Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 4 October 1858, CO 60:1, no. 12643, 175.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Other documents (1).
Douglas promises the CO he will
withdrawhimself from HBC services and
disposeof his Puget Sound Company stock as long as his salary will be adequate to support his position.
The minutes receive Douglas’s promises as his acceptance of his office. The CO debates his salary based on his
recommendation of £5000 per annum.
Enclosed is a draft reply from Lytton with extensive revisions.
Private
1. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches
marked "Confidential" of the 16th and 21st of July
last,
1
and I can hardly find words to express how grateful I am for your kind
notice of my public services, and I would also thank you for the cautions
given in respect to my publicacts
acts while connected in business with the
Hudson's Bay Company.
acts while connected in business with the
Hudson's Bay Company.
2. I observe the intention of Her Majesty's Government, to appoint
a Governor for British Columbia, and that it was their desire to appoint
me at once to that office in the usual terms of a Governor's appointment,
namely for six years at least, and that this Government was to be held
for the present in conjunction with a separate Commission as Governor of
Vancouver's Island. That offer being made subject to one condition, that
I should give up on receiving the appointment thus offered, all
connection with the Hudson's Bay Company, either as its servant or a
share holder, or in any other capacity, as wellas
as relinquishing directly
or indirectly all connection with the Puget's Sound Company. I observe
also that you made that proposal with the acquiesence of the Governor of
the Hudson's Bay Company, who had seen your despatch of the 16th of
July.
as relinquishing directly
or indirectly all connection with the Puget's Sound Company. I observe
also that you made that proposal with the acquiesence of the Governor of
the Hudson's Bay Company, who had seen your despatch of the 16th of
July.
3. On those conditions, and with the consent of the Hudson's Bay
Company, I place my humble services unhesitatingly at the disposal of Her
Majesty's Government, and I will take early measures for withdrawing from
the Company's service, and disposing of my Puget's Sound Stock, trusting
that the allowances as to salary from Her Majesty's Government willbe
be
adequate to my support, in a manner worthy of the position I am thus
called upon to fill. The sum mentioned in your
letter
2
for British Columbia, admitting that a separate and larger allowance was
made for Vancouver's Island, is manifestly insufficient for that purpose,
in this very expensive country; where food, clothing, servants wages, the
price of labor, and in short of every necessary of life, so far exceeds
the standard of those values in England.
be
adequate to my support, in a manner worthy of the position I am thus
called upon to fill. The sum mentioned in your
letter
2
for British Columbia, admitting that a separate and larger allowance was
made for Vancouver's Island, is manifestly insufficient for that purpose,
in this very expensive country; where food, clothing, servants wages, the
price of labor, and in short of every necessary of life, so far exceeds
the standard of those values in England.
4. The sum of £5000 per annum including the salaries for both
Governments, would be no more than sufficient to cover the actual
expenditure of that position, a suggestion mademerely
merely for your
information; as I feel assured you wish me to maintain the dignity of the
office; and my own fortunes impaired by the almost unrequited tenure of
office in Vancouver's Island, cannot afford the outlay, otherwise I
should be independent in point of means, and in a measure indifferent
about the emoluments of office; which I only wish to be equal to the
respectable representation of Her Majesty's Government in this country.
merely for your
information; as I feel assured you wish me to maintain the dignity of the
office; and my own fortunes impaired by the almost unrequited tenure of
office in Vancouver's Island, cannot afford the outlay, otherwise I
should be independent in point of means, and in a measure indifferent
about the emoluments of office; which I only wish to be equal to the
respectable representation of Her Majesty's Government in this country.
5. I take the liberty of making those suggestions with the more
confidence, as I feel assured that the resources of the country can
afford the expense of maintaining a respectable government, and Ishall
shall
do every thing in my power to develop those resources, and to bring the
Colony rapidly into a self supporting condition.
shall
do every thing in my power to develop those resources, and to bring the
Colony rapidly into a self supporting condition.
I shall take immediate steps to inform the Hudson's Bay
Company of my present decision.
Awaiting your further instructions.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir Edward Lytton
This announces Govr Douglas' acceptance of his office. It is satisfactory in all respects except as regards the sum which he considers necessary for the maintenance of a Govr in B. Columbia & V. Couver's I.
This announces Govr Douglas' acceptance of his office. It is satisfactory in all respects except as regards the sum which he considers necessary for the maintenance of a Govr in B. Columbia & V. Couver's I.
I have always felt that before long the necessities of the case
wd compel a considerable increase of salary; and that considered in
reference to the pay of Col. Moody
3
and other officials in the Colony, £1000 per
an. is very far below the proper sum. Whether £5000 is in the present
state of affairs above it will be a matter for your consideration. I do
not doubt that the expenses of such an office are very considerable, and
the conjunction of V. Couver's I. & B. Columbia as is practically
the case adds largely to those expenses.
You will remember that the mail leaves on the 1st Decr
(tomorrow).
C
Nov 29
No answer can be given to Salary till the Govr tells us the
revenues. Urge him to do this as soon as he can.
And he must take into acct the colonial expenses of Col. Moody.
EBL
Nov 29
Other documents included in the file
Footnotes
- Copies of these despatches may be found in Lytton to Douglas, 16 July 1858, CO 410/1, p. 139, and Lytton to Douglas, 31 July 1858, CO 410/1, p. 145. The date 21 July has been corrected to 31 by Colonial Office staff.
- = Douglas' salary. In offering Douglas the governorship of British Columbia, Lytton was decidedly vague as to the salary that would be attached to the office, suggesting only that it would be "at least £1000 per annum." Lytton to Douglas, 16 July 1858, CO 410/1, p. 139.
- = Moody's salary. Moody's received £330 per annum in regimental pay, plus a colonial allowance of £1200, plus expenses. See Merivale to Moody, 23 August 1858, enclosed in Lytton to Douglas, 2 September 1858, No. 7, CO 398/1, p. 58.