Douglas, Chief Factor Governor Vice-Admiral Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 25 July 1859, CO 305:10, no. 8946, 281.

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Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 25 July 1859, CO 305:10, no. 8946, 281.

Abstract

Despatch to London. Minutes (7), Enclosures (untranscribed) (14), Other documents (5).

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.

Douglas forwards Pemberton's reports from Mr Pearse and Mr Wells, two of his assistants descriptive of certain districts of country at at Cowichin and Nanaimo, which includes maps that Douglas suggests to lithograph for sale and distribution in the Colony. The extensive minutes express urgent concerns for, as Merivale puts is, becoming Americanized, with Blackwood noting that A war with America, with 96 per cent foreigners in B. Columbia & V. C. Island would be a serious business & dangerous.

No. 29

25 July 1859

I have the honor of transmitting herewith for the information of Her Majestys Government, a communication from Mr Pemberton Surveyor General of Vancouvers Island forwarding the reports of Mr Pearse

Pearse and Mr Wells, two of his assistants descriptive of certain districts of country at Cowichin and Nanaimo, lately surveyed by them.

2. Those reports are accompanied by Maps illustrative of the situation of those Districts, and of their general character as to soil and natural productions, and therefore form interesting additions to the topography of this Colony.

3. I would submit how

how desirable it would be for these Maps to be lithographed in England and distributed there as well as sent out here for sale and distribution in the Colony.

4. The Maps and reports are packed in a small deal case and are forwarded by the same mail.

I have etc.

Minutes by CO staff

Mr Merivale
I think we might send these papers to the War Office with a request that they would cause the Maps to be lithographed at the Military Topographical Office. The work wd be done more cheaply, & I suppose quite as well, there than if we were to employ any body else?

Copy also to Geographical Society? and Land Board. Would it be advisable to desire the Land Board to print the reports of these Surveyors of the favorable character of the Country they have examined, & have them distributed, for sale in the Ports where there are Emigration Agents. It is an important object to secure British Settlers in a quarter where scarcely 4 per cent are English subjects. A war with America, with 96 per cent foreigners in B. Columbia & V. C. Island, wd be a serious business & dangerous. It would be very satisfactory & easy to have a census taken shewing nationalities in both of these Colonies.

ABd 9 Sepr

Mr Fortescue
I agree with Mr Blackwood that it would be a very proper step to lead the Emn Commrs to make public the attractions of Vanc. I. as far as they justly can. But as to setting up one nationality against another—English against American—I think the time is past for such policy, if it was ever good at all. We are entering on a new & very singular place in our British-North-American history. Along the whole of the line 49o from Red River to Vanc. I. inclusive, the American population of the prairies is pressing into our territory, & will do so more & more as it presents the double attraction of gold & game. These wandering people are beyond our control. They will absorb us, or we shall absorb them. The tiny [dishlots?] of Emigration we might send out by sea would vanish altogether in the compound. What then is there to prevent

our provinces from becoming Americanized? No remedies that I know of, except those of better laws & better society and greater freedom from taxation. And—strange as it may appear to those who remember the days of Lord Durham & Lord Sydenham— influence. The ancient enthusiasm of the Yankees for their institutions has had some shrewd knocks of late. The license of California, the Indian massacres of Oregon, & the civil war of Kansas have done more for British influence than any political devices of ours could have achieved. The change may be very temporary: but we must profit by it while it lasts, & not be jealous of the immigration it helps to produce. In the mean time, whoever may ultimately profit thereby, it is encouraging to receive such accounts

of the natural capabilities of Vancouver's Island. It seems to be a very attractive region: & likely to prosper greatly, if the settlers can be secure against the Indians: at present (thanks to Hudson's Bay Company management) these seem very tractable.

HM S 10

I have no doubt of the truth of these remarks—particularly as respects the country along the 49th parallel—(cut off as it is from Canada &c by that intractable region between Lake Superior & Red River) wh. we must expect to see mainly settled by Yankees. But I confess I should like to see a good British infusion into V.Couver's Island, wh. is likely to be so valuable both as a Colony, and a Naval port—and the more encouragement that can be given to emigration from home, the better.

CF 12

Many years ago I advocated British Colonization of Vancouvers Island and subsequent events certainly have not tended to diminish my sense of its importance, though I by no means wish to see any obstacle thrown

in the way of a Yankee Immigration. Encouragement is quite another matter.

Adopt Mr Blackwood's proposals.

N 13

Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)

Joseph D. Pemberton to Douglas, 22 July 1859, forwarding reports of surveyors B.W. Pearse and Oliver Wells, along with maps of the districts surveyed and statements of expenditure incurred.

Pearse to Pemberton, 11 June 1859, reporting his observations on the 30,000 acres surveyed at Nanaimo, "comprising the Mountain, Cedar and Cranberry Districts" (15 pages).

Wells to Pemberton, no date, reporting on the survey of 50,000 acres at Cowichan, comprising the "Shawnigan, Cowichan, Comiaken, Quamichan and Somenos" Districts (18 pages).

"Statement of the Cost in Surveying the Mountain, Cedar and Cranberry Districts near Nanaimo," no date.

"Statement [of] Cost of Survey of Cowichan Vancouver Island," no date.

Minutes by CO staff

Mr Merivale
On conferring with the Land Board I find that we must get the Treasury authority for this, before the Bd can move.

ABd 30 Sep

*

Draft, Merivale to Emigration Commissioners, 19 October 1859, forwarding survey reports and advising the Treasury had instructed the stationery office to "concert with you for printing 300 copies of those reports."

Minutes by CO staff

Delayed till now in consequence of refce to Ty.

ABd 14 Oct

*

Draft, Colonial Office to Under-Secretary, War Office, 19 October 1859, forwarding tracings from the surveys and requesting that they be lithographed in the topographical department.

Minutes by CO staff

Mr Blackwood
Is this to go now? And if so how many copies are wanted?

[HTI]

*

Draft, Merivale to Emigration Commissioners, 24 March 1860, forwarding lithographed copies of the maps that accompanied the survey reports.

Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 17, 30 March 1860.

Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)

Map of "Saanich District 1855." Notation in file reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 241," signed J.R. Crompton, 21 June 1927.

Map of "Vancouver Island B.C. South Eastern District 1855." Notation in file reads "has been removed to M.P.G. 242," signed J.R. Crompton, 21 June 1927.