Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 13 October 1864, CO 60:19, no. 11641, 332.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (6), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
Seymour forwards correspondence between the Colonial Secretary and the California State Telegraph Company stating that the company cannot have
exclusive privilegesfor a telegraph line between San Francisco and British Columbia. He informs Cardwell that he has offered the company
assistance in laying the line of wire between New Westminster and the frontieras
compensationfor the loss of a monopoly. The Colonial Office minutes their discussion on Seymour’s handling of the matter as well as his request for instructions on the use of a cipher.
No. 62
13th October 1864
Sir,
Your despatch No. 7 of the 1st of June was opened in
my absence by the Colonial Secretary and he at once made the
communication, copy of which I enclose, to the California State
Telegraph informing the Company that the exclusive privileges
conferred on them by the 5th Clause of the Ordinance No. 9
of 1864, could not be allowed by HerMajesty's
Majesty's Government. I
enclose a copy of the reply.
Majesty's Government. I
enclose a copy of the reply.
2. I would however mention that Mr James Gamble, the
General Superintendent of the Company, has been on a visit to
me in New Westminster and that I have settled matters satisfactorily
with him. He is convinced that the disallowance of the special
and exclusive privileges was only consistent with the general
policy of Her Majesty's Government in these matters and will
proceed with his undertaking. As compensation however for his
disappointment I am going to give him considerableassistance
assistance
in laying the line of wire between New Westminster and the frontier.
assistance
in laying the line of wire between New Westminster and the frontier.
3. It is not impossible that in two months I shall be able
to communicate to you by telegraph, at least as far as Newfoundland,
and under these circumstances I would beg for instructions as to
the cipher or otherwise. Mr Gamble has been good enough to
promise to have a branch wire carried into my office at the
Camp, a mile from New Westminster.
4. I will have Ordinance No. 9 amended at the next meeting
of the Legislative Council.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
Governor Kennedy has already sent a similar letter from Mr Carpentier. See 10963. Mr Seymour asks for instructions as to the use of a Cypher.
Governor Kennedy has already sent a similar letter from Mr Carpentier. See 10963. Mr Seymour asks for instructions as to the use of a Cypher.
VJ
20 Decr
Sir F. Rogers
You will have to consider of the weight to be attached to the appeal against allowing exclusive privileges.
You will have to consider of the weight to be attached to the appeal against allowing exclusive privileges.
As to the Cipher, there are objections to using a
Cipher consisting of numbers in the Telegraphs of young
Countries, where numbers are apt to require telegraphing
as words, and I think that there would also be more
general objections to trusting to an infant Govt in
the back-woods the regular, official cipher of the British Govt.
At time of the Trent Crisis, I framed one on
purpose for Canada, which was adopted.
Explanations, if desired.
TFE
20/12
The difficulty appears to have been got over by Mr Seymour.
Mr S. shd I think be informed that Mr C. is glad
to learn that he anticipates no difficulty in settling
this matter, wh, if injudiciously handled, mt have become
embarrassing. As to the cypher, I have nothing to say
except that it appears to me that it wd be easy (if
requisite) to argue that when a telegram commenced with a
certain sign the telegram shd be understood to be
numbered the first ten letters of the alphabet being
taken to represent the 10 numbers.
FR
21/12
Of course the two Governors will communicate about the
Telegraph. But they mt as well be told to do so.
[FR]
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Copy, A.N. Birch, Colonial Secretary, to President of the California
Telegraph Co., 5 August 1864, advising of the prohibition of the
imperial government against the granting of exclusive privileges.
Horace Carpentier, President, to Colonial Secretary, 22
September 1864, advising that the telegraph link to New Westminster
would proceed as planned.
