Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 14 April 1864, CO 305:22, no. 5470, 101.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (untranscribed) (10).
Kennedy reports on his initial interactions with the Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island. He sends correspondence and newspaper accounts of the Legislative Assembly’s response
to his request for a
Public Residence for the Governorand a Private Secretary. He laments that his
own replies and remarks to the Deputations are very incorrectly reported.Blackwood minutes his observation that the Legislative Assembly
is composed of late [HBC] folks. They form one party- the outside people are the other and the opposition.Blackwood commends Kennedy’s
answersbelieving that
he will not lose his temper or let himself be dragged into a personal difference with the Assembly.Elliot minutes his agreement, adding that
There are indications of a bad spirit in this little Colonyand his regret that the Assembly did not give
more favourable answersto Kennedy’s requests.
Separate
14th April 1864
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor to submit the following Statement for Your
information.
2. When I arrived in this Colony on the 25th March I found on
reference to the Estimates for the Year 1864 (which had only just
passed the Local Legislature)
that all provision of whatever kind under the head of "Governor" had
been omitted. There was no Public Residence for the Governor and no
provision made for a temporary one.
3. As the Legislative Assembly was still sitting I thought it
expedient, withthe
the advice of my Executive Council to bring the
subject formally under their notice.
the advice of my Executive Council to bring the
subject formally under their notice.
4. This I did by a message on the 2nd of April covering the copy of
a Despatch
addressed to me while in England by Sir F. Rogers dated
26th September 1863, pointing out the proper course for me to
pursue. My message, the Despatch, and Reply of the Legislative
Assembly will be found herewith marked No. 2.
5. I at the same time sent a message to the Legislative Assembly
communicating a Despatch from Sir F. Rogers, dated 11th September
1863, in reply to my application for a Private Secretary. A copy of
my Message, the Despatch and Reply of the LegislativeAssembly
Assembly, will
also be found herewith, marked No. 3.
Assembly, will
also be found herewith, marked No. 3.
6. This ended my communication with the Legislative Assembly on
these subjects; not so however on the part of the Public and the
Press, who were almost unanimous in their expression of disapproval
of the action of the Legislative Assembly.
7. The matter finally culminated in a Public Meeting called by the
Mayor of Victoria, on the 11th Instant, when the Resolutions—Marked
No. 4—were adopted and presented to me on the following day.
8. I cannot better conclude this Statement than by transmitting
Extracts from every newspaper publishedin
in the Colony commenting upon
the whole proceeding, which you will find herewith marked No. 5.
in the Colony commenting upon
the whole proceeding, which you will find herewith marked No. 5.
9. Your Grace will observe that the Honble The Speaker of the House
of Assembly, attended the Public Meeting, which is a circumstance I
think to be regretted.
10. From this Short Statement, Your Grace will be enabled to judge
in how far the action of the Legislative Assembly, in these matters,
represents the opinions and wishes of the People of the Colony, in
whose loyalty and intelligence I have full confidence. I must
however add in conclusion that my own replies and remarksto
to the
Deputations are very incorrectly reported.
to the
Deputations are very incorrectly reported.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
I always expected a ferment on a change of Governors. The atmosphere of Victoria will be clearer after a storm or two & the departure of Sir J.D. for England. You should know that the Ho: of Assembly is composed of late H.B.Co folks. They form one party—the outside people are the other and the opposition. This House was elected last year. It sits for 4 years. Governor Kennedy must be the best judge, being on the spot, whether public opinion will support him if he resorts to dissolution. I think that the firm tone of the S.S. desph of the 30 Apl will help to strengthen the Governor's position; & that the public, if not the House of [one line cut off microfilm] & moderate Civil List for the payment of the [one word cut off microfilm] Officers in exchange for the Crown Revenues—in requiring the Colony to provide a house for the Governor, & give him a Priv: Secy the S. State has done no more than what is fair towards the Colony, & usual in such cases. The tone of Mr Kennedy's answers indicate that he will not lose his temper or let himself be dragged into a personal difference with the Assembly.
I always expected a ferment on a change of Governors. The atmosphere of Victoria will be clearer after a storm or two & the departure of Sir J.D. for England. You should know that the Ho: of Assembly is composed of late H.B.Co folks. They form one party—the outside people are the other and the opposition. This House was elected last year. It sits for 4 years. Governor Kennedy must be the best judge, being on the spot, whether public opinion will support him if he resorts to dissolution. I think that the firm tone of the S.S. desph of the 30 Apl will help to strengthen the Governor's position; & that the public, if not the House of [one line cut off microfilm] & moderate Civil List for the payment of the [one word cut off microfilm] Officers in exchange for the Crown Revenues—in requiring the Colony to provide a house for the Governor, & give him a Priv: Secy the S. State has done no more than what is fair towards the Colony, & usual in such cases. The tone of Mr Kennedy's answers indicate that he will not lose his temper or let himself be dragged into a personal difference with the Assembly.
ABd
13 June
Mr Fortescue
There are indications of a bad spirit in this little Colony. For the present it may perhaps be deemed enough to acknowledge the receipt of this despatch, and to express regret that the House of Assembly had not returned more favorable answers to his Messages in which he pointed out to them the want of a residence for the Governor and also
of a Private Secretary to assist him in the proper performance of his
duties.
There are indications of a bad spirit in this little Colony. For the present it may perhaps be deemed enough to acknowledge the receipt of this despatch, and to express regret that the House of Assembly had not returned more favorable answers to his Messages in which he pointed out to them the want of a residence for the Governor and also
of a Private Secretary to assist him in the proper performance of his
duties.
TFE
14 June
And refer him to desp. of April 30.
CF
15
See 5480.
EC
15
5470, 5471, 5480 Vancouver Island. Despatches concerning the refusal
of the Ho: of Assembly to provide the Governor with a residence, and
a Private Secy.
Dft ansrs not yet prepared in consequence of the arrival of the
Govrs desph 5725 - communicating further intelligence as to the
proceedings of the House on the Civil List question. 5725 expresses
the Governor's views as to the separation of V. Couver Isld and B.
Columbia from under one Governor. On
which point it will be well to
see what Governor Douglas says—vide his despatch 2905/64.
which point it will be well to
see what Governor Douglas says—vide his despatch 2905/64.
ABd
23 June/64
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
"Colony of Vancouver Island. Estimates for the Year 1864."
Kennedy to House of Assembly, 2 April 1864, enclosing copy
of a letter from Frederic Rogers of the Colonial Office, asking them
to consider making some provision for a governor's residence.
Copy, House of Assembly to Kennedy, 8 April 1864, declining to provide
any funds for a residence "until the result of an Address lately
transmitted to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the
Colonies be known."
House of Assembly to Kennedy, 8 April 1864, declining to
entertain the question "until such time as the question of the
Transfer of Crown Lands shall come before the Legislature in answer
to Resolutions already forwarded to Her Majesty's Secretary of State
for the Colonies."
Thomas Harris, W.J. McDonald, George Cruickshank, and A.D. Bell,
to Kennedy, 12 April 1864, expressing the support of the people of
Victoria as voiced at a public meeting, and their opposition to the
attitude of the House.
Newspaper clippings from
The Daily Chronicle (5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 April 1864);
The British Colonist (5, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13 April 1864);
The Evening Express (31 March, 9, 12 and 13 April 1864); and
The British Columbian (13 April 1864)
reporting on the questions at issue between
Kennedy and the House of Assembly, the public meeting on the question,
and related concerns (18 pages).