Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Peel, Frederick to Rogers, Frederic 17 February 1863, CO 60:17, no. 1887, 273.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (7), Other documents (2).
Peel to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Treasury Chambers
17 February 1863
Sir,
With reference to Mr Elliot's letter of 6th
Instant, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her
Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information
of the Duke of Newcastle, that they will not object to
the Agents General for Crown Colonies being authorized to
supply the articles required for the Assay and Melting
Departments in British Columbia, at an expense of £289.10.5,
provided they have funds in hand belonging to the Colony
out of which the expensecan
can be defrayed, but Their Lordships
are unable to sanction any advance being made for the purchase
of these Articles out of the Vote for British Columbia, or
out of other Imperial Funds.
can be defrayed, but Their Lordships
are unable to sanction any advance being made for the purchase
of these Articles out of the Vote for British Columbia, or
out of other Imperial Funds.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
The Agent Genl (Mr Sargeaunt) writes to us that B.C. is considerably in debt to him, about £486. This is abominable on the part of Governor Douglas, who has had repeated instructions to keep the Agent General in funds, & enable them to pay those charges which he is constantly asking the S.S. to sanction. The present case is a strong example of the inconvenience occasioned by his not remitting money: for if we are unable to persuade the Treasury to sanction the necessary advances the assay business will, in a
measure, be impaired in its efficiency, and the public
revenue correspondingly diminished.
The Agent Genl (Mr Sargeaunt) writes to us that B.C. is considerably in debt to him, about £486. This is abominable on the part of Governor Douglas, who has had repeated instructions to keep the Agent General in funds, & enable them to pay those charges which he is constantly asking the S.S. to sanction. The present case is a strong example of the inconvenience occasioned by his not remitting money: for if we are unable to persuade the Treasury to sanction the necessary advances the assay business will, in a
measure, be impaired in its efficiency, and the public
revenue correspondingly diminished.
ABd
19 Feb
I should authorize Mr Sargeaunt to procure and send out
the articles, and should tell the Governor that we have done so.
I should then write a separate official letter to
Mr Sargeaunt desiring to be informed how long the Government of
B. Columbia has been in debt to the Agents and of the dates and
amounts of the successive remittances they may have received
from that Colony since the 1st Jany 1862, and also to
be apprized whether the Agents have from time to time
acquainted the Governor with the state of the accounts and
applied to him for any remittances.
I think we ought also to receive a precis from upstairs,
showing the exact dates and particulars of the Instructions,
to which Mr Blackwood alludes, to Governor Douglas to keep
the Agents supplied with funds.
When this information is collected, there will be better
means of judging whether simple directions are still required
to Governor Douglas, or whether there are just and sufficient
grounds for any dissatisfaction with him and for an admonition.
TFE
21 Feb
Mr Elliot
The precis you ask for is annexed. The observations I made—writing from memory—were not intended to be confined to B.C. Whether as Govr of B. Columbia or Van Couver Isld I felt persuaded that Mr Douglas had been often cautioned to keep us in funds for the demands he makes upon us, & Mr Pennells statement confirms the impression.
The precis you ask for is annexed. The observations I made—writing from memory—were not intended to be confined to B.C. Whether as Govr of B. Columbia or Van Couver Isld I felt persuaded that Mr Douglas had been often cautioned to keep us in funds for the demands he makes upon us, & Mr Pennells statement confirms the impression.
Since writing my minute on the 19th I learn that the
Treasurer, Major Gossett, now on leave here, has not drawn
his 1/2 pay and contemplates applying for it. How is he to
be paid if the Govr has omitted the necessary provision.
ABd
25 F
Directing him on all future occasions on which stores
are required for service of his Govt to remit to
Agents Genl the funds requisite for meeting the expenditure—but
stating that is wd be preferable to send them some
general remittance sufficient to meet all current demands of this sort.
Septe to Govr of Vancr Island, 3rd June.
Septe to Govr of Vancr Island, 3rd June.
On the subject of the negligence of the Colonies generally,
in not supplying Agents with funds for services of Colonies—Instruct
Govr to keep Agents supplied with funds in advance.
No. 116, to Govr of Vancouver Island, 30 Augt/62.
No. 116, to Govr of Vancouver Island, 30 Augt/62.
Instructs Govr to remit funds to Agents Genl to meet
current demands.
No. 2 to Govr Vancr Island, 6 Jany/63.
No. 2 to Govr Vancr Island, 6 Jany/63.
Instructs Govr to remit funds to Agents Genl to meet
current demands.
There are also other despatches to the Govr of Vancr Island
instructing him to repay sums expended by Agents on stores—and
the last two despatches above mentioned telling the Govr
to keep Agents generally supplied arose on particular
applications for repayment of sums advanced.
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to Crown Agents, 26 February 1863, asking to be
furnished with a statement showing the state of their account with
British Columbia, and inquiring whether they have "from time to time
acquainted Governor Douglas with the state of the accounts."
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I shd make this applicable also to V.C. Island for the reasons in my minute of this day on 1887.
I shd make this applicable also to V.C. Island for the reasons in my minute of this day on 1887.
Done.
TFE
25/2
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to Crown Agents, 26 February 1863, authorizing them to procure and ship the stores required for the assay department
of
British Columbia.