Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Julyan, Penrose Goodchild to Elliot, Thomas Frederick 16 March 1867, CO 60:30, no. 2624, 90.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (2).
Julyan transmits
a statement showing the present position of the accounts of the Governments of British Columbia and Vancouver Island with this Departmentand
a letter addressed by [Julyan] to the Colonial Secretary of British Columbia.Elliot’s minute explains he requested an
authentic statement of the present position of the Accounts in England of British Columbia and Vancouver Islandand requests that Seymour be informed of the necessity to make payments on British Columbia’s debt. Included documents relate the financial situation of the united colony and that action is required to repay the colony’s debt to
the Crown Agents.
Julyan to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
I have the honor to transmit to you, in reply to your letter of
the 13th instant, a statement showing the present position of the
accounts of the Governments of British Columbia and Vancouver Island
with this Department.
I also enclose, for the information of the Duke of Buckingham
& Chandos, a copy of a letter addressed by me to the Colonial
Secretary of British Columbia on the 22nd ultimo.
Minutes by CO staff
I felt satisfied that the Duke of Buckingham would desire to have
some authentic statement of the present position of the Accounts
in England of British Columbia and Vancouver Island, and therefore
called on the Agents for the one furnished in the present letter.
Three times in succession B. Columbiahas
has failed to provide
funds to pay it's public creditors. Once we obtained the means from
the Treasury, and on the two next occasions the Crown Agents paid
the money out of their general balance, in other words out of the
money of other Colonies. This, it is plain, cannot be allowed to
continue.
has failed to provide
funds to pay it's public creditors. Once we obtained the means from
the Treasury, and on the two next occasions the Crown Agents paid
the money out of their general balance, in other words out of the
money of other Colonies. This, it is plain, cannot be allowed to
continue.
I submit for consideration a draft to the Governor. He has
already been told in former Despatches that he must not fail to remit
money for the interest of the debt. The present account seems to
require a more general instruction. The passage about salaries is
a suggestion of my own for consideration. It may seem strong, but
where exhortation has been unavailing, may it not be better to insist
upon some practical measure which will rouse all the Authorities in
the Colony to the necessity of exertion about their finances?
What
What makes the matter so very serious, it seems to me, is the
danger to the character and value of all Colonial Securities if this
unlucky Colony defaults.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Statement of the assets and liabilities of British Columbia and
Vancouver Island on account with the Crown Agents, 15 March 1867.
W.C. Sargeaunt to Colonial Secretary of British Columbia, 22
February 1867, advising of the financial position of the
colony with the Crown Agents.
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to Crown Agents, 13 March 1867, requesting statement
of accounts of British Columbia and Vancouver Island.
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 8, 21 March 1867 regarding the financial situation of the united colony and informing Seymour that action is required on the colony’s debt.