Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 1 November 1859, CO 60:5, no. 880, 243.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
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.
Douglas forwards a copy of
a Report…received from Mr William Downie,which, among other accounts, relates
the unsuccessful result of the attempt made in the month of July last, by a body of miners from this place, to explore Queen Charlotte's Island.Downie's report also discusses extensive travels through British Columbia's interior and the discovery of
gold in small quantities on the Skeena River.
No. 235
I have the honor to forward for your Grace's information
the Copy of a Report which I lately received from Mr William
Downie, the same enterprising person who last winter furnished
a report, also forwarded with my Despatch No 123 of the 25th
of March last, on Jarvis' Inlet.
The
2. The report now transmitted relates to the unsuccessful
result of the attempt made in the month of July last, by a body
of miners from this place, to explore Queen Charlotte's Island.
3. The adventurers, dismayed by the rugged aspect of the
Country, the humidity of the climate, and the numbers and
formidable appearance of the Native Tribes, did not prosecute
the enterprise with resolution or tenacity, and soon returned to
this place, with the exception of a few daring spirits, who
accompanied Mr Downie to Fort Simpson, and there made arrangement
to explore the course of Skeena River, which flows into the sea
at Port Essington, North Latitude 54o 15.
4. The party commenced the ascent of the Skeena in a canoe,
which they managed to take on as far as the Forks, a distance
of 110 miles from the Sea. The River ceases to be navigable
at that point, in consequence it is supposed of Falls and
dangerous rapids; and they had to leave the canoe, and to travel
55 miles by land to the Indian Village of "Naas Glee", a celebrated native fishing station, from whence the Skeena again
becomes navigable to its source in "Babine Lake", fifteen
miles beyond "Naas Glee".
5. Babine Lake is a broad and extensive sheet of water
nearly 90 miles in length, with depth sufficient for vessels
of the largest class; and is 
separated by a low table-land 13
miles in breadth from Stuarts Lake, a feeder of Fraser's River,
not quite so large as Babine Lake, but otherwise equally well
adapted for the purposes of navigation.
separated by a low table-land 13
miles in breadth from Stuarts Lake, a feeder of Fraser's River,
not quite so large as Babine Lake, but otherwise equally well
adapted for the purposes of navigation.
6. The Report closes with the arrival of Mr Downie and
party, after much suffering and privation, at Fort St. James,
Stuart's Lake; when their wants were generously relieved, and
themselves hospitably entertained, by the officers of the
Hudson's Bay Company.
7. Mr Downie made several important discoveries in course
of his adventurous journey. He found gold in small quantities on
the 
Skeena River; and the mountains, which he had not time to
explore, appeared to be of the formation containing gold; he
also saw very valuable and extensive beds of coal. He moreover
found gold on Stuarts Lake. He describes the country between
the Forks and "Naas Glee" as being well adapted for farming,
and suitable for the construction of roads. The whole distance
from Babine Lake to the Sea does not appear to exceed 180
miles, a great part of which is accessible by water.
Skeena River; and the mountains, which he had not time to
explore, appeared to be of the formation containing gold; he
also saw very valuable and extensive beds of coal. He moreover
found gold on Stuarts Lake. He describes the country between
the Forks and "Naas Glee" as being well adapted for farming,
and suitable for the construction of roads. The whole distance
from Babine Lake to the Sea does not appear to exceed 180
miles, a great part of which is accessible by water.
8. The valley of the Skeena is thus shewn to be an available
avenue into the interior of British Columbia, and will, I have
no doubt, soon become a most 
important outlet for the upper
Districts of Fraser's River; which, from the course of the River
and the direction of the Coast, are brought in close proximity
with the sea.
important outlet for the upper
Districts of Fraser's River; which, from the course of the River
and the direction of the Coast, are brought in close proximity
with the sea.
9. As a means of supplying the distant mining Districts of
British Columbia by a shorter and cheaper route than the valley
of Fraser's River, its importance will soon be appreciated, and
attract the attention of the mining and commercial classes; and
I believe that the day is not far distant when Steamers will be
busily plying on the waters of the two great inland Lakes.
10. It appears from the 
American papers published in Washington Territory, that rich gold diggings have been very lately found by
the men of the United States Boundary Commission on the Shimilcomeen
River, and we shall have to turn our attention immediately to that
quarter, as the greater part of the Shimilcomeen Valley lies north
of the 49th parallel of latitude, and within the limits of this
Colony.
American papers published in Washington Territory, that rich gold diggings have been very lately found by
the men of the United States Boundary Commission on the Shimilcomeen
River, and we shall have to turn our attention immediately to that
quarter, as the greater part of the Shimilcomeen Valley lies north
of the 49th parallel of latitude, and within the limits of this
Colony.
11. The enclosed clipping from the "Pioneer and Democrat" of
the 4th of November instant contains all the information we
have yet received relative to that discovery.
P.S. I forward herewith for Your 
Grace's information, a rough
map of British Columbia, on which is a tracing in red, of the
route pursued by Mr Downie.
This is not sufficiently accurate to be worth engraving. I will however, endeavour to send a more correct plan shortly.
James Douglas
Grace's information, a rough
map of British Columbia, on which is a tracing in red, of the
route pursued by Mr Downie.
This is not sufficiently accurate to be worth engraving. I will however, endeavour to send a more correct plan shortly.
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
1. Copy of despatch & (minuted) enclosures to the Geographical Society.
2. Communicate to Parlt with other B. Columbia Papers.
This Shimilkameen discovery of gold will divert the attention
of the California Miners, from the Fraser River Districts, wh.
they were expected to visit this spring & summer.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Secretary, Geographical Society, 24 February
1860, forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosure for information.
.
Downie's report, Col Corr, GR1372, F487/4a, Mf B1326, PABC
See also his further report in F487/4b, ibid.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
William Downie to Douglas, 10 October 1859, reporting
on his exploration of the Skeena River (fifteen pages).
Newspaper clipping, Olympia
Pioneer and Democrat, 4 November 1859,
"New and Rich Gold Discoveries on the Si-mil-ka-meen River."