Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Torrens, Robert William to Grenville, Richard 7 May 1867, CO 60:31, no. 4535, 348.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Torrens submits to Buckingham
a claim for indemnity—in the shape of appointment to some other officeand describes testimonials acknowledging Torrens’s accomplishment in service to British Columbia. Bryant minutes that Torrens
Has no claim on the C.O. 3714 B. Columbia,and Blake’s minute suggests seeing
subsequent T/9784.The included document is a letter of acknowledgement to Torrens.
Torrens to Buckingham
Bath and Cheltenham Hotel
London Street, London
May 7th 1867
To His Grace
The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
Secretary of State for the Colonies
&c &c
London Street, London
My Lord Duke
The "Act of Union of the Colonies of British Columbia and
Vancouver Island" having involved the loss of an appointment held by
me under the Government of the latter Colony, I have the honor to
submit to Your Grace a claim for indemnity—in the shape of
appointment to some other office—such loss having accrued not
through any dereliction or shortcoming on my part, but in furtherance
of Imperial interests.
His Excellency Governor Seymour allowed a sum of One hundred
pounds for my passage to England, and promised, before I left British
Columbia, to lay a statement of my case before the Rt. Honble the
Secretary for the Colonies.
I am in possession of various testimonials which, if permitted,I
I will submit for Your Grace's consideration (other than those
herewith enclosed) which have been given to me by various Civil and
Military Authorities with whom I have been associated at different
periods of my life.
I will submit for Your Grace's consideration (other than those
herewith enclosed) which have been given to me by various Civil and
Military Authorities with whom I have been associated at different
periods of my life.
In the year 1859 I proceeded to British Columbia. Shortly after
my arrival there, and at great cost to myself, I organised an
Expedition to prospect the N.W. Coast of British Columbia; which
Expedition I commanded myself.
Our Explorations extended from Victoria (lat 49o N) to lat
54o40' N and to the Queen Charlotte Islands (where we were very
nearly murdered), covering a period of between 4 and 5 months.
My report of the Expedition was sent by the then Governor Sir
James Douglas to the Geographical Society of London—before whom it
was read; obtaining for me the thanks of the Society.
In 1865 I was sent down by Governor Kennedy as Stipendiary
Magistrate to the W. Coast of Vancouver Island and have received, by
letter, His Excellency's thanks "for the skill and judgment with
which (he was good enough to say) this Service had been performed."
The
The House of Assembly of Vancouver Island entered a Record upon
their Minutes of their thanks for "the ability and zeal with which
(they were good enough to say) I had performed my duties," and gave
me, further, a testimonial signed by Mr Speaker and every Member
of the House—of which I am not a little proud.
Upon the arrival of Governor Seymour a deputation of the whole
House of the late Colony of Vancouver Island—with their Speaker at
their head—waited upon His Excellency, to commend me to His
Excellency's good offices. A subsequent deputation also waited upon
His Excellency having the same object in view.
When it became known that I was to be among the number of the
disrated, the ex-Speaker and ex-Members of the Legislature of
Vancouver Island who had become Members of the Honble Legislative
Council of British Columbia (as well as all other ex-Members on the
spot) memorialised His Excellency to urge my claims for employment to
the favorable consideration of Her Majesty's Government.
Referring your Grace to the accompanying Testimonials and
invoking for them Your Grace's favorable consideration, I have the
honor to subscribe myself,
My Lord Duke,
Your Grace's most obedient and
humble Servant,
R.W. Torrens
late Clerk of the House
Vancouver Island
Your Grace's most obedient and
humble Servant,
R.W. Torrens
late Clerk of the House
Vancouver Island
P.S. Should Your Grace so command me I will wait upon Your Grace
at any time I may be required.
Minutes by CO staff
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Printed copy of testimonials in favour of Torrens with
reference to his conduct as clerk of the house of Vancouver Island,
six entries.
