerappointment of appointed. The last named Officer sailed in Novr. sailed in Novr. = Gosset appointed Treasurer (Douglas to Lytton 544, CO 60/1, p. 379). William Driscoll Gosset applied for the office of treasurer on August 18 and sailed from Liverpool for Victoria on 30 October 1858. In CO 6. VJ 17 Jan
This is important. HM Jan 17
Sir Edward? C Jany 20
I have answered all this in another Minute. EBL Jan 22
The Desp: with the Minute to which Sir Ed. refers is in circulation. in circulation. = Lytton minute re officers Possibly Douglas to Lytton 544, CO 60/1, p. 379, of which part of the minutes are missing or misfiled. Minute predates January 22 1859?? VJ