No. 20
[LAC, RG7, G8C/6, p. 183 (CO 398/1, p. 93)]
Downing Street
16 September 1858
Sir,
I have received your despatch of the 26th July No
31
July No 31
I.e, [Douglas to Stanley, No. 31, 26 July 1858, 9253, CO 305/9, p. 125](cdc:V58031).
with it's enclosures reporting the public measures which you have adopted
for the Government of British Columbia since the 1st July.
It affords me much satisfaction to signify to you generally the
continued approval by Her Majesty'sGovernment Government of your proceedings
in the difficult position in which you have been so unexpectedly placed,
but there are a few points mentioned in your despatch on which it is
necessary that I now should touch.
First, however, I request that you will convey to the Officers
Commanding H.M's Ships "Satellite" and "Plumper" my best acknowledgments
ShipsSatellite
ShipsPlumper
for the cordial and practical assistance which they have rendered to
you an all occasions, and express my persuasion that they will continue
to afford the same whenever the service on which they are engagedwill will
admit of their so doing.
2. I notice with regret, though not with surprise, that boats &c
have ascended Frazer's River without a Customs' permit, or the
prepayment of the regulated Mining fee. It is certainly much to be
desired that you possessed a force adequate for the protection of the
Revenue Laws of the County; but it is totally impossible for Her
Revenue lawsenforcement of
Majesty's Government to provide you with such a force from England.
The most thatwe we can do is to supply you with suitable and well
recommended public Officers whose experience and capability will
enable them to assist you in raising a force in the Colony itself,
capable of preserving order, and causing the Law to be obeyed. On
this point I have to observe that for the infraction of the Revenue
Laws, and for all ordinary purposes, the use of military force, even
if this Country were able to supply it, is full of danger, and
better not resorted to unless in case of absolute necessity.
As
3. As to the "lawless intrusion of foreign ships and people into
Gold fieldsexclusion of foreigners
Frazer's River," if I correctly understand this expression, you will
have received such definite instructions from me that it leaves me
nothing to add on this point, unless it be to refer you particularly
to my [Vancouver Island] despatch of the 16th July, No
4.
No 4
[Lytton to Douglas, No. 4, 16 July 1858, CO 410/1, p. 132](cdc:V587204)
4. I have to make the same observation with respect to your
statement that you have endeavoured to protect the trading rights of
HudsonsBayCompany exclusiverightstotrade
the Hudson's Bay Company as by law established. Those rights never
existed to the extent whichyou you appear to have supposed, and by the
time this despatch reaches you they will have ceased altogether, if
the instrument forwarded to you for that purpose has been put into
operation, as I trust it has, without delay.
5. I entirely approve the course you are following with respect
to applications for Crown land, and for the prevention of Squatting.
The party of Royal Engineers which has been despatched to British
Columbia will relieve you from much anxiety on this score, as they
will immediately,on on their arrival, proceed
to survey and lay out lands for sale and occupation.
6. I approve your nomination of Messrs Travaillot and Hicks,
to be Assistant Commissioners of Crown Lands at Thompson's River, and
Fort Yale, also of Mr Wm Henry Bevis to be Revenue Officer at
Fort Langley.
7. In an earlier [Vancouver Island]
despatch No 8 of the 14th August I mentioned
my intention of selecting a Collector of Customs for British
Columbia.
for British Columbia
[Lytton to Douglas, No. 8, 14 August 1858, CO 410/1, p. 160](cdc:V587208)
I have now to state thatI I have appointed Mr Wymond Hamley to
Hamley, Wymondappointed collector of customs
Hamley, Wymondsalary of
this Office with a salary of four hundred pounds (£400) per annum. He
will proceed in the "Thames City" in the course of a few days. With
ShipsThames City
respect to Offices generally, which the public exigencies may compel you
to create, and for which selections should be made in England, I have to
observe that I consider it of great importance to the general socialwelfare
welfare and dignity of the Colony that gentlemen should be encouraged
to come from this Kingdom, not as mere adventurers seeking employment,
but in the hope of obtaining professional occupations for which they
are calculated, such for instance as Stipendiary Magistrates or Gold
.*Gold commissioners
Commissioners. You will, therefore, report to me at your early
convenience, whether there is any field for such situations, and
describe as accurately as you can the peculiar qualifications which
are requisite in order that I may assist you by makingthe the best
selections in my power. It is quite natural that the servants of the
Hudson's Bay Company should, from their knowledge of business, their
abilities, and services, have a very fair claim to consideration and
share in the disposal of the local patronage. But caution should be
observed against yielding to any appearance of undue favor or
exclusiveness to the servants of that Company. You will carefully
remember that the public interests are the first consideration; and
that it should be knownthat that employment in the public service is as
open and fair in British Columbia as in every other of the Queen's
Colonial Possessions. For these reasons it is still more desirable
that careful appointments should be made in England.
7 [8]. I have to thank you for the Newspaper from Victoria. It
Newspapersinformation about colony
furnishes useful and interesting intelligence and I shall be glad if
youwill will occassionally transmit to me any other newspapers which contain
matter worthy of attention. You will not fail to write to me fully
by each Mail as Her Majesty's Government
wish to know everything that passes of importance in British Columbia.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant
E B Lytton