<persName ref="prs:gosset_wd"><surname>Gosset</surname>, <forename>William</forename> <forename>Driscoll</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:lytton_egeb"><surname>Lytton</surname>, <forename>Edward</forename> <forename>George</forename> <forename>Earle</forename> <forename>Bulwer</forename></persName> 12 October 1858, CO 60:3, no. 10459, 99. Gosset addressee Lytton

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Gosset, William Driscoll to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 12 October 1858, CO 60:3, no. 10459, 99.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/B586G03.html. CO 60:03 CO 60 3 10459 99 B.C. 1858 received 14 October co_60_03_00099r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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Correspondence (private letter). Minutes (4), Other documents (3).

Gosset observes that his proposed salary of £500 is insufficient but because he has means from other sources he is still willing to unreservedly give Her Majesty’s Government his services.

The minutes recognize that salaries for public officers have been fixed very low. The CO notes that Gosset is merely reminding them of this circumstance in anticipation of a prosperous colony and when the CO can revise and improve the emoluments he hopes his position will not be overlooked.

Enclosed is a draft from Elliot to Gosset asking that he communicate with the Treasury and enter the necessary bonds for the office of treasurer; Elliot to the Treasury requesting bonds be prepared for Gosset’s use; and Elliot to Gosset stating that salaries may be reconsidered when circumstances warrant but offering no promise on the subject.

 Gosset, William Driscoll
The Cloisters Windsor
Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer Inserted revisionDesc with @status="unproofed". Changed idno @type="received" into a date element. Gave existing date an @type="sent" and reordered bibl contents.
Gosset to Lytton 10459, CO 60/3, p. 99; received 14 October
The Cloisters Windsor
Octr 12, 1858 Sir,

1. Obliged, as I beg you to believe me, for your Gosset, Capt. William D.insufficiency of salary communication of yesterday's date, yesterday's date = L-Gosset, 11 Oct 58 [Find??] For a copy of Carnarvon to Gosset, 11 October 1858, see Great Britain, Colonial Office, Despatches to British Columbia, C AB 10.2 1, British Columbia Archives. I must trespass further on your courtesy, by requesting that the following remarks may be filed with the previous correspondencefor the for the purpose, (reasonable I trust to demonstrate) of possible reference a future day. Were my income derivable from Official salary alone it would be out of my power to accept the offer you have been kind enough to make me, of transfer to an appointment in British Columbia on a salary of 500£ a year. Such a salary, in a country where by last accounts the wages of a couple of servants would absorb 300£ of it, being apparently insufficient to procurean officer an officer more than the necessities of life, certainly too limited to afford him the power of keeping up that ordinary appearance of respectability, the exactions of society almost render it one duty of an officer to maintain.

Means from other sources however, enable me to adhere to the resolution, (formed when I was first consulted by Colonel Dawson on the Dawson, Col. Robert K. question of a Government for British Columbia) of placing my services "unreservedly" at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government,with with a firm trust, that the matter of salary may be reconsidered so soon as the condition of the New Colony may warrant attention to such subjects. Admitting the necessity for extreme caution in all financial arrangements for a Colony about to commence existence with a debt to the Imperial Government, the Colonial Legislature would doubtless desire to liquidate without delay; yet, as the prime ratio established between salaries, may, on any general revision, influencefuture future propositions, I deem it justice to myself to express, (in no captious spirit, nor as scrutinizing your award, but to place it on record now, lest present silence should be misinterpreted a future day) my inability to recognize in 500£ a year, that that remuneration, which a comparison of the duties and pecuniary responsibilities attaching to each of the various offices in the New Settlement, would have led me suppose, might have been relatively awarded to the Chief Officer of Finance.

3. Adverting

2. Adverting to the allocation of those other duties, named in your letter under acknowledgement, I beg to repeat my readiness to give them my best attention, and to add, that should economical considerations suggest the idea of placing the inter-colonial audit, in the first instance, under the same direction as the Treasury, I will be happy to take the charge and responsibility of arranging the combination so that it shall work satisfactorily.

3. To your expectations as regards my departure by Novr Gosset, Capt. William D.departure for BC 11th, I have I hope responded as you will approve, by this day securing accommodation in a vessel advertized to sail on the 30th of this month.

I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient Servant W. Driscoll Gosset The Rt Honble The SecycompanySecretary of State for H.M. Colonies &c
Mr Elliot In the necessary desire to observe the utmost possible economy in all the arrangements which have been made for the formation of a Civil Establishment in B. Columbia the salaries to public Officers (excepting always Colonel Moody's) have been fixed very low—which Moody, Col. Richard C.salary of after they have secured their Appointments the Officers take care to represent to us. Like the rest Captain Gossett now acts but he does not complain. He only wishes that in the event of the Colony becoming prosperous & able to revise and improve the emoluments of the public Officers his position may not be overlooked. Looking upon Capn Gossett as the best selection that has been yet made for this new settlement I think we should by no means neglect his just interests; & I would recommend that a copy of this representation be sent to GovrGovernor Douglas with instructions to take his case into Gosset, Capt. William D.insufficiency of salary consideration should there ever be an oppy of improving his position.

If Sir Edd Lytton approves this view, write accycompany & to Capn Gossett acquainting him with the course taken.

ABd 14 Oct
I see no objection to so forwarding to the GovrGovernor but the letter to Capn Gossett shdshould be most guarded & say only, I think, that no promise whatever can be held out, but that his application will be borne in mind if the future circumstances of the Settlement should justify entertaining questions of an increase of Salary? TFE 14 Octr
I feel that where the salary in B. Columbia has been fixed most low, both in proportion to the responsible duties to be discharged and to the capacity of the individual is in the case of the GovrGovernor; and I think that the first augmentation whwhich is possible sd be to him.

Answer however as proposed?

C Oct 14
Answer as proposed—& do not yet send copy to GovrGovernor. I am informed today by a good authority that up to the 14th August only 2000£ worth of Gold had been actually discovered in B. Columbia all this year. EBL Oct 14
Draft, Elliot to Gosset, 20 October 1858, asking that he communicate with Treasury and enter the necessary bonds for the office of treasurer.
Draft, Elliot to C.E. Trevelyan, Treasury, 20 October 1858, requesting bonds be prepared for Gosset's use.
Draft, Elliot to Gosset, 26 October 1858, stating that salaries may be reconsidered when circumstances warrant but offering no promise on the subject.