Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 15 July 1867, CO 60:28, no. 8566, 315.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (7), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Seymour forwards a certificate showing that Seymour
granted six months leave of absence to Mr Birch, Colonial Secretary of British Columbia,and explains why Seymour granted Birch a leave of absence, despite Birch being employed at the Colonial Office. Minutes by Cox, Buckingham, Rogers, and Adderley discuss if Birch’s leave of absence should be confirmed and Birch’s career path following Birch’s return to the Colonial Office. Engleheart’s minute from 1863 is included for reference regarding Birch’s position in British Columbia and the Colonial Office.
No. 91
Victoria
15th July 1867
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward a certificate shewing that I
have granted six months leave of absence to Mr Birch Colonial
Secretary of BritishColumbia
Columbia. Mr Birch being on the Staff
of Your Grace's department I need make no statement as to the
circumstances under which he accepted Office in this Colony and
now returns to Downing Street. My object in giving Mr Birch
leave of absence was not so much to provide him with a Salary
as to enable him should he think fit, to resume the duties of
his Office here which he has filled greatly to my satisfaction.
It will therefore be desirable that should MrBirch
Birch re-enter
the Colonial Office on full pay that his British Columbia Salary
should cease.
Columbia. Mr Birch being on the Staff
of Your Grace's department I need make no statement as to the
circumstances under which he accepted Office in this Colony and
now returns to Downing Street. My object in giving Mr Birch
leave of absence was not so much to provide him with a Salary
as to enable him should he think fit, to resume the duties of
his Office here which he has filled greatly to my satisfaction.
It will therefore be desirable that should MrBirch
Birch re-enter
the Colonial Office on full pay that his British Columbia Salary
should cease.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I understand that Lord Carnarvon left it to Mr Seymour to appoint a Successor to Mr Birch. I suppose therefore Mr Birch may be allowed to receive 1/2 Salary until he comes back to this Office which I presume will be very soon.
I understand that Lord Carnarvon left it to Mr Seymour to appoint a Successor to Mr Birch. I suppose therefore Mr Birch may be allowed to receive 1/2 Salary until he comes back to this Office which I presume will be very soon.
CC
2 Sept.
I annex the copy of the Minutes of 1863 recording the terms
on wh leave of absence from the C.O. and the temporary
apptmt at B. Columbia (with the option of keeping it) was
given to Mr Birch—at his request.
The maximum salary of a Junior Clerk (wh Mr Birch then
was) is £300—he was also Private Secretary wh is an addition of
£150. The minimum of an assistant to wh class Mr Birch was
likely to be soon promoted was £350.
The Salary of the Col Secy
at B.C. was £800 with the chance of succeeding to the Admn of
the Govt with half salary of
£[blank] (both exclusive of travelling
expenses). Mr Birch held the adminn for 14 months on a half
salary of £2000.
£[blank] (both exclusive of travelling
expenses). Mr Birch held the adminn for 14 months on a half
salary of £2000.
I think arrangements of this kind very useful, both because
it is convenient that offices in the Colonies shd be occasionally
filled by Gentlemen who understand the transaction of business
in this department and because it is still more useful that some
member of this office shd know a little practically of the
Colonies (though this has its drawbacks occasionally). But I think
that arrangements of this kind should always be such that the
temporary increase of Salary & pleasure & change of scene shd
sufficiently compensate those who are thus detached for any
incidental expenses involved in the change witht imposing any cost
either on the Colony, or on any other Member of this Office or of the
Colonial Service.
I think in this case the temporary increase of
Mr B's Salary and, while Admg the Govt, of position,
is sufficient to cover all such incidental expenses &
inconveniences: and that Mr Birch when he "elected" to give up his
Colonial Secretaryship & resume his place in this Office was on the same
footing as any other officer who resigns his Colonial Office after
two or three years service witht any claim on the Colony for
indulgence or compensation.
I think in this case the temporary increase of
Mr B's Salary and, while Admg the Govt, of position,
is sufficient to cover all such incidental expenses &
inconveniences: and that Mr Birch when he "elected" to give up his
Colonial Secretaryship & resume his place in this Office was on the same
footing as any other officer who resigns his Colonial Office after
two or three years service witht any claim on the Colony for
indulgence or compensation.
When he thus resigned, he had no claim on the Colony for half
salary during his journey home; & still less was there any ground
for permanently withholding that half salary from the officer
provisionally appointed to do his work, to whom that salary wd
become properly due if he was confirmed in his office. It appears
at first sight that Mr Young—having been Coll Secretary
of V.C.I.
has a strong claim to the appointment though I learn
from Mr Birch that his Vancouver connections or inclinations
render him distasteful to the B Columbian party.
has a strong claim to the appointment though I learn
from Mr Birch that his Vancouver connections or inclinations
render him distasteful to the B Columbian party.
I think however that considering that the arrangement—though
made at Mr Birch's request, is on principle useful a one and
(particularly) useful to this Office, Mr Birch may well be
considered as absent from the Colonial Office on leave (i.e. with
the full salary of a junior,) from the date at which he ceased to
draw Salary in B. Columbia. This will be at the rate of 300£
per ann instead of the rate £400.
On Mr Jadis' retirement a place will be vacant in the
Assistant Class to wh Class I wd then propose that Mr B
shd be advanced taking at once the place, in point of priority
to wh he wd have been entitled had he remained at home &
been promoted in order of seniority. Of course he cd only come in
at the minimum salary.
FR
21/9
This seems to me the right view.
Mr Blackwood
The Duke of Newcastle has appointed Mr A.N. Birch at his own request Colonial Secretary of British Columbia. He is to retain his position in this Office unaffected in any respect by this appointment (except of course that he will not draw any Salary from the Colonial Office)—but he is to be liable to be recalled at the end of two years from taking up the Appointment—unless he then elect[s]to
to give up his Clerkship
here and to retain his office in the Colony. At the same time
it is understood that it will be open to him to apply for an
extension of this period to three years, if it can be granted
without inconvenience to the requirements of the Office. The
Duke wishes this to be recorded in order that there may be no
misunderstanding hereafter.
The Duke of Newcastle has appointed Mr A.N. Birch at his own request Colonial Secretary of British Columbia. He is to retain his position in this Office unaffected in any respect by this appointment (except of course that he will not draw any Salary from the Colonial Office)—but he is to be liable to be recalled at the end of two years from taking up the Appointment—unless he then elect[s]to
to give up his Clerkship
here and to retain his office in the Colony. At the same time
it is understood that it will be open to him to apply for an
extension of this period to three years, if it can be granted
without inconvenience to the requirements of the Office. The
Duke wishes this to be recorded in order that there may be no
misunderstanding hereafter.
C.O. Dec 12 1863
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Certification granting A.N. Birch leave of absence for six
months, signed by Seymour.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 68, 7 October 1867 advising Seymour that Birch’s leave of absence could not be confirmed and requesting a report from Seymour on who will be the next Colonial Secretary.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Birch called on me, and represented that the passage
which I have marked A in pencil at page 2 of this draft
is not accurate in fact, as he did personally apply for leave, although
he did so at Mr Seymour's suggestion. I therefore submit for
consideration a sentence (marked B) to be substituted for the
sentence marked A. It does not alter the decision, nor the
drift of the despatch.
The despatch has been signed by the Duke, but not yet sent off.
TFE
17 Octr