Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 23 August 1865, CO 305:26, no. 9815, 296.
Abstract
Kennedy, Arthur to Cardwell, Edward 23 August 1865, CO 305:26, no. 9815, 296.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (8).
No. 72, Separate
23rd August 1865
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit the copy of a correspondence which has
passed between Governor Seymour, the Colonial Secretary of Vancouver
Island and myself on the subject of a claim made by this Government
for a reimbursement for conveying the Mails of British Columbiafrom
from
San Francisco to New Westminster accompanied by the copy of a
Memorandum of Agreement between the Attorney General of Vancouver
Island acting on behalf of the Government of British Columbia and
Vancouver Island and Benjamin Holladay the Mail Contractor.
from
San Francisco to New Westminster accompanied by the copy of a
Memorandum of Agreement between the Attorney General of Vancouver
Island acting on behalf of the Government of British Columbia and
Vancouver Island and Benjamin Holladay the Mail Contractor.
I waited the return of Mr Young, the Colonial Secretary, from leave
of absence before making this claim to enable me moreclearly
clearly to
state the facts of the case, and to this cause my apparent delay in
doing so is attributable.
clearly to
state the facts of the case, and to this cause my apparent delay in
doing so is attributable.
I fear that no satisfactory result can accrue from a continuance of
the correspondence between Governor Seymour and myself, and it seems
a subject on which your decision becomes necessary to prevent local
discussions and possible ill feelingwhich
which I am sure Governor Seymour
would deprecate as much as I do.
which I am sure Governor Seymour
would deprecate as much as I do.
I think it is unnecessary that I should trouble you with any further
remarks beyond directing your attention to the Despatch of my
Predecessor No 4 dated 6th February 1862 and the Duke of
Newcastle's reply thereto.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
Unless Governor Seymour can adduce, on his arrival in England, any reasons, or grounds—at present I see none offered by him—for refusing to pay this claim of V.C.I. I should say that B.C. cannot escape this obligation.
Unless Governor Seymour can adduce, on his arrival in England, any reasons, or grounds—at present I see none offered by him—for refusing to pay this claim of V.C.I. I should say that B.C. cannot escape this obligation.
ABd
12 Oct
Refer to B Columbia informing Mr Kennedy that we have done so.
I apprehend B Columbia's case to be this. The
arrangement of 1862
was a job—in favour of the contractors or of V.C.I.—at any rate at
the expense of B Columbia. We were made parties to it for that year &
therefore could not help paying out 2500£—however exorbitant. But
as V.C.I. without consulting us or letting us even have an
opportunity of protest chose to carry on the bargain for 3 or 4
years, V.C.I. must take the consequences. We will not pay a farthing.
arrangement of 1862
was a job—in favour of the contractors or of V.C.I.—at any rate at
the expense of B Columbia. We were made parties to it for that year &
therefore could not help paying out 2500£—however exorbitant. But
as V.C.I. without consulting us or letting us even have an
opportunity of protest chose to carry on the bargain for 3 or 4
years, V.C.I. must take the consequences. We will not pay a farthing.
FR
12/10
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Kennedy to Seymour, 11 August 1865, forwarding copy of a letter
from the Colonial Secretary discussing the cost of conveying the mail
from San Francisco to Vancouver Island and British Columbia.
W.A.G. Young, Colonial Secretary, to Kennedy, 7 August 1865,
explaining the agreement made with Holladay and Flint in 1862 and
the circumstances which saw continuance of their service after the
agreement expired, and commenting that British Columbia were no longer
paying any share of the cost of mail transportation to the colonies.
Memorandum of Agreement laying out the terms by which mail would
be transported to Vancouver Island and British Columbia from San
Francisco, signed by G.H. Cary, Acting Attorney General, and Messrs.
Holladay and Flint, 6 January 1862.
Schedule of mail delivery for the six month term of the
agreement as noted above, covering the period from 7 February to 24
July 1862.
Seymour to Kennedy, 17 August 1865, declining to reimburse the
the colony for conveying mail from San Francisco to New Westminster,
but expressing a readiness to consider a claim for the conveyance of
mail between the two colonies and to discuss the establishment of
regular steam communication with San Francisco and Panama.
Young to Kennedy, 22 August 1865, discounting the arguments put
forward by Seymour and again asserting the fairness of the claim
submitted by Vancouver Island, with extended explanation.
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 100, 31 May 1862,
approving the arrangement made with Holladay and Flint for conveyance
of the mails to Vancouver Island and British Columbia.
