<persName ref="prs:seymour_f"><surname>Seymour</surname>, <forename>Frederick</forename></persName> to <persName ref="prs:grenville_r"><surname>Grenville</surname>, <forename>Richard</forename></persName> 24 September 1867, CO 60:29, no. 10905, 206. Seymour addressee Buckingham

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 24 September 1867, CO 60:29, no. 10905, 206.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/B67127CO.html. CO 60:29 CO 60 29 10905 206 Confidential B.C. 1867registered 6 November co_60_29_00206r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

The project glossary items have xml:id attributes beginning with trm_, and we use a trm: prefix to refer to them when linking from term elements.

We link to orgs in orgs/organizations.xml using the org: prefix.

We link to places in places.xml using the plc: prefix.

We link to people in bios/*.xml using the prs: prefix.

We link to vessels in vessels/*.xml using the vsl: prefix.

We link to other documents in the collection using the cdc: prefix.

The cdt (ColDesp Document Type) prefix used on catRef/target points to a central taxonomy in the includes file.

We link to other documents in the collection using the cdc: prefix.

Despatch to London. Minutes (3).

This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.

Seymour describes the financial difficulties he is personally facing as the governor of British Columbia, including lacking a salary, as British Columbia is in debt, making donations, and hosting visiting officials. Seymour proposes to have part or all of his salary paid by Imperial Funds. Elliot’s minute agrees with Seymour’s proposal and cites Grey’s similar opinion. Rogers’s minute disagrees with Seymour’s proposal, citing that this would require Imperial Funds to support all governor’s with similar issues, but admits that Seymour’s self-subjected inconvenience…deserves to be…acknowledged.

Seymour, Frederick
Victoria
Grenville, Richard Added abstract. Inserted revisionDesc.
Confidential 10905, CO 60/29, p. 206; registered 6 November
Victoria
24th September 1867 My Lord Duke,

I would venture to call Your Grace's particular attention to my despatch No. 127 of even date, shewing the exertions that are being made to pay the heavy interestand and Sinking fund on our London Loans, and the position in which the payment of the Salaries of the Public Officers stands.

2. For myself I have only to say that were the Salary assigned to me paid regularly I should have but little, if any, surplus at the expiration of my term of Service. As it is, any small savings I made in Honduras have long since gone and I am living on an overdrawn account at the Bankon on which eighteen per cent is charged. Yet I cannot reduce my expenditure. I have two Government Houses to keep up. Two Capitals in which I must entertain. There are now six ships in harbour and a very large number of American officers, including lately two Generals, here. Some from San Juan, others on their way to Sitka. Two on a special mission to me toarrange arrange matters respecting our Northern Boundary and to concert on Indian policy. All these visitors, at least, I am bound to invite to my house, as I know well how difficult I might find my position here, if I once allowed the present friendly terms which exist between our republican neighbours and myself to cease.

3. Additionally, I have to contribute to every Churchfund fund and charity. To give pecuniary support to every public amusement.

4. I would venture respectfully to submit that a portion, at least, of my Salary should during the present depression be paid from Imperial Funds. British Columbia is now in a position which would be called in the neighbouring Republic that of a "territory." Its population is small andscattered scattered, the majority I think consists of aliens, and I need not conceal from Your Grace that the energetic efforts now being made by the Americans to garrison the miserable territory they have recently purchased from the Russians and develop its meagre resources, causes, with some, a feeling of repining at their connection with a far distant country which does, Your Grace willforgive forgive me for saying, but little for them. A small matter such as relieving the Colony of payment of a portion of my Salary, say £2,000 or £3,000 would I am sure be looked upon as a mark of interest. It would relieve me of some embarrassment as I cannot help thinking as I receive each payment, what bridge the money would have built, what road itwould would have repaired.

5. Yet I cannot see how my pay can be reduced with the important political and social duties I have to perform, nor do I think the United Colony on the Pacific ought to be allowed to degenerate into a second rate Government.

6. I do not propose the above as a permanent arrangement. I believe that the Colony will relieveitself itself in time from the present painful embarrassment.

I have the honor to be, My Lord Duke, Your most obedient humble Servant. Frederick Seymour
Mr Elliot You have all the Columbia Finance Papers before you. CC 6 Nov
Sir F. Rogers I have transferred them to your hands. Mr Seymour makes out rather a powerful case for a Salary from Imperial Funds. Every Governor is to a certain extent an Imperial officer, and it is much to be lamented when any difficulty arises about his being paid both adequately and regularly. Lord Grey used to be of opinion, I think, that all Governor's Salaries should be viewed as Imperial charges, like those of Ministers and Ambassadors. This would doubtless be considered to be going too far, but the reasoning might seem to vindicate providing such Salaries in difficult cases. TFE 7 Nov
Mr Seymour's case personally is very hard indeed. To have to borrow your Salary at 18 per cent interest—being 9 months in arrear is bad enough. (Vide 10837.)

But what is the origin of the B.C. distress?—that the Colony has spent profusely in roads &c and is now suffering from a reaction. But this suffering is a very wholesome suffering—& calculated to produce care & economy in the future.

If in every distress the purse of the U.K. is to be drawn upon, the Colonies will be always in some distress or other.

If it was possible to view the GovrGovernor of B.C. as charged with quasi diplomatic duties (in the absence of any F.O. agent) or special duties of representation—this mt be a claim for Imperial assistance. But I do not see that this can be made out to the requisite extent. Therefore I really do not see that we can do anything. I think however that the inconvenience to whwhich Gov Seymour is subjecting himself deserves to be handsomely acknowledged. Vide table in 10837.

FR