Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 5 June 1868, CO 60:32, no. 7427, 457.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
Seymour forwards an
Address to Her Majesty the Queenfrom the people of New Westminster
to celebrate Her Majesty's last birthday.Seymour discusses the contents of the address, which reflects on an attack on
the Duke of Edinburghand the grievances of the people of New Westminster for not being selected as the new capital of British Columbia. Cox’s minute summarizes the address and recommends how to reply to Seymour. Minutes by Cox and Rogers discuss whether to lay the address
before The Queen.
No. 57
Victoria
5th June 1868
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward an Address to Her Majesty the Queen
signed on behalf of the Municipal Council and people of New
Westminster by the Chairmanof
of the Committee appointed to
celebrate Her Majesty's last birthday.
of the Committee appointed to
celebrate Her Majesty's last birthday.
2. There was not a more loyal little community in any part of
the world than that which is now addressing Her Majesty, and I
know that the congratulations on the failure of certain
treasonable attempts are sincere. I am aware also that a
thrill of horror passed throughthe
the Colony when intelligence
was received of the murderous attack made on His Royal Highness
the Duke of Edinburgh.
the Colony when intelligence
was received of the murderous attack made on His Royal Highness
the Duke of Edinburgh.
3. The address proceeds to comment upon the change made in the
Seat of Government from New Westminster to Victoria. Your Grace
is aware that I likewise was of opinion that the people of the
former town had a grievance in this matter, but Your despatchNo.
No. 67, of 1st October 1867, states that Her Majesty's
Government are of opinion that the question of the selection of
a Capital for a Colony must depend a good deal upon the public
convenience. There could not be two Capitals for British
Columbia. New Westminster has every advantage for becoming a
large town. I throw aside as utterly without foundation the
statements made bypersons
persons interested in Victoria as to the
difficulty of the Navigation of the Fraser. But the great
embarrassment was that population would not come to New
Westminster and that the greater portion of the political power
of the Colony was centred in a rival town only seventy miles
distant. Then, the Governor at New Westminster was separated
from the Head Quarters of the Fleet, fromthe
the Head of the Local
Church, from Banks and from the Hudson's Bay Company. The last
being no mean power in this Colony. The people would not come
to the Government. Were they to live apart or was the
Government, without any sacrifice of its own convenience being
required, to meet the people? However as the people of the
Mainland never desired Union withVancouver
Vancouver Island, I think the
inhabitants of New Westminster have a fair right to consider
themselves aggrieved in this matter.
No. 67, of 1st October 1867, states that Her Majesty's
Government are of opinion that the question of the selection of
a Capital for a Colony must depend a good deal upon the public
convenience. There could not be two Capitals for British
Columbia. New Westminster has every advantage for becoming a
large town. I throw aside as utterly without foundation the
statements made bypersons
persons interested in Victoria as to the
difficulty of the Navigation of the Fraser. But the great
embarrassment was that population would not come to New
Westminster and that the greater portion of the political power
of the Colony was centred in a rival town only seventy miles
distant. Then, the Governor at New Westminster was separated
from the Head Quarters of the Fleet, fromthe
the Head of the Local
Church, from Banks and from the Hudson's Bay Company. The last
being no mean power in this Colony. The people would not come
to the Government. Were they to live apart or was the
Government, without any sacrifice of its own convenience being
required, to meet the people? However as the people of the
Mainland never desired Union withVancouver
Vancouver Island, I think the
inhabitants of New Westminster have a fair right to consider
themselves aggrieved in this matter.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
A congratulatory Address on the escape of the Duke of Edinburgh. It however goes on to say that if it is not as joyous in expression as it might be it must be attributed to their being weighed down by the "ruthless, unjustifiable & unexpected removal" of the Seat of Govt from New Westminster.
A congratulatory Address on the escape of the Duke of Edinburgh. It however goes on to say that if it is not as joyous in expression as it might be it must be attributed to their being weighed down by the "ruthless, unjustifiable & unexpected removal" of the Seat of Govt from New Westminster.
Ackn. & say this Address has been laid before The Queen?
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Address, Citizens of New Westminster to Queen Victoria,
25 May 1868, expressing sentiments as per despatch, signed by George
C. Clarkson and Henry Holbrook (two copies).
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 55, 27 July 1868 expressing the gratitude of the
British Crownfor New Westminster’s address and discussing why New Westminster was not chosen as the capital of British Columbia.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
In consequence of His Grace's minute I have added a paragraph for consideration—but I do not feel sure that it is what His Grace had in his mind.
In consequence of His Grace's minute I have added a paragraph for consideration—but I do not feel sure that it is what His Grace had in his mind.
I do not think the Address need go to the Queen.