Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 7 January 1859, CO 60:4, no. 2730, 30.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (2).
Douglas provides Lytton with a letter from Reverend Crickmer providing his license from the Bishop of London and a copy of his reply where he proposes to
put him in possession of the Parsonage and Churchat Fort Langley.
The minutes approve of Douglas’s actions but request further information from the Bishop of London concerning the legitimacy of Crickmer’s credentials.
Enclosed are four documents relating to Crickmer’s credentials.
No. 69
I have the honor to forward to you herewith copy of a
letter addressed to me by the Reverend W.B. Crickmer,
enclosing his License from the Bishop of London to fulfil
the office of Chaplain to the British Residents in British Columbia.
I
2. I also forward a copy of my reply, from which you
will perceive that I propose to put him in possession
of the Parsonage and Church it is contemplated to build
at Fort Langley as soon as circumstances may permit, and I
have further offered him, for the present, any assistance
in my power; but as I have no official intimation of the
appointment of Mr Crickmer, and no instructions respecting
him, I have to solicit your directions concerning him at
your earliest convenience.
2. I also forward a copy of my reply, from which you
will perceive that I propose to put him in possession
of the Parsonage and Church it is contemplated to build
at Fort Langley as soon as circumstances may permit, and I
have further offered him, for the present, any assistance
in my power; but as I have no official intimation of the
appointment of Mr Crickmer, and no instructions respecting
him, I have to solicit your directions concerning him at
your earliest convenience.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Apprize the Colonial Church & School Society of what the Govr has done for Mr Crickmer. Ansr the Govr that the course he has pursued is very proper; but that this Clergyman was neither selected nor paid by the Imp: Govt & that, under those circes, Sir E. Lytton has no communication to make to the Govr respecting him.
Apprize the Colonial Church & School Society of what the Govr has done for Mr Crickmer. Ansr the Govr that the course he has pursued is very proper; but that this Clergyman was neither selected nor paid by the Imp: Govt & that, under those circes, Sir E. Lytton has no communication to make to the Govr respecting him.
ABd
15/3
Copy of the correspe should also be sent to the Bishop.
HM
Mh 15
Sir Edward Lytton
I am sorry to interfere between Mr Crickmer and Govr Douglas' good intentions towards him but I must say that I think that the circumstances brought before us by this desp. for the first time require some further explanation before you can assent to the arrangements involved.
I am sorry to interfere between Mr Crickmer and Govr Douglas' good intentions towards him but I must say that I think that the circumstances brought before us by this desp. for the first time require some further explanation before you can assent to the arrangements involved.
We have by this desp. [learned] of the formal
appointment of Mr Crickmer by the Bp of
London to an office called "the Colonial Chaplaincy" of which
the Sec. of State knows nothing, but which if it existed at
all wd be a appointment by the Colonial Minister & not by
the bishop of London. It wd be therefore desirable to know
1st whether the Bp of London did ever give such
credentials—2nd to see copies of them—3rd to have it
distinctly understood that they convey no authority under which Mr
Crickmer can 
claim particular power or privileges.
claim particular power or privileges.
The history of the case is this—the S.P.G. applied last year
for assistance to their endeavour which they were then making
to meet the religious destitution of the Colony. We
declined on the ground of a want of funds but offered their
missionary a free passage which was accepted. The Church
Missionary Socy then in turn made the same request
which was answered in the same terms but they declined the
passage. Mr Gammage, who was
first appointed has sailed—but meanwhile it appears that Mr
Crickmer has anticipated him by going out on his own account & armed
with the Bp of London's credentials seems likely to
monopolise whatever ecclesiastical preferment—little
enough I sd think—there may be in the Colony &—which
mainly concerns us—
to assume an official position as
the Colonial Chaplain which the Sec. of State has
not conferred. It must be borne in mind that there is now
a bishop for B. Columbia and that no ecclesiastical
arrangement ought to be agreed to as permanent until he can
reach his own See and decide for himself. I cannot but
suspect in this affair some desire on the part of Mr Crickmer
to forestall every other clergyman who might be bound for the
Colony & to secure for himself a priority of position—which
it wd be very undesirable to concede without full consideration.
to assume an official position as
the Colonial Chaplain which the Sec. of State has
not conferred. It must be borne in mind that there is now
a bishop for B. Columbia and that no ecclesiastical
arrangement ought to be agreed to as permanent until he can
reach his own See and decide for himself. I cannot but
suspect in this affair some desire on the part of Mr Crickmer
to forestall every other clergyman who might be bound for the
Colony & to secure for himself a priority of position—which
it wd be very undesirable to concede without full consideration.
I wd therefore guard this point in your
reply to the Govrs desp. and I wd write to the Bp of
London to ask for information as to the nature of the
credentials which he is said to have given to Mr Crickmer.
C
Mch 16
As Ld C suggests.
EBL
M 17
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Lytton to Lord Bishop of London, 24 March 1859, forwarding
copy of Crickmer's letter and asking for clarification.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
