Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Grey, George 31 January 1856, CO 305:7, no. 3370, 1.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (1), Marginalia (1).
Douglas writes to Grey about excessive postage charges and recommends that all mail should be sent by the
Panama mail route or via HBC ships, depending on weight and urgency, or on any of
Her Majesty’s Ships.
The minutes agree to follow Douglas’s cost-cutting scheme for future postage.
The file includes a draft reply from Labouchere to Douglas, which agrees to follow Douglas’s suggestions to cut postage costs.
No. 1
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Sir William Molesworth's Despatches, of the dates mentioned in the margin,
with their enclosures.
[Separate?] 24 September 1855.
Circulars 20 and 22 September; 4 October 1855, agreeing to follow Douglas's suggestions to cut postage costs.
I will take the liberty of remarking for the information of Her
Majesty's Government; that the enclosures above referred to consisting
of 4 copies of Blank Returns, of which
which the Annual Blue Book is composed, for the year 1855, made up a parcel of considerable weight, and the
Postal charge at the United States Post Office in Puget's Sound came to
the sum of 68 88/100 dollars equal to 14.7.0 Sterling.
which the Annual Blue Book is composed, for the year 1855, made up a parcel of considerable weight, and the
Postal charge at the United States Post Office in Puget's Sound came to
the sum of 68 88/100 dollars equal to 14.7.0 Sterling.
I would in consequence of that prodigious rate of charge, take the
liberty of suggesting, that the Despatches of Her Majesty's Government,
and all printed Enclosures, not exceeding the weight of 16 ounces,
should, in all cases as at present, be forwarded to this Colony, by the
Panama Mail Route; and that Books and Printed Forms, when exceeding the
weight of 16 ounces, except on occasions of great urgency, should be
sent to the Hudson's Bay House, to be forwarded by the Hudson's Bay
Company's Ships to this place; or the parcels might equally well be
forwarded by any of Her Majesty's Ships proceeding to the Pacific.
The Right Honble
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
It is unfortunate that these blank forms should have cost so much postage. The mode of transmission is that hitherto recommended by the Governor for communications from this Office. Ansr that in future documents exceeding the weight mentioned will be sent, as he wishes, thro' the H.B.Co or the Admiralty.
It is unfortunate that these blank forms should have cost so much postage. The mode of transmission is that hitherto recommended by the Governor for communications from this Office. Ansr that in future documents exceeding the weight mentioned will be sent, as he wishes, thro' the H.B.Co or the Admiralty.
I think that the heavy charges for Postage are sometimes forgotten
in sending large parcels through foreign post offices e.g. the overland mail via Marseilles.
in sending large parcels through foreign post offices e.g. the overland mail via Marseilles.
JB
17 Ap
Answer as suggested.
HL
21 A
Other documents included in the file
