<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> 8 June 1868, CO 60:32, no. 7429, 489. Seymour addressee Buckingham

Published by Jim Hendrickson and the University of Victoria.

Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 8 June 1868, CO 60:32, no. 7429, 489.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/B68059.html. CO 60:32 CO 60 32 7429 489 59 B.C. 1868 received 16 July co_60_32_00490r.jpg Transcribed from microfilm archives, marked up in Waterloo Script, then transformed into TEI P5 XML.

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Despatch to London. Minutes (2), Other documents (1).

Seymour informs Buckingham that the Returns will not be forwarded by the present opportunity and that Seymour has never appointed an Officer higher than a constable. Seymour discusses the financial difficulties of British Columbia and how those difficulties are affecting government offices, as well as Seymour’s personal finances. Cox’s minute suggests sending to the Treasury Seymour’s despatch and Buckingham’s despatch of the 10 April No 22, written on the receipt of their letter 3274. Blake’s minute suggests seeing subsequent 102/11064/68.

Seymour, Frederick
Victoria
Grenville, Richard Added abstract. Inserted revisionDesc.
No. 59 7429, CO 60/32, p. 489; received 16 July
Victoria
8th June 1868 My Lord Duke,

I have had the honor to receive today Your despatch No. 22, of 10th April, on the subject of the financial condition of the Colony. TheReturns Returns called for by Your Grace I shall be unable to forward, I regret to say, by the present opportunity. They shall follow by the next.

2. As far as I am concerned I have to repeat the statement, that I have never appointed an Officer higher than a constable and have no expectation of doing so during my incumbency of Office. Myduty duty has been simply to cut down expenditure and many are the families I have reduced to destitution.

3. To impose additional taxation, as suggested by Your Grace, would be simply to drive the unattached population out of the Colony and to leave us poorer than we are now.

4. Enormous sums were spent by my predecessor in making rival roads tothe the single Gold Mine of Cariboo. A staff of Public Officers was created sufficient for a population ten times as great as we have now. To me has fallen the melancholy task of reducing expenditure, and I may mention incidentally that my own Salary is upwards of eleven months in arrears and that the Bank of British Columbia is charging me eighteen per cent intereston on an overdrawn account.

5. The reductions I propose to make will probably leave me without an Executive Council and I shall have humbly to request fresh Royal Instructions.

I have the honor to be, My Lord Duke, Your Grace's most obedient, humble Servant. Frederick Seymour
Sir F. Rogers Send to the Ty for information a copy of the D. of Buckingham's of the 10 April No 22, written on the receipt of their letter 3274, & of this despatch? CC 17 July FR 17/7 CBA 18/7 B&C 18/7
See subsequent 102/11064/68. [EB]
Rogers to Secretary to the Treasury, 25 July 1868, forwarding copies of correspondence with reference to the financial condition of the colony.