No. 29
[8946, CO 305/10, p. 281; received 7 September
]
25 July 1859
I have the honor of transmitting herewith for the information of
Her Majestys Government, a communication from Mr Pemberton
Surveyor General of Vancouvers Island forwarding the reports of
Mr PearsePearse and Mr Wells, two of his assistants descriptive of
certain districts of country at Cowichin and Nanaimo, lately
surveyed by them.
2. Those reports are accompanied by Maps illustrative of the
situation of those Districts, and of their general character as
to soil and natural productions, and therefore form interesting
additions to the topography of this Colony.
3. I would submit howhow desirable it would be for these Maps to
be lithographed in England and distributed there as well as sent
out here for sale and distribution in the Colony.
4. The Maps and reports are packed in a small deal case and are
forwarded by the same mail.
I have etc.
Mr Merivale
I think we might send these papers to the War Office with a
request that they would cause the Maps to be lithographed at the
Military Topographical Office. The work wdwould be done more
cheaply, & I suppose quite as well, there than if we were to
employ any body else?
Copy also to Geographical Society? and Land Board. Would it be
advisable to desire the Land Board to print the reports of
these Surveyors of the favorable character of the Country they
have examined, & have them distributed, for sale in the Ports
where there are Emigration Agents. It is an important object to
secure British Settlers in a quarter where scarcely 4 per cent
are English subjects. A war with America, with 96 per cent
foreigners in B. Columbia & V. C. Island, wdwould be a serious
business & dangerous. It would be very satisfactory & easy to
have a census taken shewing nationalities in both of these
Colonies.
ABd
9 Sepr
Mr Fortescue
I agree with Mr Blackwood that it would be a very proper step
to lead the Emn Commrs to make public the attractions of Vanc.
I. as far as they justly can. But as to setting up one
nationality against another—English against American—I think
the time is past for such policy, if it was ever good at all.
We are entering on a new & very singular place in our
British-North-American history. Along the whole of the line
49o from Red River to Vanc. I. inclusive, the American
population of the prairies is pressing into our territory, &
will do so more & more as it presents the double attraction of
gold & game. These wandering people are beyond our control.
They will absorb us, or we shall absorb them. The tiny
[dishlots?]
of Emigration we might send out by sea would vanish altogether
in the compound. What then is there to prevent our provinces
from becoming Americanized? No remedies that I know of, except
those of better laws & better society and greater freedom from
taxation. And—strange as it may appear to those who remember
the days of Lord Durham & Lord Sydenham—
influence. The ancient enthusiasm of the Yankees for their
institutions has had some shrewd knocks of late. The license of
California, the Indian massacres of Oregon, & the civil war of
Kansas have done more for British influence than any
political devices of ours could have achieved. The change may
be very temporary: but we must profit by it while it lasts, &
not be jealous of the immigration it helps to produce. In the
mean time, whoever may ultimately profit thereby, it is
encouraging to receive such accounts of the natural capabilities
of Vancouver's Island. It seems to be a very attractive region:
& likely to prosper greatly, if the settlers can be secure
against the Indians: at present (thanks to Hudson's Bay Company
management) these seem very tractable.
HM
S 10
I have no doubt of the truth of these remarks—particularly as
respects the country along the 49th parallel—(cut off as it is
from Canada &c by that intractable region between Lake Superior
& Red River) wh. we must expect to see mainly settled by
Yankees. But I confess I should like to see a good British
infusion into V.Couver's Island, wh. is likely to be so valuable
both as a Colony, and a Naval port—and the more encouragement
that can be given to emigration from home, the better.
CF
12
Many years ago I advocated British Colonization of Vancouvers
Island and subsequent events certainly have not tended to
diminish my sense of its importance, though I by no means wish
to see any obstacle thrown in the way of a Yankee Immigration.
Encouragement is quite another matter.
Adopt Mr Blackwood's proposals.
N
13