Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 27 September 1864, CO 60:19, no. 10952, 287.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1).
Seymour requests a half-salary as compensation for his
early departureto assume his position as governor of British Columbia. Elliot minutes that Seymour
has not the shadow of a claim to half salary in this caseand instructs Jadis to draft a reply providing Seymour with a copy of the
rules which preclude [Seymour’s] claim.
No. 53
27th September 1864
Sir,
I have the honor to state that on arrival at New Westminster
I learnt that my Predecessor, Sir James Douglas, had drawn the
full salary of Governor up to the date of my arrival. It was
stated that he had done so under instructions from the Duke of Newcastle.
2. I applied to His Grace to be allowed to defer my departurefrom
from England until the 17th of March offering to surrender all
claim to half Salary during the voyage to British Columbia if the
indulgence was granted to me. Reasons of importance however compelled
His Grace to direct my early departure, and I considered myself,
therefore, entitled to half pay from the time I left Southampton,
the 17th of February.
from England until the 17th of March offering to surrender all
claim to half Salary during the voyage to British Columbia if the
indulgence was granted to me. Reasons of importance however compelled
His Grace to direct my early departure, and I considered myself,
therefore, entitled to half pay from the time I left Southampton,
the 17th of February.
3. I have drawn that allowance subject of course to your
instructions, and I should have reported the matter earlier had
I not been engaged in public duties of great importance in the
interior of the Colony.
I have
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Governor Seymour would of course have been entitled to 1/2 Salary from the date of embarkation had there been any Salary available, but his Predecessor remained in the execution of his duties till his Successor assumed the Govt. He had therefore I think an undoubted right to the full Salary of his Office?
Governor Seymour would of course have been entitled to 1/2 Salary from the date of embarkation had there been any Salary available, but his Predecessor remained in the execution of his duties till his Successor assumed the Govt. He had therefore I think an undoubted right to the full Salary of his Office?
VJ
28 Novr
Mr Cardwell
Governor Seymour has not the shadow of a claim to half salary in this case, and it is to be lamented that he should have drawn the money without applying for previous authority. The Colonial Regulations are perfectly explicit on the point. If half salary is disposable an Officer may have it from the
time of embarkation, but if
the Principal be still in the exercise of his Office on
the spot, no half salary is available, and the pay of the
new officer can only begin from the date of his arrival.
Articles 90 & 99 are conclusive.
Governor Seymour has not the shadow of a claim to half salary in this case, and it is to be lamented that he should have drawn the money without applying for previous authority. The Colonial Regulations are perfectly explicit on the point. If half salary is disposable an Officer may have it from the
time of embarkation, but if
the Principal be still in the exercise of his Office on
the spot, no half salary is available, and the pay of the
new officer can only begin from the date of his arrival.
Articles 90 & 99 are conclusive.
I do not know any cases which appear to me more
objectionable than those of Officers dipping their hand
into the public Treasury, in order to pay themselves money
in doubtful instances without previous authority.
I should refer Governor Seymour to the rules which
preclude his claim, and should request that he will have
the goodness to refund the money, and to report his having
done so to this Department.
TFE
1 Decr
