Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 22 August 1868, CO 60:33, no. 11066, 301.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (5), Other documents (2).
Seymour forwards
monthly reports of the Magistrates in charge of the several Districts of the Colonyand Cornwall’s
Report respecting the agricultural resources of the Colony.Seymour relates why the report from the Kootenay is unreliable and reflects on the meaning of the reports from Yale and Lillooet for British Columbia. Robinson’s minute summarizes the reports and suggests how to reply to Seymour. Included documents discuss the various conditions in different parts of British Columbia.
No. 104
New Westminster
22nd August 1868
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to forward the monthly reports of the
Magistrates in charge of the several Districts of the Colony.The
The great distance of the Kootenay from Head Quarters and the
uncertainty of communication deprive me of the opportunity of
reporting to Your Grace from that quarter with any degree of
certainty. I hear however no complaints and am highly satisfied
with the chief constable whom I have left in charge.
The great distance of the Kootenay from Head Quarters and the
uncertainty of communication deprive me of the opportunity of
reporting to Your Grace from that quarter with any degree of
certainty. I hear however no complaints and am highly satisfied
with the chief constable whom I have left in charge.
2. I think that Your Grace will be of opinion thatthe
the
intelligence furnished by Mr O'Reilly, from Yale, and from
Lillooet by Mr Sanders is highly satisfactory. It really
seems as if British Columbia is to become a settled Colony at
last instead of a mere gold field with an unattached population.
the
intelligence furnished by Mr O'Reilly, from Yale, and from
Lillooet by Mr Sanders is highly satisfactory. It really
seems as if British Columbia is to become a settled Colony at
last instead of a mere gold field with an unattached population.
3. I add a Report respecting the agricultural resources of the
Colony furnished me by Mr Cornwall,one
one of our most
enterprising settlers.
one of our most
enterprising settlers.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
All these reports are exceedingly encouraging, and shew that a great deal of land has been preempted—& that there are good hopes of permanent settlement.
All these reports are exceedingly encouraging, and shew that a great deal of land has been preempted—& that there are good hopes of permanent settlement.
The land is most productive, Crops abundant, & but little Crime.
Acknowledge with satisfaction &
Copy to Ld Bd. There is much information which might be extracted from these reports
which would be a valuable addition to the next Colonization
Circular.
Copy to Ld Bd. There is much information which might be extracted from these reports
which would be a valuable addition to the next Colonization
Circular.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
P. O'Reilly, Magistrate, Yale District, to Colonial Secretary,
3 August 1868, reporting on the "very satisfactory state" of his
district, and including a list of current retail prices at Yale.
Chartres Brew, Magistrate, Cariboo District, to Colonial
Secretary, 4 August 1868, reporting on activities in his district.
E. Sanders, Magistrate, Lillooet District, to Colonial
Secretary, 5 August 1868, reporting favorably on conditions in
his district, and including a list of retail prices at Lillooet.
H.M. Ball, Magistrate, New Westminster District, to D.
Maunsell, Private Secretary to Seymour, 26 August 1868,
reporting on the state of his district, including schedule of
"Vessels cleared from Burrards Inlet since October 1867."
Memorandum, H. Cornwall, 18 August 1868, reporting on state of
agriculture near Lytton, including estimates of crop yields.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Buckingham to Seymour, No. 95, 26 October 1868 stating Buckingham’s satisfaction with
the Monthly reports of the Magistrates in charge of the several districts of British Columbia.
Rogers to Emigration Commission, 29 October 1868, forwarding
copy of the despatch for information.