Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 25 September 1867, CO 60:29, no. 1268, 221.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (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 forwards a return showing British Columbia’s expected
financial positionat the end of 1867. Seymour discusses impacts related to the US purchase of Alaska, such as annexation feelings in Victoria, and large expenditures in British Columbia related to
the suppression of an Indian Insurrectionand
Engineers huts at New Westminster.Seymour asks for greater assistance from England. Rogers’s minute states that
This is founded I think, on [Your Grace]'s instruction.
Secret
Victoria
25th September 1867
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward a Return shewing what our financial
position will probably be at the end of the year. I deeply regret
this pecuniarydifficulty
difficulty at a time when the Americans are making
such energetic efforts to improve their recent purchase to the
North of us. I fear that the annexation feeling prevalent in
Victoria will be stimulated by the contrast of the total self
reliance imposed upon us and the absence of all assistance from Home.
difficulty at a time when the Americans are making
such energetic efforts to improve their recent purchase to the
North of us. I fear that the annexation feeling prevalent in
Victoria will be stimulated by the contrast of the total self
reliance imposed upon us and the absence of all assistance from Home.
Troops are to be poured into Alaska.
We have hadto
to pay
locally £17,000 for the suppression of an Indian Insurrection, and
to the Imperial Government, £10,700 for the Engineers huts at New
Westminster which are utterly valueless to us. Can no assistance of
any kind be furnished to us? I almost dread the growth of feeling
in this Colony adverse to the connexion with the Mother Country which
may lead to some complications.
to pay
locally £17,000 for the suppression of an Indian Insurrection, and
to the Imperial Government, £10,700 for the Engineers huts at New
Westminster which are utterly valueless to us. Can no assistance of
any kind be furnished to us? I almost dread the growth of feeling
in this Colony adverse to the connexion with the Mother Country which
may lead to some complications.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Statement showing estimated revenue for the period 1 September to
31 December 1867, showing a total of $197,070.
Statement showing amounts required to meet liabilities
and expenditures for same period, showing a total of $290,330.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 97, 14 December 1867 informing Seymour that authorities in Great Britain are concerned with maintaining a cost efficient
method of communication with British Columbia and informing Seymour that not enough information was provided to argue in favour of British Columbia receiving financial assistance.