Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 2 November 1865, CO 60:23, no. 10701, 334.
Abstract
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 2 November 1865, CO 60:23, no. 10701, 334.
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Marginalia (1).
Seymour to Cardwell
London
2 November 1865
Sir,
Among the papers lost in the wreck of the steamer
"Brother Jonathan"
would appear to have been an unofficial
letter from you directing me to communicate freely with the
Governor of Vancouver Island on the suggested union of the
two colonies west of the Rocky Mountains. You
enclosed a copy
of this letter to Governor Kennedy, and the Vancouver Island
mail bag having been recovered, I thus became aware five
minutes before my departure from Victoria, of the contents of
a communication which has never reached me.
Duplicates of all the public Desp lost in this Vessel have been
supplied.
enclosed a copy
of this letter to Governor Kennedy, and the Vancouver Island
mail bag having been recovered, I thus became aware five
minutes before my departure from Victoria, of the contents of
a communication which has never reached me.
I learn that Mr Kennedy transmitted to you a copy of
an informal letter headdressed
addressed to me on the same subject;
a letter to which I had not, at the time of my departure from
Victoria, returned an answer. I have now the honor to lay
before you a copy of a hurried communication which I sent to
him from San Francisco in reply.
addressed to me on the same subject;
a letter to which I had not, at the time of my departure from
Victoria, returned an answer. I have now the honor to lay
before you a copy of a hurried communication which I sent to
him from San Francisco in reply.
Although no definite scheme for the union of the two
colonies was proposed on either side, I am happy to say that
the relations which existed between the Governor of Vancouver
Island & myself were always of the most intimate and friendly nature.
the relations which existed between the Governor of Vancouver
Island & myself were always of the most intimate and friendly nature.
The Right Hon:
Edward Cardwell M.P.
Edward Cardwell M.P.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Mr Cardwell has I believe all the important Despatches on the subject of the Union before him, with a Memo by Mr Blackwood.
Mr Cardwell has I believe all the important Despatches on the subject of the Union before him, with a Memo by Mr Blackwood.
VJ
3 Novr
TFE
4 Novr
I have seen Gov. Seymour. Put by.
EC
11
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Seymour to Kennedy
Until our conversation took place just before I left
Victoria I had no idea that you attached much importance to
the letter you wrote me in New Westminster on the subject
of the suggested union of the two colonies. I should
certainly have answered it, had you desired it,
although I
do not see that my answer would possibly have been satisfactory.
although I
do not see that my answer would possibly have been satisfactory.
The situation of things at the time you wrote was this;
Vancouver Island, through its House of Assembly, had declared
in favour of union upon any terms. B. Columbia, through its
Legislative Council, had pronounced against the proposed union.
You, however, commence with the rather startling assertion
that the only obstacles
to union rest with Vancouver Island.
This was not a promising foundation for our correspondence.
to union rest with Vancouver Island.
This was not a promising foundation for our correspondence.
I gathered however from you in conversation that your
meaning was that as I had the power to command a majority of
votes in the Council I could force down any measure in favour
of which the Secretary of State had shewn a leaning. You are
aware of the attention which
was paid in Downing Street to the
oratory of the people of British Columbia, even before they
possessed their present very moderate share of representation.
I cannot believe that I should be consulting the wishes of H.M's
Government were I [to] make union a Government question in my
Council and carry it by force. Far from that, I am convinced
that I should be blamed for exercising
a tyrannical power
which would revive all the old complaints. I think the
proceeding would be so unwise that, as I said in your office,
I should not take it without instructions so imperative as
to leave me no discretion.
was paid in Downing Street to the
oratory of the people of British Columbia, even before they
possessed their present very moderate share of representation.
I cannot believe that I should be consulting the wishes of H.M's
Government were I [to] make union a Government question in my
Council and carry it by force. Far from that, I am convinced
that I should be blamed for exercising
a tyrannical power
which would revive all the old complaints. I think the
proceeding would be so unwise that, as I said in your office,
I should not take it without instructions so imperative as
to leave me no discretion.
You informed me of your intention of dissolving your
Assembly on the union question. I expressed verbally my
satisfaction at the intention.
Agreeing with you, in the abstract, that
union is desirable,
I waited to see whether any party in favour of it would rise
up in this Colony. Failing that, it was very difficult for
me to enter into any negotiation on the subject, and I even
refrained from writing about it to the Secretary of State.
The despatch to which he alludes, in his note which has not
reached me, enclosed my proroguing speech on my assumption
of office. I therein
said, referring very shortly to my
speech that I considered a return to the old order of things
impossible and that Cariboo could never be satisfactorily
governed from Victoria; or something to that effect.
union is desirable,
I waited to see whether any party in favour of it would rise
up in this Colony. Failing that, it was very difficult for
me to enter into any negotiation on the subject, and I even
refrained from writing about it to the Secretary of State.
The despatch to which he alludes, in his note which has not
reached me, enclosed my proroguing speech on my assumption
of office. I therein
said, referring very shortly to my
speech that I considered a return to the old order of things
impossible and that Cariboo could never be satisfactorily
governed from Victoria; or something to that effect.
The state of uncertainty which the agitation in your
Colony has kept up in both is most detrimental and I shall
be glad to see an end put to it, but this it is not in
our
power to bring about. You seem to see this as you have
never made a suggestion to me on the subject upon which we
could have founded a discussion. It was prima facie for you,
as the representative of the proposing colony to have made
the advances, for me, whose people wish to keep clear of the
connexion, to be reserved.
power to bring about. You seem to see this as you have
never made a suggestion to me on the subject upon which we
could have founded a discussion. It was prima facie for you,
as the representative of the proposing colony to have made
the advances, for me, whose people wish to keep clear of the
connexion, to be reserved.
I should long ago have answered you had
I thought you cared
about it. I fear that this answer will not appear very satisfactory.
I thought you cared
about it. I fear that this answer will not appear very satisfactory.