Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Easterby, Anthony Y. to Carnarvon, Earl 18 May 1858, CO 305:9, no. 6127, 574.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (6), 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.
Easterby once again asks for compensation for the loss of his vessel after being ordered to
desist mining operations on Haida Gwaii in 1853. And he re-submits his petition to work a claim on those islands.
The minutes recognise that Haida Gwaii would soon be a part of a new colony in that part of British North America and any
enquiries into mining on the island would have to be directed to the new governor.
For the time being, Easterby must adhere to the terms contained in a letter to Mr. Taylor on the 20 July 1853.
Easterby to Under-Secretary of State
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's answer dated
March 17th to my application regarding Queen Charlotte's
Island, and to apologise for again trespassing on your attention.
The enterprise upon which we founded our application was
undertaken in 1852 and was abandoned by the orders of Captain Kuper R.N. Your Lordship will perceive therefore that the plea
for compensation does not rest upon unauthorised expenditures
subsequent to the unsuccessful application for a lease of the
mine made in 1853, but is based upon
the discovery of the mine,
the consequent outlay, and the ultimate loss of the vessel. The
adverse decision of H.M. Government conveyed through Mr Richard Taylor after I left England, and after the names of the gentlemen
at that time associated with me had been submitted and as I
understood accepted, emboldened me to conceive, that while H.M.
Government had favorably entertained the equity of our
application for permission to work the mine we had discovered,
they had found it inexpedient to grant a lease at that time.
the discovery of the mine,
the consequent outlay, and the ultimate loss of the vessel. The
adverse decision of H.M. Government conveyed through Mr Richard Taylor after I left England, and after the names of the gentlemen
at that time associated with me had been submitted and as I
understood accepted, emboldened me to conceive, that while H.M.
Government had favorably entertained the equity of our
application for permission to work the mine we had discovered,
they had found it inexpedient to grant a lease at that time.
Deeming it possible that time, and circumstances may have
modified the objections which then existed I again beg
respectfully to renew my application for permission to work the
mine upon such terms as formerly submitted, or as may
be
vouchsafed by H.M. Government.
be
vouchsafed by H.M. Government.
The Americans are now flocking to the newly discovered gold
fields on British territory and I respectfully submit that upon
further consideration, H.M. Government, may not think it
presumptuous on our part that we ask for the protection of a
title to work this claim, after having expended so much upon it.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Would it not be best to tell the writer that it is in contemplation to establish a New Colony between the Pacific & the Rocky Mountains in B.N.A. in which Queen Charlotte Island will be comprized, & that if such a measure should receive the sanction of the Imperial Parlt he should prefer his application for a lease of the mines in that Island to the Govr of the Colony—but that he must distinctly understand that H.M. Govt refuse to admit the claim which he puts forward to a Lease on the ground of an alleged prior discovery of the mine, of his outlay of money, & subsequent topics. Add that until the establishment of the projected Colony the search for Gold in Q.C. Island must continue on the terms contained in the Letter addressed to Mr Taylor on the 20 July 1853—with which the writer is acquainted.
Would it not be best to tell the writer that it is in contemplation to establish a New Colony between the Pacific & the Rocky Mountains in B.N.A. in which Queen Charlotte Island will be comprized, & that if such a measure should receive the sanction of the Imperial Parlt he should prefer his application for a lease of the mines in that Island to the Govr of the Colony—but that he must distinctly understand that H.M. Govt refuse to admit the claim which he puts forward to a Lease on the ground of an alleged prior discovery of the mine, of his outlay of money, & subsequent topics. Add that until the establishment of the projected Colony the search for Gold in Q.C. Island must continue on the terms contained in the Letter addressed to Mr Taylor on the 20 July 1853—with which the writer is acquainted.
See Page 5. of P. Papers 788/53—No 1.
ABd
1 July
Other documents included in the file
Minutes by CO staff
I think it is better to hold out no hopes, nor advise any line
of action, to this class of writers. I would only say that Sir EB Lytton must decline entertaining in any way their claims to
compensation, and that he can give no answer as to the farther
requests contained in their letter, because no sufficient
information is as yet before HMs Govt to enable them to decide
on what terms parties shall be admitted to search for gold in
North Western America.
HM
July 1
I agree.
C
July 2
Certainly.
EBL
July 3
Mr Blackwood
The Messrs Easterby sent a Ship to Queen Charlotte's Island in 1852 in search of Gold. The Vessel was seized by the Natives and destroyed.
The Messrs Easterby sent a Ship to Queen Charlotte's Island in 1852 in search of Gold. The Vessel was seized by the Natives and destroyed.
In 1853 they applied for a lease of the gold mine, as an
indemnification for their losses.
The Duke of Newcastle at first Entertained this application, as
he appears to have had a favorable opinion of the applicants,
but it was ultimately refused, because the Governor of
VanCouver's Island had in the meantime issued licenses to dig
for gold. This decision is contained in a letter from this
Department dated 28 July 1853, which denies their claim to the
lease from priorityof
of discovery, & does not refer to their
losses as giving them any claim to it.
of discovery, & does not refer to their
losses as giving them any claim to it.
In January last Messrs Easterby wrote to this office urging
their claim for indemnification, and making an additional claim
on the score that they had been led to believe that the lease
would be granted and had incurred further expense under that
belief. They were answered on 17 March that we refused to admit
their claim on this latter plea.
They now write to explain that they intended in their previous
letter to urge their claim to compensation for their losses in
1852 & not for theirsubsequent
subsequent outlay under the impression that
the lease wd be granted—and renew the application for a lease
of the mine in Queen Charlottes Island.
subsequent outlay under the impression that
the lease wd be granted—and renew the application for a lease
of the mine in Queen Charlottes Island.
Their statement that the Expedition in 1852 was abandoned by
orders of Captn Kuper RN does not agree with the report of that
officer in the accompanying Parl Paper.
H.T. Irving
29 June