Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 14 March 1864, CO 305:22, no. 5469, 79.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1).
Douglas forwards a request from Young asking for a twelve-month leave of absence. Douglas accepted the request on the condition that the leave will not start until Kennedy arrives on Vancouver Island. Elliot minutes his disdain for Douglas’s decision to grant this leave which starts after his successor’s arrival and notes
that Young’s close relationship with Douglas makes this arrangement
less becoming.Nevertheless, the staff
put it bywith instructions that Kennedy submit an official report when Young starts his leave.
Separate
14th March 1864
My Lord Duke,
I have the Honor to forward herewith Copy of a Letter addressed to me
by Mr Young the Colonial Secretary, applying for leave of absence
for Twelve months to enable him to proceed to England upon Private
affairs, and to obtain relaxation after continuous employment in the
Public Service in these Colonies for a period of nearly Seven years.
2. I laid this application before The Executive Council and they
concurred with me in deeming Mr Young to be entitled to this
indulgence after his long and uninterrupted service; and
I therefore
granted Mr Young the required leave of absence, but, upon the
condition, that it should not take effect until convenient after the
arrival of my Successor. In respect to this point Mr Young stated
to me his reasons for making the application at the present period,
instead of deferring it until after my Successor had assumed the
Administration of affairs. They appeared to me quite satisfactory
and related exclusively to personal considerations connected with his
family.
I therefore
granted Mr Young the required leave of absence, but, upon the
condition, that it should not take effect until convenient after the
arrival of my Successor. In respect to this point Mr Young stated
to me his reasons for making the application at the present period,
instead of deferring it until after my Successor had assumed the
Administration of affairs. They appeared to me quite satisfactory
and related exclusively to personal considerations connected with his
family.
3. In forwarding this application I think it but just—Mr Young
having been employed so much under my own eye—to bear my testimony
to the unremitting nature of his
labours in transacting with only an
inexperienced and insufficient Staff the complicated business arising
out of the organization of all the Departments in two Infant
Colonies. He has hitherto had no leave of absence, and for some time
past I feared that the failure in his health, which was apparent,
would compel him to seek change and quiet.
labours in transacting with only an
inexperienced and insufficient Staff the complicated business arising
out of the organization of all the Departments in two Infant
Colonies. He has hitherto had no leave of absence, and for some time
past I feared that the failure in his health, which was apparent,
would compel him to seek change and quiet.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
As Mr Young is not to come away from Victoria "until some time after" the arrival of Mr Kennedy it is to be hoped that the Govr will not be inconvenienced by the absence of the Secy.
As Mr Young is not to come away from Victoria "until some time after" the arrival of Mr Kennedy it is to be hoped that the Govr will not be inconvenienced by the absence of the Secy.
ABd
13 June
Mr Fortescue
As the despatch does not necessarily require an answer, I should put it by. When Mr Young comes away we must have some official report of it from Governor Kennedy.
As the despatch does not necessarily require an answer, I should put it by. When Mr Young comes away we must have some official report of it from Governor Kennedy.
Sir J. Douglas slurs the matter over in this despatch, but I think
that he was guilty of an irregularity as well as of indelicacy in
granting to any public Officer prospective leave of absence to take
effect after his own successor should arrive. I doubt whether a
Governor has any right to forestall in that way acts which in reality
ought to depend on his successor, and it is much the less becoming
when one is aware that this Mr Young happens to be a close
connection of Governor Douglas.
TFE
14 June
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
