Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Lindley, John to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 14 August 1858, CO 6:28, no. 8373, 223.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (transcribed) (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.
Lindley requests an appointment for his son-in-law Henry Crease in the government of British Columbia.
The minutes
Put by.
Enclosed is a unsigned testimonial, in Lindley’s hand, lauding Henry Crease’s credentials.
Lindley to Lytton
When I caused my letter enclosing an introduction from Lord Salisbury to be delivered in Park Lane I was not aware that you had left town. Having since
been informed that the letter in question has been forwarded to you I now venture
to presume upon making my application in writing.
My hope is that you may be able to place in some situation under government in British Columbia my son in law Mr Henry Crease, concerning whom you will find a statement in a separate memorandum enclosed herewith.
Much as I desire to receive such a mark of favour at your hands I should not make
the request did I not entertain the most confident belief that such an appointment
would 
be conducive to the public service, Mr Crease's qualifications being, as I believe peculiarly valuable in a Colony like British Columbia—a strong constitution, a robust frame, a resolute temper, a practical knowledge of
Indian life and of the difficulty to be encountered in the N. American bush, and skill
in the control of large bodies of miners, being united in his person to the manners
and education of a gentleman and the professional knowledge of a member of the English
bar.
be conducive to the public service, Mr Crease's qualifications being, as I believe peculiarly valuable in a Colony like British Columbia—a strong constitution, a robust frame, a resolute temper, a practical knowledge of
Indian life and of the difficulty to be encountered in the N. American bush, and skill
in the control of large bodies of miners, being united in his person to the manners
and education of a gentleman and the professional knowledge of a member of the English
bar.Mr Crease is now at Toronto where he has transmitted three letters which I take the liberty
of enclosing because they shew the opinion entertained of him by his friends in Canada.
One of these letters is from Mr VanKoughnet lately Minister of Agriculture, a second is from Judge Haggarty, and a third from the clergyman at Toronto.
Permit me to add that altho' married yet as his wife and children are in this country
under my care, he would be perfectly unencumbered in his action; that his object is
not merely to obtain employment but eventually to settle with his family in the Colony;
and that he wd be ready to accept any appointment for which he is qualified and which is not unbecoming
a gentleman.
For myself, as a man not wholly unknown in science and whose services have been freely
placed at the command of government upon occasions of considerable importance, I shd hope that this application will be regarded by you as one to which you may properly
extend your favourable consideration.
Minutes by CO staff
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Unsigned testimonial, [in Lindley's hand] n.d., reprinted below
Mr Henry Pering Pellew Crease BA of Clare Hall, aged 35, the son of Captn Henry Crease RN, was called to the bar by the Middle Temple in or before the year 1849. One of his brothers is a Captn with the Royal Engineers, now in India with Sir Hugh Roses Column; a second is a Lieutenant in the Royal Marine Artillery stationed at Canton
under the command of Col. Holloway; a third has lately recd a commission in the 2nd Regt of the line.
Immediately after being called to the bar Mr Crease visited Canada, where he remained between two and three years, in the course of which
time he joined a surveying or exploring expedition on Lake Superior, and made himself familiar with the difficulty 
of such operations. His return was distinquished by his winning with three companions
a boat race of a hundred miles on Lake Superior against a crew of picked Indians. In 1851 he revisited England, and practised with some success as a conveyancer; but afterwards
quitted the law to take the management of the Great Whealvor [?] United Mine near
Helston, the largest tin mine in the world, upon which above £300000 have been expended.
The commercial distress of last autumn unfortunately affected this property so disastrously
that it became necessary for Mr Crease to relinquish the undertaking, and he is now in Toronto where he had hoped to obtain
employment under the Canadian Government.
of such operations. His return was distinquished by his winning with three companions
a boat race of a hundred miles on Lake Superior against a crew of picked Indians. In 1851 he revisited England, and practised with some success as a conveyancer; but afterwards
quitted the law to take the management of the Great Whealvor [?] United Mine near
Helston, the largest tin mine in the world, upon which above £300000 have been expended.
The commercial distress of last autumn unfortunately affected this property so disastrously
that it became necessary for Mr Crease to relinquish the undertaking, and he is now in Toronto where he had hoped to obtain
employment under the Canadian Government.
In 1853 he married the eldest daughter of Prof Lindley by whom he has three girls,
the youngest 8 months old.