Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Franks, Charles William to Adderley, Charles Bowyer 20 May 1867, CO 60:31, no. 4974, 232.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (5), Other documents (1).
Franks discusses the claims he has received from the Colonial Office and the claims Franks’s still has on the Colonial Office. Franks then enquires about why there is no
prospect of further employmentwith the Colonial Office and, if Seymour’s report had an impact, asks to view Seymour’s report on Franks. Elliot’s minute discusses how to respond to Franks’s letter. Adderley minutes that Seymour’s confidential despatch should not be shown to Franks, and Buckingham minutes that the reply to Franks should state that the
Sec of Statedeclines to discuss the reasons why certain individuals are offered positions in the public service.
Franks to Adderley (Parliamentary Under-Secretary)
Langham Hotel
May 20th 1867
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 3d inst.
With regard to the payments therein authorized, I beg to
acquaint you that I have received from the Crown Agents the sum of
£309.10, being £122 for my passage home, and £187.10 for three
month's salary.
I beg to state that I have not received any Salary for the month
of January, during half of which I was still Employed in preparing my
Account Current, and that I believe I have other claims to
compensation which I may desire to put forward at some more
favourable time.
But the purpose of this letter is to enquire—with reference to
the concluding paragraph of your Despatch—on what ground you are
directed to inform me that the Duke of Buckingham & Chandos cannot
hold out to me any prospect of further employment? And to
request—if this announcement is made to me in consequence of my
Report from Governor Seymour—that I may be furnished with a copy or
permitted to inspect such Report at the Colonial Office.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Franks was informed that he was to expect no further
employment. If this is caused by any report from Governor Seymour,
he asks either to have a copy or to see it.
I
I think that a man who is told to expect no further employment
is entitled to ask the reason why. But the exact answer requires
deliberation. I will only offer my impressions for what they may be
worth.
One answer would be to give him the despatch. It is marked
"Confidential," but Article 174 of the Colonial Regulations reserves
to the Secretary of State a discretion. One inconvenience of giving
the despatch would be that the Colonial Secretary in an official
letter said that Mr Seymour
"deeply regretted" that he had no other place to offer Mr
Franks, while his Confidential despatch speaks of the
"general rejoicing" of the Govt Officials and people at
Mr Franks's ceasing tohold
hold Office. This inconvenience, it is
true, would be Mr Seymour's own, produced by his own
inconsistency, so far as it is one. But on more general grounds, one
would be loth to produce a Confidential despatch if it can be avoided.
hold Office. This inconvenience, it is
true, would be Mr Seymour's own, produced by his own
inconsistency, so far as it is one. But on more general grounds, one
would be loth to produce a Confidential despatch if it can be avoided.
Another plan would be to tell Mr Franks that the Secretary of
State is not prepared to produce to him Mr Seymour's despatches,
but thinks it right to state to him that the Duke has been apprized
of such numerous altercations between him and persons of all ranks in
B. Columbia that, without entering into the merits of the several
disputes, His Grace could not considerit
it for the public interest to
confer upon him a fresh appointment in the Colonies.
it for the public interest to
confer upon him a fresh appointment in the Colonies.
Perhaps the last is the best course?
TFE
24 May
Reply that Sec of State must decline to enter a discussion of
the reasons which influence him in the disposal of public patronage.
B&C
24/5
Other documents included in the file
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Jadis
As the last letter was signed by Mr Adderley, care should be taken that this also, when transcribed, is submitted for his Signature.
As the last letter was signed by Mr Adderley, care should be taken that this also, when transcribed, is submitted for his Signature.