<persName ref="prs:booth_j"><surname>Booth</surname>, <forename>James</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:merivale_h"><surname>Merivale</surname>, <forename>Herman</forename></persName> 7 April 1859, CO 60:6, no. 3721, 78. Booth addressee Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Booth, James to Merivale, Herman 7 April 1859, CO 60:6, no. 3721, 78.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/B595TA02.html. CO 60:06 CO 60 6 3721 78 B.C. 1859 received 8 April co_60_06_00079r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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Public Offices document. Minutes (5), Other documents (2).

Booth regrets that lighthouses required in Juan de Fuca Strait and Esquimalt Harbour cannot be paid for by the Home Government.

The minutes debate whether the Colonial Office is obligated to assist in the building of the lighthouses. The CO also observes that the Board of Trade is very anxious to have these lighthouses built.

Included in this document is a memorandum by Sulivan on the necessity of installing the lighthouses; and Sulivan to Merivale, 12 April, 1859, expressing his conviction that the lighthouses should be installed with or without the financial support of the home government.

 Booth, James
Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, Whitehall
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.
Booth to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary) 3721, CO 60/6, p. 78; received 8 April
Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, Whitehall
7 April 1859 Sir,

I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st Ultimo, transmitting copies of two Despatches from the Governor of British Columbia calling attention to the urgent necessity for the erectionerection of Lighthouses in Fucas Straits, and the approaches to the Harbour of Esquimalt, and stating that as the Colonial Office cannot apply to Parliament for a grant of money for these necessary public works and as the Colony has not at present the means of paying for them, Sir E.B. Lytton is desirous of being informed whether My Lords cannot include the required Lighthouses within "the class of Imperial Lights," and give the Colony somesome assistance towards their erection out of the funds placed at their disposal for such services.

In reply My Lords direct me to state that, whilst there can be no doubt of the importance of the proposed Lights, they are required for the Trade of the Colony, and not, as in the case of the Lights in the Bahamas and elsewhere, for the Trade which merely passes the Colony.

Under these circumstances they are Lights which should, My LordsLords think, if practicable, be erected and maintained by and at the cost of the Colony rather than the Home Government.

But even if the Lights in question could be said to belong to the class of Imperial Lights, i.e. of Lights which the Home Government is bound to erect or maintain for the purposes of the general passing Trade, their Lordships could still have no funds at their disposal out of which to erect or maintain them.

The only

The only funds out of which My Lords can pay the expenses of Colonial Lights are first, sums raised by levying Tolls under the Act 18 & 19 Vict: c. 91, and secondly, sums voted by Parliament.

The present case does not appear to be one in which it is desirable to levy Tolls under the Act in question, since the only Trade which would pay the Tolls is the Trade of the Colony and the Colony can itself, if so disposed, levy Tolls on account of the Lights in itsin its own Ports.

And as regards monies voted by Parliament it is to be observed that the only votes are votes taken by the Treasury on the responsibility of this Department for the services of special Lighthouses mentioned in the votes.

If, notwithstanding the fact that these Lights cannot be classed as Imperial Lights, the circumstances of the Colony of British Columbia are such as to make it proper that these Lights should be erected withwith Imperial instead of Colonial Funds, those circumstances are matters within the cognizance of the Colonial Office rather than of this Department; and if it is thought right that a vote for the purpose should be taken by the Treasury, the vote should My Lords think be taken on the responsibility of the Colonial Office, and the application to the Treasury for the purpose should be made by that Office.

If it should be decided to taketo take a vote for the purpose My Lords will be glad to give their best advice and assistance in the matter.

At the same time they could not without obtaining further local information state with accuracy and certainty what the expense to be incurred in the Colony in erecting these Lights will be.

A copy of a further memorandum by Captain Sulivan, R.N. on the character and probable costcost of these Lights is enclosed for Sir E.B. Lytton's information.

I have etc. James Booth
Mr Merivale The reasoning of the Board of Trade seems irresistible: & the question resolves itself into two considerations. Is the case sufficiently strong to justify Sir E. Lytton in recommending the T-y to take a vote for setting up the lights or should we tell the Governor we cannot help him, & that if lights are so necessary he must himself raise the funds for the purpose.

The view I take is adverse to an application to Parlt for as the trade is only a Colonial one, & at present moderate in extent, it will be difficult to support the request by reference to those general principles which guide Parlt in granting funds for Colonial Lights. If this is a correct view the alternative is to adjourn the establishment of the Lights until the Colony can itself find the means of paying for them. And perhaps this is the most wholesome policy in the end.

ABd 8 Apl
I have no doubt the Bd of Trade is right in saying that it is our business at the Colonial Office to put the expense of these lights on our estimates, if they are to be paid for out of Imperial funds at all. I suppose therefore the subject must be adjourned, although it is a pity that the Americans have so much the start of us. HM Apl 11
See Capt Sulivan's letter to Mr Merivale & Mr M. minute annexed. A draft I think may be prepared on Capt Sulivan's Letter to the GovrGovernor.

Meanwhile the Admiralty & the Bd of Trade will write officially to us on the subject.

C Apl 17
B.J. Sulivan, memorandum on the necessity of installing the lights.
Sulivan to [Merivale], 12 April, 1859, expressing his conviction that the lighthouses should be installed with or without the financial support of the home government.
Ld Carnarvon Capt Sulivan of the Bd of Trade is very anxious about these lighthouses and with good reason. He says the loss of a single vessel would cost this country very probably much more than their expense, and moreover we stand in discredit as compared with the Americans.

I told him our difficulty with respect to any addition to our B. Col. Estimates, but said that if the Admiralty took on themselves, to urge it as a question of public security we might be perhaps persuaded. Or if he could suggest any way of fairly throwing it on the colony, we might write by Mail of 15th.

He has accordingly sent here this note which might serve (if you think proper) as the basis of a despatch to the Governor. You see the cost is reduced to 7000, i.e. for two lights only.

HM Apl 12
The Bd of Trade will write to us—also Admiralty on this subject. But Capn Sulivan requests that his note to Mr Merivale may be regarded only in the light of a private communication & not to be used officially. ABd