<persName ref="prs:gosset_wd"><surname>Gosset</surname>, <forename>William</forename> <forename>Driscoll</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:carnarvon"><surname>Carnarvon</surname>, </persName> 26 October 1858, CO 60:3, no. 10965, 120. Gosset addressee Under-Secretary of State

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Gosset, William Driscoll to Carnarvon, 26 October 1858, CO 60:3, no. 10965, 120.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/B586G05.html. CO 60:03 CO 60 3 10965 120 B.C. 1858 registered 26 October co_60_03_00120r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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Correspondence (private letter). Minutes (6), Other documents (1).

Gosset suggested equipment for a saw mill be sent immediately to BC as well as a lithographic press.

The minutes lament that there is no end to the wants of the Royal Engineers but agree that both requests would be useful.

Enclosed is a draft from the Colonial Office to the Treasury recommending the purchase of a skeleton gear and lithographic press if the expense does not exceed £200.

 Gosset, William Driscoll
The Cloisters Windsor
Carnarvon, 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 Under-Secretary of State 10965, CO 60/3, p. 120; registered 26 October
The Cloisters Windsor
Octr 26 1858 Sir,

As Commissary for British Columbia, and I presume therefore Gosset, Capt. William D.duties as commisary Gosset, Capt. William D.experience in Ceylon Commisarysupplies for (as in Ceylon) responsible for the supply of rough and sawn timber to the various Departments, I beg to suggest that the skeleton gear of a powerful water wheel and the machinery of a circular sawing mill be forthwith provided & sent out without delay. There is no one article, I deem more necessary, or more economical, for a Colony, where wood abounds, wherelabour labor is so scarce that "a Carter Carter I.e., one who drives or operates a cart. earns 10£ a day", and where sawn timber will be required for innumerable purposes of general utility, to an extent which will repay the cost of this simple & not costly tool, even were the Colony to last but a couple of years.

2. On the same principle of saving manual labor in an expensive labor market, though in an infinitely less degree than above, I would suggest the supply of a lithographic pressfor for the Lithographic pressrecommended production of such forms and documents as are likely to be required from the Commissariat for the general purposes of Government.

3. Being ignorant of the amount of provisions transmitted with the force which has proceeded to Vancouvers Island, it is out of my power to offer any suggestions on this head.

I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedient Servant W. Driscoll Gosset P.S. If ordered from Mr Fenn 105 Newgate St Fenn 105 Newgate St Fenn was a tool manufacturer with offices at 104 Newgate Street, London. Get biog dir?? , such sawing gear as I've described, may be prepared for less than 200£; and could be sent out (if the Euphrates has sailed,) as is merchants' freight, as part cargo of any ordinary trading vessel. W.D.G. The RtRight HonbleHonourable The Under SecycompanySecretary of State for the Colonies
There is no end to the wants of R. Engineers. The force is an expensive one in itself, & in its requirements, and an Engineer Officer having been chosen for the situation of Treasurer and Commissariat Officer to the Detachment he too proposes the purchase of articles which will help to swell a bill I am frightened even to think of. In the end I have little doubt that it will prove an economy of time labor, & money to comply with this request—if Sir Edward is prepared to incur the first expense. ABd 26 Oct
Lord Carnarvon I think that the two first requests should be complied with. But with regard to provisions, glanced at in the last paragraph, I have never yet heard it surmised that we are to feed either the functionaries or the population of British Columbia from England, and I think that the allusion may be dismissed in silence. TFE 27 Octr
Sir Edward Lytton I am quite alive to the importance as far as possible of keeping down the estimates: and I fear that Mr Blackwood is not wrong when he looks to a very heavy bill for B. Columbia next year: but I sd on the whole sanction the purchase & shipment of the articles recommended by Captn Gossett: as it is clear that the saving effected by machinery, where manual labour is so costly, will be very large.

As regards the Provisions, these have been furnished on Col. Moody's recommendation & he alone is responsible for them. I hope & believe that this portion of our preparation is complete.

C Oct 27
We have no choice—order the articles, limiting the expence to within 200£. Draft a letter to Cap. Gossett of short instruction to Consider that he is Treasurer as well as Commissary, & that his first object shdshould be the treasure from whwhich to defray supplies—observe complimentingly that in appointing a person of his abil[it]y & dedication what I most looked to was his aid in effecting economy & securing revenue under the important department to whwhich he was appointed. EBL Oct 28
Draft, Colonial Office to C.E. Trevelyan, Treasury, 9 November 1858, recommending purchase of skeleton gear and lithographic press if the expense did not exceed £200. For fear of disappointment, I would venture to suggest that the limit towards the end of this draft might be so far extended as to say "from £200 to £300." TFE
If the Treasury assent an intimation should, in the absence of Captain Gossett and Colonel Moody, be forthwith made to Capn Elphinstone, Capt. Howard C. Elphinstone, R.E. at the Topographical Office, who has kindly undertaken to see after any further business connected with this service, which requires personal superintendence.

The Euphrates is loading & will sail this month. Before ordering these things Capn Elphinstone will, I daresay, ascertain that there is stowage for them.

ABd 3 Novr
Let Captn Elphinstone be written to about the Stowage, & make sure of it. EBL Novr 5