Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 1 February 1868, CO 60:32, no. 3371, 12.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), 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 comments on Waddington’s proposed road construction project,
from the Pacific at Bute Inlet to the frontiers of Canada,and recommends a different starting point from the Pacific Ocean. Minutes by Cox, Rogers, and Adderley discuss how to respond to Seymour’s despatch.
No. 2
New Westminster
1st February 1868
My Lord Duke,
With reference to my despatch No. 146 of the 22nd
November 1867, I feel compelled to make some additional remarks
respecting Mr
Waddington's project of opening a roadfrom
from the Pacific at Bute
Inlet to the frontiers of Canada. I am told that he has been
lecturing with some success on the subject in Canada. It is
therefore my duty to say, although I should be glad to see
Capitalists spend their money in the Colony, that I believe the
line proposed by Mr
Waddington is about the worst that could have been selected.
I may mention in supportof
of this assertion that the New
Westminster Volunteers when in persuit [sic] of the Chilicoten
murderers found themselves unable to penetrate to the Interior
by way of Bute Inlet but reached the centre of the Colony when
Bentinck Arm was taken as a point of departure.
from the Pacific at Bute
Inlet to the frontiers of Canada. I am told that he has been
lecturing with some success on the subject in Canada. It is
therefore my duty to say, although I should be glad to see
Capitalists spend their money in the Colony, that I believe the
line proposed by Mr
Waddington is about the worst that could have been selected.
I may mention in supportof
of this assertion that the New
Westminster Volunteers when in persuit [sic] of the Chilicoten
murderers found themselves unable to penetrate to the Interior
by way of Bute Inlet but reached the centre of the Colony when
Bentinck Arm was taken as a point of departure.
Minutes by CO staff
Should this & 1204 be ackn: saying that they will not be lost
sight of should his Grace receive any formal & specific project
in writing from Mr Waddington. His Grace saw him.
CC
3/4
This is killing the slain I conceive. But the argt
is not conclusive. It may be that a line of route
absolutely impracticable to men & horses
as it stands may be
made practicable to carriages by a trifling expenditure of
money, while a route practicable for men and horses as it stands
may require enormous sums to make it practicable for carriages.
Ansr as proposed.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 23, 14 April 1868 acknowledging Seymour’s despatches regarding Waddington’s proposed road project from the Pacific Ocean to Canada.