Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 26 November 1864, CO 60:19, no. 1377, 422.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Other documents (1), Marginalia (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.
Seymour reports that he has appointed William Cox to the position of Police Magistrate and Assistant Gold Commissioner at the Kootenay gold mines and that he proposes an increase in salary for magistrates as opposed
to
irregularallowances that supplement their current salaries.
No. 72
26th November 1864
Sir,
I have, the honor to report that I have, subject to your
pleasure, appointed Mr William George Cox to be Police Magistrate
and Assistant Gold Commissioner at the Kootenay Gold Mines
recently discovered in the Rocky Mountains.
2. Mr
2. Mr Cox has gradually risen in the service till he
has reached the Magistracy and Assistant Gold Commissionership
at Van Winkle in the district of Cariboo. I showed my confidence
in him when I selected him to be the leader of the party of
Volunteers whom I despatched from Alexandria recently to operate
against the insurgent Chilicoten Indians. Mr Cox is a person
of great tact in the management of Indians and the rougher classes
of American minersand
and has acquired very great popularity in Cariboo.
and has acquired very great popularity in Cariboo.
3. The Salaries of the Assistant Gold Commissioners as
reported in the Colonial Office List, give but a very imperfect
idea of the emoluments attached to the situations. The Cariboo
Magistrates receive in addition to their fixed pay, allowances
of nearly £500 a year. I propose to recommend in Council the
substitution of an increase of Salary for these irregular payments,
which weregiven
given for a particular and special purpose at first
but have now acquired somewhat of the character of vested rights.
I have not yet determined on the amount of pay which Mr Cox
will receive, but I think viewing the importance of the situation
and its remoteness from the seat of Government, the Salary should
be a liberal one. The political duties of keeping on good terms
with the Authorities of the Neighbouring United States Territories
will I think be wellperformed
performed by Mr Cox.
given for a particular and special purpose at first
but have now acquired somewhat of the character of vested rights.
I have not yet determined on the amount of pay which Mr Cox
will receive, but I think viewing the importance of the situation
and its remoteness from the seat of Government, the Salary should
be a liberal one. The political duties of keeping on good terms
with the Authorities of the Neighbouring United States Territories
will I think be wellperformed
performed by Mr Cox.
See recent desph 3694.
ABd
21 Apl/65
4. Mr Cox's transfer creates no opportunity for making
a new appointment. As stated in my despatch No. 33 of 5th of
September, I have Mr Gaggin on my hands, with a claim to Salary
but no fixed sphere of duties. I place him now in Cariboo West
to succeed Mr Cox. Van Winkle is however almost abandoned by
the Miners, so Mr Gaggin will be stationed at the rising townof
of Quesnel Mouth on the Upper Fraser.
of Quesnel Mouth on the Upper Fraser.
5. I may mention incidentally, having referred to my
despatch No. 33 that Mr Gaggin was gratified by my offer to
restore him to Douglas, but that he begged I would keep him in
the Cariboo district if possible.
