"26197713-c1d0-4611-b5d6-942ae2c951b0"@en . "CONTENTdm"@en . "PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT."@en . "http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1198198"@en . "Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia"@en . "British Columbia. Legislative Assembly"@en . "2016-03-22"@en . "[1914]"@en . "https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcsessional/items/1.0059568/source.json"@en . "application/pdf"@en . " EEPOET\nOF THE\nPEOVINCIAL\nAECHIVES DEPAETMENT\nOF THE PROVINCE OF\nBRITISH COLUMBIA\nFOR THE\nTEAE ENDED DEOEMBEE 31ST, 1913\nTHE GOVERNMENT OF\nTHE PROUIKCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nPRINTED BY\nAUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.\nVICTORIA, B.C.:\nPrinted by WitxiAM H. Cullin, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty.\n1914. To His Honour Thomas Wilson Paterson,\nLieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia.\nMay it please Your Honour:\nThe undersigned has the honour to present herewith the Annual Eeport of the\nDepartment of Archives for the A'ear 1912-13.\nH. E. YOUNG,\nProvincial Secretary.\nProvincial Secretary's Office,\nMarch, 191k. REPORT OF THE PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT, 1913.\nERRATA.\nPage V 6, second paragraph, last line\u00E2\u0080\u0094\" 1884 \" should read \" 1844.\"\nPage V9, No. (18)\u00E2\u0080\u0094\" H.M.S. Inconstance\" should read \" H.M.S. Inconstant.\"\nPage V 75, second line of heading\u00E2\u0080\u0094\" H.M.S. Inconstance \" should read \" H.M.S. Inconstant.' PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT.\nVictoria, B.C., February 28th, 1914.\nTo the Honourable Henry Esson Young, M.D., LL.D.,\nProvincial Secretary and Minister of Education, Victoria. B.C.\nSib,\u00E2\u0080\u0094I have the honour to submit the following Report of the Archives Department for the\nyear ended December 31st, 1913:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nDuring the year under review the Provincial Archives have been enriched by approximately\n3,000 accessions, consisting of manuscripts, portraits, views, maps, charts, photographs, and\nmedals illustrative of historic events. The new material covers all periods and phases of\nProvincial history, and alone would form a collection of no small interest and value. The maps\nand charts include several exceedingly scarce items, such as an illuminated copy of \" Typus\nOrbis Terrarum,\" circa. 1579, by the famous Ortelius; the \" Diversa Orbis Terrae,\" 1694, of the\ngreat Dutch cartographer, Peter Schenk; an official Spanish manuscript of 1790, showing the\nStrait of Juan de Fuca; and a fine set of the Dalrymple sketches. Inasmuch as it is in such\nancient and rare productions\u00E2\u0080\u0094the surviving \" sea-cardes \" and \" mappes \" of the old cosmog-\nraphers and cartographers\u00E2\u0080\u0094that one catches the first glimpse of the Pacific seaboard of North\nAmerica, it is needless to emphasize the importance of these acquisitions.\nThe manuscripts which were acquired in the period covered by this report comprise a mass\nof valuable literary matter in the form of letters, diaries, journals, and memoirs, running from\n1753 to 1871, amongst the chief of which may be noted two autograph letters of Captain James\nCook, written at the Sandwich Islands in 1778 and addressed to Captain Clarke, of H.M.S.\n\" Discovery \"; two letters written at Nootka in 1792 by Captain New, of H.M.S. \" Daedalus,\"\nto his sister; journal of a voyage to the north-west coast of America in the ship \" Ruby,\" 1794-6,\nby Captain Charles Bishop; memoir of the discoveries of the Russians in the Eastern Sea, by\nP. I. Pallas; papers relating to voyages and discoveries in the North Pacific Ocean down to 1753,\nby Philip Buache; a collection of autograph letters and diaries by Sir James Douglas, Doctor\nJohn McLoughlin, Sir George Simpson, the Honourable John AVork, Doctor W. F. Tolmie,\nArchibald McDonald, and many others; a number of journals of the fur-trading period; many\ninteresting letters written at the time of the gold excitement, 1858 to 1865; a daily record of\nthe overland expedition to Cariboo in 1862; and a large number of illuminating documents\nrelative to early days and activity in the gold districts.\nThe Department has had the good fortune to acquire a very fine gallery of photographs\u00E2\u0080\u0094in\nan excellent state of preservation\u00E2\u0080\u0094taken by Mr. Frederick Dally in the early sixties. Mr. Dally,\nwith commendable zeal and energy, journeyed hither and thither over the Province, and this\ngreat collection of views forms a pictorial memoir of our transitional period which will prove\nof great human interest and also of historical importance.\nIn the matter of old-time photographs, it should be mentioned that an arrangement has been\nmade with Mr. A. H. Maynard, of Victoria, whereby the Archives Department is to be furnished\nwith a complete set of the splendid series of views taken by the late Mr. Maynard, a well-known\nand honoured pioneer. Mr. Maynard visited the Cariboo District in the early sixties, and his\nphotographs of the mines of Barkerville, Cameronton, Richfield, Van Winkle, Lightning Creek,\nand other places, famous in the annals of placer-mining, are of absorbing interest, because they\nfaithfully depict faces which have long since passed away and scenes which have changed\nbeyond recognition.\nThe medallions include one of the silver medals which were struck by the Royal Society\nin honour of Captain James Cook, bearing a fine engraving of the famous circumnavigator\nwith the mottoes: \" Jac. Cook Oceania Investigator Acerrimus \" and \" Nil Intentatum Nostri\nLiquere \"; also a \" token \" of the North-west Company of 1820 and a set of the Hudson's Bay\nCompany's coins.\nIt is difficult to convey in a few words an adequate idea of the work of the Department,\nbut the documents printed in the Appendix hereto will serve to show the nature of the collection V 6 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nwhich is being acquired and preserved. The letters of Sir James Douglas, K.C.B., are particularly valuable because they throw light upon the many-sided character of a remarkable man,\nwhose name and fame will endure for all time in the Province of British Columbia. Likewise,\nthe letters and reports of Captain Vancouver are also worthy of more than passing notice. Nor\ncan the historian afford to overlook the significant documents relating to Arancouver Island.\nWith reference to Arancouver's \" Narrative \" it may be well to explain that this document\nconfidentially reports to the Admiralty the proceedings at Nootka in 1792. Although an account\nof the diplomatic controversy between A'ancouver and Bodega y Quadra is given in Vancouver's\nA'oyages (ATol. I., Chapter X.), the \"Narrative\" is printed here in full because it contains the\ncorrespondence on the subject of the cession of Nootka, of which only a synopsis appears in\nthe work just quoted. It will also be instructive to compare the confidential report with the\npublished account. Judging by the letters it would appear that Dobson, the interpreter, who,\naccording to A'ancouver, \" spoke and translated the Spanish language very accurately \" (Vol. 1,\npage 3S6), gave a very literal translation of the Spanish letters. Bodega y Quadra's note to\nthe American traders, Gray and Ingraham, and the reply thereto, appear in the \" Proofs and\nIllustrations\" of Greenhow's \"History of Oregon and California,\" London, 1884, pp. 413-417.\nIn addition to the documents contained in the Appendix, the following bulletins are presented\nherewith:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n. 1. \" Minutes of the Council of A'ancouver Island, commencing August 30th, 1851, and\nterminating with the prorogation of the House of Assembly, February 6th, 1861.\"\n2. \" House of Assembly : Minute Book, 1856.\"\n3. \" House of Assembly: Correspondence Book, 1856.\"\nWith the exception of a few excerpts, these invaluable records have never been printed.\nIf by any unhappy mischance the originals were destroyed, the earliest pages of the parliamentary history of British Columbia would be for ever lost. The documents in question deserve,\ntherefore, very special consideration. In passing, it may be observed that one of the most\npressing obligations of the Department is the publication of original material in the form of\nbulletins, for it is only by such means that the resources of the archives can be made generally\naccessible.\nThe work of copying ancient records is being actively prosecuted, w7ith the result that a\ngreat many exceedingly important documents are being brought to light. Of the first importance\nin this connection are the letters and reports of Captain Cook, Captain A'ancouver, David Thompson, David Douglas, Lieutenants Warre and A7avasour, and the Spanish explorers.\nIn the course of the last two years much field-work has been carried on. The undersigned\nhas visited Lytton, Kamloops, Lillooet, the Cariboo Road, Barkerville. Richfield, Fort Fraser,\nFort St. James, Fort George, and many other historic spots, with fruitful results. It should be\nborne in mind, however, that much yet remains to be done. In most cases the only sure way\nto secure our scattered documents is to seek them out\u00E2\u0080\u0094they cannot be saved otherwise from\nthoughtless guardianship. One might here venture to suggest that, similarly, an effort should\nbe made to gather together all colonial documents in the various Provincial governmental\ndepartments, in order that they may be properly classified and indexed. This work has, indeed,\nalready been begun. Herbert French, M.A., is making excellent progress in arranging the\nmaterial in the Department of the Honourable the Provincial Secretary. The matter is one\nwell worthy of serious consideration, since the departments possess historical records of the\nfirst importance.\nHitherto, unfortunately, owing to lack of space, it has not been possible to arrange the\nmanuscripts in proper order, or to make them available for general investigation; but in\nthe building now rapidly nearing completion there will he ample accommodation for all papers\nand documents in rooms specially designed for the purpose. The new quarters will consist of\nthree large well-lighted rooms, to be devoted to manuscripts, maps and charts, and North-west\nAmericana respectively. Adjacent to these apartments will be two large studies for the convenience of students and others engaged in research-work.\nThe Department gratefully acknowledges the generosity and public spirit of Mr. John\nTolmie and the Misses Tolmie, of Cloverdale, A'ictoria, in presenting a very valuable collection\nof manuscripts, consisting chiefly of the journals of the late Honourable John Work, who played\nan active part in public affairs in early days as member of the Legislative Council of Arancouver 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 7\nIsland. The documents cover the period 1824 to 1835, and contain a mass of general information, notably the Journal of 1824, which records in detail an exploration of the Fraser River\nfrom its mouth to the present site of Langley and beyond.\nThe Department is also indebted to Mrs. McMicking, Mrs. Newall, daughter of the late\nGeneral R. C. Moody, the Honourable John Sebastian Helmcken, Dr. C. F. Newcombe, His Honour\nJudge Howay, the Honourable J. H. Turner, Mr. James McDougall, Mr. Sellars and Mr. C. B.\nBagley, and many others for their valuable assistance and support.\nThe writer wishes to place on record his deep appreciation of the generous assistance and\nkindly advice of the late Mr. Gilbert Malcolm Sproat, a sturdy pioneer and gifted writer, who\nalways exhibited a keen interest in the Provincial Archives. Up to the last, Mr. Sproat was\never ready to place his mature knowledge and ripe judgment at the service of the Department.\nIn conclusion, the writer ventures to express the hope that the public will rally to the\nsupport of the Department and show their interest in the history of the Province by assisting\nin every possible way to preserve our memorials of the past. In a new country it is not an\neasy matter to preserve, or indeed to trace, historical records. Incessant movements and\nmigrations among the people too often result in the disappearance or destruction of valuable\nold letters and diaries, and so many a document whose rightful place is in the Archives of the\nProvince lies neglected and forgotten or is irretrievably lost. In British Columbia there is now\nno excuse for the destruction or loss of historical materials, because the Provincial Archives\nDepartment is ready to safeguard all such records, no matter how unimportant or trivial they\nmay at first sight appear to be. For the sake of those who may not care to lose ownership of\ncherished documentary possessions, a safety-deposit system will be inaugurated, whereby papers\nof historical interest may be preserved in a fireproof vault. All documents entrusted to the\nDepartment upon this understanding will be kept in duly labelled metal boxes, which will be\nalways readily accessible. In this way it will be possible to guard against irreparable losses\nby fire or other causes, which can scarcely be prevented, except by the maintenance of a central\nrepository such as the Provincial Archives Department.\nI have the honour to be,\nSir,\nYour obedient servant,\nE. O. S. SCHOLEFIELD,\nProvincial Archivist. V 8 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nAPPENDICES.\nI. PAPEBS RELATING TO NOOTKA SOUND AND TO CAPTAIN A'ANCOUVEIt'S EXPEDITION.\n(1.) \"Narrative of my proceedings in His Majesty's Sloop Discovery from the 28th of\nAugust to the 26th of September, 1792, particularly relative to transactions with\nSigr. Quadra, respecting the cession of certain territories on the N.W. Coast of\nAmerica, &c, agreeable to the Articles of the late Convention.\" Captain George\nA'ancouver, R.N.\n(2.) \"Information obtained from Lieutenant Meares.\" 3d July, 1790.\n(3.) Memorandum by Lieutenant Meares, 4 July, 1790.\n(4.) Lieutenant John Meares to Right Honourable W. W. Grenville, July Sth, 1790.\n(5.) Memorial of Lieutenant Meares, 30th July, 1790.\n(6.) Minute of Cabinet. Whitehall, SOth April, 1790.\n(7.) Lieutenant John Meares to the Right Honourable AA\ AV. Grenville. June 29, 1790.\n(8.) Lieutenant John Meares to Evan Nepean, Esq. 3d July, 1790.\n(9.) \"A Recapitulation and General Account of the Losses and Damages sworn to have\nbeen sustained by the United Company of British Merchants trading to the North\nWest Coast of America, by the Capture of their A'essels, and the being dispossessed\nof their Settlements by Don Stephen Joseph Martinez, Commander of His Most\nCatholic Majesty's Squadron in the Seas.\" London, 7th September, 1790.\n(10.) Schedule of Sundry Vouchers and Papers presented to the Right Honble. William\nWyndham Grenville, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State.\n(11.) Captain George A'ancouver to Evan Nepean, Esq., His Majesty's Ship Discovery.\nMonterey, 7th January, 1793.\n(12.) Undated and unsigned memorandum hi Foreign Office, entitled \"My Idea as to\nNootka is as follows.\"\n(13.) Captain George A'ancouver to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Whitehall, 23d February, 1791.\n(14.) Sir Joseph Banks to Mr. Alexander Menzies. Soho Square, 22nd February, 1791.\n(15.) Captain George A'ancouver, H.M.S. Discovery. St. Helens, 3d March, 1791.\n(16.) Captain George Vancouver to Evan Nepean, Esq. Falmouth, 12th March, 1791.\n(17.) \"Demand for a Supply of Provisions for the Use of His Majesty's Sloop Discovery\nunder my Command, being a Proportion for 547 Days for 100 Men.\" Captain George\nVancouver.\n(18.) Evan Nepean, Esq., to Captain George Vancouver. Whitehall, 17th March, 1791.\n(19.) Lord Grenville to Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Whitehall, 11th February,\n1791.\n(20.) Captain George A'ancouver to Evan Nepean. Discovery, Falmouth, March ye Slst,\n1791.\nII. Papers belating to the Colonization of A'ancouver Island.\n(1.) Lieutenant Adam D. Dundas, R.N., to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.\n26 Pall Mall, Tuesday, 30th May, 1848.\n(2.) \"Extract of a Despatch received from Sir George Simpson, dated Norway House,\nJune 24th, 1848.\" August 24, 1848.\n(3.) Charles Enderby, Esq., to The Right Honble. Earl Grey. 13 Great St. Helen's, 25\nAugust, 1848.\n(4.) Charles Enderby, Esq., to Sir J. H. Pelly. 13 Great St. Helen's, 5th April, 1848.\n(5.) James Ed. FitzGerald, Esq., to H. B. Hawes, Esq., Colonial Office, London, June\n9th, 1847. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 9\n(6.) James Edward Fitzgerald, Esq., to Herman Merrivale, Esq. British Museum,\nFebruary 14, 1848.\n(7.) \"A Proposal to Form a Company for the Purpose of Working the Coal, and\nEstablishing a Colony in ATancouver's Island.\" John Shillinglaw, Esq., Soho.\n(8.) James Edward FitzGerald, Esq., to Herman Merrivale, Esq. British Museum, June\n30, 1848.\n(9.) Charles Humphreys, Esq., to James Edward Fitzgerald, Esq. 46 Lucas Street.\n(10.) James Edward Fitzgerald, Esq., to Herman Merrivale, Esq. British Museum, June\n2nd, 1848.\n(11.) W. Colqn. Grant, Esq. Junr. United Service Club, Novr. S, 1848.\n(12.) Letter to Captain Grant, dated 15 November, 1848, from (?).\n(13.) W. Colquhoun Grant, Esq., to R. Hawes, Esq., M.P., etc., etc.\n(14.) Edward Ryan, Esq., to Herman Merrivale, Esq. Teignmouth, Devon, September 24,\n1848.\n(15.) Report on A'ancouver Island.\n(16.) \"Resolutions of the Hudson's Bay Company. Colonization of Vancouver's Island.\"\nJanuary 13, 1849.\n(17.) P. Hornby, Rear Admiral and Commander in Chief, to J. Parker, Esq. Dated\nValparaiso, 29th August, 1849.\n(IS.) James Douglas, Chief Factor, Hudson's Bay Company, to Captain J. Shepperd,\nH.M.S. Inconstance. Dated Fort Nisqnally, 2Sth May, 1849.\n(19.) AVilliam Miller, Esq., to H. A. Addington, Esq. Dated AVoahoo, October 23, 1848.\n(20.) Statement of The A'ancouver's Island Steam Sawing Mill and Agricultural Company,\nfor the consideration of the Board of Trade.\nIII. A. Colville, Deputy Governor, to the Rt. Honble. Earl Grey. Dated Hudson's Bay\nHouse, London, December 18, 1850.\nIA'. The Right Reverend Modeste Demers, Bishop of A'ancouver's Island, to Benjamin\nHawes, Esq., Secretary7.\nA'. Archibald McDonald, Esq. Dated Fort Langley7, 20th February, 1831,\nVI, Letters op Peter Skene Ogden and James Douglas to Dr. AA'. F. Tolmie.\n(1.) Fort A'ancouver, Sth October, 1846.\n(2.) Fort A'ancouver, 4th November, 1S46.\nATI. Letters op Sir James Douglas, K.C.B., to Dr. W. F. Tolmie.\n(1.) Cowlitz Farm, 23rd June, 1845.\n(2.) Fort Vancouver, 19th April, 1847.\n(3.) Victoria, April 28, 1851.\n(4.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 7th May, 1851.\n(5.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 21st May, 1851.\n(6.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 7th August, 1851.\n(7.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 27th December, 1851.\n(8.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 27th December, 1851.\n(9.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 27th January, 1852.\n(10.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 27th March, 1852.\n(11.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 6th May, 1852.\n(12.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 7th May, 1852.\n(13.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 21st May, 1852.\n(14.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 28th July, 1852.\n(15.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 17th Sept. 1S52.\n(16.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 17th Sept. 1852.\n(17.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 14th October, 1852.\n(18.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 5th November, 1852.\n(19.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 6th December, 1852. V 10 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nVII. Lettebs of Sib James Douglas, etc.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Concluded.\n(20.) A'ictoria, 29th April, 1853.\n(21.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 21st June, 1853.\n(22.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 22nd June, 1853.\n(23.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 14th July, 1853.\n(24.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 14th Jany. 1S54.\n(25.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 21st Jany. 1S54.\n(26.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 4th March, 1854.\n(27.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 13th April, 1854.\n(28.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 14th July, 1S54.\n(29.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 19th September, 1854.\n(30.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 3rd October, 1854.\n(31.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 26th April, 1S55.\n(32.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 21st July, 1855.\n(33.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 25th August, 1855.\n(34.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 1st May, 1856.\n(35.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 26th May, 1856.\n(36.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 26th August, 1856.\n(37.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 13th August, 1857.\n(38.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E ISth December, 1857.\n(39.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 28th December, 1857.\nATII. Lettebs of James Douglas, K.C.B., to Archibald Barclay, Esq.. Secretary7 of the\nHudson's Bay Company.\n(1.) Dated A'ictoria, 17th August, 1850. (An extract only.)\n(2.) Dated A'ictoria, 3rd January, 1852. (Letter complete.)\nIX. Provisional Regulations respecting Gold Mining in the Districts of Fraser River and\nThompson River. 29th December, 1857.\nX. Letters and Reports by7 David Thompson, relating to the Oregon Territory.\n(1.) Letter to Captain H. Bagot, R.N., dated Montreal, February 12th, 1842.\n(2.) Memorandum on the Seventh Article of the Treaty of Ghent.\n(3.) \" On the West Side of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.\"\n(4.) Letter to His Excellency Sir Charles Bagot, Governor-General of Canada, dated\nFebruary 22nd, 1842.\n(5.) Letter to J. M. Higginson. Dated Montreal, 21st July, 1843.\n(6.) Letter to the Earl of Aberdeen. Dated Montreal, 29th November. 1843.\n(7.) Letter to the Earl of Aberdeen. Dated Montreal, 28th October. 1844.\n(8.) Letter to the Earl of Aberdeen. Dated Montreal, 2nd December, 1844.\n(9.) Letter to Captain Sir James Alexander. Dated Montreal, May 9th, 1845.\n(10.) \"Remarks on the Oregon Territory.\" Montreal, June 10th, 1S45.\nXI. Letter written by Chartres Brew at Fort Yale. 26th February. 1859. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 11\nI. PAPERS RELATING TO NOOTKA SOUND AND TO CAPTAIN A'ANCOUVER'S\nEXPEDITION.\n(1.) Captain A'ancouver's Report to the Admiralty on the Negotiations with Don Juan\nFbascisco de Bodega y Quadra at Nootka Sound in 1792.\nA Narrative\nOf my proceedings in His Majesty's Sloop Discovery from the 28h. of August to the 26th.\nSeptember 1792, particularly relative to transactions with Sigr. Quadra, respecting the cession\nof certain territories on the N. AV. Coast of America, &ca. agreeable to the Articles of the late\nConvention.\nIn consequence of a letter I received on friday the 17th. of August, from Mr. Thomas New,\nMaster of the Daedalus Transport, lying ill Friendly Cove, Nootka, charged with their Lordship's\norders for me, and stores and provisions for the A'essels under my command, informing me of\nthe unfortunate death of Lieutenant Hergest & Mr. Gooch, Astronomer, &ca. I determined to\nend my researches on this coast, to the northward, for this year, and repair immediately to\nNootka Sound. About 4 o/clock in the afternoon of the 28th. we approached near the entrance\nof Friendly Cove, when a Spanish Officer with a pilot came on board and conducted us to\nanchorage.\nWe found riding a Spanish Brig of War, bearing the Broad pendant of Commodore Sr.\nDon Quadra, the Chatham, the Daedalus, and a Merchant Brig, called the Three Brothers, of\nLondon.\nSignr. Quadra residing on shore, I sent Mr. Puget to acquaint him who we were; that I\nshould shortly pay him my respects, and that I would salute his flag if he would return an\nequal number of guns; to which he returned answers replete with every degree of politeness\nand hospitality; therefore, having saluted with thirteen guns to which they returned an equal\nnumber, I went on shore and had the pleasure of finding myself received with every mark of\nfriendship and civility. The Commodore informed us he would return our visit in the morning;\nand himself, with several of his Officers accordingly came to breakfast, and were saluted with\nthirteen guns on their arrival and departure.\nThis day was spent in marks of ceremony and festivity; myself, with as many of the\nOfficers as could be spared, dined with Sigr. Quadra, and experienced a sight that was realy\nsurprising. A dinner, consisting of a superfluity of the best of provisions, mostly the produce\nof Nootka, and served with no less equal elegance. A Royal salute was fired on drinking the\nhealth of their Catholic and Britannic Majesties, and 17 guns for the success and happy\ntermination of our present expedition.\nMaqueena, who was present on this occasion, had been in the morning, by being entirely\nunknown to us, unfortunately prevented by the Centinel and the Officer on deck, from coming\non board, as we were then very busily employed: and there being no appearance in him to\ndistinguish his superior situation: of this he had most vehemently complained, and it was with\nmuch difficulty that Sigr. Quadra prevailed on him to accompany him to breakfast; however\non receiving suitable presents of Blue Cloth, Copper, &ca. his fears seemed disipated; but after\na glass or two of w7ine he renewed the subject, and likewise introduced that of the Spaniards\nquiting this place, asserting that presently we should give it to some other nation. On this\noccasion Sr. Quadra took the greatest pains to convince him in the first instance that it was\nignorance of his person that occasioned the treatment lie experienced in the morning, and that\nhe and all his people would find themselves equally well treated by the English as they had\nbeen by the Spaniards; with which assurances he seemed perfectly satisfied: nor could I avoid\nobserving, with a mixture of surprise and pleasure, how highly the Spaniards had succeeded in\ngaining the confidence and good opinion of these people, together with the orderly conduct of\nthe latter on all occasions towards the Spaniards.\nThe next day being Thursday the 30th. we sent on shore the Observatories, Timekeepers,\nand instruments, and set hard to work about our respective duties: such as caulking the Ship, V 12 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\noverhauling the rigging & sails, clearing the hold, breadroom &ea. for the reception of stores\nand provisions: hauled all the boats up to be repaired, which from their various extensive\nexcursions had now become highly necessary. On this occasion, in consequence of the unfortunate death of Lieutenant Hergest, I considered it expedient an Officer should be appointed in\nhis room, on the part of Government, to superintend the conduct of the Daedalus Transport.\nI therefore appointed Lieutenant James Hanson of the Chatham, to be Agent to the Daedalus;\nI likewise appointed Mr. James Johnstone to be Lieutenant of the Chatham in his room; and\nMr. Spelman Swaine, one of my mates, to be Master of the Chatham, in the room of Mr.\nJohnstone.\nThis forenoon I received by the hands of a Spanish Officer, a very long letter from Sigr.\nQuadra respecting the restitution of this place: on this occasion I considered myself excessively\nfortunate in finding a young gentleman, by the name of Dobson, on board the Store-ship, who\nspoke and translated the Spanish language very accurately, and who very politely offered his\ngood services to me on all occasions: I shall therefore here insert his translation together with\nmy answers, as the best mode of describing these transactions.\nCopy of Sr. Quadra's first letter to me, dated 29th. Augt. 1792.\n\" The Sovereigns of Spain and England not being well satisfied of the reality of the things\nwhich has passed in places so distant from Europe, and animated with the most sincere desire\nto terminate their differences, they have agreed to leave the examination to the direction of\ntwo Commissaries of the different courts.\nWith this object, and that of uniting our general Charts, for to propose the limits, I anchored\nin this port on the 29th. of April; but finding your retardment might frustrate my compliance\nin every respect with my duty, I commissioned all the A'essels under my command to inspect\nthe Coast, and as they passed to inform themselves of the circumstances which preceded the\ndetention of the Argonaut and the Sloop Princess Royal, merchantmen, in the year 17S9: and\nof whatever occurred in that epoch.\nBy solemn treaties; by discoveries; and by a possession immemorial, well confirmed; it has\nbeen known to all nations the propriety which ours has in the coast to the north of California.\nFounded in this right we have gone without violence, gaining the love of the natives, with the\ncost of innumerable sums, in different expeditions by sea and land, and in sustaining the\ndepartment of Sn. Blaz, without any other view than as an auxiliary to other establishments,\nand to extend them. Who then can take it ill that Dn. Estevan Martinez disputed the preference of this port; if they know that in the year 1774, it was seen by the Spaniards, and In\n1775 possession was taken two degrees to the Southward and six to the Northward, and that\nat his arrival he met with no kind of Establishment whatever.\nAuthorized with the orders of the Vice Roy of New Spain, Martinez entered Nootka on the\n5th. of May 1789, and with visible demonstrations of joy in the Indians, took possession and\nfortified, without the least remonstrance or protest being made by the Captain of the Portuguese\nBrig the Iphigenia, the only A'essel which lay in this cove. He afterwards examined her passports and those of the Ship Columbia and Sloop Washington, Americans. Not adopting some\nexpressions in those of the first, he treated for detaining her, or making her a prize, which, in\neffect, he. executed till they were interpreted by a more mature examination. He then gave him\nhis liberty, and delivered up the Cargo, and gave him things to enable him to pursue his voyage.\nA little after this arrived the Schooner, North West America, and the Sloop Princess Royal,\nboth English. Towards them he conducted himself with the greatest attention till their departure, they remaining in the port as long as was agreeable to themselves. Afterwards appeared\nthe English A'essel Argonaut, commanded by Captain Colnett. Fearing to enter, they went on\nboard him, and his fears vanished. But as his ideas were not entirely fixed on the commerce\nof Skins, but likewise to establish a factory, and fortify himself in a commodious situation,\nexpressing himself in terms which could not be misunderstood; upon which Martinez resolved\nto arrest him, and to send him to Sn. Blaz; doing the same with the Princess Royal, Thomas\nHudson, after she returned; (being persuaded that she came to assist and favour him) likewise\nwith the North West America, which he bought of Douglas; but this sale hitherto has not been\nproperly cleared up, neither to whom the skins got from Clayoquot belonged, or in whose personal\ncharge. This the person most interested ought to satisfy, being well understood that by no\nmeans they can graduate the value of the Aressel in more than one thousand dollars and that\nof the skins at more than 35 or 40, according to those who have intelligence of their value. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 13\nThis is as things are, and is ingeniously related as agreed by the two friendly nations: and\nthey have manifested that Martinez had no orders to make prize of any, nor was this his\nintention: neither did he exceed nor violate the treaty of peace or was faulty to the laws of\nhospitality.\nAnd I will demonstrate with proofs, not the least equivocal, that the injuries, prejudices\nand usurpations which Captain Mears represents, are chimerical, (permit me to say so) when\nthe natives positively affirm, and the adjoining documents prove, that he never had any other\nhabitations on these shores than a small hut, which he abandoned when he left this, and which\ndid not exist on Martinez arrival: that he bought no lands of the Chiefs of these villages: that\nthe Iphigenia did not belong to the English; and that they did not extract the least part of\nher Cargo. In fine, I see that on the arrival of Colnett at Sn. Blaz, he was treated with the\ngreatest distinction, and his Officers and crew were satisfied with wages for the time of their\ndelay, according to the wages given to the Royal Navy in the South; the Cargo and A'elssels\nwere returned, and he got, on his egress from this, a good number of skins.\nThings thus established to their primitive state, it is clear that Spain has nothing to deliver,\nnor the smallest damage to make good.\nBut comprehending the spirit of the King, my Master, is to establish a solid peace, and\npermanent with all nations, and consulting to remove obstacles Which influence discord, far\nfrom thinking to continue in this port, I am ready without prejudice to our legitimate right,\nnor that of the Courts better instructed resolves, generously to cede to England the Houses,\nOffices, and gardens which has with so much labour been cultivated, and retire to Fuca; and\nfor never to be disturbed or molested, the subjects of the one or the other party; the above\nmentioned place ought to be our last establishment, and there to fix the dividing point; and from\nthence to the Northward to be common the free entrance, use, and commerce, conformable to\nthe Sth article of the convention: and that no others may be able to form themselves without\nthe permission of the respective Courts: neither for the English to pass to the South of Fuca.\n. If you have any difficulty, or meet with any other medium that is honourable, that will\nterminate the negotiation and affiance the peace, I shall be happy if you will communicate it,\ncertain that I aspire to contract the bonds of amity which they wish to preserve.\nNutca 29th Augt. 1792.\nI have the honor to be &ca.\nJuan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra.\"\nThe following are Copies of letters and translations of letters accompanying the foregoing.\n\" To Sn. Dn. Francisco Jph de Viana:\nAs chance has proportioned our power to verify with your arrival in this port, the reason\nw7hich Mears had to represent things against Dn. Estevan Jph Martinez; I wait for your\ninformation what colours the Iphigenia had? To what nation she belonged? who was her\nCaptain? What her cargo, and those interested in her? If anything was wanting? What\ntreatment they received? If he assisted them with provisions? What kind of a house the\nEnglish had in this port, and with what right it was fabricated? and all that occurred 'till\nyou sailed.\nGod guard you many years.\n\" Juan F: de la Bodega y Quadba.\"\nNutca, 29 Augt. 1792.*\n\" Sr. Commandte. Dn. Juan frco. de la Quadra.\nI can inform you that the colours of the Iphigenia were Portuguese, and that she belonged\nto the same nation. J. Franco. Jph Vianna, Vassal to the King of Portugal, was Captain of her.\nHer Cargo was forty sea Otter Skins, and belonged to John Carballo, A'assal of the said\nKing: further I inform you that all that was on board said Vessel when D. Estevan Jph\nMartinez made me prisoner was delivered exactly the same to me when the A'essel was liberated.\nWe were extremely well treated, and with the best of everything, and Dn. Estevan Jph Martinez\nsuccoured us with provisions, and a cable for said Schooner: he likewise sent us Caulkers.\n* This date, with that of the following letters, is supposed to mark the time of their being copied,\nand not the time of their being written. V 14 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nThe house we had on shore was very small and made from a few boards got from the\nIndians, and when we sailed it was pulled to pieces; and when Dn. Estevan Jph Martinez entered\nthis port of Nootka, there was not the least remains of a house &ca. this is all that offers on\nthese subjects.\nI have only now to say that I wish you a long life and health that you may know how much\nI am.\nSir,\nYour humble Servt.\nFbanco. Jph de A'ianna.\"\n(Copy) Nootka, 29 Augt. 1792.\nJ: F: de la Bodega y Quadra.\n\" S & Sres. Dn. Roberto Gray & Dn. Jos: Ingraham!\nTo satisfy as is just the Court of England of the injuries, prejudices, and usurpations, which\nthey think was suffered in the year 1789, in this port, you will be kind enough to inform me\nwith sincerity, as is proper and corresponding to the honor of truth, for what cause Dn. Estevan\nMartinez detained, or made prizes, of the Vessels of Capt. Colnett, the Iphigenia and N. W.\nAmerica; what establishment or house Mears had at the arrival of the Spaniards : what territories were those which is said he bought of Maqueena, Yuquinani, or any other Chief of these\nA'illages; with what view the crew of the N.W. America were put on board the Columbia, and\nif they embarked 96 skins in her, and the sum total which they produced at China, and to whom\nthey belonged. Nootka, 2d. August 1792.\nI have the honor to repeat to you that I am &ca.\nJuan Franco, de la Bodega y Quadba.\"\nA Copy Nootka 29 Augt. 1792.\n\" Don Juan Francisco del Quadra.\nSib!\nYour esteemed favor was duly handed to us by Captain Arrow requesting from us information relative to the transactions between the English and Spaniards in this port in the year\n1789, which we will do with great pleasure and impartiality at your request. On the 5th. of\nMay 17S9 when Dn. Esteven Josef Martinez arrived in Friendly Cove, he found riding there the\nIphigenia only ; the Columbia being at Mahwinna, six miles up the sound. The Sloop Washington\nand North West America were on a cruise. This information is necessary in order to regulate\nthe sequel of the present. After the usual ceremonies of meeting were over, Dn. Martinez\nrequested the papers of each A'essel, and demanded why they were at Anchor in Nootka Sound,\nalledging it belonged to His Most Catholic Majesty. Captain A'ianna, who passed as Commander\nof the A'essel Iphigenia, answered they had put in. being in distress, having but little provisions,\naud in great want of every necessary, such as Anchors, Cables, Rigging, Sails, &ca. that they\nwere in daily expectation of the arrival of Captn. Mears from Macao to supply them, when they\nshould depart. Capt: Mears was expected to return in the same A'essel he sailed from hence\nin, in the year 1788, which was under Portuguese Colours, and had a Portuguese Captain on\nboard. This A'essel with the Iphigenia were said to belong to one Cavallo, a merchant in Macao;\nin whose name the Iphigenia's papers were made out. Seeing the Iphigenia was in such want\nDn. Martinez gave them assistance, by supplying them with such articles as they were most in\nwant of, till the A'essel before mentioned should arrive. At this time there was not the least\nsuspicion of any misunderstanding or disturbance among us; as the Commodore seemed satisfied\nwith the answer each A'essel had given to his request. However on the 10th. of May, the Sn.\nCarlos, Captain Arrow, arrived. The same day all the American gentlemen belonging to the\nColumbia came to Uquot, or Friendly Cove, to welcome them in; and the next morning (the\n11th. of May) Dn. E: J: Martinez captured the Iphigenia; and his reason, as we understood\nwas, that in their Portuguese instructions they had orders to capture any English, Spanish, or\nRussian A'essel, they met on the North West Coast, and could take. This, at the time seemed\nimprobable, as she was a A'essel of small force; and was afterwards found to be a mistake in\nreading the instructions, owing to their want of a perfect knowledge of the Portuguese language.\nHowever after the A'essel was taken the Officers and seamen were divided: some on board the 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 15\nPrincessa, and others on board the Sn. Carlos, where they were treated with all imaginable\nkindness, and every attention paid to them. The 24th. the above mentioned mistake being\ndiscovered, the Iphigenia was restored, and the Portuguese flag hoisted on board her. The\nsame day Capt: Douglas with the Portuguese Captain and seamen repaired on board.\nThe Iphigenia, while in possession of the Spaniards, from being a wreck was put in complete\norder for Sea; being caulked, rigging and sails repaired, Anchors, Cables, &ca. sent from the\nPrincessa. On the 26th Dn. Martinez supplied them with every kind of provisions, for which\nCaptain Douglas gave him Bills on Mr. Cavallo, before-mentioned, Merchant in Macao. On the\n31st the Iphigenia sailed\u00E2\u0080\u0094was saluted by the Spanish Fort, and the Commodore accompanied\nhim out of the Harbour, giving him every assistance of launches, &ca. AA'hen Capt: Douglas\ntook leave of the Commodore and his Officers, he said he should ever retain a sense of D.\nMartinez goodness; apparently deeming his conduct relative to the A'essel, nor more than his\nduty as a King's Officer. Upon the whole, we both believe the Iphigenia being detained was of\ninfinite service to those who were concerned in her. This must be plain to every one who will\nconsider the situation of the A'essel when the Princessa arrived, and the advantages reaped\nfrom the assistance and supplies of the Spaniards. The detention, if it may be so called, could\nbe no detriment; for had nothing taken place, she must have remained two months longer at\nleast: having, as has already been mentioned, put into Port being in distress: of course they\ncould not have sailed 'till supplies arrived, which was not 'till July, as will appear in the sequel;\nwhereas being early fitted, as has been mentioned, she sailed on the coast, Northward of Nootka\nSound, and there being no A'essels there, they collected upwards of seven hundred sea Otter\nskins: which has often been represented to us by Captain Douglas and his Officers, after our\narrival in China. This may suffice for the transactions relative to the Iphigenia. Before Capt:\nDouglas sailed he gave Dn. E : J: Martinez a letter for Mr. Funter, Master of the Schooner,\nN. W. America; telling him, from Capt. Mears not arriving at the appointed time, there was\ngreat reason to fear the Vessel he sailed from Nootka in had never reached China; she being in\nbad condition when she sailed from this place; therefore as he, Mr. Funter, must on his arrival\nbe destitute of everything, he was at liberty to conduct as he thought most conducive to the\ninterest of the owners. AVe shall make mention of this A'essel again hereafter. Interim we\nobserve your wish to be acquainted with what house or establishment, Captain Mears had at\nthe time the Spaniards arrived here. We answer, in a word, None. On the arrival of the\nColumbia in the year 1788, there was a house, or rather a hut, consisting of rough posts, covered\nwith boards made by the Indians; but this Capt: Douglas pulled to pieces, prior to his sailing\nfor the Sandwich Islands, the same year. The boards he took on board the Iphigenia; the\nroof he gave to Capt: Kendrick, which was cut up and burnt as fire wood on board the Columbia:\nso that on the arrival of Dn. E: J: Martinez there was no vestige of any house remaining. As\nto land, which Mr. Mears says he purchased of Maquinna, or any other Chief, we never heard\nof any, although we remained among these people nine months, and could converse with them\nperfectly well. Besides we have asked Maquinna and other Chiefs, since our late arrival, if\nCaptain Mears ever purchased any land in Nootka Sound? They answered, No: that Capt:\nKendrick was the only man to whom they had ever sold any land.\nOn the 8th of June the North West America arrived: and the next day the Spaniards took\npossession of her. Dn. E : J: Martinez had an account taken of the property on board her,\nparticularly of the Skins; which he said should be given to the Officers and men, that they\nmight be sure of their wages.\nOn the 16th. of June, the Sloop Princess Royal, commanded by T: Hudson, arrived from\nMacao. This A'essel brought accounts of the safe arrival of Capt: Mears; and that Capt:\nColnett was coming on the Coast, Commodore of the English trading Vessels for the ensuing\nSeason, in a Snow named the Argonaut: this Vessel likewise brought accounts of the failure of\nMr. Cavallo, merchant at Macao, before mentioned. What right the Commodore had to detain\nthe North AVest America before, is not for us to say; but he always said it was an agreement\nbetween Captain Douglas and himself, after the arrival of the above A'essel with the news of\nCavallo's failure he held her as security for the Bills of Exchange drawn on said Cavallo in\nfavor of His Most Catholic Majesty : this we have heard him say.\n2d. of July the Sloop Princess Royal sailed out of this port, having to our Knowledge been\ntreated by the Commodore and his Officers with every possible attention, which Capt: Hudson\nhimself seemed grateful for, and conscious of. Prior to this A'essel sailing the Commodore V 16 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\ngave to Mr. Funter all the skins he brought in the N. W. America, which were shiped on board\nthe Princess Royal by Mr. Funter for his own account. The same evening a sail was discovered\nfrom the Spanish Fort. We were among the first who went out to meet them: it proved to\nbe the Argonaut, before mentioned, Capt: Colnett.\nThe transactions of this Vessel were such that we can give the sense of it in a very few\nwords, that may answer every purpose of the particulars, many of which are not immediately to\nthe point or tending to what we suppose you wish to know.\nIt seems that Captain Mears with some other Englishmen at Macao had concluded to erect\na fort and settle a Colony in Nootka Sound; from what authority we cannot say. However\non the arrival of the Argonaut we heard Capt: Colnett inform the Spanish Commodore he had\ncome for the above purpose, to hoist the British flag, and take formal possession to which\nDn. Estevan Joseph Martinez answered he had taken possession already in the name of His\nCatholic Majesty; on which Capt: Colnett asked if he would be prevented building a House in\nthe port. The Commodore mistaking his meaning answered him he was at liberty to erect a\ntent, wood and water, after which he was at liberty to depart when he pleased: hut Captain\nColnett said that was not what he wanted, but to block-house, erect a fort, and settle a Colony\nfor the Crown of Great Britain. Dn. E: J: Martinez answered No: that in doing that he should\nviolate the orders of His King; run a risk of losing his commission, and not only that but it\nwould be relinquishing the Spaniards Claim to the Coast: besides Dn. Estevan observed the\nA'essel did not belong to the King, nor was he invested with proper powers to transact such\npublic business; on which Capt: Colnet answered he was a King's Officer; but Dn. Estevan\nreplied his being on half-pay, and in the Merchant service rendered his commission, as Lieutenant\nin the Navy, of no consequence in this business. In conversing on this subject after the arrival\nof the Vessel in Port, it seems Capt: Colnet insulted the Commodore, by threatning him, and\ndrew his sword in the Princessas Cabin; on which the Commodore ordered his Vessel to be\nseized. We did not see him draw his sword, but were informed of the circumstance by those\nwhose veracity we have no reason to doubt. After seizing the Argonaut the Sloop Princess\nRoyal arrived a second time, and as belonging to the same company the Commodore took\npossession of her also. With respect to the treatment of the prisoners, although we have not\nread Mr. Mear's publication, we presume none of them will be backward in confessing that\nDn. E: J: Martinez always treated them very kindly and all his officers consistent with the\ncharacter of gentlemen.\nHaving acquainted you with the principal part of the business agreeable to request, one\nthing yet remains to answer, which is of the Captain Officers and crew of the N. W. America.\nYou ask if we carried them to China ? we did; and with them one hundred Sea Otter Skins,\nthe value of which we judge, independant of freight was 4875 Dollars, which was delivered\nMr. Mears, and was, we suppose, his property. AA'e sincerly hope Sir, that when things are\nrepresented in truth as they are, it will rescue our friend Dn. E: J: Martinez from any censure;\nat least that he may not be deemed an imposter and a pirate, which many from only hearing one\npart of the story supposed he was. As to the treatment of Americans by Dn. Estevan, we have\never testified it in terms due to such hospitality. And we are again happy to have it in our\npower to do what we deem justice to his conduct. While speaking of others of your nation we\ncan never be unmindful of you; your kind reception and treatment of us has made an impression\nthat will not be easily erased. & we hope you will ever bear in mind how very sincerly we are\nyour friends and\nSir,\nYour most obedt. Servants\nRobt. Gray\nJos: Ingbaham.\"\nNootka Sound, 5 Aug: 1792. -\nCopy. Nootka. Aug: 29th. 1792.\n\" Juan fran. de la Bodega y Quadra.\" 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 17\n\"On board His Britannic Majesty's Ship Discovery in Friendly Cove, Nootk(a) Sound.\nSept. 1st. 1792.\nSib!\nI have had the honor of receiving your letter dated Nootka, 29th of August 1792; as well as\nthe copies of those from you to the Captain Dn. Franco. Joseph de Viana, & Messrs. Robert)\nGray and Joseph Ingrabam, with their answers: the substance of which correspondence doth\nnot at present come within the limits of my commission to enter into any retrospective discussion.\nI doubt not but what you have done on that subject has been with the best intentions of\nacquiring real information on the solid basis of honorable truth; in which laudable pursuit\nI should be ever happy in exerting my utmost aid and assistance.\nThe major part of your letter likewise, entering into a retrospective discussion of rights\nand pretensions, of the Sovereigns of Spain and England, in the Western parts of North America,\nnorthward of California. I consider as equally foreign to the object of our present business;\nthat having been already set aside, by the Ministers of the two Courts, in the preamble of the\nConvention signed at the Escurial, the 28th of October 1790. Nor do I comprehend the fifth\narticle of convention in the same point of view which you have pointed out: as that article\nexpressly says; \"It is agreed, that as well as the places which are to be restored to the British\nSubjects by virtue of the first article, as in all other parts of the Western Coast of North\nAmerica, or Islands adjacent, situated to the North of the parts of the said Coast already\noccupied by the Spaniards, wherever the subjects of the two powers shall have made settlements\nsince the month of April 17S9, the subjects of the other shall have free access and carry on\ntheir trade without disturbance or molestation.\"\nThis being the exact words of the said article, I should suppose the Establishment His\nCatholic Majesty has made in the mouth of Fuca, to come under the denomination of a port\nof free access, as well as such as may have been, or may hereafter be made from thence south\nto Port St. Francisco, conceiving that port to be the Northernmost part of the said Coast then\noccupied by Spain; and I believe the Establishment at the mouth of Fuca to have been made\nno longer ago than last May, when I was, myself, employed in surveying the said Coast.\nUnder which circumstances, agreeable to the tenor of the articles of the aforesaid Convention, and the instructions and orders I am under, I do not, in the present instance, conceive\nmyself at all authorised to enter into any negotiation further than that which is contained in\nthe substance of Count Floridablanca's letter, which authorises you to restore, and me to\nreceive, the buildings, districts, and parcels of land, which were occupied by the subjects of\nHis Britannic Majesty, as well in the Port of Nootka or St. Lawrence, as in the other said\nto be called Port Cox, and to be situated about 16 leagues distant from the former to the\nSouthward.\nThis, as I have already mentioned, being the only business I am at present authorised to\ntransact, I have only farther to add that I am thoroughly convinced the houses, offices, gardens\n&ca. now existing in this Cove, have been constructed with considerable labour, and at the\nexpence of His Catholic Majesty; and it would be the highest injustice were I not to acknowledge\nthe obligations of gratitute we are under from such generosity in putting them into our possession, being so materially essential to add to our comforts; as likewise the many marks of\nkindness and civility yourself have bestowed on the British subjects that have visited this port\nduring your residence. I am therefore ready to be put into possession of the abovementioned\nterritories so soon as you may find it convenient; hoping, at the same time, that you will not\nsuffer it to interfere with your own comforts in the smallest degree; and as soon as I should\nhave made sufficient observations for correcting and arranging my Charts, which I hope will\nbe in a few days, I shall be happy in the honor of presenting yon a copy of all I have seen,\nreplete with every degree of accuracy I have been able to ascertain.\nConvinced of our mutual desire of aspiring to contract the strictest bonds of amity and firm\nfriendship, I beg leave to say I am happy in having the honor to be &ea.\n\" Geobge A'ancouvee.\"\nSr. Dn. Juan F. de la B. y Quadra,\ndc. rf-c. Sc\"\nOn the 31st. of August the Chatham hauled on shore to examine and repair the damages\nshe had sustained by getting aground, in the course of our Summer's excursion; which were\n2 V 18 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\na part of her gripe, and a piece of the fore-foot of her Main Keel; and part of her false-Keel,\ncarried away, and the copper torn away in different places, both forward and aft.\nThe next morning, Sigrs. Galliano and A'aldez arrived from the Gulph of Georgia, having\npursued a passage to the South of the one we navigated, as also that seen by Mr. Johnstone.\nOn the 2d. in my way to the Observatories, I called on Sr. Quadra, who informed me Mr.\nDobson had translated my letter, and that it had afforded him the greatest satisfaction to find\na person of my character to transact this business: that he should accept of my offer of remaining on shore until the Carpenters had finished some additional accommodations to his appartments\non board his little Brig, and then would either wait my departure to accompany me in my\nresearches to the Southward, and to any Spanish port I intended visiting, in order that he\nmight in person shew me every civility and attention that country afforded, or would wait at\nany Rendezvous I should appoint for that purpose, recommending St. Francisco or Monteri.\nHe also enquired of me who I intended to leave in possession of the territories; and being\ninformed I should leave Mr. Broughton, in the Chatham, aud deposit under his protection the\nremaining Cargo of the Daedalus, he gave directions that the Store-houses should immediately\nbe cleared and cleaned out, and desired I would walk with him round the premises, as then I\nshould be the best judge how to direct the depositing the different stores. I found the different\nplaces sufficiently secure, and more extensive than was necessary to answer all the purposes\nwe could possibly want. A very fine large new oven had been lately finished, which he said\nhe had ordered to be built on purpose for us, and had not yet suffered it to be used, the houses\nhad likewise, for the same reason, been repaired, & the gardeners were busily employed putting\nthe gardens in order, transplanting &ea.\u00E2\u0080\u0094the poultry, consisting chiefly of fowls and turkies,\nwere in excellent order, as were the black cattle and swine; of these, he said, he should only\ntake just sufficient for his passage to the Southward, leaving all the rest, together with a\nconsiderable quantity of seeds he had by him for the use of Mr. Broughton. Sigres. Galliano\nand A'aldez added all they had in their power, being three excellent goats; I had likewise both\nhogs and goats to leave with him, so that there was a prospect of Mr. Broughton spending the\nwinter by no means uncomfortably, with the assistance of the natural productions of the country.\nMy orders, directing me to receive on the part of His Britannic Majesty these territories,\nwere entirely silent in what manner I should act, whether to contriving some mode of retaining\nthem or evacuating them; I was therefore at; a considerable loss at first what measures to\npursue: but considering the principal object His Majesty had in view in directing the undertaking of this Expedition was for facilitating and acquiring commercial advantages, and at\none view seeing the importance of this station, situated in the very center of the commerce of\nN. W. America, the ease and convenience with which this Port is accessible, as likewise the\nsuccess all European productions yet tried had been attended with: \u00E2\u0080\u0094 these weighty reasons\nconcurring with seeing this the general place of Rendezvous for the traders of all nations,\nbeing English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Americans; (a list of which is herewith\ninclosed, so far as I have been able to obtain the necessary information) and the nature and\nquantity of articles of traffic and other stores sent out in the Daedalus, from the Secretary of\nStates' Office, together with such conversation as I had formerly been present at in that office,\ninduced me to believe an establishment was in contemplation shortly to take place some where\non this coast, though I had not received a single line from that office on that or any other\nsubject, however being thoroughly convinced that this place would not long remain unoccupied\nby some one of the trading nations, and not at all unlikely but by Spain; in which case a\nprobability of involving my Country in fresh disputes, &ca. might be laid to my charge: and\nlikewise as disputes had already taken place among the competitors in the Fur-trade particularly\nbetween a Mr. Brown, Master of the Buttersworth of London, and Mr. Magee, Master of the\nMargaret of New York, the former having gone so far as to attempt to prevent the A'essel of\nthe latter from sailing out of this port, in which Sigr. Quadra was obliged to interfere: all\nthese circumstances combined induced me to determine on leaving this Port under the orders\nof Mr. Broughton, in the Chatham, whose presence would doubtless curb and restrain such\nconduct, while myself in the Discovery would be employed in putting the remaining part of\nour voyage in execution, until I should have farther directions how to act after such information\nhad been given. Thus conceiving all matters firmly arranged, I gave all necessary directions\nfor the clearing the Store Ship; which was immediately set about. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 19\nThe civil, hospitable, and very attentive, behavior of Sigr. Quadra, induced Mr. Broughton\nand myself, with a certain number of the officers and gentlemen, to dine with him almost every\nday; which was not only excessively pleasant, but likewise very salubrious; his table being\ncovered with the greatest profusion of all sorts of refreshments, which we had long been\nstrangers to: and this evening Sigr. Galiana, who being particularly attached to the Commission of Sigr. Malaspina, and not under Sigr. Quadra, informed me he should take the advantage\nof the present serenity of the weather (which has existed since our arrival without the smallest\ninterruption) and should sail for the Spanish ports to the Southward, either in the course of\nthis night or by daylight in the morning. He accordingly, at midnight, departed with Sigr.\nA'aldez in company, and did me the favor of promising to forward a short letter touching\njust the heads of our transactions, since our departure from the Cape, for their Lordships\ninformation.\nIn the morning Sigr. Quadra breakfasted with me, and as on all occasions he seemed to\npay the utmost attention in endeavouring to impress the Indians with the highest and most\nfavorable opinion of us, he informed me that on the present occasion he conceived a formal\nvisit to Maquilla (or as the Spaniards call him Maquinna) necessary, it was therefore agreed\nto set out for Maquinna's habitation, which was at a place called Tasheer's about seven leagues\nup the sound in the morning.\nThis evening I received a letter from Sigr. Quadra, in reply to mine of the 1st. of Sep.r. but\nMr. Dobson having hurt his right arm, so as entirely to prevent his writing, the translation did\nnot immediately take place, nor from his oral translation did it appear to us at all necessary.\nAgreeable to our appointment, on Tuesday morning our boats were equiped for our\nexpedition to Tasheer's. Sigr. Quadra accompanied me in the Discovery's pinnace; which,\nwith our launch, a Spanish launch, and the Chatham's Cutter, with as many Spanish and\nEnglish Officers as we could take, set off about 8 o/cloek. The weather, though gloomy, was\nvery pleasant, and having a favorable breeze we reached Tasheer's about 2 O'clock, and dined\nin Maquinna's house, Sigr. Quadra having provided an elegant repast on the occasion; which\nbeing finished, Maquinna entertained us first with a representation of their warlike achievements.\nThis was performed by about a dozen men armed with Musquets, &ca. and about eighteen with\nspears, sixteen or eighteen feet long, pointed with iron, and seemingly a very awkward and\nunweildy weapon. These have sung several warlike songs, accompanied by actions of attack\nand defence, withdrew, and was followed by a masque dance, which was attended by a present\nto me of two Sea Otter Skins in return to the distributions I had made of copper, beads, blue\ncloth, &ca. to Maquinna, his wives, daughter, and brothers. Having a drum and fife with us,\nour Sailors concluded the afternoon's amusements with a Country dance, reels, &ca.\nMaquinna seemed excessively delighted, and not less proud in the honor we had done him\nin this visit, and promised to return it in a day or two, on which occasion he was given to\nunderstand he should be entertained in our way, no less to his satisfaction than what we had\nnow experienced; by which I meant a display of fire works; but they never having seen anything\nof the kind could have no idea of it, nor indeed did the Spaniards themselves seem exactly to\nunderstand our meaning.\nThe evening approaching we took leave of our Tasheer's friends and proceeded a few miles\nhomewards. About % past 6, arriving at a convenient little cove we pitched our encampment\nfor the night; and passed a very pleasant evening. Next morning after breakfast we embarked\non our return. The weather was pleasant, but the wind though light was contrary. The afternoon was cloudy, attended with some rain, thunder, and lightning: about 5 O/clock we reached\nFriendly Cove having dined by the way. In the course of conversation which passed this afternoon, Sigr. Quadra requested that in the course of my farther exploring this country I would\nname some port or Island after us both, in commemoration of our meeting and the friendly\nintercourse that on that occasion had taken place; which I promised to do; and conceiving no\nplace more eligible than the place of our meeting, I have therefore named this land, (which\nby our sailing at the back we have discovered to be an extensive Island) The Island of Quadra\nand A'ancouver: which compliment he was excessively pleased with; as also my retaining the\nname of Port Quadra to that which in May last I had called Port Discovery, but finding it\nhad beeii formerly explored and named after this officer, I had since adopted that name. V 20 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nI found the Chatham had hauled off during our absence; but from the inconsiderable rise\nand fall of the tide had not been able to repair her damages therefore was obliged to remain\nlight until the next springs; which according to the present arrangements, was a matter of\nbut little importance.\nOn Thursday, Maquinna with two of his wives and some other relations returned our visit;\non which occasion I could not avoid noticing them to be the greatest beggars I had ever seen,\nand expressing the most excessive impatience on all occasions; and indeed that kind of disposition seems generally very prevalent among them, which I attribute to be in a great measure\nowing to the vast indulgence the Spaniards have shewn them : as anything they take a fancy\nto, if not immediately given, though probably not in our power to spare, they affect to be greatly\noffended, and remain sulky for two or three days. It was fortunate I had at hand everything\nto satisfy Maquinna's requests which were upon the whole very moderate; probably the number\nof things I had given himself and family so recently at Tasheers had not quite escaped his\nmemory: his impatience was however almost beyond bearing in soliciting the amusement I had\npromised him: he could not, or would not be prevailed on to believe that night was necessary\nfor such an exhibition, accusing us of telling falsities &ca. &ca. Sr. Quadra however at length\nprevailed on him to stay the night on assuring him all we had said was true. Our display\nconsisted of Sky and Water Rockets, AVheels, balloons, Flower-pots, &ca. which he viewed with\nmuch fear, surprise and admiration; and with some difficulty I prevailed on Maquinna and his\nbrother to throw off a few Sky rockets; which having executed they exulted in no small degree.\nThese being all excessively well preserved and prepared afforded no small amusement to the\nEuropeans that were present as well as the Indians.\nOn the S.. arrived here the Aransasu, a Spanish armed Ship, commanded by Sr. Caamano,\na Lieutenant of a Line of Battle Ship.\nMr. Cranstoun the Surgeon of the Discovery, having been since our departure from the\nCape of Good Hope, from a general debilitated state of health, rendered totally incapable of\npaying the smallest attention to his duty had requested I would permit him to proceed to\nPort Jackson in the Daedalus, conceiving by that means he might shortly procure a passage\nto England, which he conceived would be useful; and having directed a Survey in consequence\nto be made, and the Report being to the same effect, he was, on Sunday the 9th discharged;\nand Mr. Archibald Menzies, who embarked on board, in Botanical and other scientific pursuits,\nand had on all occasions most cheerfully and attentively rendered his services ever since Mr.\nCranstoun's indisposition; therefore seeing that hitherto such attention did not interfere with\nhis other pursuits, and conceiving ourselves highly obliged by the services he had rendered us,\nI appointed him to that office in the room of Mr. Cranstoun.\nMr. William House, the Boatswain, a very sober, careful, and attentive officer, having\nlikewise laboured under a violent Rheumatic indisposition, since our departure from New\nZealand, so as totally to prevent his attention to any point of duty, being surveyed and\nreported to be a proper person to be sent home, was discharged. Mr. Noot, Boatswain of\nthe Chatham, was appointed to the Discovery, and Mr. George Philliskirk to be Boatswain\nof the Chatham. And Mr. Phillips, Carpenter of the Discovery, who from the general tenor\nof his conduct, in neglect of duty, destruction of Stores, insolence, and contemptuous behavior\nto myself and most of the Officers, in particular Mr. Mudge, the first Lieutenant, but lastly to\nme on the 20th of March, 1792; and since that day having been suspended, was sent as a prisoner\nin charge of Mr. Hanson, to be forwarded to England to be tried; with his charges attested\nevidences, &ca.; Mr. Thomas Laittiwood, acting Carpenter since that time, was appointed to\nthe Chatham, and Mr. Bray, Carpenter of the Chatham to the Discovery. These arrangements\nI hope their Lordships will approve, as the discharged persons would only have occupied the\nplaces of those now appointed, infinitely more capable of performing their respective duties.\nFrom the many trading A'essels, &ca. passing and repassing in this ocean, on the 10th. I\nread to the Ships Company their Lordships' directions respecting Charts, Journals, drawings,\n&ca. with every injunction, in my power to lay; and that their failing to comply with such\norders and directions would incur their Lordships' highest displeasure; directing Lieutenant\nBroughton to do the same.\nMr. Dobson having been able to translate the letter I received from Sr. Quadra, Sept. 2d.\nI was a little surprised in finding it to the following effect.\u00E2\u0080\u0094 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 21\n\" Nootka, Sept. 2d. 1792.\nSib!\nAccording to the 1st. article of the Convention, and the Royal Order which I have, I am\nonly to restore to His Britannic Majesty, the Edificies, districts, or portions of land, which in\nApril 1789 were taken from His subjects.\nI have been able to justify that the small hut they had did not exist on the arrival of\nMartinez, nor is our establishment in the place where they had theirs.\nIn answer to your attentive and esteemed favor of the 1st. current, you say you do not\nconsider yourself authorised to agree upon those points which exist in my commission. Each\nof us will lay before our respective Courts what we think most just, that from thence they\nmay be able to resolve; and you from hence to be in possession of what Mears occupied; and\nat your command the houses, gardens, and offices, which we have; and I shall retire 'till the\ndecision which ought to result, after clear and authentic informations.\nI return you many thanks for the Kind offer of your works, & I shall have the greatest\nsatisfaction in accompanying you in those which remain, & in occasions where I may more\nand more shew how sincerly I am, &ca.\nJ : F : de la Bodega y7 Quadra.\"\nSr. G. Vancouver.\ndo. dc.\nTo the above letter I made the following reply.\n\" His Bbitannic Majesty's Ship Discovery in Fbiendi.y Cove,\nNootka Sound, 10 Sept. 1792.\nSir!\nI am favored with your very civil and obliging letter of the 2d. instant, and as it was\nverbally translated to me I did not conceive it required any immediate reply: the translation\nhowever appearing in writing seems still to contain a retrospective discussion of right of the\nrespective Sovereigns in the territories here in question; which I have already observed doth\nnot appertain to our present business, and must therefore beg leave to decline entering into it.\nYou may depend on the justness of my representation to the British Court in every thing\nthat has come within my observation, (or at least so far as my abilities will allow me)\nrespecting our transactions here.\nI have therefore only again to observe that I am ready to be put into possession of the\nsaid territories, agreeable to the 1st. article of the Convention &c. &c. so soon as it may, in\nevery respect, be compatible with your situation and convenience; taking this opportunity of\nreturning you my best thanks for the Charts you have favored me with; and to which, in two\nor three days, I shall have the honor of making a similar return, I beg leave to assure you\nI have the honor to be &ca.\nGeo : Vancouver.\nP. S. I trust you will excuse the lateness of this reply, as Mr. Dobson's arm not allowing\nhim to write prevented the translation taking place before.\nSr. Dn. J: F: de la Bodega y Quadra.\"\nIn the course of the night arrived here the Brig Plope: an American trader belonging to\nBoston: commanded by Mr. Jos: Ingraham; the person who jointly with Mr. Robt. Gray, had,\nat Sr. Quadra's request, given a statement of the conduct of Sr. Martinez, and the transactions\nin this port, in the year 1789, which statement has been already inserted in the course of this\nnarrative: and in the forenoon of the 12th. I received the following reply to my letter of\nyesterday.\nNootka, Sept. 11th. 1792.\nSib!\nI am well persuaded that you will inform your Court, with all the sincerity that is possible,\nwhat you have observed during your residence in this port; but permit me to repeat, that I\nmeet with no other medium to finish our negotiation than that which I have proposed to you\nfor the conservation of peace; because I comprehend the first article of the Convention only to extend to the delivery of the territories which in April 1789 were occupied by British subjects;\nI am not only ready to cede them, but also what we at present possess until the discussion of\nthis point; but I have not the power of amplifying this point;\nRemaining always, Sir, &ca.\nJ : F: de la Bodega y Quadea.\nSr. Dn. George Vancouver.\ndC. &C. &C.\nTo which I immediately returned the following answer.\nHis Bbitannic Majesty's Ship Discovery, Friendly7 Cove,\nNootka Sound, 12th. Sepr. 1792.\nSir!\nI am favored with your letter of the 11th. and in reply have only to say, when it suits\nyour convenience to put me into possession of the territories on the N. W. Coast of America,\nor Islands adjacent, agreeable to the 1st. article of the convention, which I conceive the territories here at present in question, I am ready to receive them, but in respect to the discussion\nof right of the respective Sovereigns, as I have already twice observed, I consider totally foreign\nto our present business. Remaining always, &ca.\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nGeorge A'ancouver.\nSr. Dn. J: F: de la Bodega y Quadra.\nHaving dined with Sr. Quadra, and in consequence of the letters that had passed no final\ndetermination was yet come to respecting the cession of this territory, he requested some\npersonal conversation; there were present, besides ourselves, Mr. Dobson the interpreter, a Sr.\nMozino, and Mr. Broughton, these two gentlemen speaking french very well made a greater\ncertainty of our perfectly understanding each other on this subject.\nSr. Quadra principally vindicated the conduct of Martinez, and laid considerable stress on\nthe donations of Maquinna, in putting them in possession of the lands they now occupy: and\non these grounds he seemed to establish the rights of the Spanish Crown, and to have adopted\nthat opinion in consequence of the information he had acquired, and a certain part thereof\ncommunicated to me, since his arrival in this Port. He also pointed out the small place Mr.\nMears's house occupied, which identical spot was not occupied by Spain, and that I might take\npossession of those few yards when I pleased. These being subjects entirely foreign to my\nbusiness, he was informed I could not enter into any argument or discussion to that effect,\nnor in our final conclusion of this negotiation could any subject of right or pretentions appear.\nThis being finally understood, it was agreed that we should respectively represent our transactions to our different Courts, who possessing such information would decide on the Subject\nof right &ca. in the mean time he would leave me in full possission of these territories, which\nhe would quit so soon as his A'essel was ready to receive him; and on his departure the Spanish\nflag should be hauled down and the British flag hoisted in its room; which he would salute,\nprovided I would return an equal number of guns, which being likewise agreed to, matters\nseemed perfectly settled to the wish and desire of all parties; this negotiation being brought\nto so pleasant a conclusion, he requested we would remain on shore in order to pass the evening\nwith him, which we accordingly did: and in the morning I received, to my great astonishment,\nthe following letter.\nNootka 11 Sept. 1792.\nSir !\nI am ready to deliver to you agreeable to the 1st. article of the Convention the territories\nwhich were occupied by the British subjects in April 1789, and to leave ours until the discussion\nof the courts; which is as far as my powers extend.\nRepeating the sincere friendships of &c. &ca.\nJ : F: de la Bodega y' Quadra.\nSr. Dn. George Vancouver.\n&ca. &ca. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 23\nTo which I replied,\nHis Britannic Majesty's Ship Discovery,\nFriendly Cove, Nootka Sound,\nSeptr. 13th. 1792.\nSir!\nI am excessively concerned that after the explanatory conversation which took place\nyesterday, to find on the translation of your letter of that date, any farther necessity of\ncorresponding on the subject of these territories. AVhat I understand to be the territories of\nwhich His Britannic Majesty's subjects were dispossessed of, and to be restored to them by the\n1st. article of the convention, and Count Floridablanca's letter, is this place, in toto, and Port\nCox: of which, if it is not in your power to put me in full possession, I can have no idea of\nhoisting the British flag on the Spot you have pointed out in this cove, of but little more than\nan hundred yards in extent any way. If therefore that is your situation I must decline receiving\nany such restitution on the part of His Britannic Majesty: and so soon as His Britannic\nMajesty's A'essels under my command are in readiness, I shall proceed to Sea, until I shall\nreceive further directions from the British Court on this Subject. Nor can I avoid in this\ninstance observing the material difference of the language of your two last letters from that\nof your first, in which, if the translation is right, you say, \" But comprehending the spirit of\nthe King, my Master, is to establish a solid peace, and permanent with all nations, and consulting to remove obstacles which influence discord, far from thinking to continue in this Port,\nI am ready without prejudice to our legitimate rights, nor that of the Courts better instructed\nresolves, generously ta cede to England the houses, gardens, and offices which have with so much\nlabour been constructed.\"\nOn this Subject I have already acknowledged my thanks, for the generous disposition of\nthe Spanish Court in leaving those offices, &ca. for our convenience: these however I consider\nas erected on the territories of which the British subjects were dispossessed in April 1789. I\nhave the honor to be &ca.\nGeorge A'ancouver.\nSr. Dn. J: F: de la Bodega y Quadra.\n&ca. &ca.\nOn the 14th I received an answer to the following effect from Sr. Quadra.\nNootka, 13 Sepr. 1792.\nSir!\nI thought after the verbal conversation which we had, the difficulties you had put to me\nwere settled, and that we had both complied with our duty: but seeing by your attentive letter\nof the 13th. currt. that you do not conform, I repeat, I will leave you in possession not only\nof the territories which were taken from His Britannic Majesty's subjects in April 17S9. but\nalso that which was then occupied by the natives of the place, and now by the Spaniards in\nconsequence of the cession made in their favor by Maquinna. But you have not the power to\ncontrovert, nor I to adjudge, the property of this land; thus I hope it will be convenient to\nyou to have the possession of the whole; and will inform our Sovereigns; and they will decide\nthe most just.\nThis medium I think the most comformable to the pacific Spirits of the Courts; as in the\nseventh article of the convention it is ordered, that, \" In all cases of quarrels, or the infraction\nof the articles of the present convention, the Officers of the one and the other party, without\npassing to any violence or act of force, are to give an exact relation of the case and of its\ncircumstances to their respective Courts, who will terminate amicably such differences.\" All\nours consists in the right of possession and property.\nYou say you are authorised to receive the whole:\u00E2\u0080\u0094I am not free to deliver in those\nterms. In this idea I judge we shall be under the necessity to instruct our Kings of the truth\nof things of which they have no knowledge; and that for my part there may not be the least\nmotive for disgust, nor for you to suffer any extortion. I am ready to deliver all that was\noccupied by the English in that Epoch, as a thing belonging to Great. Britain, and to leave you\nin possession of the remaining land, reserving only the right of property, which I have not the\npower to alienate, and according to my method of thinking ought to be preserved jointly with\nthe British subjects, and to comply in this manner with the sense of the treaty. V 24 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nFor what respects the houses, gardens and offices, I in nothing vary from my first expressions, which were always limited with these words, \" without prejudice to our legitimate right,\nor what the courts better instructed may resolve.\" This is without renouncing the property\nwhich I comprehend ought to remain in favour of the King my Master. I shall be happy to\nhave in answer the pleasure to find you are fully satisfied, and that you will live persuaded\nof the sincerity with which I esteem you, &ca.\nJ: F: de la Bodega y Quadba.\nSr. Dn. George Vancouver\n&ca. &ca.\nOn Saturday morning the loth., a young lad, who had been about two days missing from\nSr. Quadra's Vessel, was found in a cove, not far from the Ships, most inhumanly murdered;\nthe calfs of his legs were cut out, his head nearly cut off, and several wounds in different parts\nof his body. There were some doubts respecting the author of this act of barbarity, whether\ndone by the Indians, or by a black man, of a very infamous character, who had deserted much\nabout that time; but the prevailing opinion seemed to charge the Indians. Sigr. Quadra sent\na threatning message to Maquinna, demanding the Murderer; and on this occasion all the\nIndians in our neighbourhood departed, which seemed rather to support the opinion of some\nof them having comitted the crime.\nIn the forenoon I replied to Sr. Quadra's letter of yesterday, in the following words.\nHis Bbitannic Majesty's Ship Discovery-,\nFriendly Cove, Nootka Sound,\n15 Sepr. 1792.\nSib!\nI have received your letter of the 13th. and in reply have only to say that like the former\nones it contains nothing but a discussion of right, which as I have before observed is diametrically foreign to the business we are ordered to execute, that subject having already been\nthoroughly investigated by the Ministers appointed by the respective courts for that purpose,\nas is fully explained in the preamble to the late treaty. You likewise have mentioned Mr.\nMears's A'essels being under Pourtuguese colours:\u00E2\u0080\u0094that is equally foreign. Mr. Fitzherbert and\nthe Count of Florida Blanca, being as well informed of that subject as we are, by Mr. Mears's\noriginal petition to the Parliament of Great Britain. I am, therefore, here only, as I have before\nrepeatedly mentioned, to receive and be put into full possession of, on the part of His Britannic\nMajesty, the territories the British Subjects were dispossessed of in April 17S9: which are, this\nplace and Port Cox: this is the place which was then occupied by the said subjects: here they\nwere captured; their Vessels sent as prizes, and themselves prisoners, to New Spain; by which\nmeans this place was forcibly wrested from them, and occupied and fortified by the Officers of\nthe Spanish Crown. This place, therefore, agreeable to the 1st. article of the Convention, and\nthe Count of Florida Blanca's letter, (of which the British Court has transmitted me a true\ntranslation,) with that of Clayoquot or Port Cox, are to be restored, without any reservation\nwhatever; on which terms, and on these terms only, I am here to receive the said territories;\nand must here insist on declining any farther correspondence on this subject, except receiving\nyour positive answer, whether you will or will not restore to me, on the part of His Britannic\nMajesty, the said territories: and in respect to the 7th. article of the Convention, in the present\ninstance, there can be no appeal whatever, you being ordered to restore the said territories, and\nI ordered to receive them: You will therefore favor me with your final answer on that subject,\npermitting me to remain, &ca.\nGeorge Vancouver.\nSr. Dn. J: F: de la Bodega y Quadra,\n&6. &c.\nThis difference in opinion had however no effects on the rights of hospitality and friendship:\nwe visited as usual, and Sigr. Quadra, with Sr. Caamino, and most of the Spanish Officers,\nfavored me with their company to dinner this day. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 25\nOn Monday morning, being the 17th. arrived here the Fenis and Sn. Joze, a Portuguese\ntrading Brig, commanded by John de Barros de Andrade, and in the evening I received Sr.\nQuadra's final letter of determination, respecting the cession of these territories, in the\nfollowing words.\nNootka, 15 Sepr. 1792.\nSir!\nI cannot give you a more definitive answer, or in terms more categorical, than to say I am\nready to put in execution all that I am ordered by the letter of His Excellency the Count of\nFlorida Blanca, by the rule of the 1st. Article of the Convention.\nIn that I am ordered, that the Officer of His Britannic Majesty, be immediately put in\npossession of the Edifices and districts, or portions of land which were occupied by the subjects\nof that Monarch in April 1789, as well in the Port of Nootka or St. Lawrence, as in the other\nwhich, it is said, is called Port Cox, and is situated about seventeen leagues distant from the\nantecedent: restoring to the said Officer such parcels, or districts of land, of which the English\nsubjects were dispossessed, in case the Spaniards now possess them.\nIn my first, of August 29th. I demonstrated to you, that the English had no Edifices here\nat the arrival of Martinez, nor had he the least opposition; nor those with whom to have it,\nin the formation of our establishment; and in that of the 2d. of September, that the cultivated\nland is not the place where the provisional house of Captain Mears was: and he, in his\nmemorial, certifies the same; as he says, that after his arrival at Nootka he purchaesd of\nMaquinna (the Chief of the contiguous district and of that which encompassed that place)\na piece of land, where he built a house for his provisional residence, and for the more convenient\ncontinuation of commerce with the natives: he hoisted the English Colours, and made a Breast\nWork round the house & mounted three Cannon in the front. A little after he ordered Mr.\nColnet to fix his residence in Nootka, with the view of building a good house on the land which\nwas purchased the year anterior. And in the prints of his works, page 108 and 220, printed\nin London in 1790, his establishment was situated with the greatest clearness, independant of\nthat of Maquinna, which territory he did not purchase, and we now possess it by the donation\nof that chief. Thus in sight of these reasons, you must know, I am only ordered to deliver this\nspace of land, and not the remaining.\nBy all my anterior letters, you must be certain I have never thought in any other manner;\nbut desirous of consolidating, more and more, the friendship and good harmony between our\nSovereigns, and to remove every obstacle capable of disturbing them, I not only deliver you\nthe portions which Mears purchased, and in which Colnet had orders to establish himself, but\nI'll likewise put you generously in possession of what Maquinna ceded to us; with the houses,\ngardens, and the rest, which at the expence of the King, my Master, and the labour of his\nsubjects, has been cultivated 'till now: with the only restriction that the Sovereigns accord\n'between them, the right and property of the land which we now have, after our informations\nto our respective Courts.\nThis is not wanting you to enter into the controversy of rights, but to clear things and\nmanifest the sense which I think is obvious in the expressions of the Convention, and letter\nof Count Florida Blanca, to give an entire compliance to the order of the Sovereigns in the\npart which touches me.\nBut if you are not pleased with the little land which Mears purchased, nor the terms in\nwhich I make the cession of the rest; we'll draw a divisionary line in the middle of the two\nportions, and by this method make an equal distribution between the Spaniards and English,\nthat in case my court resolves to have any establishment here, they may account from henceforward the place of their property. Their houses, gardens. &ca. are at present at the disposition of the British subjects, the port remaining common for the two nations, without one\nknowing the dominion of the other.\nThese are all th<> parts as far as I can propose, and the execution, I believe, conformable\nto the articles of the Convention, and the letter of the Minister of State. But if you do not\nplease, or cannot accede to them, You'll pursue in this case, that which you think most convenient, and you will be kind enough to inform me; and I am extremely sorry the affair has\nnot been terminated. I find myself under the necessity of retiring in two or three days, in the\ninterim to leave the Courts to settle this difference. A Frigate whose commander has promised V 26 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nthe offices of friendship and correspondence with the British subjects that remain here, or come\nhereafter, although only on the motive of commerce; and they will use, as a thing belonging\nto them, all that is in our territory, without experiencing the least opposition. And I shall\nalways esteem it as a particular honor that you believe the sincerity with which I esteem\nyou, &ca.\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nJ: F: de la Bodega y Quadba.\nS. D. George Vancouver.\n&c. &ca.\nCircumstances so situated any further letters seemed quite unnecessary;\nI therefore on the 19th requested in person a moment's conversation to know if he was firmly\ndetermined in adhering to the principle of his last letter: which being answered in the\naffirmative, I informed him I should henceforward consider it a Spanish port, and requested\nhis permission to carry on our necessary avocations: to which he very politely answered, not\nonly that but any service in his power he should feel the greatest satisfaction in affording.\nMatters thus at length determined, he informed me he should leave Sr. Caamano in charge of the\nPort until the Princessa, commanded by Sr. Fidalgo, should arrive to relieve him, who was to\nremain here; and that he should this evening take up his abode on board the Brig, requesting\nMr. Broughton and myself would dine with him there on the morrow.\nIn the morning the Brig, Hope, Ingraham, of Boston sailed: and I believe charged with\nSpanish dispatches respecting these transactions.\nWe dined with Sr. Quadra, and were saluted with 13 guns on our arrival and departure.\nThe longitude my observations have placed this part of the Coast in, as likewise that part\nseen by Captain Cook to the North of Cape Foulweather, differing considerably from what Capt:\nCook has placed it in, I wished to have embraced farther opportunities of observing, as I\nshould be under the necessity of remaining here some days longer, and by that means to satisfy\nmyself more properly on that Subject before I finally arranged my Charts; but Sr. Quadra,\nwishing to make a certainty of such information as I had acquired, conceiving the error could be\nhut inconsiderable, requested such a copy as I was able to make, which he received this evening,\ntogether with the following reply to his final letter of the 15th. of Sepr.\nHis Britannic Majesty's Ship Discovery, Friendly Cove,\nNootka Sound. 20th Sepr. 1702\nSib!\nI received your letter of the 15th instant, and finding that corresponding on this Subject,\ninstead of drawing nearer to a conclusion, your letters lately seem positively intended to carry\n\u00E2\u0080\u00A2the execution of our respective orders more and more remote.\nUnder which circumstances I have not deemed it expedient to make any reply to the said\nletter, agreeable to your request, until I had arranged my Charts of this Country, in order to\ndeliver you a copy thereof according to my promise: the one from Cape Mendicino to the\nlatitude of 50\u00C2\u00B0 30 No. is replete with every degree of accuracy I. have been able to ascertain:\nthe longitude of the other I am doubtful of. not having made sufficient observations in this\nport to satisfy myself in that respect. They are, however, otherwise as perfect as circumstances\npermitted me to make them; and, agreeable to your desire, you have them with these imperfections on their head.\nIt is therefore only necessary, in reply to your definite and categorical letter, to repeat what\nI have uniformly written and avowed; which is, that I came here to receive, on the part of\nHis Britannic Majesty, these territories, of which the Subjects of that Sovereign were forcibly\ndispossessed in the year 1789, agreeable to the first article of the Convention, without entering\ninto any discussion of right, restriction, &ca. &ca. These subjects being totally foreign to my\npresent business can have no place whatever in these transactions; which has been fully and\nsufficiently explained in my former letters. To this transaction, you, Sir, have thought proper\nto refuse a compliance; You must therefore retain the said territories for His Catholic Majesty,\nuntil the respective Courts, who undoubtedly will, and whose province only it is, and not ours,\nto decide on matter of right, restriction, &ca. &ca. shall by their superior abilities determine\non whatever they may deem necessary, which they will undoubtedly do, independant of our\nopinions, though probably on the grounds of such information as we may respectively give. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 27\nNor have I any thing to do with the remaining part of your letter, respecting lines of\nlimitation, dominion, &ca. &ca. which I have likewise formerly pointed out.\nTherefore I trust you will do me the honor of believing I am equally animated with a desire\nof consolidating the bonds of amity and harmony which at present subsists between our respective\nMonarchs, so far as is compatible with honor, and with the integrity and allegiance I owe my\nSovereign. In the execution of whose service I cannot avoid here mentioning the delay that\nmust be occasioned by the present mode of proceeding, so different, both toy letter and conversation, to your sentiments on our first arrival; those inducing me to clear the Store-Ship, and\ndeposit her Cargo in the Store-houses I then conceived were to be ceded to His Britannic Majesty.\nThe alteration that has since taken place obliges me to reload the said A'essel. by which my\ndeparture from this place will he prolonged infinitely beyond my wishes or inclinations, as\nwere that not the case, I should be now in readiness to proceed to sea. Your favoring me with\na line to acknowledge the receipt of this will oblige, &ca. &ca.\nGeobge A'ancouver.\nSr. Dn. Juan F. de la Bodega y Quadra.\n&c &c.\nIn the morning of the 21st. I received the following letter from Sr. Quadra.\nBrig Active, at Anchor in the Port of Nootka,\n20th. of Sepr. 1792.\nSir!\nKnowing your resolution it remains for me to say, I am sorry that you did not understand\nthe expressions which were manifested in my first letter, where I was ready to cede the houses,\ngardens, lands, &e. but under these restrictions. Interim I shall come personally to give you\nthanks for the Chart which you have sent me, and to receive your orders, and I hope to remain\nwith your friendship at whatever distance.\nSir, &ca.\nJ : F : de la Bodega y Quadra.\nSr. Dn. George Vancouver.\n&c. &c.\nSigr. Quadra with Sr. Caamano, and most of Sr. Quadra's Officers did me the honor of\ntheir company to take their parting dinner, his intentions being to sail in the morning. On\nthis occasion he received similar marks of ceremony and respect we had experienced on our\nfirst visiting. The day was spent very pleasantly, and Sr. Quadra appointed the port of Monteri\nas a Rendezvous, where we should next meet. He likewise undertook to forward a short letter,\npointing out for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiral}7, the heads of the\nprincipal parts of these transactions; and on my regretting of not having leisure sufficient to\nmake a Copy of my Survey of this Coast to accompany that letter, Sr. Quadra promised that\nin the course of his passage he would cause a copy of the Charts I had given him to be made,\nwhich should be sent with the letter. He likewise informed me he should salute me when he\nsailed, which he did on Saturday morning the 22nd. with 13 guns, to which we returned an equal\nnumber.\nIn the forenoon the Columbia, Gray, of Boston, aud the Adventure Sloop, tender to the said\nA'essel arrived here. The Margaret, Magee, of New York, arrived the preceeding evening.\nUnder the circumstances of the before mentioned transactions which I have minutely related\nin every particular, precisely as they occurred, I considered it totally incompatible with the\nintentions of the British Court, or w7ith the words of the Convention and the letter of Count\nFlorida Blanca, that the identical space of ground on which Mr. Mears's house and breast-work\nwas placed, and that space only, situated in the Northern Corner of this small cove, whose\nwhole extent is scarce more than a musquet shot in any direction, nor the above space no where\nextending above an hundred yards, bounded by the sea on one side and steep perpendicular rocks\non the other, could possibly be considered as the tracts of land, according to the 1st. article of\nthe convention; the districts or parcels of land, according to the letter of the Count Florida\nBlanca; or the tracts of laud or the districts or parcels of land pointed out to me by their\nLordships' different instructions on that subject. V 28 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nUniformly therefore conceiving that such a cession could never have been intended, and\nthat by my acceding thereunto, contrary to my own opinion, I should knowingly have betrayed\nthe trust with which I am honored, and have acted in contradiction to the duty and allegiance\nI owe my Sovereign, by receiving, on the part of His Britannic Majesty, a territory under the\ntenure of the Crown of Spain, without being directed so to do. These are the principles which\nhave operated, and actuated my conduct in these transactions with Sigr. Quadra; which I trust\nwill meet their Lordships' approbation. But should I be so unfortunate as to fall under their\ncensure, I hope their candour will do me the justice of attributing any impropriety I may have\nunavoidably fallen into to its real and only cause,\u00E2\u0080\u0094an ignorance in transacting business of this\nimportant nature, and a want of sufficient abilities in extricating myself from difficulties I had\nnever the most distant idea of experiencing.\nThis being the real and positive state of our situation in this part of the World, I have\nconsidered it my duty to send the earliest information to their Lordships, and by such methods\nas to reduce as near to a certainty as possible, a just and true account from under my own\nhand, arriving with all the dispatch in my power to acquire. On which account I have directed\nmy first Lieutenant, Mr. Mudge, a zealous and active officer, to take charge of these dispatches,\nand to depart in the Fenis and Sn. Jose, Portuguese Brig, John de Barros de Andrade, Commander ; who sails in the morning, wind and weather permitting, for China; and will probably\narrive there about the time the India Company's Ships are taking their departure, in the first\nof which he is directed to take his passage without a moment's loss of time, in order to lay\nthese proceedings before their Lordships: and whose attention since under my command, and\ndiligence with which he will perform their service; will I hope recommend him to merit their\nLordships' future favor. On this occasion I have removed Lieutt. Puget and Lieutt. Baker to\nbe first and second Lieutenants of the Discovery, and Mr. Spelman Swaine, lately appointed\nMaster of the Chatham, to be third Lieutenant of the Discovery: and Mr. Manby, one of my\nMates to be Master of the Chatham; which regulations I likewise hope their Lordships will\napprove.\nOn board the above mentioned A'essel in which Mr. Mudge takes his passage, I found Mr.\nDuffin, her supercargo: the gentleman who was present on most occasions respecting Mr. Mears's\nbusiness on this coast, who has favored me with a relation of such of those transactions as\ncame within his own observation, which he has sworn to before me: this, differing in many\nrespects very widely from the information communicated on that subject by Sr. Quadra, and\nthe principal grounds he has gone on in refusing to put me into possession of this Port, &ca.;\nas likewise a A'iew of this Cove, taken by Mr. Humphrys, one of my mates, will tend to illustrate\nthe small pittance of land Sr. Quadra has offered to cede to me on the part of His Britannic\nMajesty; which space is not badly pointed out in Mr. Mears's Survey of this cove. These I\nhave thought proper should accompany this narration &ca. for their Lordships' farther information, as likewise a Copy of Sr. Quadra's letters to me in Spanish, with their translations\nand my answers annexed.\nA List of Vessels employed in commebcial pursuits on the N. W. Coast of America in the\nSummer of 1792.\nNam- Commanders. b\u00E2\u0084\u00A2g. \u00E2\u0084\u00A2*\u00C2\u00BB\nShip Butterworth Brown London October 1791\nSloop Prince Lee Boo Sharp Do Do.\nJackall Stewart Do ... Do.\nShip Jenny Baker Bristol Augt. 1791\nBrig, Three Brothers Alder London Deer. \u00E2\u0080\u009E\nSchooner, Prince Wm Henry Ewens Do Do.\nBrig Halcyon Barclay Bengal } Jany. 1792 or\n\u00E2\u0080\u009E Venus Shepherd Do ( Deer. 1791\nSnow Moore Canton Deer. 1791\nBrig Coolidge Do Apl. 1792\nBrig Barnett Do Do. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 29\nList of A'essels\u00E2\u0080\u0094Concluded.\nAmerican.\nNames. Commanders.\nWhere When\nbelonging. Sailed.\nShip Columbia Gray Boston Octr. 1790\nSloop Adventure as a Tender to the Columbia,! TT\n, ... ,, . \u00E2\u0080\u009E , V Haswell \t\nbuilt on this Coast J\nShip Margaret Magee New York Octor. 1791\nShip Jefferson Roberts Do. Nov:\n( Last from\n' \u00E2\u0080\u00A2 \u00E2\u0080\u00A2 | China Apl 92\nBrig Hancock Crowel Do. Do.\nBrig Hope Ingraham Do.\nPortuguese.\nIphigenia .A'iana\nThe foregoing being a list of the trading A'essels that are employed on the Coast this season,\nand I believe have found their commerce pretty well to answer their purpose, many of them\nbeing satisfied with their cargoes collected this Summer: and others that winter either on the\ncoast or at the Sandwich Islands, intend leaving parties in this port to set up Vessels, brought\nout in frame, an American and an English shallop being at present building in this cove, which\nso soon as accomplished will employ themselves in dragging along the Coast, and inland navigation, collecting skins, &ca. as circumstances may admit of. And besides these Vessels there\nhave been employed on this Coast the following Vessels belonging to the Crown of Spain;\nthe Conception and Gertrudis, I believe frigates of 36 guns; the Active Brig of 12 guns, the\nPrincessa and Aransa.su, armed Ships, with the Vessels of Galiano and Valdez. These have\nbeen employed in acquiring information and other subjects tending to commercial advantages.\nThese circumstances, together with the conduct of Sr. Quadra, respecting the territories on this\ncoast, &ca. cannot fail of clearly evincing the important light in which the Court of Spain\nviews the commercial advantages that are likely to accrue from such pursuits in this part of\nthe world. I have thought proper to deliver this information and opinion, as likewise to send\na Copy of my Survey of this coast, similar to the one I gave Sr. Quadra, and under the same\ncircumstances, not yet having finally fixed the longitude thought by the mean of 100 sets of\nlunar distances, taken since our arrival, I place our Observatory here in 233\u00C2\u00B0 30' Et. longitude,\nbeing 5 farther west than the longitude of the different points written in this and the one\ngiven to Sr. Quadra, and 19' to the East of what Captain Cook places it; its latitude being\n49\u00C2\u00B0 34, No.\nTheir Lordships will observe in my Chart of the Coast, North of Cape Mendocino, a conspicuous point in latitude 46, 19, No.\u00E2\u0080\u0094236\u00C2\u00B0, 06' Et. longitude; South of which a ridge of rocks\nextends across an apparent opening in the land, but did not appear to us to be a navigable\nchannel. It has however since been entered by Mr. Gray, and proved to be a river, which he\nhas called Columbia, a sketch of which, as he has drawn it, I have herewith transmitted. In\nmy rout(e) to the South, which I hope will take place in a few days, I shall fully examine it,\nas I conceive it an important post from the surrounding country, as likewise that at the back\nof it on the Southern regions of Admiralty inlet; appearing delightfully pleasant and capable\nof producing every essential, necessary, and luxury of life.\nI am excessively concerned that the immense labour, and different distant excursions, in\nwhich I have been employed throughout this whole summer, has prevented my having a duplicate\nof my Jourals of our whole proceedings in proper order to have been transmitted by this\nconveyance for their Lordship's information. However conceiving the importance of such information as we are able to give, together with the transactions that have occurred here, it is my\nintention, after having revisited the said Southern Coast,, down to the Spanish settlements, to\ndispatch Mr. Broughton in the Chatham, by way of Cape Horn, who being perfectly conversant\nwith all my proceedings with Sr. Quadra, and is likewise an officer of conspicuous abilities and\nmuch observation, will be able to elucidate any information their Lordships may require, where V 30 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nmy journals, &ca. may be defective; nor do I think it improbable but he may arrive as soon,\nor before these dispatches: and whatever dispatches their Lordships may have for the guidance\nof my conduct, I know no person more zealous, or more capable in forwarding them with the\nutmost dispatch, or a person I would sooner wish to assist me in the execution of their Lordship's commands, than Mr. Broughton, though, I should hope, in that ease, it would be in a\nbetter Vessel than the Chatham, which has doubtless, by her bad sailing, materially retarded\nour progress in the course of the execution of this part of our voyage.\nI cannot here avoid observing that in the departure of the Chatham I shall experience a\nconsiderable loss in Mr. Broughton, and the other Officers, whose departure this has occasioned,\nwhose zealous asiduity has been too evident to pass unnoticed. However the service seems\npositively to demand it, and I shall continue to put in execution their Lordships' farther commands in the Discovery; who will, at the departure of the Daedalus for Port Jackson, have\non board about two years spirits and Wine, with eighteen months of other provisions, and a\nproportional quantity of Stores; these, however, from the insulated Country we seem to have\nleft behind, I have my doubts of being sufficient to enable me to finish the examination with\nthat scrupulous degree of accuracy, I have hitherto found in my power to pursue, in respect to\nascertaining the true limits of the Continent, the Islands having never yet occupied more of\nour attention than occured without quiting the main object of our pursuits on the continent.\nI shall therefore direct the remaining part of her Cargo to be returned to me on this coast;\nconsidering that I am not, under the present circumstances, authorised to quit this hemisphere,\nin pursuit of the service I am ordered to execute in the Southern one, until I should have their\nLordship's farther directions to that effect: and should it be deemed necessary that any of His\nMajesty's A'essels should be continued on this coast, for the protection of its commerce, I should\nsuppose, from the Knowledge of the Coast, the different harbours, &ca. we have aquired, there\ncould, in the present instance, for respectability, protection, &ca. be no better A'essels than the\nforty-four gun Ships; who by stowing away their lower deck guns, would be able to bring out\na large portion of Stores, provisions, &ca.\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nFriendly Cove, Nootka Sound,\nSepr. 26th, 1792.\nGeorge Vancouver.\n(2.) Memorandum entitled \"Information obtained from Lt. Mears, 3rd July, 1790.\"\nAppendices 2 The last accounts from China dated in February, mention the arrival of the Washington\nto 10, from from Nootka, with a Cargo of Furs of very considerable value.\nForeign Office\nMiscellaneous The Report of the release of the Prss\u00E2\u0080\u0094 Royal and Argonaut without foundation.\n5- The AA'ashington had sold her Cargo, and was about to return to Nootka.\nThe AVashington brot. an account of the arrival of a Spanish Frigate on the Coast, with\nthree Transports and Troops to form the new establishment at Nootka.\nDon Martinez had killed the Chief of Nootka without any provocation\u00E2\u0080\u0094He was the firmest\nfriend the English had upon the Coast.\nThe AVashington had gone up de Fuca's Straits and discovered a New Sea, extending to\nthe Northward.\nIt is supposed that Nootka and all the places which have lately, been visited, are situated\nin Islands, and not on the Continent.\nA small Swedish Ship commanded by and Englishman, and another A'essel purchased from\nan American by Mr. Douglas (lately an officer on board the Iphigenia) has sailed for the N. Wt.\nCoast, under the protection of the Arnerican flag.\nThe Spaniards are diligently employed in working a Mine at Nootka, some of the ore is\nnow in Town.\nEndorsed: Memo. 3. July 1790. Intelligence obtained from Mr. Meares. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 31\n(3.) Memorandum by7 Lieutenant Meares.\n4 July 1790\nMr. Neville an Officer in the Et. India Company's Service came home from China in the\nDuke of Buccleugh\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nHe was some weeks at Macao, and frequently in Company with Capt. Kendrick of the\nAA'ashington, from whom he learnt\u00E2\u0080\u0094That the AVashington left Nootka in the latter end of\nSeptember, that she afterwards went up de Fonti's Strait and passing thro' a Sea came out at\nthe Strait of Juan de Fuca. Kendrick named the Island formed by these Straits, Washington\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094Procured as many Skins as brought him in China 26,000 Dollars. Copper was the best article\nfor Trade of which he had but a small quantity, the AVashington is a Sloop not much larger\nthan a Ship's Longboat\u00E2\u0080\u0094That previous to the departure of the AVashington from Nootka, a\nsmall A'essel had arrived from Sn. Bias\u00E2\u0080\u0094that there was no reason to suppose by the intelligence\nbrot. by her that either the Prss Royal or Argonaut had been released\u00E2\u0080\u0094The AVashington left\nthe Coast in the latter end of Octo. and arrived at Macao early in January.\nNo intelligence has been received of the Prss Royal or Argonaut in China in the latter end\nof February last.\nLt. Mortimer of Marines came home in the Duke of Buccleugh. He had less communication\nwith Keudrich than Neville and is not so circumstantial in his accots. He says however that\nthe release of the two Ships was not known at China when he left it.\nMr. Dickinson who is an intimate friend of Mr. Cox and who has letters from him, is not\nin town, he resides somewhere near Coventry\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nCox had sailed for the North West Coast under Swedish Colours in a Snow called the\nMercury\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nMartinez shot Callicum because he had given an opinion that he (Martinez) had acted\nunjustly by his Countrymen in taking their property from them. He was not apprized of the\ndistinction between the two Countries, but supposed both to be subject to the same sovereign.\nEndorsed: Memo.\n(4.) Lieutenant John Meares to Right Honourable W. AA'. Grenville, July* 5th, 1790.\nSib\nOn a former occasion, when I had the honor of stating to you the peculiar hardship\nattending my situation, you were pleased to express that concern at such uncommon violences\nwhich deprived me of my Fortune, that I am persuaded Sir my present application will Be\nview'd in a favorable manner, and as one that results from absolute necessity.\nI trust Sir that it will not be deem'd an unreasonable request to intreat some mark of favor,\nbereaved of my property, I am necessitated to throw myself at the feet of Government to intreat\nprotection, if my conduct Sir, since my arrival, has met your approbation, if it has been entirely\ngovern'd in every respect by a just sense of the high honor of my protectors, I humbly hope and\nrequest in the event of a AVar, that I shall not be left destitute.\nThe manner in which I had the honor of making the most open and unreserv'd communications will I trust be a consideration which will induce you Sir to think favorably of this letter,\nand let me intreat you to consider, that, however the nation at large may feel, an individual,\nunsupported, is unable to struggle with such misfortunes and must sink under the pressure of\nthem.\nI have not the honor Sir to boast of many friends, that industry and spirit of adventure\nwhich led me forward to distant climes to endeavour to open new Sources of Commerce for my\nCountry, will ever be ready to exert itself in any situation that your goodness and pleasure may\nthink proper to place me in, and permit me Sir to add, that there are no commands of yours that\nI shall not implicitly obey with pleasure and alacrity.\nI remain Sir\n, with great respect\n! your most obt.\nJuly 5th. 1790 and very Hble Servt.\nRight Honble Wm. Wm. Grenville Jno Meabs.\nEndorsed : 5th. July 1790. Lieut. Meares. V 32 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(5.) Memorial of Lieutenant Meabes, 30th July, 1790.\nTo the Right Honble Wm. Wm. Grenville, one of His Majestys principal Secretaries of State.\nThe Memorial of\nJohn Meares Lieutenant in His Majestys Royal Navy\u00E2\u0080\u0094\ni Most humbly sheweth\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nThat your Memorialist having in the Month of May last presented a Statement of Facts,\nunder the title of a Memorial, containing a full and particular account of the Seizure of the\nBritish Ships in Nootka or King Georges Sound, by a Squadron of His Catholic Majestys Ships\nof War, together with a full and just statement of the amount of the losses which your\nMemorialist and his associates have sustained by the above captures, your Memorialist now begs\nto submit to your consideration.\nThat the American Sloop Washington, mentioned in the above Memorial, did arrive in China,\nat the Port of Canton, about the Month of February last with a very valuable Cargo of Furs.\nThat the above mentioned Sloop Washington, did enter those Straits to the Southward of\nNootka Sound, which your Memorialist distinguished by the Name of John de Fuca, and having\nsaild therein a considerable distance, did arrive in an open channel or Sea, and having Coasted\nthat part of the land which forms Nootka Sound, did reenter the Pacific Ocean between the\nLatitudes of 54\u00C2\u00B0 and 55\u00C2\u00B0 North, and having completely assertaind that Nootka Sound, and all\nthe lands adjacent, to be an Archepelago of Islands, and not the Continent of America, she did\narrive in China as above mentioned.\nYour Memorialist begs leave to state, that the AA'ashington in her progress had intercourse\nwith great bodies of Indians inhabiting these parts, and carried on a considerable traffic with\nthem, but that being in want of the necessary articles of Trade, such as are had in estimation\nwith the Natives, she was for this reason necessitated to leave large quantities of Furs behind\nher, particularly Sea Otter Skins, in the possession of the Natives, sufficient to lade the Washington.\nThat your Memorialist from this circumstance begs leave to point out, the probable consequences that must have ensued, if the Ships of him and his associates had been permitted to\nhave traded unmolested on the Coast, as the small A'essels of your Memorialist would have\npenetrated those parts explored by the Washington, and being in possession of the very Articles\nof Commerce held most in request by the Indians, would have purchased all the Furs which\nthey would not sell to the Americans, and those small A'essels of your Memorialist would have\nfinally been able to have extended their Commerce considerably.\nYour Memorialist states these points as leading facts, which precludes conjecture, as to the\nadvantages that have been lost, in the Seizure of the British Ships.\nYour Memorialist begs leave to state, that, in this interval, when the British Commerce\nis suspended, other adventurers have sail'd to America in order to reap those advantages, which\nby the best possible right would have belong'd to your Memorialist and his associates, your\nMemorialist begs further to state that, amongst those adventurers is the Washington, the Master\nof which A'essel has taken formal possession, in the name of the United States of America, of\nthose very parts discovered by your Memorialist, and which, as a British Subject your Memo.t\ntook possession of as stated in the Memorial presented by your Memorialist in the Month of\nMay, and your Memo.t begs to inform you that Tatouche, the Indian Chief, and the firm ally\nof the British Nation reigns over that Country.\nYour Memorialist now humbly begs leave to state the consequences that have ensued from\nthe Captures, as related in the Memorial of May last, to your Memorialist and his associates,\nwith respect to the Government of China.\nThat that Government having a Knowledge from the Washington, as well as by letters\nfrom the Chinese who have been captured, of the acts of Hostility committed by the Spanish\nNation on the Subjects of His Britannic Majesty, and finding that a certain number of their\nsubjects, who had embarkd on the Ships Pss Royal and Argonaut under the protection of the\nBritish Flag, had also been captured, and the Chinese Government having receiv'd from your\nMemorialist and his associates full and ample security that the Subjects of His Imperial\nHighness, the Emperor of China, should be retnrnd to their respective Families, did demand\nof your Memorialists associates, that all the Chinese who had thus embarkd, should be inline- 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 33\ndiatly and forthwith return'd to their Native Country, which demand your Memo, and his\nassociates being unable to comply with, were necessitated to submit to whatever acts of\noppression the Chinese Government thought proper to put into execution\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nYour Memorialist begs leave to state that, in pursuance of the resolution taken on the part\nof the Chinese Government, the A'ice Roy of Canton, did order to be seized, the Cargo of Furs\nreturnd in the Iphigenia, which Cargo your Memorialist had sold to a Chinese Merchant, previous\nto his Departure from Canton, deliverable at a certain period, for the sum of 17,000 Spanish\nDollars, but that before the stipulated time of Delivery came, the Government of Canton, seizd,\nas above mentioned, the Cargo of the Iphigenia, for the express purpose of providing for the\nnumerous Families of all those Chinese who embark'd under the protection of the British Flag,\nand the Vice Roy of the Province of Canton, declared to your Memorialists associates, that His\nImperial Majesty of China did hold the British Nation responsible for the persons of his Subjects\ncaptured by the Ships of His Catholic Majesty\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nThat your Memorialist apprehensive of further evil consequences to himself and associates,\nand equally fearful of the effects that this transaction may have on the British Commerce carried\non throughout the Chinese Empire, thinks it his duty to state clearly and explicitly the above\ntransaction.\nYour Memorialist begs leave to state that, after the plunder and release of the Iphegenia\nby Don Estevan Martinez, the Master thought he was in duty bound to make some effort to\nprocure a few furs to defray the heavy arrears of Wages &c &c, that in pursuance of this\nresolution, he steer'd, after quitting Nootka Sound, to the Northward of that Port, and purchased\na quantity of Sea Otter Skins, giving in exchange the Cloathing belonging to the Officers and\nSeamen, and that a yet more valuable Cargo might have been purchas'd had the Master of\nthe Iphegenia had on board those articles of Commerce which had been plundered from her by\nthe Commander of His Catholic Majestys Ships of War\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nYour Memorialist therefore hopes that these peculiar and uncommon hardships to himself\nand associates will be considered, and that the necessary measures will be taken to extricate\nthem from the dangers of the Chinese Government and to obtain that redress which he and his\nassociates expect from your hands as British Subjects.\nJohn Meares.\nJuly 20th. 1790\nEndorsed : Memorial of Lieut. Meares R 30th July 1790.\n(6.) Minute of Cabinet. Whitehall, 30th April, 1790.\nWhitehall 30 April 1790.\nPresent The Lord Chancellor i\nLord Privy Seal\nDuke of Richmond &c\nDuke of Leeds\nLord Chatham\nMr. Pitt, and\nMr. Grenville.\nUpon consideration of the information which has been received from Mr. Meares of the\ndetention and Capture of several British Vessels at Nootka Sound of the Coast of America, and\nof the Circumstances of that transaction, as also of the Papers which have been delivered by\nM: del Campo relative thereto.\nYour Majesty's Servants have agreed humbly to submit to your Majesty their opinion that\nYour Majesty's Minister at the Court of Madrid, should be instructed to present a Memorial\ndemanding an immediate and adequate satisfaction for the outrages committed by M: de\n3 V 34 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nMartinez; and that it would be proper in order to support that demand, and to be prepared\nfor such events as may arise, that Your Majesty should give orders for fitting out a Squadron\nof Ships of the line.\nEndorsed: Minute of Cabinet 30th April 1790.\n(7.) Lieutenant John Meabes to the Right Honoubable W. W. Geenville. June 29, 1790.\nSib\nHaving on a former occasion done myself the honor of placing before you, on the part of\nmyself and associates, a statement of the losses which we have sustaind in the capture of the\nBritish Ships, permit me Sir to submit to your consideration, that the Messrs Etches, having a\ncertain proportional Stock in the captured property, and claiming a yet further share, which\nboth I and my associates have agreed to allow, provided, Messrs Etches pay such Sums of Money\nas have been advanc'd by us on their account, those Sums Sir having been repeatedly demanded,\nand the Messrs. Etches having declined to make them good, common equity Sir, will we trust,\nconsider those gentlemen to be no further concern'd, than the proportional share of that stock\nwhich they hold in the concern.\nTrusting Sir to full and ample restitution and indemnification for all our losses, permit me\nSir to request that, should the present dispute between the two Courts be brought to a happy\nissue, any Monies, which may be remitted by the Court of Spain as restitution to the injured\nparties, may he detaind in the hands of Government till the point in dispute shail be decided\nbetween the parties\nI remain\nSir\nwith the greatest respect\nyour most obt PIble Servt\nJno Meabes.\nJune 29th. 1790\nRight Honble Wm. Wm. Grenville.\nEndorsed : London 29th. June 1790. Lieutt. Meares.\n(8.) Lieutenant John Meares to Evan Nepean, Esq. 3d July7, 1790.\nMy dear Sir,\nI have been particular in my enquiries.\nThe Washington left Nootka 25th. Sepr. last & arrived in China the 3d. of February\u00E2\u0080\u0094they\nwere then erecting Fortifications, and had built several large launches and Store Houses and\nmeant to Winter there, they seizd numbers of the Natives to work, others fled and Martinez\nhimself shot Callicum through the heart\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nThey every moment expected additional Forces, I could not learn what time the A'essel had\narrived from St. Bias, but when the Washington Saild there was no advice of either the Argonaut\nor Princess Royal being liberated, neither was there any news of them in China, so that I think\nthere can be no doubt but that they are detaind at St. Bias and have not been released\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nI have just called to leave these particulars and not finding you here commit them to paper\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nI am Dear Sir\n&c &c &c\nJ. Meares.\n10 o/clock.\nAddressed: Evan Nepean Esqr. &c. &c. &c.\nEndorsed : 3 July 1790 Lt. Meares. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 35\n(9.) A Recapitulation and General Account of the Losses and Damages sworn to have\nbeen sustained by the United Company of British Merchants tbading to the Nobth\nWest Coast of Ameeica, by the Captube of theie A'essels, and the being dispossessed\nof theie Settlements by Don Stephen Joseph Maetinez, Commandeb op His Most\nCatholic Majesty's Squadeon in these Seas\u00E2\u0080\u0094A'izt.\nAmount of Loss sustained by the Capture of the Ships \" Iphegenia \" as per\naccount \u00C2\u00A311,766.15. 6\nAmount of Do. sustained by the Capture of the Ship \" North AA'est America \"\nas per account 7,683.9.3\nAmount of Do. sustained by the Capture of the Ship Princess Royal as per\naccount 21,275.11. 2\nAmount of Do. sustained by the Capture of the Ship Argonaut, as per account 25,075.12.11\nAmount of Do. sustained by the Capture of the Ship Jason as per account . . 2,943. 3. 2\nAmount of Loss sustained by the Capture of the Chinese Subjects as per\naccount 3,780. - -\nAmount of goods given to the Indians for the purchase of Lands of which\nthey have been dispossessed 1,000. - -\nAmount of particular Expences incur'd and Damages sustained by Captn.\nMears the general Agent to the Company from being obliged to quit the\nAmerican Station and his line of Business to come to Europe in order to\nprosecute the present Claim against the Court of Spain 5,000. - -\n\u00C2\u00A378.524.12. 0\nAmount of positive Losses sustained during the Course of the year 1789 by\nthe Capture of their Ships as per account \u00C2\u00A3106,322 - -\nAmount of Probable and Perspective advantages which the United Company\nwould have acquired, and of which they were deprived during the years\n1790 and 1791 in consequence of their Trade being interrupted and their\nShips and Settlements being Captured \u00C2\u00A3285,019 - -\nLondon 7th. September 1790 Errors excepted\nJno. Meares\nAgent.\nEndorsed : Recapitulation and General Account of the Pretensions of the United Company of Merchants Trading to the North West Coast of America. No. 14.\nN.B. The Iphigenia has been sold at Canton for 8000 Dollars or \u00C2\u00A32000 which is to be made good to\nHis Catholic Majesty after deducting the Charges that have been incurred in the Sale. J.M.\n(10.) Schedule of Sundry A'oucitees and Papers presented to the Right Honble William\nWyndham Grenville, one op His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State.\nMemorial.\nAccounts of the Iphigenia including four Numbers.\nGeneral disbursements.\nSundry disbursements with affidavit, Builders Certificate, and Letter from David Scott,\nMerchant of Bombay.\nImpress Wages and restitution to the Crew with Sundry receipts and Affidavits.\nAccount of Provisions received from American Ships in Nootka Sound.\nAccounts of the North West America with Affidavit.\nAccounts of the Argonaut, including three Numbers.\nGeneral disbnrsments.\nSundry disbursments with affidavit.\nWages and restitution to the Officers and Crew with affidavit.\nAccounts of the Princess Royal including four Numbers.\nGeneral disbursements.\nSundry disbursements with affidavit.\nAgreement with the Officers and Crew, with an Account of Wages and Restitution and\nCaptain Colnet's Letter dated from Mexico May 1st. 1790, with affidavit.\nAffidavit made at Canton with Mr. Hudson's receipt. V 36 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nAccounts of the Jason with Affidavit.\nChinese Subjects with Affidavit.\nFactories with Affidavit.\nPositive and Immediate Losses including five Numbers.\nGeneral Account.\nAffidavit of Davidson and Littlewood.\nAffidavit of Robert Funter.\nAffidavit of John Mears.\nAffidavit of John Etches.\n(positive losses \u00C2\u00A3106,322.)\nAffidavits respecting the Charge of Interest including two Numbers.\nAffidavit of James Baldwin and Jno McCleary.\nAffidavit of John Mears.\nSundry Papers respecting Insurance including three Numbers\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nPolicy of the London Assurance Office.\nPolicy of the Royal Exchange Assurance Office.\nLetter from Alderman Macauley.\nAccount of Probable and Perspective Losses.\nProspective Advantages of which they were deprived, \u00C2\u00A3285,019.\nCertificate of Sundry Merchants of London\u00E2\u0080\u0094respecting the charge of Insurance.\nRecapitulation and General Accounts of the Pretensions of the United Company of Merchants\nTrading to the North West Coast of America.\nJ. M.\nEndorsed : In Lieut. Meare's Memorial of the 7. Septr. 1790.\n(11.) Captain George A'ancouver to Evan Nepean, Esq., His Majesty's Ship Discovery.\nMonterey, 7th January, 1793.\nDiscovery Monterrey7\nJanry. ye 7th. 1793\nDear Sir.\nIn addition to the Mortification I experienced at Nootka in the unhappy, and unaccountable\naccident which occasioned the loss of my much esteemed & very worthy friend Hergest who I\nbelieve you knew and were acquainted with I felt no small degree of disapointment in not\nreceiving a single line either officially or privately from your office or from yourself.\nI have notwithstanding taken the liberty of intruding on your leisure a few lines pointing\nout some particulars which have not exactly found a place either in my private letter to My\nLord Chatham or in that to My Lord Grenville though both in these letters and in my journal\nthey are in some measure pointed out as having been the cause of placing me in a very embar-\nrassd situation respecting such of my transactions as have taken place at Nootka. These\ntransactions however I do not consider as requiring a place in this letter supposing that not\nonly them but my journal charts Drawings &c which from our departure from Falmouth to\nthis period, I have transmitted to the Admiralty by the same conveyance which forwards you\nthis letter will be open to your inspection.\nYou will then my good Sir observe in my origonal instructions dated March ye Sth 1791\nthat the Buildings and tracts of land situated on the N W Coast above mentioned (ie. America)\nor on the Islands adjacent there unto of which the subjects of His Britannic Majesty were\ndispossessd about the month April 1789 by a Spanish Officer shall be restored to the said British\nsubjects, the Court of Spain has agreed to send orders for that purpose to its officer in that part\nof the world. But as the particular specification of the parts to be restored may still require\nsome further time; it is intended that the Kings Orders for this purpose should be sent out to\nthe Sandwich Islands by the Vessel employed &c &ca. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 37\nYou(r) own letter to me dated AA'hitehall 17 March 1791 likewise informs me thus\n\"His Lordship (Ld. Grenville) has directed me to acquaint you that it is conceived to be\nmaterial that the A'essel intended to follow you with stores & provisions should leave England\nin the course of the present season in order to carry out to you directions which it may be\nNecessary to give on the subject of the restitution of Nootka and any other buildings or tracts\nof Land on the N W Coast of America which may be to be restored to His Majestys Subjects\nin consequence of the late Convention.\"\nI shall now refer to the only orders I received on that Subject by the said. Vessel being\nthe Daedalus Transport and are as follow\n\" and where as you will receive here with a duplicate of a letter of the Count Florida\nBlanco to the Spanish Officer commanding at Nootka (together with a translation thereof)\nsignafying His Catholic Majestys orders to cause such officer as may be appointed on the part\nof His Britannic Majesty to be put into possession of the Buildings & Districts or Parcels of\nLand therein described which were occupied by His Majestys Subjects in the month of April\n1789 agreeable to the first article of the late Convention &c &ca.\nWhich description states thus.\n\" you will give directions that His Britannick Majestys Officer who will deliver this letter\nshall immediately be put into possession of the Buildings and Districts or paroles of Land\nwhich were occupied by the subjects of that Sovereign in April 17S9 as well in the Port of\nNootka or of St. Lawrence as in the other said to be calld Port Cox and to be situated about\nsixteen Leagues distant from the former to the Southward and that all such parcels or Districts\nof Land of which the English subjects were dispossessd be restored to the said officer &c &ca.\"\nNow from the above quotations there cannot possibly appear any distinct or clear specifications\nof the Parts to be restored & what I have considerd and understand as the Buildings districts\nor parcels of Land which were occupied &c &c. as well in the Port of Nootka or of St. Laurence\nas in the other said to be calld Port Cox &c &c is the whole and intoto the Lands and territories\nappertaining to the above Ports and not a small chasm in the rockey shores of the spacious\nPort of Nootka; which chasm, not a hundred yards in extent in any one direction being the\nexact space which the house and brestwork of Mr. Mears occupied can this chasm possibly be\nconsiderd as the districts or parcels of Land &c intended to be ceeded to me on the part of\nHis Britannic Majesty. No\u00E2\u0080\u0094there can be little doubt I should either proved myself a most\nconsumate fool or a traitor to have acceeded to any such cession without possitive directions\nto that effect.\nThe different opinion however prevaild with Senr. Quadra who from the words of the letter,\nof the Count of Florida blanca's has considerd himself only authorized and directed to ceed that\nsmall pittence of rocks and sandy beach such being the only space in the Port of Nootka the\nEnglish occupied in April 1789, the arguments by each side on this subject are justly represented\nin my Journal and its appendix therefore as I have already observed requires no repetition here.\nIt therefore now becomes necessary to point out the motives of this discussion which I\nintend should convey such information as will point out to you the embarressment I have\nlabourd under in the whole of my transactions at Nootka not only in respect to the cession of\nthat territory but likewise had such cession been made agreeable to what I had conceived\nhonorable and just; I was still left totally in the darlc what measures to persue, you may\nanswer I w7as directd to be put in possession on the part of His Britannic Majesty the affore\nsaid territories\u00E2\u0080\u0094I grant that to be the case but what were to become of those territories here\nafter. I was likewise by the same instructions directed to prosecute a voyage of investigation\nin this Ocean, without receiving any instructions to persue the one and abandon the other;\nhad Nootka been put into my possession I certainly ought to (have) been informed if it were\nto be retained in possession or evacuated in order to persue such as might be considered the\nmost important object of His Majestys service intrusted to my charge & execution, if therefore\nit were necessary to retain Nootka both or at least one of the vessels were absolutely necessary\nto have remaind there for that particular purpose which as it will appear in my journal I had\nin the first instanc deemd expedient & directed matters to be so arranged.\nHow far my conduct might have been approved in such retention or on the other hand in\nits evacuation as likewise leaving that post under the protection of the Chatham only; when\nsuch extensive commerce was evidently carrying on principally through that Port from its\nbeing the general rendezvouse of the A'essels of all nations employd in their mercantile persuits V 38 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\non that Coast; without remaining there myself; I am perfectly at a loss to guess, nor can I\npossibly say which of those expedients would have proved the least liable of censure that in\nall probability would have depended on the necessity of the times or the success w7ith which\nthe addopted one would have been attended.\nDirections for regulating my conduct in respect to such transactions I had doubtless every\nright to expect and bouyed up with every hope of receiving both from my origonal instructions\n& your official letter of the 17 of March 1791.\nYou my good Sir may easily figure to your self the disappointment I experienced at finding\nnothing to that effect on joining the Daedalus at Nootka.\nThe measures in consequence there of which I have judged most prudent to persue have\nbeen such as my own common understanding dictated as most compatable with honor and the\nDuty and allegiance I owe to my Sovereign and my Country whos approbation should such\nconduct meet; will make me one of the happiest of men and this explanatory letter by such\nevent be rendered entirely unnecessary. But should I be that unfortunate man to be deemed\ndeserving of censure in executing those transaction under the above circumstances, You will\nI hope excuse the liberty I have taken in thus intruding on your goodness this letter as a kind\nof superficial vindication of my conduct, though I cannot but be thoroughly convinced that I\nhave no authority to intrude such business either on your friendship or your leisure; Nevertheless I have been induced to write yon this letter under the consideration of my instructions\norigonateing in the office under your inspection and in consequence of your kind offer before I\nleft England to render me such services particularly in point of representation that I might\nrequire and in the power of your official capacity to execute.\nLastly then I beg leave to observe that the contents of this letter is not intended to be\ncommunicated excepting my conduct should fall under that sensure as to require such A'indica-\ntion as is here pointed out, under which circumstances if you will then do me the kindness to\nproduce it; it may probably be essentially serviceable, and untill that period shall arrive I\nneither wish or consider it prudent to make such representations to Persons in the more elevated\nseats of office.\nIt now remains to solicit your forgiveness for assuming this liberty and to request your\nacceptance of my sincerest wishes for every well fare and falicity\u00E2\u0080\u0094heaven can bestow on your\nself Mrs. Nepean and family which will highly oblige\nDear Sir\nYour most obedient and\ndevoted humble servant\nGeo. A'ancouver.\nP.S. Janry. ye 18th. at Sea\nIf I mistake not I had the pleasure of meeting you one day at My Lord Grenvilles in\ncompany with a very intimate friend of mine Mr. John King; if he has the honor of your\naquaintance you will do me a further kindness to inform him I am well and nothing but\nbeing very hard prest for time prevented my writing to him.\nNor can I at last avoid saying that the Conduct of Mr. T. Pit has been too bad for me to\nrepresent in any one respect.\nEvan Nepean Esqr. Whitehall.\nEndorsed : Discovery, Monterrey 7th. Januy. 1793. Captain Vancouver R 16 July By Lt. Broughton.\n(12.) Copy of Undated and Unsigned Memorandum on Nootka in Foreign Office.\nMy Idea as to Nootka is as follows.\nI think Capt Vancouver was very naturally induced from the Nature of his instructions,\nand a Recollection of the original Ground of Quarrel to hesitate and ultimately to decline\nclosing the transaction on the terms suggested by the Spanish Commandant. I regret however\nthat it was not closed on those terms, for we would have been in Possession and under those\nCircumstances would have been on a better footing for Negotiating at home, than when the\nSpaniards are in possession, and when they may feel a point of honour not to depart from 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 39\nthe Ground assumed by their Commandant. All that We really are anxious about in this\nparticular part of the Business is the safety of our National honour which renders a Restitution\nnecessary. The extent of that Restitution is not of much moment, and in truth the only Evidence\nto which either Party can resort, will justify the claim of either side. The true state of the\nfact appears to be that Mears never was in possession of more than the Hut where the tent\nnow stands in the Drawing made by Mr Humphrys, and there fore in a narrow and literal\nsense Restitution is complied with by restoring that spot, But we are justified in maintaining\nthat the transaction cannot admit of so narrow a Construction, the Place being so small as not\nto admit of a divided Property. I think this last Circumstance may afford a good way of\nterminating the Dispute for instead of insisting solely upon our Right let us mix with it in\nour statement the obvious inconvenience of a Division, and by negotiating upon it in that\nManner, I daresay Lord St Helens will find no great difficulty in persuading the Spanish\nMinister to make the Concession absolute which the Spanish Commandant at Nootka did not\nthink himself at liberty to do. The use of the Harbour must of course remain common to\nboth Parties.\n(13.) Captain George A'ancouver to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty7.\nWhitehall, 23d. February, 1791.\nWhitehall 23d. Feb: 1791.\nLords Commrs. of the Admiralty.\nMy Lobds\nI transmit to Your Lordships herewith, in addition to my Letter to You of the 11th. Instant,\na copy of Instructions which have at my desire been prepared by Sir Josh. Banks and given to\nMr. Menzies the Botanist who has embarked on board the Discovery, for the regulation of his\nconduct, and I am to request that they may be communicated to the commander of that Ship.\nAs the service which Mr. Menzies has been directed to perform is materially connected with\nsome of the most important objects of the expedition, it is necessary that the Commanding\nOfficer should be instructed generally to afford him on all occasions every degree of assistance\nin the performance of the duty which the circumstances of the expedition will admit\u00E2\u0080\u0094and\nparticularly with respect to the following points. The Commanding Officer should be directed\nto accommodate Mr. Menzies with a Boat for the purpose of pursuing his researches at the\nseveral places which may be visited, at all times when the necessary duties of the Ship will\nadmit of her being spared, and to order that the Crew of such Boat may assist him either in\ncarrying his heavy luggage, bringing earth, or on any other services which may be necessary\nto be done during his excursions on shore, and to cause Mr. Menzies to be supplied from time\nto time with a due proportion, both in quantity and quality, of the merchandize put on board,\nin order to enable him, as occasion may require, to obtain any necessary assistance from the\nNatives in fulfilling the objects of his Mission.\nIt will also be necessary that Your Lordships should direct the Captain of the Discovery\nto take on board such quantities of water as may, from time to time, be likely to be wanted, for\nthe nourishment of the plants which Mr. Menzies may collect, and to supply him with the same\nin such proportions as may be requisite and compatible with the other necessary demands for\nthat Article. That he is also to allow Mr. Menzies to have the sole charge and custody of the\nplants which he may collect, and to direct that care may be taken that neither Dogs or any\nother Animals, or property belonging to any other persons be suffered to be put into the Frame\nwithin which the plants are intended to be deposited, and that particular care may be taken,\nin case the' glass of .such Frame should from any accident be broken, that the same may\nimmediately be repaired, aud that during the time it is necessary to keep the said Frame\nopen, for the convenience of admitting air or rain to the plants, no animals likely to do\nmischief to them, be suffered to be loose in the Ship.\nEndorsed: Drat. V 40 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(14.) Sir Joseph Banks to Me. Alexandeb Menzies.\nSoho Square, 22d February 1791.\nSib,\nThe Business on which You are employed being of an extensive Nature, as it includes an\ninvestigation of the whole of the Natural History of the Countries you are to visit, as well as\nan enquiry into the present state and comparative degree of civilization of the Inhabitants you\nwill meet with, the utmost degree of diligence & perseverance on Your part will be necessary,\nto enable you to do justice to your employers, and gain credit to yourself. The following instructions you will consider as a guide to the outline of your conduct, but as many particulars will\ndoubtless occur in the investigation of unknown Countries, that are not noticed in them, all such\nare left to your discretion and good sense, and you are hereby directed to act in them as you\nshall judge most likely to promote the interest of science, and contribute to the increase of\nhuman knowledge.\nIn all places where the Ship in which you are embarked shall touch, & the Commander shall\nmake a sufficient stay, you are to pay a particular regard to the nature of the soil, and to note\ndown its quality, whether clay, sand, Gravel, Loam &ca and how it is circumstanced in regard\nto Water. You are to remark particularly the size of the Trees that grow upon it, whether\nthey stand in thick close Groves, or seperate and distant from each other. You are to consider\nalso, as far as you are enabled to do by the productions, the probable Climate, and whether,\nshould it at any time hereafter be deemed expedient to send out settlers from England, the\nGrains, pulse, & Fruits cultivated in Europe are likely to thrive, and if not, what kind of produce\nwould in your opinion be the most suitable.\nAs far as you find yourself able, you are to enumerate all the Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Grasses,\nFerns, and Mosses you shall meet with in each Country you A'isit, by their scientific Names, as\nwell as those used in the language of the Natives, noting particularly the places where each is\nfound, especially those that are new or particularly curious: You are also to dry specimens of\nall such as you shall judge worthy of being brought Home, particularly those of which you shall\nprocure, either living plants, or seeds, in order, that the Persons who are employed in examining\nthe Plants you furnish to His Majesty's Gardens at Kew, may be assisted in ascertaining their\nNames and qualities.\nAVhenever you meet with ripe seeds of Plants, you are carefully to colect them, and having\ndried them properly, to put them up in paper packages, writing on the out side, or in a corresponding List, such particulars relative to the soil & Climate where each was found, and the\nmode of culture in your Opinion likely to succeed with it, as you may think necessary to be\ncommunicated to His Majesty's Gardeners; and you are to forward these packages directed to\nme for His Majesty's use by every convenient opportunity that shall occur, dividing them, for\nsafety's sake, into Duplicates, as often as you shall judge needfull.\nAVhen you meet with curious, or valuable plants which you do not think likely to be\npropogated from seeds in His Majesty's Garden you are to dig up proper specimens of them,\nplant them in the glass frame provided for that purpose, and use your utmost endeavours to\npreserve them alive 'till your return, & you are to consider every one of them, as well as all\nseeds of Plants which you shall collect during the A'oyage, as wholly & entirely the property\nof His Majesty, & on no Account whatever to part with any of them, or any cuttings, slips, or\nparts of any of them, for any purpose whatever but for His Majesty's use.\nAs soon as you shall have provided yourself with living plants, & planted them in the\nglass frame before-mentioned, you are at all times when the ship shall be watered to acquaint\nthe Commanding Officer, what Quantity of Water you judge necessary for their support and\npreservation, by the Week or Month, in order that he may be enabled to make a competent\nprovision of that Article for their future maintenance and nourishment.\nIn all your excursions on shore, you are to examine with care and attention the beds of\nBrooks, and Torrents, the steep sides of Cliffs and all other places where the interior strata of\nthe earth are laid bare by Water, or otherwise; to remark the Nature of the Earth and Stones\nof which they are composed, and if among them you discover ores, or metals, or any mineral\nsubstances which bear a resemblance to such things; or any beds of Coals, Lime Stone, or\nother matters, likely in Your opinion to prove usefull to Mankind, You are to collect & preserve 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 41\nSpecimens of them carefully, noting the exact spot on which each was found, and you are also\nto examine the pebbles and sand brought down by the Rivers, and Brooks from the Inland\nCountry, and to collect and bring home samples of such as you suspect to contain Mineral\nsubstances, even tho' so minute as not to be discoverable but by a Microscope.\nAt each place where you land, you are to inform yourself as well as you are able, what\nsort of Beasts, Birds and Fishes likely to prove usefull, either for Food, or in Commerce, are\nto be found; and pay particular attention to the various ways of catching them in traps, or\notherways used by the Natives; You are to pay particular attention to every part of the Natural\nHistory of the Sea Otter, and to learn all you are able concerning the Wild Sheep said to be\nfound in the inland Countries, and if in your power to procure a skin of one of them for your\nemployers, you are also to note particularly all places where Whales or Seals are found in\nabundance.\nAt all places where a friendly intercourse with the Natives is established, you are to make\ndiligent enquiry into their manners, Customs, Language & Religion, and to obtain all the information in your power concerning their manufactures, particularly the art dyeing, in which\nSavages have been frequently found to excell, and if any part of their conduct, civil, or\nreligious, should appear to you so unreasonable as not to be likely to meet with credit when\nrelated in Europe, you are if you can do it with safety and propriety, to make yourself an Eyewitness of it, in order that the fact of its existence may be established on as firm a basis as\nthe Nature of the enquiry will permit.\nYou are to keep a regular Journal of all occurrences that happen in the execution of the\nseveral Duties you are entrusted to perform, and enter in it all the observations yon shall make\non every subject you are employed to investigate; which Journal together with a compleat\ncollection of specimens of the Animals, vegetable and minerals you shall have obtained, as well\nas such curious Articles of the Cloths, Arms, Implements and manufactures of the Indians as\nyou shall deem worthy of particular Notice, you are on your return to deliver to His Majesty's\nSecretary of State for the Home Department, or to such Person as he shall appoint to receive\nthem from you.\nI am, &oa.\nJos: Banks.\nMr. Alexr. Menzies.\nEndorsed: Copy transmitted to the Lords Commrs. of the Admty in letter of 23 Feby. 1791.\n(15.) Letter fbom Captain Geobge Vancouver.\nDiscovery St. Hellens Road\nThursday March ye. 3d. 1791\nDe. Sir.\nSince I last wrote the Chatham arrived in a few hours after my letter w7as sent to the Post\nand I feer from her situation it will be Monday or Tuesday next ere she will leave this Port.\nThe Discovery was paid this day and saild from Spit head but the wind being AVesterly oblged\nus to anchor at St. Hellens during the Flood from whence we shall weigh on the ebb making\nat nine this evening and preced on our Voyage down Channel without a moments loss of time.\nI trust the lateness of the Chathams arrival and the time she will necessaryly remain here\nwill be the means of my making a certainty of receiving Remsdens instrument, and as I think\nthe mensuration in hight of the different mountains we may be able to assend may make a\npretty addition to the differend observations of our voyage one of Ramsdens Barrometers for\nthat purpose (price 8 guineas) will be a usefull instrument in my collection and will thank you\nto order it to be sent with the other instrument.\nI have the pleasure to inform you that I have at length been able to establish a thorough\nreconciliation between the Gentlemen of the gun room Mess & Mr. Menzies which I assure you\naffords me no small satisfaction, trusting I shall have the pleasure of hearing from you at V 42 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nFalmouth and that yon will excuse this very inaccurate epistle as I have many many letters\nto write this evening, I beg leave to say I have the honor to be Dr. Sir.\nYour most obedient humble Servant\nGeo. Vancouver.\nP.S. In providing for Tawrower native of the Sandwich Islands have laid out near \u00C2\u00A355\nand could not decently do it for less, therefore have not much above five guineas for his use\nhere after which I think too little. Davison will here with receive the acount\nEndorsed : Discovery St. Helens 3 Mar. : 1791. Capt. Vancouver.\n(16.) Captain George Vancouver to Evan Nepean, Esq.\nDiscovery Falmouth\nMarch ye. 12. 1791\nSib.\nHaving been favord with the perusal of the rough draft of my instructions; and the\nknowledge I have of the Countries we are likely to visit, as also the supplies there is a\nprobability of our drawing from them; are subjects that necessarily must have occupied a\nvery large portion of my consideration since I returned to the Ship, respecting such measures\nto be addopted as to insure the success and completion of our expedition under all its different\nheads.\nProvisions and stores and the proper period when such supplies will be most acceptable are\ntherefore points of the greatest importance & in course has induced me very closely to investigate\nthe quantity of stores and provisions on Board as also the quantity we may be able to take into\nthe Ship at the Cape of Good Hope; and on mature deliberation I have not the smallest doubt\nof being able to sail from that port with eighteen months stores and the same proportion of\nprovisions; salt meat excepted, for a certain part of which flour and fruit will be substituted,\nthe other portion and in all human probability infinitely more will be procured among the\ndifferent South Sea Islands. Under these circumstances I have considered that it may be an\nobject with Government for one supply to answer all the purposes of our Voyage; therefore\nprovided the Vessel which is to be despatchd with such stores & provisions, is of sufficient\nmagnitude to take on board eighteen months stores & provisions for the Discovery and Chatham\nagreeable to the inventory here annexed, as there doth not appear a probability of our being in\nwant of any supply whatever before the end of the year 1792 or the begining of 1793, such being\nthe case, I humbly conceive it would not be advisable that a vessel should be equipd for that\npurpose sooner than to enable her to meet us at the Sandwich Islands about Janry. 1793, as\nthose provisions cannot come into use before that time, and may be obliged to last us near\ntwo years after that period; therefore the fresher we are able to procure them from Europe\nundoubtedly the better; and should a supply be sent out prior to the period here stated, for\ninstance by this time twelve months, we shall then be able only to complete to eighteen months\nfrom that time, & should want another supply in Septr. 1793 to allow us to put into execution\nthe Southern object of our expedition. The only obstacle which presents its self to me against\nthe supply's meeting us in the begining of 93 is His Majestys commands respecting the restitution of Nootka which probably may be in the power of your office to furnish me with at present;\nand which in case the Vessel which I understand (by the instructions) is intended shortly to\nfollow us, should not arrive at the Sandwich Isles, before the first of March 92 which by the\nbye I now begin to think is highly probable she will not, I shall then not be able to receive &\nput into execution such instructions untill the Spring of 1793, do therefore humbly think that\nobjection if any such it is may be easily removed.\nSuch are the Ideas which have occurd to me respecting the best mode of procuring the\nsupplys necessary for the completion of our expedition, and which I think it my duty to request\nyou will refer to the better consideration of My Lord Grenville.\nIn the inventory of provisions; for two reasons I have demanded the full proportion of\nall species for eighteen months; first fearing any unfortunate circumstance might occur to\nprevent our gaining such supplies as we naturally expect from the South Sea Islands by which\nmeans a disappointment might take place in the full execution the A'oyage; and lastly con- 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 43\nsidering the necessity Government will for some time be under, to send provisions &c &c. to\nthe Colony of New South AVales such articles as it will not be absolutely necessary (provided\nI procure the refreshments I expect from the Islands) for us to take the full proportion of;\nwhich will principally be the Salt Meat and, probably part of the flour, and bread; she may\non her way home deposite them at one of those settlements. I have also mentioned besides\nthe wine to be supplied by the Victualling Office (who will supply us with no other than the\ncommon light thin Wine served generally to the Navy) three pipes of Port Wine of a sound\nand good quallity for keeping to be sent out least any epedemlck disorder may attack us in\nthe course of the A'oyage. The cask I wish to contain each article are mentioned against them\nbeing the different sizes we can stow in our different holds with most convenience; also when\nI began this letter I intended likewise to have transmitted an account of the Chatham proportion\nof stores, and provisions, for the same time; but not being perfectly master, of the sort of cask\nshe most conveniently stows, shall defer sending her inventory nntill she joins us.\nIt may here not be unnecessary to observe, that Mr. Davison should be made acquainted\nwith the equipment of this. A'essel in its early stage, having some very heavy and necessary\narticles of trade for us, which ought to be among the first things put on board, no part of\nwhich I have been able to take from not having it in due time.\nI write this letter at sea that not a moment may be lost in your receiving it trusting that\nyou will do me the favor of a reply prior to my departure from Falmouth, particularly on the\npoint when the supplies are to meet us as should my plan be addopted of their not arriving\nat the Sandwich Islands untill the beginning of the year 1793, and as my researches on the\nAmerican coast are to commence in a low latitude, I might be induced to quit the Sandwich\nIslands earlier next spring than the time stipulated by the instructions which upon reflection\nI think some what too late.\nCalms and baffling winds since our departure from Spithead has in some measure retarded\nour progress down channel more than I could wish this however will I hope be attended with\na good effect; that of enabling me to make a certainty of Ramsdens instrument as I should be\nexceedingly distressed were I to sail without it.\nI have lost a paper of memorandums and among the rest of the Channel you pointed out\nas most proper to transmit any information I might judge necessary to communicate, by the\nway of Spanish America which I will be thankfull if you will inform me of.\nIn respect to a place of Rendezvous at the Sandwich Islands there are two situations which\nappear to me equally eligable the one at Woahhoo* to the westward of its SE point having\nthere, a fine large bay with good anchorage which I would advise being attended to in the first\ninstance, but should they there find the inhabitants troublesome or not be able to procure refreshments, they ought then to run down to Attowait which is farther to leeward and anchor in\nWyman Bay the anchoring place of Capt. Cook and all the Navigators who have visited that\nIsland since him. I am apprehensive that My Lord Grenville may conceive that the different\ncircumstances here stated ought to have been mentioned when I was last in Town which\nundoubtedly would have been the case had I been sufficiently prepared and collected at that\ntime but the indisposition under which I then labourd with the multiplicity of circumstances of\nvarious kinds which occupied every moment of my leisure will I trust plead my excuse for such\na neglect. By this post I have transmitted to the Admiralty a letter on the different material\nsubjects of this epistle as also an inventory of stores and provisions to be sent out in which\naccount however neither the additional three pipes of Port wine or the candles are noticed\nthe latter not being an article supplied by any of the Offices in the Naval department, & the\nformer will I am convinced be infinately superior if provided for us by your directions and as\ncleanliness is undoubtedly one of the first preservers of health, five or six hundread weight of\nSoap in those remote regions would be very acceptable to our people should you think proper\nto supply us with it, these articles may appear in themselves trifling and easy to be taken with\nus but we are with those and every other article in proportion so full so exactly like an Egg\nthat there is not room to stow away one single Box more in any part of the Ship.\nThe Chatham is not arrived yet, and as the winds have again set in westerly I am apprehensive it may be some days yet before she makes her appearance and as I have not yet received\nmy final orders from the Admiralty who I presume wait untill they hear of my arrival here as\n* Or Wahoo.\nt Or Atooi. V 44\nProvincial Archives Department.\n1914\nI understood a messenger was to be sent down purposely with them I flatter myself with hope\nof your being able to communicate My Lord Grenvilles opinion on the subject of this epistle,\nbefore I sail.\nMy Lord Canimilford & family are here and very well, we found them waiting for the\nShip with much anxiety and as we arrived only this afternoon have in course been able to see\nbut little of my young shipmate yet cannot avoid saying I am much pleased with his appearance\nand deportment.\nI have nothing further at present to communicate but should any thing occur shall take\nthe Liberty of troubling you & beg leave to say I have the honor to be. Sir\n; Your Most obedient very humble servent\nGeo : A'ancouver.\nPS. I have the pleasure to inform you I am much better have a very-\ngain strength every day but dare not venture on wine yet.\n;ood appetite and\nEvan Nepean Esqr.\nEndorsed : Falmouth 12th March 1791.\nEstimated at 18S Tons.\nCap. Vancouver R 16. (4 inclosures) Provisions and Stores\n(17.) \"A Demand fob a supply7 of Pbovisions foe the use of His Majesty's Sloop Discovery7\nunder my Command, being a proportion for 547 Day's foe 100 Men.\" (Captain A'ancouver.)\nBread 27,350 pounds in Puncheons\nFlour in lieu of Bread 27,350 \u00E2\u0080\u009E Do\nBeef (in kind) 6,512\u00E2\u0080\u009441b pieces in Hhds\nPork 7,814\u00E2\u0080\u009421b. \u00E2\u0080\u009E Do.\nPease 224 Bushels Do.\nAVheat ) ( 252 \u00E2\u0080\u009E in Barrels\nMolasses} iu 1Ieu of 0Jltmeal j 7,728 pounds Do.\nButter 488 \u00E2\u0080\u009E in y2 Hhds\nCheese 651 \u00E2\u0080\u009E Do.\nSugar) f 7,326 \u00E2\u0080\u009E Do.\nCocoa \ In lleu of Butter & Cbeese j 2,442 Do.\nFlour , 3,906 \u00E2\u0080\u009E in Puncheons\nSuet ) ( 327 \u00E2\u0080\u009E \u00E2\u0080\u009E y2 Hhds\nt, . . A in lieu of Beef < .,\u00E2\u0080\u0094 T.\nRaismsf j Ooo \u00E2\u0080\u009E Do.\nVinegar 490 Galls. in Hhds\nSpirits 3,231 \u00E2\u0080\u009E \u00E2\u0080\u009E Do.\nWine 700 \u00E2\u0080\u009E iu Puncheons\nCandles\u00E2\u0080\u0094Moulds 2 Cwt.\n8s 3\nCutts 5\nExtra Articles.\nEssence of Spruce 280 pots\nMalt 70 Bushs.\nHops 4 Cwt.\nSour Krout 5 Tuns\nDried Yeast 80 Pots\nAVhite Salt 27 Bushels\nBay Salt 7 Bushels\nSaltpeter 1 cwt. 2 qts.\nFlour Mustard 150 pounds\nPortable Soup 1500\nEssence of Malt 1500 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 45\nIt is requested that all the provisions &ca. may be pack'd in tight Iron-bound Cask. And\nshould the A'ictualler touch at the Cape of Good Hope it is further recommended that the\nRaisins may supplied from thence.\nIn addition to the Wine mentioned on the other side, I particularly request, that three pipes\nof Red port AA'ine, of the first quality, may be sent.\nGeo : A'ancouvee.\n(18.) Dbaft of Letter feom Evan Nepean, Esq., to Captain A'ancouvee.\nWhitehall 17th Maech 1791.\nCaptain Vancouver.\nSib,\nI have received and laid before Lord Grenville your letter to me of the 12th, instant, with\nthe Estimate of Stores and Provisions which accompanied it.\nHis Lordship has directed me to acquaint you, that it is conceived to be material that the\nVessel intended to follow you with Stores and Provisions should leave England in the course\nof the present season, in order to carry out to you the directions which it may be necessary\nto give on the subject of the restitution of Nootka, and any other buildings or tracts of Land\non the North West Coast of America which may be to be restored to His Majesty's Subjects in\nconsequence of the late Convention.\nThe Commander of this Vessel will be directed to proceed in the first instance to Woahhoo,\nand not meeting you there to Attowai. If previous to his arrival at those Islands you should\nhave found it adviseable to proceed to the Coast of America (which by your Instructions you\nare authorized to do if you should think proper in the course of the month of January) you will\ndevise some means of leaving for his information, a notice of some proper place of rendezvous,\nwhich may be done either by leaving a person at one or other of those Islands, or by adopting\nany other mode which may appear to you to be likely to answer that end. It seems indeed\nprobable that you may without difficulty previous to your leaving England be able to determine\non that point, and to convey to me such information of your intentions in that respect as may.\nbe sufficient for the guidance of the Officer commanding the A'essel to be sent out, subject\nhowever to be varied by any unforseen accidents, in which case you will leave notice of\nrendezvous as above stated.\nThe Supplies to be sent to you by the A'essel in question will, by making up for the intermediate consumption, complete your stock to the Month of September 1793, after which she\nwill repair to New South Wales and Governor Phillip will be directed to redispatch her so\nthat she may be at the Sandwich Islands with a further supply of Provisions by the Month\nJanuary 1793, and may either wait there for your return (in case you should have sailed again\nfor the N.W. Coast of America) or may follow your directions with respect to any other place\nof rendezvous: With this further assistance there can be no doubt that you will be able to\ncarry your orders into full execution.\nThe Merchandize provided for your expedition, which you could not receive on board the\nDiscovery and Chatham, will be forwarded to you with the Soap and Candles you have desired,\nin the A'essel which is to follow you, and care will be taken that the Wine to be put on board\nher shall be of the best quality.\nI find that the Chatham Tender has sailed from Spithead in order to join you at Falmouth,\nand I am sorry to add without the Instrument you had fixed upon, which even at this moment\nis not nearly finished. That which Lt. Broughton is charged with will I hope answer every\nnecessary purpose.\nLord Grenville had great pleasure in observing that your state of Health had amended\nsince you left London, and hopes that you will shortly be perfectly restored.\nEndorsed : Drat, to Capt. Vancouver 17th March 1791. V 46 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(19.) Lobd Gbenville to Loeds Commissionebs of the Admiralty.\nWhitehall 11th February 1791\nMy Lords.\nHis Majesty having judged it expedient that an expedition should be immediately undertaken for acquiring a more complete knowledge than has yet been obtained, of the North West\nCoast of America, I am commanded to signify to your Lordship His Majesty's Commands, that\nthe necessary measures should be adopted for that purpose. The Discovery and Chatham Brig\nbeing, as I understand, in readiness for this Service, it is desireable that no time should be lost\nin their proceeding to the Sandwich Islands, where the Officer commanding those A'essels should\nbe instructed to Winter.\nDuring the time of his remaining at those Islands, he is to employ himself in the survey\nand examination of them, and as soon as the weather is favourable which may be expected to\nbe in February, or at latest in March 1792, he should be instructed to repair to the American\nCoast, for the purpose of his Survey.\nIt having been agreed by the late Convention between His Majesty and the Catholic King,\nthat the buildings and tracts of land, situated on the North AVest Coast of the Continent of\nNorth America, or on Islands adjacent to that Continent, of which the Subjects of His Britannick\nMajesty were dispossessed about the Month of April 1789, by a Spanish Officer, shall be restored\nto the said British Subjects, the Court of Spain have agreed to send orders for that purpose to\ntheir Officers in that part of the World, but as the particular specification of the parts to be\nrestored may still require some further time, The King's Orders for this purpose must be sent\nout to the Sandwich Islands, by a Vessel which may carry out a further Store of Provisions for\nthe Discovery and Chatham, and should sail from this Country in time to reach the Sandwich\nIslands in the course of the ensuing winter. If in consequence of the arrangement to be made\nwith the Court of Spain, it should hereafter be determined that the Discovery should proceed,\nin the first instance, to Nootka, or elsewhere, in order to receive from the Spanish Officers such\nLands or Buildings as are to be restored to His Majesty's Subjects, orders to that effect will\nbe sent out by the Vessel above mentioned. But if no such orders should be received by the\nCommanding Officer of the Discovery previous to the end of January 1792. he should be directed\nnot to wait for them at the Sandwich Islands, but to proceed in such course as he may judge\nmost expedient for the examination of the Coast of North West America, comprized between\nLat. 60 North, and Lat. 30 North.\nIn the examination of this Coast, the principal Objects which he is to keep in view are,\nFirst, the acquiring accurate information with respect to the nature and extent of any\nWater Communication which may tend in any considerable degree to facilitate an intercourse\nfor the purposes of Commerce between the North West Coast and the Countries upon the opposite\nside of the Continent, which are inhabited or occupied by His Majesty's Subjects.\nSecondly, The ascertaining, with as much precision as possible, the number, extent and\nsituation of any settlements which have been made within the Limits above-mentioned, by any\nEureopan Nation, and particularly by Spain, and the time when such settlement was first made.\nWith respect to the first point, It would be of great importance, if it should be found, that\n\u00E2\u0080\u00A2by means of any considerable Inlets of Sea, or even of large Rivers communicating with the\nLakes in the interior of the Continent, such an Intercourse as I have already mentioned could\nbe established. It will therefore be necessary that, for the purpose of ascertaining this point,\nthe survey should be so conducted as not only to ascertain the general Line of the Sea Coast\nbut also the direction & extent of all such considerable Inlets, whether made by Arms of the\nSea, or by the Mouths of large Rivers, as may be likely to lead to, or facilitate such communication as I have described.\nThis being the principal object of the examination as far as relates to this part of the\nsubject, it will probably appear to Your Lordships that a considerable degree of discretion must\nbe left to the Officer commanding the Expedition as to the best means of executing the Service\nwhich His Majesty has in view. But as far as any general Instructions can here be given on\nthe subject, it seems desireable that in order to avoid any unnecessary loss of time he should\nbe directed not to pursue any Inlet or River further than it shall appear to be navigable by 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 47\nA'essels of such Burthen as might safely navigate the Pacific Ocean. But as the examination\nof such Inlets even to the extent here stated, may possibly require that the Officer commanding\nthe Expedition should proceed up them further than it might be safe for the Discovery to\ngo, it seems necessary that such Officer should be authorized by Your Lordships to take the\nCommand in Person of the Chatham Brig, at all such times & in such situations as he shall\njudge it necessary or expedient: and that corresponding orders should be given to the Officer\ncommanding the latter A'essel.\nThe particular course of the survey must of course depend on the different circumstances\nwhich may arise in the execution of a service of this nature. It will however be proper that\nthe Officer commanding on this Expedition should be directed to pay a particular attention fo\nthe examination of the supposed Straits of Juan de Fuca, said to lay between 48. and 49. North\nLat: and to lead to an opening through which the Sloop Washington is reported to have passed\nin 1789. and to have come out again to the Northward of Nootka. The discovery of a near\ncommunication between any such Sea or Strait, and any River running into or from the Lake\nof the AVoods, which is commonly laid down nearly in the same latitude would be particularly\nuseful. If the Vessels employed on this Service should fail in discovering any such Inlet as\nI have spoken of to the Southward of Cook's River, there appears the greatest probability that\nit will be found that this River rises in some of the Lakes already known to our Canadian\nTraders, and to the Servants of the Hudson's Bay Company. This Point it would in that case\n\u00E2\u0096\u00A0be material to ascertain with as much precision as the then existing circumstances of the\nExpedition may allow. But the discovery of any similar communication more to the Southward,\nshould any such exist, would be much more advantageous for the purposes of Commerce & should\ntherefore be preferably attended to.\nWith respect to the second of the points above-mentioned it is probable that more particular\nInstructions will be given by the A'essel to be sent to the Sandwich Islands after the Discovery.\nBut if not, the officer commanding the expedition is to be particularly directed, in the execution\nof this, and of every other part of the Service, with which he is entrusted, to avoid with the\nutmost caution the giving any ground of Jealousy or Complaint to the Subjects or Officers of\nHis Catholic Majesty: and if he should fall in with any Spanish ships employed on any service\nsimilar to that committed to him, he is to afford to the officer commanding such ships every\npossible degree of assistance and information, and he is to offer to him that they should make\nto each other reciprocally a free and unreserved communication of all Plans and Charts of\nDiscoveries made by them in their respective Voyages.\nIf in the course of any part of this Service, His Majesty's Ships or Officers should meet\nwith the Subjects or Vessels of any other Power or State, they are to treat them in the most\nfriendly manner, and to be careful not to do anything which may give occasion to any interruption of that Peace which now happily subsists between His Majesty and all other Powers.\nThe whole of the survey abovementioned, if carried on with a view to the Objects here\nstated, without too minute and particular an examination of the detail of the different parts\nof the Coast laid down by it, may as I understand, probably be completed in two Summers.\nIn the intermediate AA'inter, the Ships are to be directed to return to the Sandwich Islands, and\nduring their continuance there, to endeavor to compleat any part that may be unfinished of\ntheir examination of those Islands.\nAfter the conclusion of the Survey in the second summer, the commanding Officer should\nbe directed, supposing the State and circumstances of his ships should admit of it, to return\nby Cape Horn, for which the season will then probably be favorable.\nIt seems doubtful how far the time may admit of his making any particular Examination\nof the Western Coast of South America. But if this should be practicable, he should begin\nsuch Examination from the South Point of the Island of Chiloe, which is in about 44 South\nLatitude; and he should direct his attention to ascertaining what is the most Southward Spanish\nSettlement on that Coast, and what Harbours there are south of any such settlement.\nIn the execution of every part of this Service, it is very material that the Commanding\nOfficer should be instructed to use every possible care to avoid disputes with the Natives of\nany of the Parts where he may touch, and that he should be particularly attentive to endeavour,\nby Presents and by all other means, to conciliate their friendship and confidence. V 48 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nI herewith inclose to your Lordship a List of such Articles as have been procured for the\npurpose of Presents. These will be delivered into the Care of the Commanding Officer, to be\ndisposed of by him according to the regulations which have been observed in similar Cases.\nI am,\n. &c.\nGrenville.\nLords Commissioners of the Admiralty.\nEndorsed : To the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 11th Feby. 1791.\n(20.) Captain George A'ancouver to Evan Nepean.\nDiscovery Falmouth\nMarch ye Slst, 1791\nSir:\nI am favord with your very civil letter of the 17th. instant and should have done myself\nthe pleasure of replying to it ere now had I not intended giving you the latest information of\nmy detention in this Country which has been occasioned by the absence of the Chatham who\nfrom adverse Winds &c &c. has not been able to reach this Port before to day she anchord\nhere a little after Noon; we are now unmoord and at day break in the morning shall sail\nI therefore herewith inclose you an estimate of such stores & provisions as we have conceived\nnecessary for her; for the same period as are demanded for the Discovery.\nWith much attention I have considered that part of your letter which appertains to an\nappointment of rendezvous after our departure from the Sandwich Islands which I shall most\ncertainly quit as early in the Spring as possible my intentions being to begin my researches at\ntheir southern extremity Latd. 30\u00C2\u00B0 No. and proceed Northward, which will ere I reach the\nLatitude of Nootka bring the summer in all probability some what advanced as the examination\nof De Fuca's Straits &c &c. will intervene in that space. Should therefore conceive that Friendly\ncove in Nootka Sound to be a very eligable situation to meet the Vessel with stores & provisions\nin case we are departed from the Sandwich Islands prior to her arrival there. But should it be\nconsidered improper that she should proceed to Nootka before a formal restitution of that\nterritory is made; as Port Cox & Berkleys Sound (of both which there are plans extant) lay\nbetween the the supposed Straits and Nootka, on my having made such investigation shall if\npossible in the course of the summer visit those Ports & should my researches lead me back\ninto the North Pacific by the same way I enterd the Straits those Ports will lay directly in my\nRoute to the Northwd. and should a private signal be Necessary to know each other by she\nwill put abroad a red Ensign from the Main T. Gt. M. head to the Top Gt. Yardarm with the\nunion at the upper part of the fly instead of the part next the mast which shall be answerd by\na St. Georges Ensign at our Fore Top Gt. Mast had with a gun to Windward after which she\nwill hoist her Ensign at the Ensign Staff or Miz. Peak and we hoist ours at the same place, but\nshould we fail of meeting each other by circumstances that may occur it will then be necessary\nthat at a proper period she should repair to Karacacooa Bay in Owhyhee that being the weather-\nmost port in those Islands and the first I shall call at on my return to them.\nSuch at present appears to me the most eligable mode of our meeting and which I am\nexceedingly concearned I had not long ago submitted to your consideration but having not\nthe most distant Idea that there was the smallest probability of my remaining here to be\nfavourd (with) your opinion or My Lord Grenville on that subject from day to day I deferd\nwriting considering every one to be the last I should remain here, however should there be any\nvessel bound to the Cape of Good Hope that is very shortly to sail, such opinions may by that\nmeans be communicated which will afford me great satisfaction, I have only further to add with\nbest respects to My Lord Grenville that my Health is wonderfully improved which blessing\nthat yourself and family may with every other felicity enjoy is the ardent Wish of him who has\nthe Honor to be with great regard Sir\nYour most obedient Humble Servant\nEvan Nepean Esqr. Geo : Vancouver\nEndorsed: Discovery at Falmouth 31st. March 1791. Captain Vancouver R 4th April. (Extract\nto the Admiralty.) (4 Inclosures.) 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 49\nII. PAPERS RELATING TO THE COLONIZATION OF VANCOUVER ISLAND.\n(1.) Lieutenant Adam D. Dundas, R.N., to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.\n26 Pall Mall Tuesday\n30th May 1848.\nSir\nIn accordance with your request that I should transfer to paper the subject of our conversation on Saturday with regard to the Advantages or disadvantages that would accrue to a\ncolony on A'ancouver's Island, under the jurisdiction or superintendence of the Hudson's Bay\nCompany I beg to submit the following\nHaving during my late period of Service in the Pacific been for upwards of two years\nemployed on that part of the North West Coast generally known as the Hudson's Bay Territory,\nthe greater part of which has been spent within the limits of Fort Vancouver their great\nAA'estern Depot, I have had every opportunity of observing, not only how all their arrangements\nwere managed but the spirit which pervaded their whole system, and which I have no hesitation\nin saying would be wholly and totally inapplicable to the nursing of a young Colony, with the\nhopes of ever bringing it to Maturity and my opinion only accords with that which I have heard\nuniversally expressed by all disinterested individuals who have had an opportunity of visiting\nnot only these regions, but their Settlements in Hudson's Bay and on the Red River.\nThere has always appeared to me an overbearingly illiberal usurpation of power on the\npart of the IL B. Co. to which every better feeling has invariably been Sacrificed, and which has\nrendered their line of conduct in many instances most irregular and unjustifiable, however\nnecessary this System may have been found when dealing with Savages, it Could not but prove\nrepugnant to the feelings of the Colonists and the facility which in this case would be offered\nthem of leaving the island, would doubtless be taken advantage of, and the Colony after dwindling into insignificance would become hut another dependance wholly at the mercy of the\nHudsons Bay Co.\nThat this powerful Company have the ability to form advantageous Settlements in these\nunfrequented parts, there is not a doubt, but when their trade is wholly carried on with the\nAborigines, is it to be Supposed, that they would aid in the advancement of Civilization when\nfrom time immemorial it has been proved that the progress of the one has ever been made at\nthe expence of the other? and should the Natives cease to exist, why, their occupation is gone.\nIt is only a natural Conclusion then to arrive at that the efforts which the Hudsons Bay Company are putting forward to obtain either a direct or indirect influence in A'ancouvers Island\nare with the Sole motive of protracting to as late a period as possible a monopoly which they\nhave so long enjoyed, and which could not benefit the Country, the only object of establishing\na Settlement in Such a distant quarter. The Puget's Sound Company are doubtless equally\nanxious for Hudsons Bay jurisdiction but it must be at the same time remembered that these\ntwo Companies are wholly incorporated in each other, and their interests are mutually blended,\ntheir object being to engross all those other available Sources of revenue to AVhich the fur trade\nis not immediately applicable.\nWere it necessary to corroborate what I have now stated, I might quote instances which\nhave come under my immediate observation but I believe it to be unnecessary as there has\nnever been but one opinion on the subject.\nWith regard to the Natural advantages of the island, my impression is that they are highly\nfavourable for the establishment of a Colony, the climate is a most desirable one, and comparing\nit, with that of this Country infinitely more equable, it is as healthy as could be wished for and\nseems to suit the European Constitution admirably, and though fever and ague are very prevalent\non the Main land yet from the absence of low and marshy ground they are unknown here.\nAA'ater however is not wanting and can always be obtained in Sufficient quantity, as a proof\nof which there are beaver on the island, whose aquatick propensities are too well known to be\ncommented on.\nTo give a correct description of the island would entail a task, which I do not hesitate\nto confess I am incompetent of performing, as its interior has never been explored, and in\n4 V 50 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nfact it has only been penetrated at one point to the extent of twenty miles, the Shores however\nhave been very frequently Visited, in the course of trafficking with the Indians and from such\nsources of information a very satisfactory conclusion may be arrived at.\nA'ancouver's is an island about two hundred and fifty miles long, and sixty five its extreme\nbreadth at any part, although in many places it does not exceed half of that, in its general\nappearance it is mountainous and thickly wooded, the AVestern or Sea coast being the most\nprecipitous.\nAs the Straits of de Fuca are entered its wild aspect gradually diminishes until within\nsome fifteen or twenty miles of A'ictoria the Company's only Settlement on the island\u00E2\u0080\u0094here it\npresents a most favourable view\u00E2\u0080\u0094the dark pine forest giving way to plain and open park land\nstudded with fine oaks, this continues with some exceptions along the Coast bordering the Canal\nde Arra and gulph of Georgia running up in a North Westerly direction offering many eligible\nspots for Agricultural operations, the Navigation here is considered difficult at times even for\nsteam vessels, owing to the rapidity and irregularity of the Currents, but when it is remembered\nthat Vancouver found his way through here in Safety, it cannot be doubted but that these\ndifficulties will disappear before advancing civilization and science. To compensate however\nfor the casual disadvantages in the navigation the whole coast abounds in most excellent\nharbours which can scarcely be equalled in any island of similar extent, and where the most\nsecure inlets are wanting numerous small islets afford the Mariner a safe anchorage and\nprotection from the Weather. AVith regard to the mineral as yet coal is only known to exist\nhere, but sanguine hopes are entertained that there are others, lead and tin having been\ndiscovered on Queen Charlottes island which is little more than a degree to the Northward.\nThe coal was quite accidentally discovered from the vein having .been seen on the beach at\nlow water, a quantity of this although taken almost from the surface has been satisfactorily\ntried on board the Company's Steamer Beaver on several occasions, the situation of this mine\nis about twenty five miles from the entrance of Queen Charlottes Sound, and could be reached\nby sailing vessels with perfect ease, entering from the Northward. The timber which is here\nto be met with consists almost exclusively of the gigantic pine in different varieties, there are\nalso oak ash and such other trees as are to be met with in this country, although they bear\nbut a small proportion, the pine is most available for ships spars and the more Northerly the\nclimate the more valuable they are.\nI have as yet said nothing about the Soil\u00E2\u0080\u0094there are conflicting opinions as to its being very\navailable for agricultural purposes and I have very lately seen it publickly stated, that there\nwas such a thin surface over rock as to render it perfectly unavailable, but I think that, that\nis rather a sweeping assertion, that the gound is in many places stony there is no doubt but\nwith a little labour they can be removed, and there remains as rich a soil as the farmer can\ndesire,\nSo little being known of the interior of the island as I have already observed, it would be\ndifficult to form a very correct estimate of the number of its inhabitants, but from the knowledge\nof the existence of nine tribes on the coast, averaging seven hundred men to a tribe, a sufficiently\naccurate approximation may be arrived at, by stating the whole to amount to about ten thousand\nwhich however I should think it did not exceed. They are for the most part generally friendly\nto strangers although not wholly perhaps to be depended upon, yet a simple demonstration of\nforce has always been found to keep them in check. They subsist chiefly on fish, but likewise\ntake a great quantity of game, all of which are easily procured and are in great abundance;\nthey even venture after the whale in their light canoes, and that animal frequents the Straits\nof de Fuca, and gulph of Georgia during the season, great numbers are caught, I was informed\non good authority, as many as a hundred had been taken during the year, this of course has\nbeen found a very productive sport.\nThe subject of transporting emigrants across the isthmus of Panama, having been suggested\nas a less expensive method than conveying them round Cope Horn, I would beg to observe as\nfar as my experience allows me that the latter must certainly prove the more economical of\nthe two; allowing fifty days as the passage of a sailing vessel from England to A'era Cruz and\nthat from Panama to Vancouver's Island to be sixty which would be the probable amount\ntaking into consideration the prevailing winds, add to which ten days occupied in transporting\nthe Emigrants and their baggage across the isthmus\u00E2\u0080\u0094the amount would be one hundred and\ntwenty. Now the whole journey round the Cape would scarcely occupy more than one hundred 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 51\nand forty this certainly would show a saving of twenty days, but when taking into consideration\nthe expences of conveyance overland, aud the two sets of vessels which it would of course require,\nindependently of no small inconvenience to the Emigrants attending their transhipment, I doubt\nnot but that the longer route would eventually be the more preferable.\nI have the honour to remain\nSir\nYour most obedt. Servt.\nAdam D. Dundas\nLieut. R.N.\n(2.) Extract of a Despatch received from Sir George Simpson\ndated Norway House June 24th, 1848.\nReceived. CD. Aug: 24th. 1848\nI am deeply concerned to say that that part of the Country (on the Columbia) has been in\na very unhealthy state, arising from dysentery, typhus fever and measles, introduced by large\nbodies of immigrants from the United States who came to the Willamette last Season, occasioning a fearful mortality among the natives, with much loss of life and suffering among our own\npeople, about 20 of our Servants having died, principally at Fort A'ancouver. The loss of life\nfrom these causes among the tribes situated between the Cascades and the Upper part of the\nColumbia has been very great, and one of those tribes, the Cayuses, in the neighbourhood of\nWalla, Walla, Supposing that Dr. AVhitman, who Superintended the mission of Wailatpu, about\n30 miles from our post of AValla Walla, was instrumental in introducing these pestilences among\nthem, as a punishment for some offence they had previously committed, in the month of December\nmassacred that unfortunate gentleman, his wife and nine (9) other grown up persons belonging\nto the mission; And, with the assistance of their allies the Nez Perces, made prisoners of 64\nmen, women and children, the remaining inmates of Dr. Whitmans and another American\nMission, on the Clearwater River under the charge of Mr. Spalding. Information of these alarming proceedings having been conveyed to the Board of Management, they became apprehensive\nof danger to our establishment of Walla AA'alla, and Chief Factor Ogden proceeded from Vancouver to its relief, with the double object of affording protection to Our own post, and of\nrescuing the unfortunate captives. On arrival at Walla Walla, however, it was found that the\nnatives did not manifest any hostility towards our people, on the Contrary, that they Shewed\na friendly disposition even while engaged in the Massacre at Wailatpu, having protected two\nof the children of Chief Trader Manson, who were there at School and conveyed them Safely\nto Walla Walla where they were placed under the care of Mr. McBean, the gentleman in charge.\nChief Factor Ogden next directed his attention to the American Captives, and after much\nnegociation Succeeded in obtaining their release, by ransom to an amount not exceeding \u00C2\u00A3100.\nThe object of the Indians in taking these people prisoners, was to hold them as hostages, with\na view to their own protection, being apprehensive that Strong measures of retaliation would\nbe adopted by the Provisional Government. Mr. Ogden, however, could give no pledge to that\neffect, and I am concerned to say that a war of extirmination has been commenced upon these\nunfortunate people under the direction of the Provisional Government. A force of 400 men,\nwas raised as early as possible and despatched under a A'iolent and injudicious leader named\nGilliam, who has had Several Skirmishes with the Natives, in which a few lives have been lost\non both Sides, but no decisive engagement had taken place up to our latest advices.\nThere is no question, however, that the Americans will, in the end, glut their revenge upon\nthe wretched Indians, although from their want of discipline and means, it will require a length\nof time to effect the work of destruction.\nThe Board of Management when called upon by the Provisional Government to afford their\nassistance to punish the natives, very wisely determined on maintaining a Strict neutrality,\ndeclining to make a loan of $100,000 required by the Government for the purpose of carrying\non the war; but Supplied them with provisions to the Amount of $1S00 on the personal security\nof the Governor (Abernethy) and two Members of the legislature. V 52 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nFor further information as to details on this Subject, I beg to refer to the accompanying\nCopy of the despatch from the Board of Management dated 16th March, and of the Correspondence therein referred to.\nNotwithstanding the judicious determination of the Board of Management to take no part\nin the hostilities I am exceedingly apprehensive that we shall become more or less involved\nin them and get into difficulties both with the Americans and Natives. AVe have already very\nnarrowly escaped doing so, as regards the former, a plan having been formed to Supply themselves by force with munitions of war and provisions from Fort A'ancouver, but Chief Factor\nDouglas, (Chief Factor Ogden being absent at AA'alla AValla,) having had private information\nof this intention on the part of Colonel Gilliam, opened a communication with the authorities\nupon the Subject, and being at the Same time prepared to make a determined resistance, this\nlawless proceeding was abandoned.\nAt the Post of Walla AValla however, by direction of Colonel Gilliam, forcible possession was\ntaken of two barrels of gunpowder, And I regret to Say that, no other, opposition than a Simple\nprotest was offered by Mr. McBeau, the Clerk in charge to this robbery.\u00E2\u0080\u0094As regards the Indians,\nit is probable that, the circumstances of our having got the hostages out of their hands; of\nThomas McKay, late Clerk in the Service, and Several of our retired Servants having joined\nthe A'olunteer Corps; of the Americans having obtained provisions from us to carry on the\nWar; and of their being permitted to take the powder without resistance, may lead them to\nSuppose that, although not actually in the field, we are in league with the Americans against\nthem, and I am very apprehensive that this may draw upon our establishments of Walla Walla,\nFort Hall, Colville & Okanagan, which are in a very defenceless State, their hostility.\nIt is possible, however, that those establishments may not be attacked, but even Should that\nfortunately be the Case, there is no question, that, pending the hostilities, the trade of those\nPosts will be ruined, as the Natives cannot, during Such excitement, give attention to the\nCollection of Furs. We have therefore, Suggested to the Board of Management that, if the\nAVar be protracted, the Posts of AA'alla Walla and Fort Hall be temporarily abandoned.\nIn the present disturbed state of the Country, we Shall be exceedingly anxious until we\nhave further advices from the Columbia ; I have, therefore, requested the Board of Management\nto report from time to time by every Channel of communication.\nBesides an influx of about 3000 immigrants to the Columbia proper during the past year,\na large body of people, known as the Mormons, driven out from the United States on account\nof their religious tenets, have Seated themselves down to the Number of 3000, in the Neighbourhood of the Great Salt Lake in the Snake Country, where they are forming a City. This party\nmay be considered as the pioneers of the Sect, Amounting to about 20,000 in all, 7000 more\nbeing expected at their New Settlement this Season. By the accompanying Copy of letter from\nJohn Smith their President, you will observe they are desirous of obtaining Supplies from us,\nbut there appears a disinclination on the part of the Board of Management to meet their application. From the numbers and organisation of these people, it is evident they will become very\nformidable and iu due time, be in a Condition to give law to Oregon, it is, therefore, highly\ndesirable that we should Conciliate them by every proper means within our power: And to\nthat end, I have Suggested to the Board of Management that, we Should provide them with a\nfew Supplies from time to time, for which we have reason to believe they have the Means of\npaying in Money.\nAgriculture however, will be their principal occupation but Situated so far in the interior.\nit is impossible that they can form an export trade, or do more than obtain a bare Subsistence,\nand as they are not likely to remain Satisfied with that State of inaction, I am very apprehensive\nthey may follow up their original intention before leaving AA'isconsin and direct their Steps to\nA'ancouvers Islands, from whence it would be quite impossible for us, even if assisted by the\nNatives to dislodge them.\nThe persecution they have experienced in the United States has given rise to a feeling of\nhostility on their minds towards their Countrymen, while, on the contrary, it is Said they are\nfavourably disposed to British interests, so that they might hereafter become useful partisans\nin the event of difficulties with the U. States.\nHerewith I forward for your information an extract from a private letter to me from\nChief Trader Richard Grant, dated Fort Hall Slst. Deer. 1847, by which it would appear that 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 5J\nthe Mormons have been in communication with H. M. Government with a view to Settling on\nA'ancouvers Island, and that they consider their application as having been favorably received.\n(3.) Charles Enderby7, Esq., to The Right Honble. Earl Grey.\nReceived. CD. August 26 1848.\n13 Great St. Helen's,\n; 26 August, 1S4S.\nMy' Lord,\nThe recent discussions in Parliament on the subject of A'ancouver's Island induce me to\ntrouble your Lordship with a few remarks suggestive of a means whereby two important\nnational objects may be accomplished and made to subserve each other: I allude to the\nre-establishment of the British Southern Whale Fisheries and the Colonization of A'ancouver's\nIsland.\nHer Majestys Government have afforded myself and brothers every encouragement and\nfacility for prosecuting the Whale Fisheries from the Auckland Islands, in pursuance of the\nplan developed in my pamphlet, and w7e have only been prevented from carrying out the project\nby unexpected causes; these being, first, the delay occasioned by a fruitless negotiation arising\nout of proposals made to us on the part of the South Sea Company, but which they afterwards\nfound could not, owing to peculiar circumstances, be fulfilled; and Secondly, the disturbed State\nof Monetary and Commercial affairs which supervened, and has rendered abortive all attempts\nto come before the public with the view to the formation of a Company.\nOn referring to my pamphlet your Lordship will perceive that I have alluded to and\ncontemplated carrying on the Fishery in the North as well as in the South Pacific Ocean; and\nalthough certainly we do not require any fixed Station in the former of those Seas at which\nto refresh our A'essels, still, if, as I infer, Her Majesty's Government consider it important\nthat A'ancouver's should be colonized, and we can be assured of obtaining there the means of\nrefreshing our crews and taking in supplies of Stores, &c, we should not only feel ourselves\nbound, but should find it our interest to make that island the place of rendezvous for our Ships,\nin the same maimer that the Sandwich islands (which have sprung into great importance and\nprosperity in consequence) are the general rendezvous for American AVhalers.\nIt is impossible to imagine how A'ancouver's Island, considering its remote position and\ngreat distance from the Mother-Country, can be of any commercial advantage, or made to hold\nout any inducement to parties to locate themselves there as Settlers, unless by being adapted\nto the purposes of a AVhaling Station; and your Lordship will perceive from the enclosed Copy\nof a letter from me to Sir Henry Pelly (written some Months since, and in consequence of Sir\nHenry Pelly having himself been the first to moot the subject in a conversation between us)\nthat the idea of Colonizing A'ancouver's Island by making it a Whaling Station in connexion\nwith our own is not new to me.\nAs, then, it would appear that Her Majesty's Government contemplate urging the Hudson's\nBay Company to colonize A'ancouver's Island, I would respectfully suggest to Your Lordship\nthat the end in question might be at once attained by the Hudson's Bay, or Puget Sound Company (of which latter, I believe, Sir Henry Pelly is Chairman, and which has a large Capital\nwhereof not more than about One-third is paid up) effecting a junction of interests with us.\nIf, therefore, your Lordship should think favourably of the proposition I have hazarded, I do not\ndoubt but your Lordship's recommendation of it to the Companies referred to would have great\nweight, and be attended with a satisfactory result, as it is obvious that such an arrangement\nas that contemplated would be mutually beneficial to all parties.\nI have the honour to be.\nMy Lord,\nYour Lordship's\nMost obedient and humble Servant\nChas. Enderby.\nThe Right Honble. Earl Grey\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n&c &e &c V 54 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(4.) Charles Enderby7, Esq., to Sib J. H. Pelly.\n13 Great St. Helen's,\n5 April, 1848.\nMy Deab Sir,\nAA'ith reference to a conversation which I had with you on Saturday last, on the subject of\nthe Whale Fisheries and Vancouver's Island, it may be as well for me to observe that in pages\n55 and 56 of my pamphlet I have laid down my reasons for selecting the Auckland Islands as,\nin all respects, the most eligible Station from whence to prosecute the trade. To the arguments\nthere urged I can scarcely make any addition, and they constitute the basis whereon I found\nmy conclusion that we can not only compete successfully with the Americans, but bear down\neventually any opposition on their part. This line of argument must, however, lose its force\nif the main Station be transferred from the South to the North Pacific, and A'ancouver's Island\nbe selected instead of the Auckland Islands, the Americans occupying California. Having, as\nI trust, now clearly explained myself on this point, I will refer to the subject more especially\nconsidered, viz., the Settlement and Colonisation of A'ancouver's Island, and this, it appears to\nme, would be best effected by making it a subsidiary AV'haling Station to the main one at the\nAucklands. You are aware that very extensive Whale Fisheries are prosecuted in the North\nPacific Ocean, the same commencing generally in the month of March and terminating in\nOctober; as also that the Whaling Ships, whether from Europe or America, refresh on the\noutward and homeward passage at the Sandwich Islands, and I need scarcely observe that\nfrom the more casual visits of the A'essels the islands have sprung into consideration and\nimportance. Now, provided that Vessels could obtain the necessary provisions and Stores at\nA'ancouver's Island, this would be preferable to the Sandwich Islands as a place of resort for\nthem, more especially when it is considered that all disturbance or disagreements amongst the\nMasters and crews could be arranged and Settled on the spot through the medium of British\nlaw. I have expressed my opinion that the A'essels equipped from the Auckland Islands for\nthe Fishery should be of the burthen of 250 tons each; not that I contemplate they will\nuniformly fill with Oil, since I have averaged their produce at only 190 tuns, but for the\npurpose of enabling the ATessels to carry conveniently their boats and crew. Now the evils\nI have pointed out in pages 44, 45 and 46 of my pamphlet, as regards the freighting of the\nOil to England in AVhaling Ships with but half Cargoes, would equally apply, though in a\nminor sense, to the Fishery in the North Pacific. For example, I will suppose 100 Vessels to\nproceed from the Auckland Islands to fish in the North Pacific, and that the quantity of Oil\nobtained during the Season is only sufficient to fill 80 of them. In such case it would be\nproductive of a considerable saving both in time and expense if we could have a Station at\nA'ancouver's Island, at which the A'essels could discharge their cargoes and get a refit, and\nwhere an Agent could settle the Wages of the Crews of such of the A'essels as might remain.\nBy such an arrangement great advantages might be expected to accrue, as the 20 A'essels\nreferred to, instead of returning to the Auckland Islands, could prosecute the Sperm AA'hale\nFishery from October to May; or, if found advisable, some of them might be employed in\nconveying Coals, or in trading t,o India, China, Japan, or other places in the Pacific Ocean,\nthus extending British Commerce as also connecting British interests in those Seas.\nI am Sir\nChas. Enderby.\nSir J. H. Pelly.\n(5.) James Edwaed FitzGerald, Esq., to II. B. Hawes, Esq., Colonial Office.\nLondon, June 9th, 1847.\nSir,\nIn compliance with your suggestion I have the honor to submit for your perusal an outline\nof a scheme for the formation of a colony in A'ancouvers Island, on the North West Coast of\nAmerica, together with some remarks in explanation of the objects and principles by which its\nauthors have been guided. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 55\nBut, although you are, doubtless, well acquainted with the general features of the island,\nand with the political importance of its position, I beg, in the first place to offer one or two\nreasons, which seem to justify the expectation that her Majesties govt, will do all in their\npower to promote the undertaking.\nFirst, with respect to the political importance of the position, Great Britain possesses no\ndependency of any description in the Pacific ocean, Eastward of Hong Kong, New Holland and\nNew Zealand, whilst France is establishing her influence in the South sea Islands and The\nUnited States are pushing their population Westward to the Shores of the Ocean.\nThe principal part of the settlements made by the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company,\nlying at Nisqually and along the Cowlitz and AVillamette rivers, are, according to the provisions\nof the last treaty with the United States, Allotted to that power.\nThe Hudsons Bay Company possess only one or two inconsiderable settlements on the Coast,\nto the North of the 49th. parallel of North latitude; so that, in fact, Great Britain has, at\npresent, hardly any thing to shew more than a nominal Sovereignty over her portion of the\nOregon Territory.\nHer Majesties Govt, cannot but be fully alive to the extreme importance of possessing some\nstrong dependency on the North West Coast of America in order to counterbalance the increasing\ninfluence of the United States; and to watch the interests of Great Britain in the Pacific Ocean.\nSecondly. AVith respect to the Geographical position of the island as affecting the prospects\nof its future inhabitants: it is to be remarked, that it occupies very nearly the same position\nwith respect to the Pacific which Great Britain does with respect to the Atlantic ocean.\nBut there is this difference, that no portion of the globe is so deficient in harbours as the\nWest Coast of North America.\nThere is no shelter for craft, of even the smallest size between San Francisco in California\nand the Harbours which lie within the Straits of Juan de Fuca.\nAnd although San Francisco is a noble Harbour yet as it is above Seven hundred Miles\nto the South of the Straits these two can hardly be considered rivals in a commercial point\nof view.\nHence it follows that the inhabitants of the country lying around the Straits of Juan de\nFuca must, of necessity, retain, forever, a monopoly of all the trade which shall ever pass into\nand out of the Northern part of the West coast of America.\nThe Pacific Ocean is studded with islands, teeming with tropical productions in all directions. For these productions there is at present, no natural Channel of Exchange. But the\nNorth West Coast of America is the only country within reach, which is capable of exchanging\nthe productions of a colder for those of a tropical climate.\nIt seems difficult to over-rate the rapidity with which trade might increase if an industrious\nand persevering race were to establish themselves on the Northern Shores of the Pacific Ocean.\nIt is indeed true that the harbours on the south or American Side of the Straits, extending\ndown to Pugets Sound, are as good as any in the British Territory, but it is extremely probable\nthat the people who take the initiative will retain at any rate for a very long time, the\nsuperiority in the commerce which the increasing population of the country must create.\nMoreover, believing that the prosperity of Colonies, as of all civil communities, depends on the\nprinciples upon which they are founded and by which they are governed, we cannot doubt that\na Colony might be established in the British Oregon Superior to any rivalry it might experience\nfrom its Neighbours of the Columbia river; if the emigration to that country from the United\nStates is to proceed in the maimer in which it has been hitherto conducted.\nHence, the importance of this island which commands the Straits, bounding it for more\nthan 60 miles on the north side, in a commercial, as well as in a political point of view.\nThirdly, with respect to the natural capabilities of the country and its facilities for colonization, it would be too long a task, to enter into any detail as her Majesties Govt, have doubtless\ncorrect information on the subject. I may simply state my conviction, after consulting every\nwritten authority on the subject, and also after taking the opinions of men who speak from the\npersonal experience arising from long residence in the country, that, in healthiness of climate,\nin fertility of soil, in the abundance of game of all kinds, Flesh, fish and fowl, as well as in\nrich mineral productions coal, iron and copper,\u00E2\u0080\u0094this territory contains everything, as a home\nfor a people, from which necessities can be supplied or wealth obtained. V 56 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nAnother circumstance should be mentioned which will facilitate the construction of a colony\nin A'ancouvers Island. There are, in its whole length above 250 miles, not above 5000 Natives\naccording to the best authorities, and these are on the best possible terms with the English,\nowing to the wise and generous policy which has been pursued towards them by the Hudsons\nBay Company.\nAVith respect to the Hudsons Bay Company, I beg to draw your attention to a clause in\ntheir Charter which reserves to Her Majesty the right of revoking as much of that charter as\nrefers to any Country at present included in its provisions in which Pier Majesty may at any\ntime think fit to found a Colony.\nBut, at the same time, it is hardly necessary to do so because it is clearly the interest of\nthe Hudsons Bay Company that such a Colony as that now projected should be established.\nA'ancouvers Island produces very little fur. The settlements founded by the Servants of the\nHudson's Bay Company are in the American Territory: and the holders of the farms etc., will\nbe obliged either to migrate farther northward or to become Citizens of the United States. A\nColony in A'ancouver's Island would probably form an attractive new home for many of these\npersons. It would also form a sort of barrier against the encroachments of the Americans upon\nthe fur trade of the Hudson's Bay Company upon the Continent and which they have already\ngone to so much expense and labour to secure against the Americans and the Russians in the\nOregon territory.\nOne reason may be suggested why the attempt to form a new Colony from this country\nought not to be regarded as unwise.\nIt is a fact that, although Great Britain possesses, beyond all comparison, the largest\ndependencies of any country in the world, and although a very large number of emigrants leave\nher shores every year, a great proportion do not go to the British Colonies but to the United\nStates of America. It is sufficient in support of this fact to quote the reports of the Colonial\nland and emigration commissioner.\nHence it may be inferred that, from some cause which it is foreign to our purpose at\npresent to dwell on, the wants of British emigrants are not supplied by any system at present\nacted on in any of the colonies belonging to our own country; and hence too it would seem that\nthere is ample room for a new colony to meet the demands of the emigrants from our.shores.\nNow, if there be the necessity above stated for a powerful and prosperous colony on the shores\nof the Pacific, in order to keep up our influence in that portion of the globe, and to prevent the\nvast trade w7hich must some day flow from the Islands of the Pacific Ocean falling into the\nhands of rival powers, then it is reasonable to anticipate that a scheme which proposes the\nfoundation of such a Colony in a country the most favourable to the attainment of these ends,\nwill meet with the sanction and patronage of her Majesty's Government.\nIt is in this expectation, and believing that such a scheme may be framed as shall offer\ngreater inducements than are offered by any other British Colony to men of education, intelligence and capital, to embark in the enterprize that the promoters of the undertaking submit the\nfollowing proposal.\nI. That a joint stock company be formed called the Company of Colonists of A'ancouvers\nIsland.\n(a.) It is not intended that all the shareholders should necessarily emigrate to the colony\nbut the greatest possible inducement to do so should be given. All the privileges of a colonist\nin the government of the colony and in the management of the company should be vested in\nresidents alone.\nII. That capital be subscribed in shares of \u00C2\u00A3100 each, to be expended in the conveyance of\nlabour to the Colony.\n(\u00C2\u00AB.) The labourers carried out should be selected, young married men, between 18 and 35\nyears of age.\n(b.) It should be a rule that an equality should be preserved in the numbers of the two\nsexes conveyed to the Colony, at least for several years.\nIII. That no interest be paid on the capital but land be allotted to the shareholders in\nproportion to the number of their shares.\n(a.) This scheme is in fact only another mode of selling the land for so much per acre,\nbut with this difference, by adopting the form of a joint stock company all the civil privileges 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 57\nof a colonist\u00E2\u0080\u0094the rights of voting etc., are given along with the share; and moreover, the\nexpenditure of the money is entrusted to the company instead of to the government.\n{b.) The whole of the capital of the company in other words the price of land is to be\nexpended in the manner most beneficial to the colonist, viz., in the supply of labour which is\nfound practically to be the greatest want in a new colony.\n(c.) This it is conceived can be effected far more readily and more economically by a\ncompany\u00E2\u0080\u0094that is to say by the directors who are responsible to the shareholders than on the\none hand by auy private individual or, on the other by the government.\n(d.) The whole question of the economical prosperity of a colony is reduced to a single\nproposition. Such a proposition must exist between The Share, The land allotted to it, and\nthe labour that can be supplied by it that the greatest possible return may be made on the price\nof the share, in that case two results will occur.\n(1.) The Shareholder will have maximum profits.\n(2.) The labourer will have maximum wages.\nIf this proportion does not exist the labourer will be making money at the expence of\nthe shareholder or else the Shareholder at the expence of the labourer.\n(e.) The question to be determined is what extent ought to be allotted to one share in\norder that there may be a maximum return. The basis of the calculation by which the right\nquantity may be suggested may be stated as follows.\nAccording to the best authorities three men are required to till 100 acres. But in order\nthat a Civil community may prosper more than one half the population ought not to be\nemployed on the production of food from the soil. Half at least ought to be engaged in other\nspecies of industry. I assume one half because in Ireland with the greatest distress three\nfourths are employed in agricultural occupations, and in England in the midst of luxury only\none third, or less, are employed. I therefore take one half as the proportion of the agricultural\nlabour.\nHence\u00E2\u0080\u0094six men ought to be conveyed to the colony for every 100 acres of land allotted.\nNow supposing which is the most favourable case, that all the labourers are young married\nmen without families and that a man and wife can be conveyed to A'ancouvers Island for\n\u00C2\u00A350\u00E2\u0080\u0094then \u00C2\u00A3300 will be the cost of conveying labour to the Colony, sufficient for 100 acres of\nlaud allotted. Hence\u00E2\u0080\u0094for the outlay of \u00C2\u00A3100, i.e. of share 100/3=33% acres ought to be the\nextent of the allotment.\nAnd if the above theory be correct and the assumed numbers be right the Shareholder\nwill then obtain the maximum profits which his \u00C2\u00A3100 could be made to yield and the labourer\nwould obtain the maximum wages which could be obtained without subtracting from the profits\nof the shareholders.\nThere is another mode of viewing this question. The wages of a labourer in a colony in\na prosperous condition ought to be such that, in a few years, he may be able to save enough\nto buy a share. In this case his labour is not withdrawn from the market for the price of\nhis Share is expended in the introduction of a new labourer to take his place. The labourer\nought not to have such high wages as shall enable him to buy a share in a very short time,\nfirst, because when wages are so high it is certain to be engrossing a part of the profits of\ncapital which it has no right to, secondly, because the general result has been to demoralize\nthe labourer so that the more he has to save the less he saves.\nAlthough it is not possible to frame on this basis, a calculation as to magnitude of the\nallotment of land to each share, yet it is essential to establish the fact that there is a direct\nrelation between the rate of wages and the size of the allotments.\nFor the rate of wages depends on the ratio between the capital in the Colony available for\nthe employment of labour, that is the capital in private hands, and the supply of labour in the\nmarket. Now the supply of labour depends on the capital in the bauds of the Company, and\nthis latter for a given tract of country depends on the price of the land, or in other words on\nthe extent of the allotment per share. Hence the rate of wages depend on the ratio between\nthe amount of private capital and the price of the land on which it is employed. In other\nwords the rate of wages varies directly, as the amount of private capital and\" inversely as the\nprice of land. According to this reasoning the greater the amount of private capital in the\ncolony the higher ought to be the price of land in order to prevent the wages of labour becoming\nexhorbitant. Now with regard to the direct variation. Since it will be manifestly impossible V 58 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nto discover the quantity of capital that may find its way into the Colony in private hands no\ncalculation can be made in order to suggest the quantity of land to be allotted to a share in.\norder that there may be a fair rate of wages.\nBut with respect to the inverse variation. It is clear that experience will soon determine-\nhow much capital there is afloat in the colony, and then should wages rise exhorbitantly it will\nbe necessary to diminish the extent of the allotments, so that there will be less work to be\ndone and more hands proportionally to do it, when wages must fall, and besides there being\nless demand for capital in wages, the holders will be more inclined to invest it in the Company\nwhich will introduce more labour and still more lend to depress wages. And on the other hand\nshould wages fall too low it will be necessary to increase the extent of the allotment when for\nsimilar reasons wages may be kept up.\nThese operations however will be of very slow movement.\nTwo things then on the whole are absolutely necessary to the prosperity of the Colony.\nFirst, that there (be) a fixed size of the allotments per share and that it should be\nguaranteed in the Company's Charter Specifically.\nSecondly, that a power should be vested somewhere of changing the size of the allotment\nper share in case the circumstances of the Colony require it. This power should be so vested\nthat it cannot be used suddenly or inconsiderately.\nIt is proposed to place it in the hands of the Directors of the Company subject to the\napproval of the Governor in Council in the Colony and of the Queen in Council in England.\nWith respect to the mode of allotment, it is not necessary to enter into detail at present.\nThe Island should be surveyed as fast as possible, beginning from the site chosen for the first\nsettlement and divided into lots of the extent appropriated to one share numbered and registered.\nTwo principles should be adopted. The first claimant of a lot shall always have it. If\ntwo persons claim simultaneously, they should cast lots for the first choice.\nEvery Shareholder should then be registered as holding Specified lots and no person should\nhave the rights of a Shareholder until he had registered himself as the holder of a specific lot\nor lots.\nIA'. That the affairs of the Company be managed by a board of 13 directors, one of whom\nthey shall elect as Chairman.\nIt is submitted that an association such as that now proposed occupies two different positions.\nFirst that of a Company. Secondly that of a Colony. First as a merely commercial and\nagricultural association whose object is to divide land amongst its members according to certain\nprinciples previously agreed upon, and to expand their capital upon a specified object, the\nintroduction of labour; it is proposed to entrust the management to a board of directors such\nas is found to be practically the most convenient in all companies of a similar character.\nThis board is not supposed to take any part in the civil and political government of the\ncommunity, but simply to direct the financial operations of the company. It is in short a land\nand emigration commission.\nA set of directions should be issued defining their power and their functions and these\ndirections should be incorporated into the companies charter. They should settle the mode of\nallotting land, the quantity to be allotted per share (providing for the alteration of the quantity\nin the manner before specified), the mode of expending the capital, the granting of titles to\nland, the surveying of the land, the treatment with the natives for the possession of the soil etc.\nThe directors should be elected at first by the Shareholders, four should retire, first by\nlot, afterwards in rotation every year their successors should be elected by the Shareholders.\nThey should be all holders of at least 10 shares and resident in the Colony.\nAny charge of breaking the directions in the charter should be preferred against them\nbefore the Governor in Council with an appeal to the Queen in Council in England.\nIt is submitted that the administration, in matters purely of business, of a body of men\nwhose personal interest is involved in the welfare of the colony, who are responsible to their\nfellow Shareholders, and who are controlled only by a number of \" directions \" written in their\ncharter which will give uniformity to their proceedings and therefore confidence to the public\nis far more likely to produce a prosperous state of affairs than the arbitary interference of any\noffices or officers in the Colony or at home who have no personal interest in the matters with\nwhich they have to deal. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 59\nIt is submitted that in this proposition there is no prejudice to the rights of the Crown as\nthe dispenser of justice and the source of government in a colony, nor to the authority of the\nMother Country as exercising a control essential to the welfare of the Empire. These are\nprovided for hereafter. But it is conceived that a spirit of loyalty to the Crown and affection\nto the parent country will be most successfully cultivated when the prosperity of the colonists\nis most amply provided for and that such a provision will be made by entrusting the economical\naffairs of the Company to those who are most immediately interested in its success.\nNow is it supposed that the parent country has no interest in the disposal of the waste\nlands in her Colonies. These waste lands have come into the possession of Great Britain by\nmeans of the power and character of the British Nation. They ought then to be considered the\nindefeasible inheritance of the people of Great Britain and in the construction of a colony\nought to be granted, so only as tobe held in trust for their benefit. But it is indisputable that\nthis principle is more really and definitely acted on by ensuring the prosperity of the colonists\nthan by any other method whilst, on the one band, this prosperity is consulted by entrusting\nthe management of the Speculation to the Company for its own benefit, on the other hand, the\nrights of the British people are provided for by a distinct definition of the limits within which\nits directors are to act. This should be specified in the original charter and the charter should\nbe unalterable and irrevocable (except on the grounds of a violation of its provisions by the\ncompany) unless by a joint act of the highest authorities in the Colony and in the Mother\nCountry.\nThe distinction here drawn betw7een the functions of the Company and of the Colony are\nnot, it is submitted, theoretical but real; and it is one which seems to be recognized in the lease\nor grant of the Auckland Islands on the first of March in the present year to the Messrs.\nEnderby. According to the provisions of their charter the Messrs. Enderby or the Company\nformed by them for carrying on the Whale Fishery in the South Seas, are entrusted with the\nentire disposal of the land and management of the immigration, whilst the whole of the civil\ngovernment is vested in the Crown. The Messrs. Enderby being only required to provide for\nthe necessary expenditure of Government.\nIt is thought that there should be a provision that as soon as all the lands granted to the\ncompany have been allotted the directory shall cease to exist.\nA'. That A'ancouvers Island be granted to the directors as trustees for the Shareholders;\nto convey it to them according to the terms Specified in the Charter.\nIt is a question for her Majestys Government to determine whether this should be done by\nCharter from the Crown, or by Special Act of Parliament. But as some difficulty might arise\nfrom the course pursued in other colonies where special acts have been obtained to settle the\nSale of AVaste lands, and also from an act 1 and 2 G. IA'. \" entitled an Act for regulating the fur\ntrade and establishing a criminal and civil jurisdiction within certain parts of North America \"\nthe provisions of which act would be fatal to the existence of Colonial government in any part\nof the British Territory lying west of the Canadas, it is probable an act of parliament will\nbe necessary in order to establish the proposed Colony and to invest its government with the\nrequisite authority.\nA'L That the constitution and Government of A'ancouvers Island be provided for as follows.\n(1). A Governor;\nappointed by the Crown for life but removeable (1) in case he should be intollerably\nobnoxious and mischievous in the Colony, by an address to the Crow7n from the colonial\nHouse of Assembly past two (or three) consecutive years. So that the desire for his\nremoval shall be a continued and decided feeling on the part of the Colony not a partial\nor temporary opinion of a faction.\n(2) In case he should neglect or oppose the interests of the Mother Country by\nan address to the Crown from both Houses of Parliament.\n(2.) An Executive Council:\nConsisting of persons presiding over the departments of\n(a). Law7,\n(b). Police;\n(c). Finance; V 60 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(d). Public Works;\n(e.) Public Instruction:\n(/). The Board of Directors.\nAll these officers should be appointed by the Governor but with a veto by and\nremoveable by an address from the House of Assembly, passed three times. The Chief\nJustice may be sent from England. All the others must be resident Shareholders and\nin the House of Assembly. No act of the Governor to be valid unless made in Council.\nAll appointments to be made by the Governor but with the consent of the Council.\nDirectors are eligible to sit on the Council but in a trial about the conduct of\nthe Directory the Directors may not vote.\n(3). A legislative assembly:\nAt first this assembly ought to be composed of all the Shareholders in the Company, an arrangement should be made for a representative system to come into operation at the end of two or three years. It would be premature to enter into details\nbut the principal features of the system should be\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nThe House of Assembly should be elected by the \" freemen \"\nEvery Shareholder should be free.\nEvery person possessing bona fide property of the value of \u00C2\u00A3100 should be a\nfreeman.\nAny man may be presented with the freedom of the Colony for a reward for a\ngreat public service rendered the State.\nThe Governor has the right of calling together or proroguing or dissolving the\nAssembly at pleasure.\nThe Assembly can not sit more than five years.\nThe Assembly must meet once a year at least.\nAll public acts must receive the assent of the Assembly, of the Council\u00E2\u0080\u0094and of the\nGovernor severally. And no laws are of force in the Colony unless passed by the\nlegislature of the colony.\nAn order in Council by the Governor has the force of law between the ordinary\nsessions of the Assembly. If it be not sanctioned by the Assembly it cannot be\nre-enforced.\nAll English law shall be law in the Colony untill altered by an Act of the Colonial\nlegislature.\nNo act of the Imperial Parliament shall be of force in A'ancouver's Island unless\nan act providing for the welfare of the whole Empire, in this case the Assembly are\ncompelled to pass it under penalty of loosing the Charter.\nNo act of the Colonial legislature is valid which violates a provision of the Charter.\nThe mode of altering the size of allotments has been referred to above, but no\nother alteration may be made in the Charter without joint acts of the Legislature of\nthe Colony and of the Mother Country.\nThe Charter should contain a promise on the part of the Mother Country guaranteeing that it shall never be altered or revoked unless on the plea that its provisions\nhave been violated by the colony and then only upon an address to the crown by both\nHouses of Parliament.\nIn this scheme no provision has been made for a second or upper house of legislature. In\nthe early settlement of the colony no advantage can result from any second elected house, if\nindeed there is ever any thing gained by such an institution when the Colony becomes older\nand larger and the character and tone of the government is fixed and apparent and legislation\nbecomes a much more important matter than it will be found to be for many years at first, then\nthe introduction of an upper house may (be) effected if desirable and it is thought the institution\nof the board of Directors may form a sort of nucleus for such an assembly. But at first it\nseems difficult to make the constitution too simple.\nOne question of great importance has been passed over in silence, that of Religion, with\nthe various conflicting opinions which are likely to be found in a Colony sent from this country\nand from Ireland. At the present day there seems to be no possibility of projecting any satisfactory means of providing for religious instruction by an Act of State. It is recommended 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 61\nthat this point should be left to the Colonial legislature when the complexion of the Colony\nshall have been ascertained and a fair judgment can be formed as to what it may be possible\nor advisable to effect.\nAnother important question will arise as to the relations between the colony and the\nnatives. This should be settled In the instructions to the board of directors which it is proposed\nto insert in the Charter. The chief object kept in view should be maintaining the most friendly\nrelations, civilizing, christianizing and finally incorporating them into the colony.\nIn case her Majesties Government should think proper to accede to the scheme proposed\nit is in contemplation to form a provisional committee of influential gentlemen to manage the\naffairs of the Company and receive the Shares untill a certain number say 200 Shares are paid.\nAfter this the directors may be elected by the Shareholders in the manner specified in the\nCharter. The Governor may be appointed by the Crown and the Council by the Governor and\nthe whole machine of Government thus set in motion before the first Colonists quit the shores\nof this Country.\nIn conclusion, Sir, I beg to remark that having in compliance with your suggestion abstained\nfrom taking any public mode of ascertaining the numbers of those to whom such a scheme as\nthe present is likely to recommend itself, I can only state my own conviction from the result\nof enquiries amongst my own friends that in case her Majesties government think proper to\nsanction the Enterprize, men will not be wanting.\nThere are a great number of young men in this Country who, either have no professions\nor who have no very sanguine expectations of professional success, who are possessed of some\nsmall capital, although not enough to enable them to live independantly, and who would probably\nbe glad to And a definite application at once for their capital and their enterprize in an undertaking which offered good prospects of success.\nBesides which at the present moment it is very likely that many of the higher orders in\nIreland will be unable to retain any longer the position they have hitherto occupied. It seems\nunavoidable that many of the smaller Landlords, whose estates are greatly encumbered will,\nunder the pressure of existing circumstances be compelled to sell their properties. Unquestionably in many instances it will be their policy to do so\u00E2\u0080\u0094and if persuaded to sell at once they will\nprobably be able to rescue for their families something more than if they cling to their properties\ntill a later period.\nTo such persons naturally unwilling to sink into a lower where they have held a superior\nposition in society\u00E2\u0080\u0094a colony if undertaken on a scale of such magnitude and such a manner\nas to ensure success would be not unlikely to offer an acceptable home, w7here energies no longer\nfettered by circumstances beyond their control might find a new and profitable application.\nIf her Majesties Government will signify their willingness to confer upon the Company\nsuch a charter as is here proposed, it is in contemplation at once to appeal to the class of persons\nabove alluded to in Ireland and if possible to organize an extensive emigration of the higher\norders from that country.\nBut in speculating on the probability of a sufficient number of gentlemen being found willing\nto join the Colony it must not be forgotten that our proposal is not of the nature of an attractive\nspeculation, offering prospects of rapid or exhorbitant returns. It contemplates rather an\nameliorated condition to many than a monopoly of wealth by a few. AA'hilst appealing to that\nself-interest which stimulates to exertion in the mass of those who engage in it, it will demand\nsome sacrifice on the part of many of those at any rate who will stand in the position of leaders\nin the colony. Sacrifice of hope of success in this country. Sacrifice of home and of social ties.\nOur proposal whilst aiming at the removal of the poor from that misery which is contingent\non a large population crowded into a small island, would not banish them to a desolate territory\nwithout means, without organization. It would remove them through the agency of the\nemigration of those who are their natural leaders and guides, the middle and higher orders\nof society. Supplying them with these and with a definite and judicious system of Government\nit would secure their prosperity by organizing their exertions.\nIt is then reasonable to hope that some more than ordinary inducements may be offered to\nmen of Education of enterprize and of loyalty to engage in such an undertaking for by such\nalone can any great and prosperous Colony be founded. And how much the more so, if there\nbe very urgent political necessity for such a colony in the proposed locality. V 62 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nThe inducements which can be supplied by Her Majesties Govt, are a defined and liberal\nConstitution in the Colony, a local government which shall attach the colonists to itself and to\nthe authority whence it emanates by securing him from arbitary caprice in its administration\nand from ruinous interference with his interests.\nThis scheme is submitted with the greater confidence because it is believed to embody the\nprinciples which are entertained by her Majesties government.\nEarl Grey, in a despatch dated Jan. 27th, 1847, writes to the Early of Elgin \"... I continue to be of opinion that a very great advantage would result from enabling emigrants to proceed\nfrom this country in bands, associated together for the purpose of settling in North America\nunder the guidance of religious teachers if the practical difficulties of so doing could be surmounted. Much of the pain which must ever attend the breaking up of the ties that bind\nmen to their native Country would be spared to those who could emigrate in company with a\nconsiderable number of their friends and relations for the purpose of finding on the other side\nof the Atlantic new Societies composed in a great measure of the same elements as those to\nwhich they had previously belonged. Both morally and politically great benefit would I think\nresult from the formation of such Societies and from the substitution of some mode of settlement in villages for that usually adopted by which the first occupiers of the wilderness are\nscattered over the surface of the country removed from those civilizing influences and deprived\nof those facilities for obtaining religious instruction and the means of Education for their\nchildren of which men can only have the advantage when collected together in somewhat considerable numbers. I will not abandon the hope that hereafter the practical difficulties which\nstand in the way of carrying these views into effect may be overcome and that means may\nbe discovered of accomplishing that more systematic colonization of the still unoccupied territory\nof British North America, by which I am persuaded that the welfare of the Emigrants would\nbe best ensured and the prosperity of these fine provinces would be carried to a far higher point\nthan it can otherwise attain.\"\nThe difficulties to which Earl Grey alludes seem to be incident rather to an established\ncountry or province and might readily be overcome in the construction ab initio of a New\nColony. And although the above remarks of his Lordships refer to another system than that\nnow proposed yet, recognizing in them the principles upon which this scheme is founded, and\nwhich it aims at carrying into action, the promoters join with me in requesting you to lay this\nletter before his Lordship, Earnestly hoping that it may receive from his Lordship as well as\nfrom yourself as speedy a consideration as possible.\nI have the honor to be, Sir.\nYour most obedient humble Servant,\nJames Ed. FitzGerald.\nH. B. Hawes Esqr., Colonial Office.\n(6.) James Edward Fitzgerald, Esq., to Herman Mebeivale, Esq.\nReceived. C D. Feb. 16. 1848.\nBritish Museum\nFebr. 14, 1S4S.\nDear Sib\nWith reference to the conversation I held with you on the 12th. instant, I have the honor\nto Submit the following observations; and to request that you will bring them under Lord Greys\nnotice, at your Earliest Convenience.\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nThe Govt, of the United States of America has entered into a contract with a commercial\nhouse in New York, by which the latter undertakes to convey the Mails, for a period of ten\nyears, by means of Steam A'essels, between Panama and the Columbia river, and the intermediate\nports of Rr. St. Bias, Magetetar, Acapulco, San Francisco, Monterrey &c. There are three\nSteamers of 1000 tons each now building at New York for the purpose, and it is said they are\nto be completed in December next. In order to perforin this contract a supply of 20,000 tons of\nCoal will be required, yearly. The New York Company offer to Contract with an English House\nfor this Supply of Coal to be sent from England. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 63\nThe Pacific Steam Navigation Company have two Steamers continually running from\nA'alparaiso to Panama; touching at all intermediate ports. It is said this Company is willing\nto contract for a supply of 2000 tons of Coal annually, to be landed at Panama. Moreover, the\nsupply of coal required by her Majesties Steamers in the Pacific Ocean, will it is probable,\ncontinually increase.\nIt is obvious that all this coal could be supplied at a lower cost from A'ancouver Island\nthan from England.\nFor a statement of the nature and Capabilities of the coal in A'ancouvers Island, I beg to\nrefer you to a dispatch from Rear Adml. Sir G Seymour, enclosing a letter from Commander\nGordon of H.M.S. Cormorant, dated some time in Febr. 1847 which is in the Admiralty.\nIt is now proposed to form a Company to work the Coal in Vancouver Island. It is necessary however, in the first place to know upon what terms her Majesties Govt, will grant the\nright of working the Coal.\nIn the second place, it will be obvious to Lord Grey, that an undertaking such as that\ncontemplated will involve the necessity of transporting a large population of English to Vancouver Island. The number of Seamen alone will be considerable, and the population necessary\nto produce food for their subsistence must also be numerous: besides it is probable that any\ndepot for Shipping in this Situation would attract considerable numbers of whale ships to the\nIsland. It is plain, then, that in the event of the proposed company being formed, A'ancouver\nIsland will become the resort of a considerable number of Her Majesties Subjects; and that it\nwill be essential to the comfort and convenience of the population, and to the security of the\nspeculation, that a Government should be established on the Island, contemporaneously w7ith\nthe first formation of the Colony. It will therefore be very desirable to know Lord Greys views\non this point.\nLastly, apart from the profit to be gained by working the coal, of which, from the Statements\nhere given, there seems to be a reasonable prospect, Lord Grey is aware that there are various\nreasons why a colony in that Part of British America is desirable. I shall not trouble you with\nany remarks on this head, as I have fully stated the case in a letter to Mr. Hawes dated 11 June\n1847. It is a matter for his Lordships consideration whether the establishment of a Colony could\nnot be most readily effected through the agency of such a Company as that now proposed &\nwhether (referring to my letter of 11 June) it would not be wise to grant the whole Island to\nsuch a Company binding them by their charter to effect the colonization in a certain maimer.\nI am not able at present to state who will be the principal parties in forming this company,\nwhen the time shall arise I hope such names will appear as shall place the scheme above the\nrisk of failure.\nThe possibility of forming a company at all, will, however, depend on the view Lord Grey\nmay take of the above questions.\nI have the honor to be\nDear Sir.\nYour obedient Servant,\nJames Edwaed Fitzgeeald.\nHerman Merrivale Esq.\n&c. &c. &c.\n(7.) A Peoposal to Foem a Company7 foe the puepose of Woeking The Coal, and\nEstablishing a Colony- In A'ancouveb's Island.\nReceived. C D. Feb: 23, 1848.\nVancouver's Island, the possession of which was settled in Great Britain by the last treaty\nwith the United States, lies on the west coast of North America, between north lat. 48\u00C2\u00B0 and 51\u00C2\u00B0\nand west long. 123\u00C2\u00B0 and 128\u00C2\u00B0; and is about 250 miles in length, and 50 in breadth.\nThe straits which separate it from the main land are little more than a mile wide at the\nnorth end of the Island, and about 25 miles at the south, where they are called the Straits of\nJuan de Fuca. V 64 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nThe general character of the country is hilly, in parts mountainous, and richly wooded; but\nthere is fertile plain land in many places. The trees are of various descriptions, in great\nabundance, and of very large growth.\nThe temperature is nearly the same as that of England: the climate is mild and salubrious,\nand peculiarly adapted to European constitutions. British plants, fruits and vegetables of all\ndescriptions thrive, as well as sheep and cattle.\nThe Island abounds with game, and the neighbouring waters w7ith various kinds of fish.\nThe Hudson's Bay Company occupy a small fort (A'ictoria) on the south side of the Island,\nwhere they have successfully brought a tract of land into cultivation.\nThe geographical situation of the Island renders it peculiarly suitable for a colony. It\npossesses on all sides a multitude of magnificent harbours; and there is no port of any description, southward of those in the Island, and those within the Straits of Juan de Fuca, nearer\nthan San Francisco in California, more than 700 miles distant: It seems, then, to follow, that\nall the trade which shall ever pass into the north-west coast of America must fall into the\nhands of those who occupy the country adjacent to these Straits, of which A'ancouver's Island\nforms the north shore. The south shore belongs to the United States, and abounds also with\nharbours; but it is likely that the people who first obtain will continue to enjoy the pre-eminence\nin commercial enterprize.\nAccording to the best accounts, there are not more than 5000 native inhabitants of the whole\nIsland, and their numbers are said to be rapidly decreasing. They have been for the most part\non very good terms with the English with whom they have come in contact.\nThere is a great abundance of coal at the north end of the Island, and copper also is to be\nprocured in the vicinity. Satisfactory evidence can be given that this coal is w7ell adapted for\nburning in steam vessels.\nIt is, therefore, proposed to form a Company, for the purpose of working this coal, and at\nthe same time of founding a general Colony in the Island.\nThe present moment is one which is more favorable than any other to the success of such\nan undertaking. The Government of the United States of America have entered into a contract\nwith a commercial house in New York, by which the latter undertake to convey the mails\nbetween Panama, the Columbia river, and the intermediate ports, in steam vessels: this contract\nis to last for ten years.\nThere are three steamers now building at New York, of a thousand tons each, for this\npurpose, and they are to be ready at the end of the present year.\nThis Company have proposed to enter into a contract for the supply of coal from England,\nnecessary to enable them to fulfil their contract with the American Government.\nIt is obvious that the requisite quantity could be supplied at the Columbia river, and at\nPanama, at a very much lower rate from A'ancouver's Island than from England, even supposing\nthe expense of procuring the coal to be the same in both places; but in Vancouvers Island the\ncoal lies in large quantities on the surface, and is close to the sea, in a most convenient place'\nfor shipment.\nBesides the above supply, which it is calculated would amount to from 15,000 to 20,000'\ntons annually, the Steam Pacific Navigation Company, whose vessels run from Valparaiso to\nPanama, are in want of a supply of coal at the latter port.\nIt is probable that if these coal mines were worked, there would be a demand before long\nfor above 30,000 tons annually in the Pacific Ocean.\nA communication has been made to the Colonial Office, with a view to ascertain the terms\nupon which Her Majesty's Government would grant the right of working the coal in Vancouver's\nIsland; and it is hoped, that, in the event of a Company being formed capable of carrying its\nobjects into effect, every assistance will be afforded both by the Government and by the Hudson's\nBay Company.\nSince the working of the coal, ou such an extensive scale as is here proposed, will involve\nthe conveyance of a considerable number of persons to the Island, it is obvious that a sufficient\npopulation must also be provided, to secure the production of food for the whole community.\nHence it will be the object of the Company to obtain from Her Majesty, in the earliest stage\nof its operations, a charter of government.\nIt will also be the interest of the Company, that some sound scheme of general colonization,\nshould be adopted, by which labour may be continually supplied. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 65\nIt is contemplated to call a meeting in a short time, of all those who are likely to take an\ninterest in the scheme, for the purpose of taking the preliminary steps for the formation of the\nCompany; and the arrangement of the necessary details. At this meeting, of which due notice\nwill be given, your presence and assistance is particularly requested. In the mean time all\ncommunications on the subject of this paper may be addressed to\nJohn Shillinglaw, Esq.\n23, Dean Street, Soho.\n(8.) James Edwabd FitzGerald, Esq., to Herman Merrivale, Esq.\nReceived, C D. June 5. 1848.\nBritish Museum.\nJune 2nd. 1848.\nDear Sir,\nI am anxious to draw your attention once more to the Subject of A'ancouver Island.\nSubsequently to the last conversation I had the honor of holding with Mr. Hawes and\nyourself I was informed by Sir J. H. Pelly that Govt, had determined to give the Island to\nthe Hudsons Bay Company. Understanding that the matter was settled, I gave up all intention\nof taking any further part in it, because I did not believe that the Hudsons Bay Corny, could,\nor would, effect the colonization of the Country. In consequence, however, of what passed\nbetween a friend of mine and Sir J. H. Pelly, I waited upon that Gentleman. He then offered\nto make us a grant of all the Coal Mines, upon terms which he specified in detail, and promised\nat the same time to assist us in procuring the Capital necessary to commence working the\nmines. I was therefore induced by these liberal promises to take up the Scheme again, and\nI expected that we should be able to sail in the course of the Summer. A gentleman having\nbeen sent over from New York with the object of entering into arrangements for procuring the\nSupply of Coal for the Steamers about to sail on the N. W. Coast, it was essential that our\nplans should be arranged as speedily as possible. But on w7aiting upon Sir J. H. Pelly, in order\nto bring matters to a final settlement, he informed me that Sir George Simpson had been in\ncommunication with Mr. Aspinwall, the owners of the Steamers destined to run on the N. W.\nCoast, and had issued orders that the Coal Mines in Vancouver Island should be immediately\noccupied, with a view to supplying coal to the steamers. Sir J. H. Pelly therefore declined to\nsay any thing more, until he had communicated with Sir G. Simpson, which could not be earlier\nthan next September. AVhen I represented to Sir J. H. Pelly that some arrangements should\nbe made at once, and that the opportunity for securing a sale for the coal would otherwise be\nlost, and that I had been working for the proposed colony for some time, on the strength of his\npromises, Sir J. H. Pelly denied having made any promise or offer whatsoever!\nNow I only trouble you with these facts, because I think it of importance that Earl Grey\nshould be aware of what dependance is to be placed on the promises of the Govr. of the H. B.\nCoy. and of the consequence of the steps about to be taken, of putting the H. B. Coy. in\npossession of A'ancouver Island.\nI beg you will believe that I have no interest in the affair, farther than that which attaches\nto a Subject upon which I have bestowed considerable time and Attention; and in proposing to\nundertake the management of the coal Speculation, I did so, only because it offered me the\nmeans of carrying into effect my scheme of founding a Successful Colony. But I bring these\nfacts under your notice, for the information of Earl Grey, because they are sufficient evidence\nthat Sir J. H. Pelleys professions of liberality and disinterestedness in offering to colonize the\ncountry, are utterly insincere: And I have been warned, on all hands, that I should find this\nout at last. The Hudsons Bay Coy. want to get the island into their own hands in order that\nthey may prevent any colony there, except of their servants and dependants. I am anxious\nthat Earl Grey should be informed, that there is no one who is acquainted with the System of\nthe H.B. Coy. who does not coincide in this opinion.\nI cannot refrain from expressing an earnest hope that Earl Grey will pause in taking any\nfinal step in this matter, untill he has availed himself of the information to be derived from\nr> V 66 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nindifferent and independant witnesses, for example, the officers of H. M. S. Cormorat, Modeste,\nAmerica &c. &c. as well as from other persons who are intimately acquainted, with the proceedings of the Compy.\nThere is not a servant of that Coy. who would not leave the Service at the first opportunity;\nand there is not one of those who have left, who does not loudly condemn the Conduct and\npolicy of the Coy.\nThe servants of the H.B. Co. in the Oregon are a poor and ignorant class, chiefly of the\nlowest order of the Scotch. They are not well paid, and the Corny, having the monopoly of all\nthe supply of the necessaries of life, they are bound in a state of practical Slavery to their\nMasters.\nNow it will be perfectly manifest to Earl Grey, that the H. B. Coy. are unable to found\nan independant Colony, because no independant man, no Gentleman will ever settle under their\nsway. They will, if they get the island, extend their present system. They will get a large\nsettlement of labourers and workmen who will be little better than slaves. All the capital\nwill be in their own hands. But surely that is not the sort of colony which His Lordship desires\nto see formed, as the representative and model of British power in the Pacific Ocean.\nThere is another mode of ascertaining what the H.B. Coy. are likely to do. What have\nthey done in their vast possessions on the East Side of the rocky Mountains\u00E2\u0080\u0094Have they produced one single contented thriving or prosperous Settlement, in any part of their vast estates?\nThey have not.\nMoreover is not Colonization opposed to the interests of the H.B. Co. necessarily? Must it\nnot interfere with their monopoly of the Fur trade, and still more with their import trade of\nmanufactured goods, on which they make such vast profits?\nIf Vancouver Island gets into the Hands of that Company, His Lordship may be assured\nthat no colony will ever exist there.\nIn urging upon Lord Grey the Strong reasons which present themselves, for pausing before\ngiving this Island to the H. B Coy., I assume that His Lordship is well aware of its daily\nincreasing importance to Great Britain. Prospects of extensive Steam communication to all\nparts of the Pacific Ocean, are rapidly opening. A Project is even now entertained of running\nSteam Ships from California to China, and a route is proposed by which the London mail from\nCanton may be conveyed in 45 days. Mr. Enderby's plan for extending the Whale Fishery will\nbring a considerable number of ships into the Northern Seas, and that gentleman contemplates\nleaving a part of them to refit in A'ancouver Island.\nIt does then seem to be running a great risk, to place the fortunes of such an Enterprise in\nthe hands of a Corny, notoriously close and narrow in their policy, exclusively commercial in\ntheir character and objects, and whose interests are, of necessity, diametrically opposed to those\nof an independant Settlement.\nNor is it to be forgotten that the Charter of Trade which the Coy. possess will expire in\n10 or 12 years; and, in the event of the Govt, then refusing to renew it, it is riot easy to see\nwhat legitimate or beneficial position the Coy. will occupy, as the proprietors of a tract of land\non the N. AV Coast. It would be even doubtful whether they could continue, in such circumstances, to exist as a Company any longer.\nIn offering these observations I am aware I have no claim whatsoever upon his Lordships\nattention, further than that I have bestowed considerable time and attention on the subject on\nwhich I speak.\nI have no rival scheme to propose. I did indeed formerly bring under your notice the\nadvantages to be gained by forming a Company for the purpose of Colonizing the Country. But\nI know how difficult it is, in the present state of money affairs in Europe to obtain Capital,\nor to form a Company; And though I have my own opinion how the object in view may be\neffected, I do not wish to trouble you with any observations, further than what are warranted\nby the immediate object of this letter, viz, to do whatever I can, to prevent the Country, which\nhas been for so long a time a matter of so much interest to myself, falling into such hands as\nwould for ever annihilate its usefulness for the purposes of Colonization.\nI am, dear Sir,\nYours truly,\nHerman Merrivale Esq. James Edward FitzGerald.\n&C. &C. do. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 67\n(9.) Charles Humphreys, Esq., to James Edward Fitzgerald, Esq.\n46 Lucas Street\n6th. June 184S.\nDear Sib,\nIn reply to your letter of the 2nd. inst I am sorry to learn that the Hudsons Bay Coy. are\non the eve of Securing to themselves A'ancouvers Island, in the event of which, in my opinion\nColonization is at an end, being convinced that Gentlemen either of education or fortune, on\nlearning the arbitary and very unpleasant conduct of many of the principal officers in that\nquarter, will at once be deterred from placing themselves under their Government.\nI do not however think that the Hudsons Bay Coy. have any real intention of Colonizing the\nIsland, it is rather a feigned design to secure to them the Grant.\nThe Company's officers are quite aware that an independant Colony would effectually put\nan end to their unlimited and uncontrolled power\u00E2\u0080\u0094for, with the exception of one or two Masters,\nI am of opinion that they are all much disliked by their Servants most of whom, would be ready\nto leave and join any other employ; And the Company being aware of such, is sufficient reason\nfor their endeavouring to retain the Island in their own hands.\nThe Government of the H.B. Co. as regards the House in London is mild, but the Conduct\nof many of their Officers throughout the Country is exceedingly cruel and unjust.\nI am of opinion that an independant Colony would speedily prosper there being immediate\nemployment in Coal Mining Ship building and farming.\nThe Americans out there are doing well and of course any new7 Colony would have to\ncompete with them.\nI am dear Sir\nYour most obedt.\nChas. Humphbeys.\nJas. Ed. FitzGerald Esqr.\n(10.) James Edwabd Fitzgebald, Esq., to Herman Merrivale, Esq.\nReceived. C D. June 30, 1848.\nBritish Museum\nJune 30th, 1848.\nDear Sir,\nI have not troubled you so often on the subject of A'ancouvers Island, without being ready\nto make a definite proposal as to what should be done, in the event of Earl Grey refusing, (as\nall w7ho are interested in the country most earnestly hope will be the case,) to grant the territory\nto the Hudsons Bay Coy.\nIt is my intention in this letter briefly to state, and earnestly to urge on the consideration\nof Earl Grey, that proposal.\nI am the more anxious to do so, because I have received an intimation that Messrs Aspinwall\nof New York are willing to enter into a contract to take a supply of coal, upon the basis of an\narrangement which I proposed to them some time ago (when I anticipated a satisfactory arrangement with the Hudsons Bay Coy. about the coals) and which would, I believe, render it possible\nto work the mines with profit. Mr. Aspinwall being satisfied, as I understand, with the evidence\noffered him that the Coal is of a kind suitable for the purposes of steam navigation.\nOn the one hand, then, in bringing this scheme before the public, we can shew that there is\nevery probability of success which the most favorable mercantile speculation can afford; but,\non the othe*, I am perfectly convinced, that it will be impossible to secure the confidence and\nsupport of the public, until it is definitely known what IL M. Govt, intend to do in the matter.\nI am quite aware that it is the custom of the Colonial Office, not to take the initiative, but\nto wait until some definite scheme is proposed by parties able to execute the same; but I do\nhope, that Earl Grey, will consider that a feeling of general insecurity exists, owing to the\nstate of affairs and that, although there is no want of money at present, there is a great\ndisinclination to invest it, except upon ample security; and that His Lordship will, for these V 68 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nreasons, and for urgent political expediency of founding a Colony on the N.AV. Coast of America,\nconsent, on the present occasion to depart from the policy hitherto adopted and to state what the\nCrown will do with respect to A'ancouver Island. And I hope this, because I assume that there\nis no real advantage in concealing the policy of the Govt, and that the same terms which Earl\nGrey would offer to one applicant for the territory, are open to all.\nIf Earl Grey will promise that, supposing a company of Colonists formed, Consisting of a\ncertain number of persons, possessing a certain amount of capital, intending to convey themselves\nto the Island, and capable of doing so, a charter of incorporation will in that case be at once\ngranted; by which charter,\n(1) A'ancouver Island will be granted to the Company,\n(2) A free municipal system will be guaranteed (if with right to elect their own Govr. so\nmuch the better.)\n(3) The terms will be specified on which the company is to dispose of land to settlers.\nIf, as I say, Earl Grey would promise this, then there would be (a) positive and practical scheme\nto lay before the country and I for one believe that there would be no further obstacles to\nforming the Colony.\nThe coals in that case would belong to the Company; and it could either work them with\nits own capital, or borrow money on what would then be good security, to do so, or let them\non lease to be worked by private enterprize.\nAt any rate you would have a Company on the spot, whose sole interest it would be to\ncolonize the Island as rapidly as possible.\nIf this is not done, either the Hudsons Bay Coy. will have the Island, when there will be\nan end to all colonization, or else the country will remain barren, and the greatest opportunity\nyet offered for the foundation of a Colony will be lost forever.\nIn the mean time the United States will be all powerful on those Coasts, and we shall be\nunable to Compete with them.\nHoping you will bring this letter under Earl Greys notice at your earliest convenience\nI have the honor to be\nDear Sir\nYours very faithfully\nJames Edward FitzGerald.\nHerman Merrivale Esq.\n(11.) W. Colqn. Grant, Esq., to Under Secretary of State for Colonies.\nJune. United Service Club.,\nNovr. 8.\nSir\nPermit me to apologize for the liberty which I as a stranger take in addressing you; having\nhowever in pursuance of an intention to emigrate to Vancouver's Island, agreed to purchase\na certain quantity of land from the Hudson's Bay Coy. & having engaged labourers at the rate\nof 6 for every hundred acres purchased, who are to be sent out in a vessel chartered by the\nHudson's Bay Coy. on the SOth. instant, I shall feel obliged if you will be kind enough to inform\nme whether the island is so far made over to the Hudsons Bay Coy. as to justify my purchasing\nland from them, & being at the expence (for I am to be at the sole expence) of sending out\nemigrants to cultivate that land. The price paid for land is \u00C2\u00A31 pr. acre, nine tenths of which\nSir J. Pelly informed me wd. be spent on the colony for its benefit, he further fixed a charge\nof 2/6 pr. ton on such coal as cd. be exported by Colonists, also a charge of 10/ pr. load on\nwhatever Wood sd. be exported, allowing colonists the use of whatever wood they required for\ndomestic purposes.\nHe further gave me the appointment of Surveyor of the island, leaving salary amts. of\nsurveys to be made &c. to be fixed on arrival in the island. Sir J. Pelly also informed me that\nthe island wd. at present be governed by a Governor & ten Councillors, one of which councillors,\nhe gave me to understand he had appointed me, as also a Magistrate, justice of the peace &c.\nMay I take the liberty of enquiring from you as under Secretary for the Colonies, whether it 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 69\nis in the power of the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Compy. to make all these appointments\nconditions &c. concerning the sale of land in A'ancouver's Island, & whether I as a private\nindividual anxious to go out to that part of the world, should apply myself to the Hudson's Bay\nCoy. or to Her Majesty's Government.\nI have the honor to be\nSir\nYr. Most obedt. Servt.\nW. Colqn. Grant.\n(12.) Reply to Captain Grant.\n15 Nov/48\nCaptain Grant\nSir\nI have received and laid before Earl Grey your letter without date containing certain\nenquiries connected with the recent Grant by the Crown of Van Couvers Island to the Hudson's\nBay Company and I am directed by his Lordship to acquaint you in answer, that the grant of\nthe Land in question to the Company has been completed with the exception of some of the\nnecessary forms; and that although the direct power of conferring appointments is not vested\nin them, their recommendations of persons to fill situations of trust in the proposed Settlement\nwould meet with every attention on the part of H. M's Govt.\nI am further to add that the Hudson's Bay Company have suggested certain instructions to\nbe given to the Governor of Van Couver's Island, which have not as yet been full considered\n& approved by Lord Grey, but that although the negociations between the Company & the Govt,\nare, on that account, still pending, yet his Lordship has no reason to doubt that the Colonization\nof the Island will proceed under the Company's auspices.\nIn any event, provisions of grants to individuals made by the H.B.C. on the faith of the\nnegociations up to the present time would be respected by H.M.'s Govt.\n(13.) W. Colquhoun Grant, Esq., to R. Hawes, Esq., M.P.\n21 Albany St. Edinburgh\nNovr. 17-48\nSir\nI have the honor to acknowledge the rect. of your official letter of the 15th. inst. acquainting\nme with the decisions of Earl Grey, as to my queries regarding the Grant by the Crown of\nA'ancouver's island to the Hudson's Bay Compy.\nI refrain from expressing my individual opinions as to the policy pursued in this instance\nby her Majesty's Government, I cannot however avoid stating what I know to be a fact, that\nthe grant of Vancouver's Island to the Hudson's Bay Compy. will be the means of instantaneously\nchecking the intended emigration to that island, of several Scottish gentlemen who were otherwise prepared to embark w7ith all the \" Material\" which wd. be likely to bring about successful\ncolonization.\nAs I myself purpose carrying out my intention of starting thither very shortly, taking with\nme a Clergyman of the Church of Scotland, & some mechanics, labourers, &c. I trust I may be\npermitted respectfully to record my petition, a petition in w7hich I am convinced I shall be\nseconded by every embryo emigrant to A'ancouver Id. That it may please Her Majesty's Government, to exercise their power of revoking within the limits of this New Colony all such privileges\nof exclusive trade as have been granted to the Hudson's Bay Coy. in certain other parts of\nBritish North America. The High price of land that settlers will have to pay amtg. in all to\nabt. \u00C2\u00A32.4 pr. acre, is surely in itself a sufficient evil, to this will be added the overwhelming\ncompetition with a powerful Coy. against which individual colonists will have to strive in every\ndepartment of culture or traffic. Heavy Royalties that on the exportation of timber, viz. 10/\npr. load, being sufficient to annihilate any proposed traffic in that commodity are to be charged V 70 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\non all kinds of available produce, and if even then settlers are debarred, by the continuance\nof a Monopoly, from availing themselves of one of the principal natural resources of the island,\nso crushing a check may be given to the exertions of private enterprise, as materially to impede\nthe success of any effort at Public improvement in the Colony.\nI have to apologize for the great liberty I take in making these suggestions and\nI have the honor to be\nSir\nyour most obedt. humble Servt.\nW. Colquhoun Grant.\nR. Hawes Esqr. M. P. dc. de. de. Colonial Office.\n(14.) Edward Ryan, Esq., to Herman Merrivale, Esq.\nTeignmouth, Devon,\nSepr. 24. 1848.\nMy Deae Sir.\nI have been moving about and did not receive your notes of the 19th. & 23d. until last night.\nI return all the papers you sent me. The additions to the Grant are what we agreed upon\nwhen I saw you and will carry out the arrangements proposed in Mr. Hawes' letter of the\n4th. of Sepr. and assented to by Sir John Pelly in his letter of the 9th. The reservation of land\nrequired for the formation of Naval establishments was mentioned at the meeting of the Committee as described by Lord Auckland and it was agreed that a reservation of land for that\npurpose should be introduced into the grant.\nAA'ith respect to the suggestion made by Mr. Fitzgerald. The first as yon state has been\nanticipated. The second is I think deserving of some consideration, I am disposed to think\nMr. Fitzgerald has put a right construction on the terms of the grant, and I think it questionable whether the Company should be allowed to exercise the exclusive right of fishing.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Perhaps\nwithout altering the terms of the Grant Sir J. Pelly would have no objection to give a written\nacknowledgement that it was to be understood that the Colonists were not to be deprived of the\nright of fishing. As to the third & last suggestion. It seems to me exceedingly unlikely that\nthe Company would accept the Grant if liable to be disposed at any time by the local legislature,\nbut I do not see how we could reasonably propose such terms.\nThe Committee of the Privy Council are only to consider the terms & conditions of the\ngrant not the prospects of making a grant. Mr. Fitzgerald who is opposed to the Government\nmaking any grant to the Company may with some show of reason suggest terms which cannot\nbe accepted. Any papers you wish to send me will reach me if sent through the Factory Board?\nYours very truly\nEdward Ryan.\nTo Herman Merrivale Esq.\n(15.) Report on A'ancouvee Island.\nConfidential.\nA'ancouver's Island.\nIn the year 1823, after the long-continued differences between the Hudson's Bay Company\nand the North-West Company had ended in an amalgamation, an Act passed (1 and 2 Geo. IV,\nc. 66) empowering the Crown to grant exclusive privileges of trade with the Indians in such\nparts of North America as were neither within the original Hudson's Bay Company's charter,\nnor part of any already established province. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. < V 71\nUnder this Act the Hudson's Bay Company received exclusive privileges of trade over what\nis termed the North AVest Territory. Their present licence bears date May 13, 1838, and will\nlast until May 13, 1859. It contains, however, a power of revocation as to any territories which\nmay in the interval become comprised in any colony.\nThe so-called North-West Territory was bounded at this period, eastward by the Rocky\nMountains; north by the Russian territories and the Frozen Ocean; South by the undetermined\nfrontier of the United States.\nThe Puget's Sound Company, established about , are a branch of the Hudson's Bay\nCompany, constituted mainly for the purpose of conducting agricultural undertakings in these\nnorthwestern regions, which had been found to contain districts far more suitable for this\npurpose than any in Rupert's Land, the territory comprised in the Hudson's Bay Company's\noriginal grant. The Puget's Sound Company possessed in 1846 considerable establishments of\nthis kind on the banks of the Columbia; and there was also one on the southern point of A'ancouver's Island, an island containing about 10,000 or 12,000 square miles (English) and adjoining\nthe main land from west latitude 48\u00C2\u00B0 to 51\u00C2\u00B0. On this latter about twenty-seven servants of the\nCompany were established at the date of the last particular accounts (April 1848).\nIn June 1846 the Treaty of AVashington was made. By this Treaty the Puget's Sound Company's establishments on the Columbia were placed within the United States territory, and the\nUnited States engaged to purchase this property, the negotiation for which purpose is still\npending.\nThis circumstance induced the Company to turn their attention more than before to their\nestablishment on A'ancouver's Island. Accordingly, in September 1846 they commenced negotiations with the Secretary of State for the acquisition of land in addition to that which they\nalready occupied. It was required that their legal right to hold grants of land in the North-\nAVest Territory should be ascertained, and this was done by an opinion of the Attorney and\nSolicitor-General. The Hudson's Bay Company then proposed that a grant should be made to\nthem of all the Crown lands in the North-West Territory. This was not acceded to, but it was\nultimately agreed that a grant of the land of A'ancouver's Island should be made to them.\nThe grant is embodied in a charter, which, after reciting the original charter of the Hudson's\nBay Company, the Act of 1 and 2 Geo. IA'., and the licence of May 13, 1838, and the provisions\nof the Treaty of Washington, grants the land of Vancouver's Island with all mines to the Company. The condition of the grant is declared to be the colonization of the island. With this\nobject the Company are bound to dispose of the land in question at a reasonable price, and to\nexpend all the sums they may receive for land or minerals (after the deduction of not more than\n10 per cent for profit) on the colonization of the island, reserving also to the Crown at a reasonable price such land as may be required for naval establishments.\nThe manner in which these provisions are intended to be enforced is this. The Company are\nto certify every two years the number of their colonists aud the amount of their land sold; and\nafter five years Her Majesty's Government has power to cause a farther enquiry to be made into\nthe condition of the island. If the result of this inquiry be that Government is satisfied that\nthe conditions of the grant are not fulfilled, the grant may be revoked.\nWhen the Company's licence to trade terminates, i.e. in 1850, Government may repurchase\nthe land on payment of the sums expended by the Company on the island and the value of their\nestablishments.\nThe grant contains no provisions respecting the government of the island. The power of\nthe Crown in this respect, therefore, remains the same as in the case of any other settlement\nformed by British subjects. And it is proposed to issue a Commission aud Instructions, under\nwhich the Legislature of the island will consist of a House of Assembly elected by freeholders\nowning land to the extent of acres and a Council nominated in the usual manner by the\nCrown.\nThe whole of these necessary arrangements may be effected without the aid of Parliament\nexcept as to one point. By the 1&2 Geo. IV., c. 66, already referred to, the cognizance of all\ncauses amounting to 2001. in value, and of all criminal cases of a capital or transportable nature\n(within the Indian territories, except that portion comprised in the original charter of the\nHudson's Bay Company). appears to be vested in the courts of Upper Canada. Consequently it\nshould seem that jurisdiction over such cases cannot be conferred by Her Majesty without the V 72 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\naid of Parliament in any courts to be constituted in A'ancouver's Island or elsewhere in the parts\nof North America to which the Act applies.\nWith regard to the Indians it has been thought on the whole the better course to make no\nstipulations respecting them in the grant. Little is in fact known of the natives of this island\nby the Company or by any one else. Whether they are numerous or few, strong or weak;\nwhether or not they use the land for such purposes as would render the reservation of a large\nportion of it for their use important or not. are questions which we have not the full materials\nto answer. Under these circumstances any provisions that could be made for a people so distant\nand so imperfectly known, might turn out impediments in the way of colonization, without any\nreal advantage to themselves. And it is thought the more safe to leave this matter to the\nCompany inasmuch as its dealings with and knowledge of the North American Indians are of\ncourse very extensive; and inasmuch as, notwithstanding the many accusations of which that\nCompany has been the object, no distinct charges of cruelty or misconduct toward the Indian\ntribes under its control have been made out by reasonable evidence: while every year brings\npainful accounts of mutual wrongs and mutual revenge between Indians and whites from the\nneighbouring regions not under their control. It must however be added that in parting with\nthe land of the island Her Majesty parts only with her own right therein, and that whatever\nmeasures she was bound to take in order to extinguish the Indian title are equally obligatory\non the Company.\nThe general effect of the grant therefore is that the Company hold the land, as any\nindividual grantee might hold it, without any powers or authorities such as are contained in\ntheir old charter.\nThese remain with the Crown. And as they are bound to part with the land by sale on\nreasonable terms, their vendees become wholly independant of the Company, except as regards\nthe licence of the latter to take minerals.\nThe Company's licence for exclusive trade is not touched. By the terms of that licence, as\nhas been said, the Crown may revoke it as to any colony which may be established within its\nlimits. It is therefore revocable at any time, as to A'ancouver's Island, should sufficient reason\nbe shown for revoking it, notwithstanding the grant of land.\nThat as far as regards their power, the Hudson's Bay Company are better fitted than any\nassociation of individuals can be to form a settlement in A'ancouver's Island, cannot be doubted.\nThey have already the exclusive Indian Trade of the island and the adjoining continent; and\nalthough, if a settlement had been formed by other adventurers on the island, the licence would\nhave been revoked quoad the island, yet as it must have remained in force for eleven years,\nas regards the continent, the settlers would have found themselves hemmed in by the territories\nof a company which, (if half that is alleged of its monopolising spirit be true) might have placed\nthem effectually under its subjection. They have also a flourishing and increasing establishment\non the island itself. They have a still larger and indeed very extensive establishment on the\nColumbia, of which, if they can effect their negotiations with the United States, it would be\ntheir interest to transfer as much as was capable of transfer to this island. They have numerous\nservants, a most remarkable and effective system of discipline, great power over the Indian\ntribes. Their qualities are fully conceded to them by their enemies, and especially by their rivals\nthe Americans, and they are qualities which would be as serviceable for the purpose of colonization as for those of trade, if the Company was willing so to use them.\nBut it is said they are not willing; that their only object is exclusive trade; their only\npurpose in obtaining possession of A'ancouver's Island, the exclusion of competition. How far\nthis is true in fact of the present policy of the Directors, must be judged of as a matter of\nevidence, not of reasoning. But assuming this to be the traditionary policy of the Company,\nit is evident that its application must depend on the respective circumstances of the different\nportions of their immense territories. In by far the greater part of these the Fur trade is the\nonly employment which affords a chance of profit; and we may well suppose the main object\nof the Company to be to secure the monopoly of it, and that for this purpose they would\ndiscourage colonization in these regions by other parties, if any attempt was made at an undertaking against which nature has interposed such powerful obstacles. But the case is very\ndifferent with the narrow maritime region of the north-west with its comparatively mild climate.\nThere, the Fur trade must soon be, if it is not already, a very secondary matter. The very\nnatives of that tract are not so much hunters as fishermen and root-diggers. If that region is 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 73\nworth holding, it must be not as a game preserve, but for purposes of trade, to which its situation\nso well adapts it, with the neighbouring American country, with its numerous and very commercial population of the South Sea Islands, and eventually to more distant markets.\nFor these purposes, colonization would apparently be to the Hudson's Bay Company an\nadvantage instead of a loss, in the strictest mercantile sense. And the evidence that they so feel\nit is to be found in the remarkable progress already made in agricultural undertakings, so foreign\nto their ancient policy on the Columbia, and in this island itself.\nThe Company have now passed resolutions to the effect that land in A'ancouver's Island is\nto be sold to emigrants in lots of not less than twenty acres, at the rate of 11. per acre, taking\nout with them five single men or three married couples for every hundred acres; the Company\nreserving a right to dig for minerals, but leaving also the same right to the owner of the land,\npayment of a royalty of 2s. 6d. per ton. The Company by their resolutions further agree to\nreserve one-eighth of the land or the proceeds for religious purposes.\n(16.) Resolutions of the Hudson's Bay7 Company: Colonization of A'ancouveb's Island.\nWhereas, by a Royal Grant, or Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom\nof Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at AVestminster, the thirteenth day of January, one\nthousand eight hundred and forty-nine, the conditions of which are hereunto appended, Her\nGracious Majesty Queen Victoria did give grant, and confirm to the Governor and Company of\nAdventurers of England, trading into Hudson's Bay, and their successors, that portion of North\nAmerica called Vancouver's Island; and whereas the said Governor and Company are desirous\nof effecting the objects therein set forth, resolved, that the Committee are ready to make grants\nof land to any emigrants from Great Britain or Ireland, or from any other part of Her Majesty's\ndominions, who may be desirous of settling on the said island, on the following conditions:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n1st. That no grant of land shall contain less than twenty acres.\n2nd. That the purchasers of land shall pay to the Hudson's Bay Company, at their House\nin London, the sum of one pound per acre for the land sold to them, to be held in\nfree and common soccage.\n3rd. That purchasers of land shall provide a passage to A'ancouver's Island for themselves\nand their families, if they have any; or be provided with a passage (if they prefer\nit) on paying for the same at a reasonable rate.\n4th. That purchasers of larger quantities of land shall pay the same price per acre, namely,\none pound, and shall take out with them five single men, or three married couples, for\nevery hundred acres.\nSth. That all minerals, wherever found, shall belong to the Company, who shall have the\nright of digging for the same, compensation being made to the owner of the soil for\nany injury done to the surface; but that the said owner shall have the privilege of\nworking for his own benefit any coal mine that may be on. his land, on payment of\na royalty of two shillings and sixpence per ton.\n6th. That the right of fishing proposed to be given to the Hudson's Bay Company in the\ngrant as printed in the Parliamentary Papers, relative to Vancouver's Island, having\nbeen relinquished, every freeholder will enjoy the right of fishing all sorts of fish in\nthe seas, bays, and inlets of, or surrounding the said island; and that all the ports\nand harbours shall be open and free to them, and to all nations, either trading or\nseeking shelter therein.\nResolved,\u00E2\u0080\u0094That as it is essential to the well-being of society that the means of religious\ninstruction should be within the reach of every member of the community, provision be made\nfor the establishment of places of public worship, and for the! maintenance of ministers of\nreligion.\nResolved,\u00E2\u0080\u0094That for these purposes a plan, of which the following is an outline, be\nadopted:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n1st. The island is to be divided into districts of from five to ten square miles where it is\npracticable.\n2nd. A portion of land equal to one-eighth of the quantity sold to be set aside for the\nminister of religion. Thus, in a district of ten square miles, containing 6,400 acres,\nsupposing 5.120 acres sold, the minister would be entitled to 640 acres. The remaining V 74 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n640 acres would be available for roads, site for church and churchyard, schools, or\nother public purposes; the land so reserved, or its proceeds, to be appropriated for\nthese purposes in such manner as may appear advisable.\n3rd. With the view of enabling the ministers to bring their lands into cultivation a free\npassage to be granted to such a number of persons as a settler having an equal quantity\nof land would be required to take out, the cost to be paid out of the fund held in trust\nfor the benefit of the colony.\n4th. The several apportionments for purposes of religion to be conveyed to, and to be held\nby, the Governor and Council, in trust for the parties appointed to perform the clerical\nduties of the respective districts.\n(17.) P. Hornby-, Real Admibal and Commander in Chief, to J. Parker, Esq.\nNo. 78.\nH.ALS./Driver.\nA'alpabaiso, 29 Augt. 1849.\nSir\nI enclose for the Information of the Lords Coinrs. of the Admiralty the Copy of a Letter\naddressed to Captain Shepherd of H.M.S. Inconstant by Mr. Douglas, the Chief Factor of\nthe Hudsons Bay Cos. Establishments relative to the State of their affairs in the North West\nTerritory.\nThe Inconstant proceeded to Vancouvers Island in the early part of May & remained there\nuntil the beginning of June to afford the Honble. Cos. Servants any assistance or protection\nthat might have been called for, but it is Satisfactory to observe by Mr. Douglas's report that\nGeneral Lane the newly appointed Governor of Oregon, is disposed to carry out the provisions\nof the late Treaty of demarcation in the most liberal Manner, that the property of the Hudsons\nBay Co. within the American Territory will be fully protected hereafter by the Local Govt. &\nthat the British Intervention on their behalf will probably not be required,\nCaptain Shepherd was informed by the Officer in Charge of the Fort A'ictoria, A'ancouvers\nIsland, that the whole of the Cos. Establishments in Oregon will, in the Course of this Summer,\nbe disposed of to the Americans & the Cos. Servants withdrawn either towards the end of the\npresent year or early in the next.\nPrevious to the Inconstant's arrival at A'ancouver, the Cos. Steamer and a Brig Conveying\nabout 40 hands had proceeded to the North East end of the Island to effect a settlement & build\na Fort at the Coal Mines, & before her departure the Miners sent out by the Co. had arrived\nto commence operations.\nAs regards the Colonization of the Island, if such is the Cos. object, it is anticipated that\nmuch resistance would be offered by the Indians, the Tribes to the northward being described\nas numerous, well armed, brave & AVarlike, & Captain Shepherds opinion is, that no colony\ncould be established upon it, without being in its infancy rendered safe against the Indians,\nby the presence of a strong detachment of Troops.\nI shall continue as heretofore occasionally to detach one of the Ships of my Squadron to\nA'ancouvers Island for the due protection & support of the Hudsons Bay Co's Servants, more\nparticularly in the Spring of next year during the removal of their Establishments from the\nUnited States Territory.\nI have &c.\nP. Hornby.\nRear Admiral & Commander in Chief.\n\u00E2\u0096\u00A0I Parker Esq. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 75\n(18.) James Douglas, Chief Factoe, Hudson's Bay Company, to Captain J. Sheppebd,\nH.M.S. Inconstance.\nFort Nasqually7.\nPuget Sound 28 May, 1849.\nSib.\nI have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from you dated 12th. May\n1849 announcing the arrival of HM Ship under your command at Esquimalt in pursuance of\norders from Rear Adml. Phipps Hornby, CB Commander in Chief of HM : Naval Forces in the\nPacific, in order to receive, for consideration any cases of aggression since the visit of H:M:S:\n\" Constance \" to N.W. Territory in August 1848, and to endeavour to arrange them as far as it\nmay be in your power, to the satisfaction of the Honble. Hudson's Bay Company.\nI have to beg the favour through you of returning our most cordial thanks to R: Adml.\nHornby, for this instance of attention, in affording protection to the Hudson Bay Company, and\nother British subjects, established in this country, who will retain a grateful recollection of his\nsolicitude on their behalf.\nFor the last two years we have maintained a severe contest, with the lawless American\npopulation in Oregon, who, up to a very recent date, were entirely neglected by their own Govt,\nand left to struggle against the pressure of poverty, distress and an extensive Indian AVar,\ncarried on at their own expense, without aid or support from their Mother Country and they\nwere in these desperate circumstances often tempted to seize upon the property of the Hudson's\nBay Company. In opposing their designs we studiously avoided every cause of Collision assisting them as far as it was prudent for British subjects to interfere in their affairs, yet with a\nfirm resolution to defend our property in case of attack, which was menaced and expected on\nmore than one occasion. AA'ith the Blessing of Providence w7e escaped any serious loss or disaster, and have we trust, seen the last of these days of anxiety and painful suspense.\nThe jurisdiction of the United States having been lately extended over all this Territory,\n& a regular government established under the Authority of Congress; there will be no future\ninterruption to the peace and tranquillity of the country, and should it happen otherwise; we\nwill have the satisfaction of dealing with the Authorities of the United States and not as\nheretofore w7ith a lawless and irresponsible Mob.\nFrom General Lane the present Governor of the Oregon Territory who arrived two Months\nago from Washington we have received the most friendly assurances, and found him on all\noccasions, wherein we have had recourse to his good offices disposed to carry out the provisions\nof the late Treaty of demarcation in the most liberal manner: we have therefore every reason\nto believe that the property of the Pludson's Bay Company, within the American Territory, will\nbe fully protected hereafter by the local Govt., and that we shall have no further cause of\ncomplaint requiring the intervention of the Commander in Chief.\nWe nevertheless feel all the value and importance of your kind offers of service, and are\nat the same time extremely happy that we have no cases of aggression by American citizens\nto report to you, since the departure of H: M: S : Constance in August 1848 and General Lane\nhaving expressed a decided intention to arrange all previous matters of complaint we think, on\nthe whole it will be more agreeable to him, to leave them in his hands for the present, than to\nbring them in an official shape under the notice of the British Govt.\nIn reply to your inquiries respecting the present state of the coal fields in the North East\nend of Vancouvers Island I would remark that we made arrangements in December 1848, to\nform an establishment between McNeills and Beaver Harbour, where the Coal Crops abundantly\nto the Surface, and a party of our people are now engaged in the execution of that Service.\nWe propose by forming an establishment in that quarter to open a new branch of trade, by\nworking these beds, and supplying the rapidly increasing demand for Coal, on this Coast.\nThe result of this experiment is questionable in consequence of the peculiar circumstances\nof the Country; the Savage and treacherous disposition of the Natives, the expense and difficulty\nof procuring labourers, and the limited though increasing demand for Coal in these seas, circumstances which present serious obstacles to the successful prosecution of this enterprise.\nA body of English miners are coming out from England, by a A'essel expected at Fort\nA'ictoria in the course of next month, under whose directions the Coal works are to be\nCarried on. V 76 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nThe A'ancouver Island Coal is considered good; though the surface beds have as yet only\nbeen tested, and our impression is, as experience has proved in other cases, that the inferior\nbeds will yield a much better quality. Coal has not been seen on any other part of Vancouver's\nIsland except that before mentioned, or on the Continental Coast of British Oregon; but the\nIndians report that it also exists on the North AA'est Coast of Vancouver's Island, particularly\nat a place known by the name of Naspate about 25 miles north of Nootka Sound.\nIt is also found in the Columbia at the mouth of the Chityles River which discharges into\nGray's Harbour and in one or two other places within the limits of the United States Territory;\nbut from the specimens I have seen it appears to be neither so good nor is it so abundant, nor\nso accessible to shipping as the Coal beds of A'ancouver's Island.\nThe character of the British Territory on the main land about which you want information\nmay be described in a few words.\nThe Coast presents one continuous outline of dense forests swamps and rugged mountains\nand has everywhere a most unprepossessing appearance. The interior, particularly the valley\nof Fraser's River, contains good land and is capable of supporting a large agricultural population, but that is an exception to the general character of the country, which is valuable chiefly\nfor its inexhaustible forests of the finest fir timber in the world; and its valuable fisheries\nwhich will become a source of boundless wealth to its inhabitants at some future time.\nThe Climate is remarkably healthy and very pleasant in summer, the winters, which extend\nfrom the middle of March, are on the contrary generally rainy and disagreeable, and not very\nunlike the winter weather on the West Coast of Scotland, though the cold is at times more\nsevere.\nThere is abundance of game on every part of the Coast, and it probably produces the\nfinest venison in the World. The Elk and two species of Fallow Deer inhabit the low Islands,\nand level parts of the coast while fur bearing animals such as Beaver, Otters, Bears, Wolves,\nMartens and Minks are more or less numerous in different parts of the Country.\nExcellent harbours abound on every part of the Coast, which are well described in A'ancouver's Work, to which I will take the liberty of referring you.\nThe names of the Companys Trading Posts on the West side of the Mountains are as\nfollow vizt.\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nOn the American Territory, South of 49\u00C2\u00B0.\nFort Colvile\nFlat Head House\nFort Okanagan\nFort Nez Perces\nFort Boise\nFort Hall\nFort A'ancouver\nFort Umpqua\nFort George\nFort Nesqually\nCowilitz Farm.\nOn the British Territory North of 49\u00C2\u00B0.\nForts A'ictoria\nSimpson\nLangley\nHope\nKamloops\nThompson\nAlexandria\nGeorge\nFraser\nSt. James\nConnolly\nKilmaurs\nMcLeod\nChileoten 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 77\nThere are about 600 Europeans, Men and Officers, attached to these Establishments besides\na great number of Indian Labourers who are emplyed in the various departments of the\nService, West of the Mountains.\nThe Exports from the Company's Settlements on the West side of the Mountains may be\nclassed as follows :\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nRussian Settlement on the N.AV. Coast \u00C2\u00A310,000\nSandwich Islands 8,000\nGreat Britain 60,000\n\u00C2\u00A378,000\nThe annual imports vary from \u00C2\u00A325,000 to \u00C2\u00A330,000.\nThe above is of course merely a rough estimate given from Memory, as I have no books\nat this place to refer to but you will find much interesting and authentic information on that\nSubject, and also a General review of the use, progress and present state of the Company's\ngeneral trade, in Murray's History of British America, forming two Volumes of the \" Family\nLibrary.\"\nThe Vessels employed in the Company's Trade on the AVest side of the Mountains are as\nfollows:\u00E2\u0080\u0094\n3 Barks\n1 Steam Vessel\n1 Brig\n1 Schooner\n1 Sloop\nThe four latter remain constantly in this Country, while the three Barks are alternately\nemployed in taking the returns home, and bringing out our annual supplies for the trade.\nI have thus briefly replied to most of your enquiries, and shall be most happy to communicate verbally any further information which it may be in my power to furnish, if I\nhave the good fortune to see your at Fort A'ictoria; in which case I shall also be most happy\nto take advantage of your obliging permission to forward letters to England under your charge.\nI have &c.\nJames Douglas\nChief Factor H. B. Compy.\nCapt. J. Shepperd H.M.S. Inconstance (Inconstant).\n(19.) William Miller, Esq., to H. A. Addington, Esq.\nWoahoo, Octr. 23. 1848.\nSib,\nThe following are extracts of a letter which I have received from Captain Courtenay, dated\non board H.M.S. \" Constance \" at Sea, Septr. 12, 1848.\n\" I had a long passage, 26 days, from Honolulu to Port Esquimalt, but I luckily had a fine\nday & fair wind to enter the strait of Juan de Fuca, & found my Port without difficulty.\n\" The Hudsons Bay Company's Settlement of Fort Victoria is only three miles from Esquimau, so that we got our daily supplies of Beef without much trouble. The Company have 300\nacres under tillage there, & a dairy farm of 80 cows, together with numerous other cattle & 24\nbrood Mares, the whole under the superintendence of a Civil but hard Scot, named Finlaison\nwho has about 30 people of all description under him. They are likewise building a Saw Mill\nat the head of Port Esquimalt which will be ready for work at the end of the year.\n\" Altogether the Company's affairs appear to be exceedingly well and particularly economically\nmanaged; & my opinion is the sooner they give up their Settlement in Oregon & retire within\nour frontier, the sooner an end will be put to their bickerings with the Americans, but I fear\nthat the large amount of gain annually flowing into their coffers, from being the chief Merchants\n& Purveyors there, will cause them to remain as long as they can, & to cry Wolf, until, like the\nShepherds Boy in the Fable, they are not listened to. V 78 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n\" From the nature of Mr. Douglas' letters to you, one -would have imagined their lives &\nProperties were in danger, no such thing the Americans never molested them in the slightest\ndegree, with the exception of the Powder affair at AValla Walla which they first asked to buy,\n& in the end gave receipts for, so that they have clearly the Law of Nations on their side, if\nA'attel is any authority. The story of the redoubtable General Gillian (who was killed by\naccident) having threatened to hang Mr. Macbean is so perfectly idle, that when I mentioned\nthe circumstance no one know any thing about it, so that if any such threat ivere made it must\nhave been merely an idle blustering of some Yankee Back-woods man.\n\" The exaggeration of friend Douglas must have been, in my opinion, the reason why he\navoided meeting me, for instead of coming to Fort A'ictoria as he originally intended he returned\nto Columbia River!!! notwithstanding Lieut Wood offered him a Passage in the \" Pandora \" by\nwhich evasion I have been unable to procure information on any one point from the H. B. Co.\nfor so greatly do they fear each other that Mr. Finlaison referred me to Mr. Ogden at Fort\nVancouver, & that worthy referred me again to ' Chief Factor Douglas,' who made himself so\nscarce that although I remained to the latest day my orders admitted in the Strait of Juan de\nFuca, I never was enlightened either by his presence or by the sight of his handwriting. I really\nthink that one of the causes of the strong desire the H. B. Co. have for the presence of a Ship\nof War is the help it throws into the General Stock, for example the \" Constance \" paid them\n\u00C2\u00A3400 for what cost them absolutely nothing namely, Cattle that feed on the Prairies & flour\nthat is manufactured at no cost whatever.\n\" They nominally pay their Farm Servants \u00C2\u00A317 a year, but as they are the only Purveyors\nthe said servants are in every case compelled to come to their Stores for all their wants w7hich\nare furnished them at a charge of 150 per cent over cost price-\nThe Company have a regular Tariff, from which they never depart in their traffic for Furs,\nfrom bear Skins for a blanket, not so large as a Purser's blanket charged 6s/ to the Sailors\nis a specimen.\n\" The Indians inhabiting A'ancouvers Island & the neighbourhood are a very dirty, wretched\nset of People, without fixed habitations, but many of them have handsome features, particularly\nthe women. * * I was agreeably surprised to find that they are not so thievish as represented,\nscarcely a single instance of dishonesty occurred during our intercourse, but they will not do\nyou a hand's turn, or give you a drink of water without payment.\n\" There appears to be a great deal of excellent Land in A'ancouvers Island, & the Coast\nabounds with good harbours; As it is too far distant ever to be colonized by emigration, it would\nbe the Place of all others for a Military Colony. The winters are mild; never so severe as to\ninterrupt agricultural pursuits, & they have never failed to gather in their crops at Fort Victoria\nin the month of August while the extensive Prairies afford pasture for innumerable herds of\nCattle.\n\" The Country abounds with Elk, Deer, & other game besides all the Fur animals.\n\" San Francisco, Septr. 17. I got here yesterday & sail tomorrow for San Bias\u00E2\u0080\u0094 The Gold\nFever goes on & its extent is not exaggerated.\"\nMr. Jamison also writes to me from San Francisco. October the Sth. that \" The Constance \"\nhas been here & gone after staying only for water. The \" Pandora \" arrived a few days afterward, & Captain Wood, fearing also desertion sailed after taking in water for San Diego.\"\nI remain &c.\nWm. Mili.ee.\nP.S. It should be borne in mind perhaps, that unhealthy Mazatlan and adjacent Coast may\nbe considered El Dorado of officers commanding Ships on the Pacific Station, & that they do not\nrelish being kept just on its' out-skirts.\nH. A. Addington Esqr.\nde de dc 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 79\n(20.) The A'ancouver's Island Steam Sawing Mill and Agricultural Company.\nStatement of the Company for the consideration of the Board of Trade.\nThis Company has been established under the sanction of the Hudson's Bay Company with\na view to carry out the desire of the Government, that A'ancouvers Island should be colonized,\nand it is their intention (should it meet with the sanction of the Legislature) to form a large\ntrading establishment there. It may, here, be proper to mention that the design originated in\na report which has been furnished to the Promoters, by a Captain Cooper, who has been some\ntime engaged under the Hudson's Bay Co. & who has within the last few weeks only arrived in\nthis Country from A'ancouvers Island, & it is intended by the Co. to entrust the full carrying out\nof the design to that Gentleman but the distance & consequent difficulty of communication renders\nit imperatively necessary that the persons here forming the Company & who are almost without\nexception connected in business or otherwise with the Hudsons Bay Co. should be limited in\ntheir responsibility it is therefore proposed that a Company should be formed with a Capital\n(to commence with) of \u00C2\u00A310,000 to be raised by shares of \u00C2\u00A3,250 each, with a power to increase\nthe Capital to \u00C2\u00A315 or even \u00C2\u00A320,000 provided the scheme should become a prosperous one.\nThe object of the Co. will be in the first instance the purchase in this Country of large &\nexpensive Machinery consisting of a Steam Engine & the other necessary Machinery of Saw Mills\nfor the purpose of being transmitted to A'ancouvers Island to enable the Company to carry out\ntheir Trade in Sawing Timber (of which there is great abundance) for exportation.\nThe next object will be the purchasing of land for the purposes of the Company & with a\nview to erect a fort for the protection of the Emigrants and workmen to guard against any\nincursion by the Natives (no White being resident in the neighbourhood of the proposed Settlement) should any such occur tho it is reported by Sir Geo Simpson that the Natives are not\nnumerous or formidable (as the Hudsons Bay Co. had been led to believe) but seem peaceably\n& well disposed, and also for the purpose of Agriculture to support the Colonists & workmen\nemployed in the Establishment\u00E2\u0080\u0094and to enable the Co. to export the produce of the Land including the valuable minerals which there abound\nOwing to the position of the Island the Month of September (or October at the latest) is\nthe only period in which a Ship should set sail from this Country and the present Company are\ndesirous at once to proceed and they have, hoping or almost relying on the Support of Govt,\naccordingly given orders for the construction of the requisite expensive Machinery. Three\nfourths, at least of the Capital will, at once be paid up and vested in Trustees (for payment of\nthe Machinery &c) & to comply also with the standing orders of the House of Lords on the\nsubject and the residue will be paid within a limited period and the Company are now desirous\nto present their Petition to the Ho. of Commons & obtain (with the consent of the Standing\norder Committee of that House) leave to present a Petition for a Bill to limit their responsibility to the amount of their respective Shares & to authorize them to purchase and hold Land\nin Vancouvers Island, notwithstanding that the time allowed by the Standing Orders of the\nHouse has elapsed. The only other Standing order of the House with which the Company\n(owing to its recent formation) cannot comply is the one directing that a Notice should be\npublished in the Gazette during the Month of October or November. The Chairman of the\nStanding order Committee has been seen by the Parliamentary Agent upon the subject & has\nexpressed himself that if the Company were able to obtain the favorable opinion of the Board\nof Trade a great deal of difficulty for the consideration of the Standing order Committee would\nbe removed. Before therefore incurring the great Parliamentary expences the Co. are desirous\nof obtaining from the Bd. of Trade the information whether in the event of their seeking this\nsession to obtain an Act of Parliament for the objects above stated, they would receive the\napproval (or at least would not be met by the opposition) of the Govt, to their design being\none of almost national importance as tending to promote the colonization of the Island. It may\nalso be mentioned that in the selection of Emigrants & Workmen Married persons will be sought\nfor to counter balance any desire which might arise of their leaving the Colony for the Neighbouring Gold district.\nDated this 10th June 1850.\nJ. Dangerfield\nParratt d Walmisley Solicitor to the Company\nHo. of Lords. Parliamentary Agents. 68 Chancery Lane. V 80 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nIII. A. COLVILE, DEPUTY GOVERNOR, TO THE RT. HONBLE. EARL GREY.\nReceived. C D. Dec : 19. 1850.\nHudsons Bay House\nLondon, Decemr. 18, 1850.\nMy Lord.\nI have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Hawes's letter of the 11th. Infstant,.\n(addressed to Sir J. H. Pelly, the Governor, who is unfortunately absent from indisposition)\ndesiring to be informed whether the Hudson's Bay Company contemplate adopting any measures\nfor a more permanent protection to the people in A'ancouver's Island than can be afforded by\nthe occasional visits of Her Majesty's Ships of War; In reply to which I have to state that\nwe have never found any serious difficulty in protecting the Servants and property of the\nCompany from hostile attacks of Indians, and w7e have every confidence that a continuance of\nthat temperate and prudent conduct towards them, which is the rule and practice of the Service,\nwill be the means of restoring a good understanding with the tribes in A'ancouver's Island with\nwhom it may be necessary to maintain intercourse.\nBy the ship \" Tory \" which sailed from hence on the Sth. ultimo we sent out a considerable\nnumber of agricultural and other Servants to A'ancouver Island, and we do not consider it\nnecessary to do more at present.\nI have the honor to be. My Lord,\nYour Lordships obedient humble Servant\nA. Colvile.\nDy. Govr.\nThe Rt. Honble. Earl Grey.\ndc. de.\nIV. THE RIGHT REVEREND MODESTE DEMERS, BISHOP OF A'ANCOUVER'S ISLAND,\nTO BENJAMIN HAAVES, ESQ., SECRETARY.\nReceived. C. D. Aug. 29. 1850.\nTo Benjamin Halves Esqr. Secretary\nSir,\nI have the honour to inform you that I am a British subject, being born in Canada, and that\non the seventeenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and forty six I was nominated and\nsince have been consecrated Roman Catholic Bishop of A'ancouver's Island.\nI have the happiness to be one of the two first Missionaries sent out to Oregon where I\nhave performed the sacred duties of the Ministry among the French Canadians and the Natives\nof that country for ten years.\nBesides A'ancouver's Island I am Administrator, pro tempore, of two other Dioceses which\nare first: Queen Charlotte Island, including the Sea Coast North to the Russian Settlements;\nsecond, New Caledonia.\nNo doubt but you know that a certain number of Canadians, after leaving the Hudson's\nBay Company's service have been settling with their families in the AVallamet Valley, which\nnow belongs to the United States. On my leaving Oregon some of them were telling me they\nwould willingly go and settle on A'ancouvers Island, would the Company allow them to do so.\nI have great reason to believe that the establishment of a Catholic Mission on the Island will\ncause many of them, as well as those that will be let free, to settle on it, which they would\nnot do if they had no prospect of having Clergymen amongst them.\nThe state of things being so I will now take the liberty to expose to you my present\nsituation: in the whole territory committed to my care their are about fifty thousands of\nIndians, of whom I may say four thousands are already enrolled under the sacred banner of\nChristianity. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 81\nHaving not a single Missionary to help me I saw the necessity of coming over to Europe\nto find the means to bring a certain number of Clergymen that would devote themselves and\nfollow me; a passage for each one of them will cost me seventy five pounds. Nothing is done\nyet, I have got no house, no place of worship put up.\nThese informations may lead you to fhe object I have in view in giving them: I am aware\nthat several Roman Catholic Bishops in the British possessions are allowed a yearly sum of\nmoney by Her Gracious Majesty's Government; a motive that encourages me in asking for the\nsame favour, and I am in hopes that it will be extended to the poor Mission of Vancouver's\nIsland, where nothing shall be spared of what can promote the welfare, both spiritual and\ntemporal of Her Majesty's subjects in that remoted part of Her Dominions.\nPlease lay this letter before His Lordship the Minister of the Colonies.\nI have the honour to be, Sir,\nyour most humble and obedient Servant\nMod. Demers\nR. C. Bishop of Vancouver's Island.\nU Buxton St. Spitalficlds, London.\nAugust 26th. 1850.\nV. LETTER FROM ARCHIBALD McDONALD, ESQ.\nFort Langley, 20th Feb'y, 1831\nMy dear Mc.\nI have very great pleasure in acknowledging rect of your kind letter of July last from your\nold quarters, which came only to hand five days ago via Puget Sound after a march of 11 weeks\nthro the different tribes between A'ancouver and this & when I tell you that my private letters\nalone furnished the whole of my news from Hudsons Bay, you can guess at the avidity with\nwhich I glanced over two & thirty of them. It is with sincere regret I find by yours, that you\nenjoyed but very indifferent health last season\u00E2\u0080\u0094a blessing as you say, we never sufficiently\nappreciate when we have it, & when decay and sickness overtake us, few mortals present a more\ndismal and forlorn situation than an Indian Trader, in a manner abandoned by the world & by\nhimself. Thanks to the great Father of all blessings I have had little cause of complaint myself\nsince I last had the pleasure to address you; yet I have had awful warnings about me. I have\nburied two of my men since\u00E2\u0080\u0094Jno. Kennedy who was unwell but still walked about entered our\nkitchen one day in the month of April and dropp'd dead on the floor. In the month of August,\nanother of them (Therien) ran out of the Fort in sound health and was brought in a corpse in\na very few minutes\u00E2\u0080\u0094his case was an accident\u00E2\u0080\u0094shot by one of the Guns of the A'ancouver. I was\nvery sorry indeed to hear of poor McKenzies death, but no one tells me how it happened.\nFinlayson says he died in June, and you say it was in Jan'y. When I wrote to you last I was\nnot aware of Mr. Deases fate, poor man\u00E2\u0080\u0094it would have been much better had he not returned\nto the Columbia I should now like to give you some of our West side News and you know my\nitching in general for writing long letters; but really if I attempted on this occasion it would\nbe with great disadvantage, for almost the whole of the occurrences of any importance in this\nquarter are known to me but by mere report: there is lots of it however, & the loss of another\nBrig is not the least important\u00E2\u0080\u0094their Honours liberality however in that way, by sending ont\ntwo others beside, has saved our distance. One of them returned to England with the Returns\nand the other with the two schooners is cruising about. I believe at present the Brig and the\nVancouver are to California & the Sandwich Islands, with Deals and salted salmon, & the\nwhole three of them on their return, will proceed with Ogdens Expedition to Nass, which from\nvarious causes was put off last year. He is succeeded in the Snake country by Work and\nprobably McLeod will be the Bearer of this. Our friend Black is at Kamloops and our t'other\nfriend at Colville. I take no credit for this Kind of News to you, because it is such as everyone\nwill report\u00E2\u0080\u0094then let us back again to Ft. Langley, where I shall defy any man to speak of,\nunless it passes thro my hands\u00E2\u0080\u0094to be more plain (for actually I do not thoroughly comprehend\nmyself in what I wrote then) I shall write upon Frasers River affairs, because tis only myself\n6 V 82 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nthat know anything about it by having the field to myself; however, do not suppose that I impose\nupon you all when I say that in the face of two vessels our Trade is not 150 skins less the\nGreat Returns of the year before, and that this defficincy is more than made up by 220 Barrels\nof Salmon, and the Establishment now reduced to one clerk and 10 men besides 2 or 3 raw\nOwhyhus. If the Americans are off this year I hope things will be still better. 'Am now\npreparing from 2 to 300 Barrels to be at the salmon immediately in the commencement of the\nseason\u00E2\u0080\u0094they say a cooper is come across for me but we saw7 nothing of him as yet. In Consequence of my Casks of last season losing the pickle, the Dr. sent none of them to market but\nsent his ow7n, and kept ours for home Consumption, so the end is always assured, and perhaps\nthis ought at all times to be the arrangement as the Columbia fish is acknowledged better than\nours. Curious they are caught a week or two sooner at the bridge than here\u00E2\u0080\u0094last season it\nw7as approaching the end of August before they appeared here.\nI must now congratulate you all on the great acquisition to your society of late. The\nGovernour's residence at Red River must give a wonderful luster to the state of affairs there\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nand it is to be hoped that his own health will also improve there. I see our grand Joint Stock\nCompany has fallen to the ground and an Experimental Farm substituted in its stead under\nthe superintendance of my predecessor here. So you see our rank N'Westers give a hand to\npromote the interest of poor Red River\u00E2\u0080\u0094by the bye I had a letter from Mr. Halkett by the last\nconveyance\u00E2\u0080\u0094he was returned from the continent with Lady and family and were then living\nnear London with Lady Isabella Douglas\u00E2\u0080\u0094Countess Selkirk was daily espected there with her\ntwo daughters from Scotland and Lord Selkirk was at Oxford\u00E2\u0080\u0094grown tall like his father\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nstout and in a good health\u00E2\u0080\u0094what nonsense I do write to a man just returning from England\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nnever mind I did not give it a thought at the moment that you was across the big water and I\nknew it would give you pleasure to hear of the family. Jenny and the Boys are well\u00E2\u0080\u0094I think\nI forgot to tell you that her 3'd came to the world last Oct'r\u00E2\u0080\u0094quite enough to transport out of\nthis rascally country. You see I must conclude and it will be with fresh assurances of my\nsincere good wishes for your better health and prosperity.\nYours\nAech'd McDonald.\nA'l. LETTERS OF PETEK SKENE OGDEN AND JAMES DOUGLAS TO DR. W. F. TOLMIE\nAND THE HONOURABLE JOHN AVORK.\n(I.)\nFobt A'ancouvee 4 Novr, 1840.\nTo Dr Tolmie\nDear Sir\nWe have to acknowledge your letter of the 23 Octr., with the accompanying documents\nwhich were found correct and satisfactory. A Bill against the Fisgard, for postage of Captain\nDuntze' letters to Fort George, w7as forwarded to you some time ago, of which we can discover\nno traces in your documents, from whence we fear it has been entirely overlooked, and not\nbrought forward in your settlement with Mr. Rome. Pray examine into that matter and let\nus know the result. The amount of the Bill was 18 Doll. 53 cts. The Barque \" Toulon \" arrived\nlately in this River with very important intelligence from the Sandwich Islands.\nIt appears that the Oregon Boundary .is finally settled, on a basis more favourable to the\nUnited States than we had reason to anticipate. We forward with this copy of a communication from Sir George Seymour Commander in Chief in the Pacific to our agents at the Sandwich\nIslands which contains all that is at present known to us relative to the Boundary Treaty.\nBusiness will of course go on as usual, as the treaty will not take effect on us for many years\nto come.\nYou will please to get as many shingles ready for shipment by the Columbia as possible,\nwhich may be shipped by the Beaver to A'ictoria, as we have not yet a sufficient cargo for both 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 83\nships. Inform the shingle makers of this and that they will be allowed 4 Dollars a thousand\nfor all they can deliver between this and the sailing of the Ships; but the old prices only will\nbe paid afterwards. You will please to send 6 men or engaged Indians immediately to clear\nthe road in the two points of wood between the Nisqually River and Bute plain, which are\nnearly impassable for loaded horses another party will be employed at the Cowelitz end of\nthe Portage under Mr. Sangster, who will afterwards proceed to Nisqually to relieve you for\na time as your presence will be required here, on or before the first day of December, to attend\nthe Legislature, and you will please to take your measure accordingly, using every exertion\nto be here by the time specified.\nWith best wishes\nYours truly\nPeter Skeene Ogden.\nJames Douglas.\n(2.)\nFort A'ancouver Sth Octe 1S46\nDr. Tolmie\nDeae Sib\nWe have received your letter of the 26th Septr., and were happy to learn that the furs and\nspecie, forwarded by Mr. McDonald had been safely delivered into your hands, and we hope that\nthe 8 Merino sheep sent by the same opportunity to the Cowelitz have by this time also reached\nNisqually.\nA Cooper Charles Bayfield is now dispatched to assist, in salting the Beef required for\nnext year, and we have to request that he may be returned as soon as you can dispense with\nhis services.\nWe think that about 160 Barrels of Beef will be sufficient to meet the demands of the coming\nyear, and you will therefore please to slaughter cattle enough only to form that quantity, which\nwe wish you by no means to exceed.\nWe expect the Steam Vessel at Nisqually about the 20th Octr., and we hope that you will\nhave every convenience prepared in advance, to ship cattle by her to Fort Victoria, a service\nof great importance to the business and that we are desirous should be forwarded by every\nmeans in your power.\nWith best washes.\nWe remain\nDear Sir\nYours truly\nPeteb Skeen Ogden.\nJames Douglas.\nP.S. William Chainley Esqre. late a Captain in Her Majesty's Sth Regiment of foot and now7\ntravelling in Oregon, will give you a call at Nisqually, and we have no doubt you will show him\nevery attention in your power and furnish any supplies he may require, on his account, from\nthe Company's Stores, during his stay in your neighbourhood.\nWe have promised him a passage by the Barque A'ancouver, to the Sandwich Islands and\nyou may therefore, on his application for the same, allow himself and Brother a passage in\nthe Steam A'essel to Fort Victoria, an accommodation strictly limited to the two persons in\nquestion and to be extended to no other person unconnected with the service, without our\nsanction.\nYou will please to send Charles Bayfield to examine and repickle the Nisqually Beef at Fort\nVictoria by the first trip of the Steam Vessel or any earlier opportunity that may occur. The\nbeef is said to be in a very critical state and requires immediate attention.\nJames Sinclair and Puili are sent over to joint the \" A'ancouver \" at Fort A'ictoria, and you\nwill please to forward them by the Steam A'essel. V 84 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nVII. LETTERS OF SIR JAMES DOUGLAS, K.C.B., TO DR. W. F. TOLMIE AND OTHERS.\nDr. Tolmie\nCowelitz Faem 23 June 1845\nMy deab Sie\nThe Sandwich Island Packet arrived at A'ancouver yesterday week, with information of\nRae's horrible fate. What could have tempted our poor friend to raise his sacrilegious hand\nagainst his own life; that precious gift which it is the duty of all men to preserve and defend\nuntil resumed by its beneficent bestower.\nRae must have been labouring under a temporary aberration of mind when he committed\nthe fatal act, or he could never have forgotten the evils he was bringing upon his excellent wife\nand helpless children and the pain he was inflicting on his relatives and friends, to whom he\nwas so deservedly dear.\nThe day before his death he made out a statement of the Company's property in his charge,\nand appointed Mr Forbes, by a deed of Attorney, as his successor in the Agency, from which\nwe suppose that the causes which led to the fatal event, had been for some time previously\noperating upon his mind.\nThe misfortune weighs heavily upon the Doctors mind, but he bears the pressure with the\nnoble fortitude of a true Christian.\nI arrived here on Saturday the 21st, with four wheat boats; the Cowelitz is high and difficult to ascend, but I anticipate a quick and easy run down to the Columbia.\nThe fields of grain here have a fine appearance giving promise of an abundant harvest\nand not only here but likewise at A'ancouver and generally throughout the Wallamatte settlement.\nIt will soon become a question with us, how we are to dispose of the grain, the country\nwill soon be brought to produce; if there be no vent for the article, of course we cannot buy it,\nand what are the poor farmers to do then. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof, let us look\nforward with hope to the future.\nI left Tod and Manson with the Brigade at the Fort, they got down without accident, though\nthe water was high and River dangerous. They are expected to leave on their return about\nthe 26th.\nI am glad to hear that you are pleased with Edgar, I always thought he would gain upon\nyou, and do the duty of the place, with much less palaver, at half the expense, and equally as\nwell as our worthy friend McLean, who by the bye was never a great favourate of mine, as he\nalways appeared to me, much greater in word than deed.\nI am just starting for A'ancouver and have not time to detain you longer.\nWith best wishes\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\n(2.)\n(Private.)\nFort A'ancouver 19th April 1847\n(Reed. 28)\nDr. Tolmie\nMy dear Sir\nI have been lately favoured with your valued private communication of the 11th. Sangster\nwas rather tardy in his movements, 6 days being slow travelling from this place to Nisqually;\nit matters not now as the Cowelitz and Cadboro have been announced in the River, within the\nlast hour. The Cadboro led in and sustained her reputation as a good pilot. About the Treaty,\nI cannot say much, the Governor and Committee appear satisfied, perhaps par necessite, with\nthe provision made for the protection of British interests, and they being satisfied so am I. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 85\nAll things considered, the yielding mood of the British Ministry, and the concessions made,\nwe have come off better than I expected. I looked for nothing short of an utter sacrifice of\nour interests. We send you the Pngets Sound Letter and Papers, take copies and return them\nby the first safe conveyance. You will prepare an answer to the letter, as you ought to have\nevery opportunity of bringing yourself into notice; and you shall have my aid to that effect, and\nbest wishes too.\nGo on and prosper with the claims, the parks on the unrecorded claims, are clear and most\nconvincing proofs of occupation; you will observe by the letter from Sir. J. H. Pelly that the\nCompanys claim is understood as extending, \" to all lands, brought into cultivation or used\nin the folding of Sheep or herding of cattle,\" which is precisely the view we had taken of the\nTreaty. Therefore continue as you have begun, securing by quiet means as much land as\npossible.\nAlderman I hear, has taken the claim next to yours on the American Plain, that fellow has\nbeen always a bore, and I don't know what to advise about him. It appears however good policy\nto leave him alone for the present, and your friend the Scot, and Moore who is at the mouth\nof Douglas burn as we cannot dislodge them, and excitements are dangerous in the present state\nof the country. Warn off all new comers, in a pleasant way, and keep always on the right side\nof the law.\nEmploy McLeod to the best advantage\u00E2\u0080\u0094Edgar the fool must go home now as he is no longer\nwanted. He has nobody but himself to blame for that. A paper of Iukpowder accompanies\nthis.\nWith best wishes\nYours sincerely\nJames Douglas.\nWe are nearly out of best 2% pt Blankets\u00E2\u0080\u0094let none be issued except in payment for furs.\n(3-)\nFort Victoria\n28th April 1851\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqrc\nDear Sib\nThe Rev Mr Staines arrived here on Friday last, when I was favoured with your communication of the 21st Inst. The order drawn by Mr. Staines, for sixty dollars and Forty six\ncents, has been duly honored and placed to credit of Fort Nisqually.\nMcEwdng's remarks in Congress relative to the Company's rights of Trade with the Indians\nof Oregon, are of a piece with the instructions of the U. S. Government to the Indian Agents\nlately appointed to act in this country and are I fear but the prelude to some fresh measure\nof oppression meditated against the Company: like the lamb in the fable we may prepare to\nbe devoured.\nThe Miners are all here, waiting for employment, I am in hopes of making some arrangement with them about completing their time in the service. Mr. Hetling returns to Vancouver,\nas his services are required there more than at this place. I enclose the amount of supplies\nto Brig Orbit, that the value may be retained out of the funds due to Mr Simmonds. Please\nforward Mr. Hetling and the accompanying letters for Vancouver.\nNo tidings of the \" Tory \" as yet.\nWith best wishes\nYours truly\nJames Douglas. V 86 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(4-)\nFobt Victoria\n7th May 1851\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqure.\nDear Sir\nThe \" Una \" arrived off this Port on the 4th Inst., entered Esquimalt on the Sth and her\ncargo of live stock was safely landed before night, with the loss of one sheep which died on\nthe passage.\nThe total number of sheep landed here was 301 Gimmers and 100 wedders, making with\nthe Gimmer w7hich died on the passage 402 in all\u00E2\u0080\u0094or three head short of the number Invoiced.\nYou will please to charge the whole of that cargo of live stock to the P. S. Coys. Farm at\nEsquimalt where they are now kept.\nI have to acknowledge per \" Una \" your letter of the 2d May, with enclosures.\nThe four Indians who accompanied Lapoitree to this place will return with him to Nisqually\nas we are not in immediate want of their services on board the Cadboro, which will not be put\ninto active service before the month of June. I have however agreed with these youths that\nthey are to come here about that time, either in a canoe of their own, or in the return mail\ncanoe, and have paid them 1 Blkt each for the present trip to and from Nisqually.\nLapoitree has received his advances for the year, and will send no private order for the\npresent season; he applied on your part for some reaping sickles, but there are none at present\non hand.\nThe two country plough Shares requested in your letter are not quite ready and will be\nforwarded by next conveyance.\nAVe shall credit Nesqually with the price paid for Governor Blanshards horse, when the\naccount is settled. Pray send me Adairs letter, which you have inadvertently retained.\nI am at a loss what to advise in reference to the squatters on the Company's lands at\nNisqually, no doubt the proper course is to enter suits at law against them as soon as we\npossibly can, but since the Company are averse to that mode of proceeding, both on account of\nthe expense and the uncertain issue of that test of right, I do not feel at liberty to act with\nthe decision the case requires. It is very evident however that something should be done, to\ncheck those encroachments, or-the Company's lands will soon be overrun, with squatters.\nSuppose then we take one of the most glaring cases of trespass say Charles Wrens, and\nenter suit on it, at the approaching circuit court; the expense of one suit cannot be overwhelming, and the decision of the court in that instance will serve as a guide to future\nproceedings.\nIn the mean time pray let all the squatters be duly warned, that they are trespassing on\nthe Company's lands.\nI remain\nDear Sir\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\nP.S Pray forward the letters to Vancouver by the earliest convenience. J. D.\nThe Amount of Lapoitreg's Book Debts or advances here\u00E2\u0080\u0094is \u00C2\u00A316/0/4.\n(5-)\nFort Victoria\n21 May 1851\nMy dear Sir\nI have barely time to recommend the accompanying packet for Vancouver to your Special\ncare\u00E2\u0080\u0094requesting it may be forwarded with despatch. The Norman Morison arrived safely in\nLondon on the 30th Febry.\nThe Gold dust sent by her averaged \u00C2\u00A33.10 an ounce. 4 Geo. 5\nBritish Columbia.\nV 87\nThe Company have sent out Mr. Pemberton as Surveyor and Engineer by Panama and he\nmay be daily expected at Nisqually. Salary \u00C2\u00A3400 per an.\nI am now at liberty to dispose of such parts of the Reserve as the Company may not\nrequire, so yon had better claim the Grand Bas Fonde which I have reserved for you.\nKind respects to Mrs. Tolmie\nWith best wishes\nYours sincerely\nJames Douglas.\nCaii you spare any Blankets or medicines from your private order. J. D.\n(6.)\nFort A'ictoria\n7th August 1851\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqre.\nDeae Sie\nThe Nesqually mail canoe arrived last night, just in time to prevent the departure of a\ncanoe, which we intended to despatch this morning with letters for the Columbia.\nI have now to acknowledge your communications of the 2d August, with enclosures.\nThough it is very unpleasant to yield obedience to the arbitrary demands of the people of\nTanalquat, I think it will be as well in the present state and circumstances of the country, to\navoid every cause of difficulty with them, and not to send any sheep to that part of the country,\nif you can possibly find a sufficient range north of the Nesqually River.\nThe letter of the Attorney General contains Sound views, lucidly expressed. I am, and\nhave always been of his opinion that it is not expedient at present to commence legal proceedings against trespassers. His meaning is obvious it would be imprudent on our part, and\ndangerous to our interests\u00E2\u0080\u0094to take such a course\u00E2\u0080\u0094the notice served upon trespassers is a\nsufficiently distinct assertion of our rights.\nIn reference to the Pugets Sound Companys land claim at Nesqually\u00E2\u0080\u0094the kind of document\nwanted by the Attorney General is clearly described in his letter.\nFirst he requests a statement of the Company's rights to the land, as founded on occupation\nto the present extent, since the year 18J/0.\nSecondly The extent and boundaries may be shewn, by the map in your possession which\nalso exhibits the character of the country and many of its minuter features.\nThat map with an explanatory description in wilting, strictly confined to the above points\nis all that I conceive necessary, according to the tenor of Holbrookes letter. Pray attend to that\nmatter without loss of time.\nI will select a fine sea Otter for Mr. Holbrooke and forward it by a safe conveyance.\nMany thanks for your private note, which will have my best attention.\nIn great haste\nYours very truly\nJames Douglas.\n(7-)\nFort A'ictoria\n27 Deer. 1851\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqre\nDear Sir\nIn my last communication I omitted to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th\nNovr.; to which I will now reply. The arrangement proposed with the Ross' family, relative\nto the return of half the number of cattle they received from the Company, at first cost, is\nsatisfactory and judicious. V 88 Provincial Archia'es Department. 1914\nI am very sorry to hear that the Company's old and faithful servant Mr. Charles Forrest\nhas departed this life\u00E2\u0080\u0094and I wish to be informed if he has made any testamentary disposition\nof his property, with reference to his Daughter at this place.\nI am most anxious to learn what has been the result of your journey to the Columbia.\nThe detention of our vessels at Nisqually will put to the Company to a frightful expense\nand amount of inconvenience.\nThe proceedings of Mr. Moses in reference to the vessels are vigourous in the extreme,\ninasmuch as there was clearly no intention to defraud the revenue\u00E2\u0080\u0094but still it must be admitted,\nthat our own proceedings have not been so prudent and circumspect as they might have been,\nand have furnished the pretext of which he is now making so unmerciful a use. It was folly\nin Stuart to allow his passengers to land at Nesqually or even to stop them for the purpose of\ncutting wood, any other point on the communication would have been less objectionable.\nAgain why did Stuart keep any goods in the trade room of the Steam vessel and why having\nsuch goods on board, did he not make a correct post entry of them as return cargo, which may\nbe done by the Master at a cost of two dollars even after the entry of the vessel in all cases,\nwhen there are more goods found on board a vessel than the Master thereof has reported\u00E2\u0080\u0094Act\n2 March 1799. Explanations will not always answer to remove suspicion, nor to establish rectitude of intention, it is alwrays better to conform on all known points to the letter of the Law7.\nThe \" Damariscone\" left this port for Queen Charlottes Island on the 25th Inst. Lieutt.\nDement was received with every attention here.\nHe produced his instructions from Captain Hill and Mr. Moses' letter of credit, on which\nI thought it best to advance the goods necessary for the ransom of the Queen Charlottes Island\nCaptives, which came to $1838.91c.\nWe took Mr. Dements Bill in Triplicate on the Collector, the first of which, with a certified\nInvoice are now forwarded for Settlement.\nSeconds of the Bill and Invoice will be forwarded for better security by another conveyance.\nThat account should be presented to Mr. Moses for immediate settlement and you will please to\nadvice us of the payment.\nWith best wishes.\nMy dear Sir\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\n(8.)\nFort A'ictoria\n27th Deer. 1851\nJohn Work Esqre.\nDear Sir,\nI have to acknowledge the receipt of your several communications of the 16th, 17th and\n19th Deer, with the accompanying documents numbered from one to eight which will be duly\nregistered.\nAfter perusal of Mr. Moses' statement of reasons for detaining the Steam vessel Beaver\nI think he has failed in making out a clear case against her.\nThe first charge being that the Master failed in making out a due entry of passengers,\naccording to the form prescribed by law.\nThe second that passengers were landed at Nisqually a Port of Delivery, before entry of\nthe vessel was made at Olympia the Port of Entry.\nThe third is founded on the delay of the vessel for fifteen hours at Nesqually, and having\nthen and there communication with the Shore.\nThe fourth states that some goods not entered on the Manifest were found on board.\nThe fifth that the Manifest of Stores did not correspond with the Cargo on board. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 89\nThe first charge is substantially met by the Collectors own admission that a list of passengers on board was appended to the list of the Steam vessels crew delivered at the Custom\nhouse\u00E2\u0080\u0094the fact of the riassengers being on board was therefore duly reported to him which is\nafter all the essential point, though that report was not made in the proper form.\nAdmitting that informality, the whole question is reduced to a mere matter of form, leaving\nno ground to suspect that concealment or fraud was intended.\nIn reference to the second charge it is admitted that the passengers did land at Nisqually,\nthe Master of the Beaver not being aware of any law to the contrary, but their luggage was\nnot landed and remained on board, while the fact of the passengers having landed at Nesqually,\nand the cause was frankly explained to the Collector before the Seizure of the vessels.\nThe delay at Nesqually arose from a necessary detention to replenish the Steamer's Stock\nof fuel, which was nearly exhausted on her arrival there, and she could not otherwise proceed\nto Olympia. If vessels bound to Olympia 100 miles from the entrance of a narrow sound are\nexposed to seizure for a delay of 15 hours at any one point short of Olympia, it is evident that\nnot one in a hundred, can escape the penalty, as vessels under Sail, seldom make the passage\nin less time than five days. They must watch wind and tide, and necessarily make frequent\nstopages whenever those are unfavourable.\nThe error lies in placing the Port of Entry near the head, instead of being at the entrance\nof Puget Sound which no vessel under sail can possibly reach without much delay and making\nnumerous stoppages.\nThe fourth charge setting forth that some goods were found on board which were not\nentered in the Manifest is in a great measure disposed off by Deputy Collector Evans' own\nadmission\u00E2\u0080\u0094see Exhibit A., that Captain Stuart informed him when he first boarded the vessel\nthat there were \" a few trifling articles \" (to use the Collectors own words) on board for trading\nwith Indians. Captain Stuarts own account of the matter as given in his report is as follows,\n\" I informed him, (the Deputy Collector) \" We had some trade goods on board, but he did not\n\" express any wish to see them having sealed the hatches \" &c.\nThe two accounts together will I think clearly establish the fact, that Captain Stuart did\ncommunicate to the Deputy Collector then and there on his very first appearance on board, that\na few loose Goods, not intended to be landed, were contained in the trade room of the vessel, in\nthat act we again observe the fair and open dealing which marked all Captain Stuarts proceedings, and not the remotest intention of fraud.\nThe fifth and last charge is also refuted by the reply made to the fourth.\nCaptain Stuarts errors and omissions evidently arose from ignorance of the forms prescribed\nby law as set forth, in his declaration to Collector Moses, in which case the law should have\nbeen construed with every latitude, according to the directions lately issued from Washington,\nin reference to the custom House Seizures made in California, which were declared null and\nvoid, by the Secretary of the Treasury and orders issued for the liberation of the vessels and\nthat the owners should be indemnified for the detention of their ships.\nI firmly believe our Ships will be liberated after some delay, which will expose the Company\nto much loss, and we must therefore estimate the damages at their full amount.\nI think the sum named in my last letter say \u00C2\u00A3100 per diem should after the first month,\nbe increased to \u00C2\u00A3150. per diem, as that sum will barely cover losses.\nI observe your intention of coming to this place immediately, but 1 think it will be necessary\nfor you to remain at Nesqually, to conduct affairs, until we procure the release of the vessels,\nand you will please to advise the Governor and Committee of the progress of the negotiations\nby every mail.\nA letter addressed to Dr. Tolmie left open for your information is herewith enclosed. It\ncontains a Bill for 81838.91c on Collector Moses, which please forward immediately to Olympia\nfor his acceptance and advise us thereof.\nDr. Kennedy arrived here on the 21st Ultmo. from Fort Simpson by the \" Una \" which he\nleft at Neah Bay, where he took a canoe to this place.\nThe expedition to Queen Charlottes Island has not been productive of much advantage.\nOne point is however made clear, that gold may be got in considerable quantities by mining,\nbut the Indians are strongly opposed to the mines being worked by any but themselves.\nThree blasts in the vein of Gold produced about 58 lbs. of ore which Kennedy supposes will\nyield about 4 lbs. of pure Gold. V 90\nProatncial Archives Department.\n1914\nHad the Indians allowed the party to work unmolested they would have made handsome\nreturns, but they became so turbulent and unruly, that the men were afraid to venture themselves ashore and the vessel consequently left, and proceeded to Fort Simpson, where Captain\nMcNeill is now in charge.\nThe Una has not yet made her appearance here.\nAVith best wishes\nI remain\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\nP.S Get the Bill on Collector Moses, settled as soon as possible as he may also be making\nsome difficulty about that. The Bill will cover a great part of the duties\u00E2\u0080\u0094I would not have\nhonored his letter of credit, had it not been for present circumstances, which place us so much\nin his power. J. D.\n(9-)\nFort A'ictobia\n27 Jany. 1852\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqre.\nMy7 Deab Sib\nI was glad to recognize your well known hand among the letters received in the packet by\nStuart, whose arrival without the Steamer on Sunday last, was rather a startling event, particularly as he could not tell why or wherefore he had come, and I was left in doubt until I\nreceived the explanation of the mystery from your letters.\nYour journey to Vancouver has not been fruitless, and I can fancy something of the trouble\nand vexation you have had\u00E2\u0080\u0094I rejoice that matters are likely soon to be brought to a close\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nwhether satisfactory or not remains to be seen\nI think it will be expedient hereafter to supply Nesqually with goods from the Columbia\nprovided it can be done to more advantage than from this Depot, but we cannot decide that\npoint until we have more information on the subject.\nSuppose for example that the Nesqually goods are packed and Invoiced separately in\nEngland, and sent on in the same packages and by the same ship or by one of the country\nvessels from this place\u00E2\u0080\u0094will they be chargeable with duty in that case on the Victoria wholesale price or on the London price. Pray address Mr. Moses on that subject and request him\nalso to have the goodness to furnish pro forma Manifests and other documents required at the\nCustom House\nThe Colvile question I will leave for another day.\nI hope soon to have the pleasure of addressing you again. I look forward with pleasure to\nyour interesting sheet about old Columbia friends. AVith kind regards to Mrs. Tolmie and\nbest wishes,\nSincerely yours\nJames Douglas.\n(io.)\nFobt A'ictoria\n27th March 1852\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqre.\nDear Sir\nAn express Canoe was dispatched this morning, with a packet, for Nesqually, and it has\nbeen since discovered that the Tin Case of Charts, which was particularly recommended to\nyour care, has been left behind. I have therefore determined on sending off your canoe, which\narrived today, immediately in hopes that it may still reach Nesqually with the Surveys, in\ntime to be forwarded with the letters to Vancouver; Sales remaining here to take passage by\nthe Schooner \" Honolulu.\" 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 91\nI will now briefly run over your letter of the 20th March: the Custom House Affadavits\nwere forwarded with the Canoe this morning and will I trust be found correct and in due form.\nThe Hyquas requested in your letter will be purchased from the Indians, and forwarded as soon\nas possible, but fears are entertained that we will not succeed in getting them from the Indians\nof this place, nor until the arrival of the Cape Flattery people, who are not expected here before\nthe fine weather permanently sets in.\nI am sorry to observe by your private communication, that you anticipate some difficulty\nin the final settlement with Collector Moses; though I cannot conceive on what grounds, but\nI still hope that every thing will be equitably arranged.\nCooper grumbled a good deal about the freight of the sheep; and contended that he had\nnot agreed with you about the charge of 62% cents per head, but we refused to give more\nwithout further advices from you, and he was paid accordingly. I fear that it will be out of\nmy power to send you another man for Mr. Dean, as in consequence of the drafts for Queen\nCharlottes Island, we are short handed at present.\nI am glad to find that you have disposed of a part of your potatoes at a fair price. It\nwould not I think be advisable to purchase the 40 inch white cotton unless you can dispose of\nit at Nesqually, as it is not wanted here.\nThe Indian bearers in number, have been paid, (1 Blanket 2% points) each according to\na note on the envelope of your letter; they claim more, and if their claim be well founded you\nmay settle with them at Nesqually.\nAA'e had a great discussion yesterday with the Indians of this place in consequence of a\ncharge of Cattle lifting, brought against them by McAuley, A Warrant was issued for the apprehension of the offender which the Constable duly served, and brought in the party charged, aided\nby Mr. McKay and Posse.\nThe Indian pleaded not guilty, and criminated another party, residing in the village opposite\nthe Fort. The Constable aided by Mr. McKay and followers, were sent to apprehend him, but\non landing at the village the men were surrounded and in part disarmed by the Indians, and\nretreated in great alarm leaving one of the Boats, and two muskes in possession of the Indians.\nWhen that report was brought in I despatched a party to demand the Boat, and Muskets, which\nthey refused to surrender. The Steamer was immediately towed up a breast of the village, and\nthe Fort Guns w7ere also turned upon it, but before any offensive measures were taken the\nIndians beat a parley, and returned the property claimed; which put a stop to further proceedings. The village is now nearly deserted the Indians being in a state of great alarm.\nThey are now mustering property among them to pay for the cattle stolen; which will I\npresume lead to a final adjustment of this affair. I will not trouble you with further remarks\nat present, as I will have to address you again in a few days by the Schooner \" Honolulu \"\nwhich we have chartered to bring 4 loads of horned Cattle from Nesqually. She will carry\nabout 80 head at one trip, and we trust that you will be prepared to load her with despatch.\nThe terms are 5 dollars a head for large cattle, 4 for two year old and 1 dollar for Calves of\none year\nWith best wishes\nYours very truly\nJames Douglas.\n(ii.)\nfoet a'ictoeia\n6th May 1852\nW F Tolmie Esqre.\nDear Sir,\nThe \" Honolulu \" arrived here on the 30th Ultimo, and ou the morning following Captain\nPattle delivered your letter of the 29th April with all the other letters and documents forwarded\nby him from Nesqually.\nThe cargo of the \" Honolulu \" was safely landed on the 1st Inst, with I beleive, very little\nloss, as you will observe by an account of the Stock, which I have desired Mr. Finlayson to\nmake out, and forward to you herewith. V 92 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nAll the Stock forwarded to this place should be charged as stated in that account.\nI am happy to hear that you have succeeded in completing the log park and lane leading\nto the beach, and that it answers the purpose of confining the Cattle perfectly well.\nA young animal answering the description of L. A. Smith's yearling Bull, was found here,\nand will be re-shipped for Nesqually by the \" Honolulu.\"\nCaptain Pattle being at present busily engaged in constructing a house for himself on his\nclaim, does not intend to leave for Nesqually until the 9th. or 10th Inst; which will be an\nadvantage to you in one respect, by allowing a little repose to your much jaded horses.\nThe Sheep Shears were received here, and Captain Pattle has been paid for the freight of\nhis late cargo of Stock according to the arrangement stated in your letter, and has also settled\nfor his account at Nesqually, amounting by your account to 35 dollars 90 cents.\nI am very anxious to procure 12 or 15 Gelding Horses to mount a body of rangers; which\nI am now forming for the protection of the settlements, and especially of the running cattle,\nwhich are continually straying into the woods, where they become as wild as the Deer, and\noffer an irresistable temptation to the prowling Indian. I have to solicit your good offices in\nprocuring these horses by purchase from Indians or otherwise; and shipping them to this place\nby the \" Honolulu,\" and also beg you to purchase and forward 20 good riding saddles, either\ncountry made or imported if at any thing like a moderate price.\nWe shall reserve and forward the number of milk pans requested in your letter.\nI have to beg that you will forward as much fresh beef as possible, besides the Live Stock,\nby return of the \"Honolulu\" to this place.\nWith best wishes I remain\nMy dear Sir\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\nClapp has requested that two sums of money say $20 and 25 dollars, may be paid to you\nand Scarthe respectively, which has been charged to his account here, and may be paid at\nNesqually and charged to Fort A'ictoria sale Shop. J. D.\n(12.)\n(Private)\nFobt A'ictoria\n7th May 1852\nMy Dear Sib\nI have received your much esteemed private letter of the 29th April, and thank you for its\ninteresting contents.\nStrange people are those Americans possessing qualities the most opposite and extraordinary,\nwearing the garb of devoted patriotism, yet bartering political faith for dollars, are vices hardly\nso strongly marked in England as in the New World.\nTo have attempted to arrest the course of the Survey, would have been an act of folly in\nthe mob. The disbanded soldiers will be dangerous neighbours, but we cannot prevent it, events\nmust take their course, whether for or against our interests.\nI fear the transport of the Nesqually outfit from A'ancouver, by the way of the Cowelitz,\nwill be very expensive, much more so, than Ballenden Supposes. Mr. Peers says that they\ncannot find Indians to boat the Cowlitz wheat to Vancouver under 2 dollars a day for each.\nI hope you may succeed in getting a full cargo of cattle for next trip of the Honolulu, and\npray, do your utmost to get the horses we want for our rangers. The Indians are all very quiet\nat present and have been so ever since the row in March but of course Small difficulties will\nnow and then occur, which should be provided for.\nI do not think it w7ould be advisable to diminish the production Sheep at Nesqually, or\napprove of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. 4 Geo. 5\nBritish Columbia.\nV 93\nProvisions will be scarce and high for many years to come in this country and the supply\nof this colony will annually take a great number of sheep off your hands. Sheep are moreover\nvaluable on account of being so easily managed and so available for use.\nThe crops are looking better than usual in this quarter. I will leave all the news to\nFinlayson.\nWith compliments to Mrs. Tolmie and best wishes,\nYours very truly\nJames Douglas.\nBailleys School is doing wonders\u00E2\u0080\u0094books are scarce, will you get 36 spelling Books for that\npromising institution if procurable any where\ntruly yours\nJ. D.\n(I3-)\nFort A'ictoria\n21st May 1852.\nWilliam F Tolmie Esqre.\nDear Sib\nI forward this communication by John Jeffreys Esqre. who is proceeding on his professional\npursuits to Fort Vancouver, and will visit Fort Nesqually on his way thither.\nThe object of Mr. Jeffrey's Mission is known to you by report, and also that he is travelling\nunder the protection of the Hudson's Bay Company, and you are hereby authorized to furnish\nany supplies he may require in continuation of his journey to Fort Vancouver.\nI feel assured that you will do every thing in your power to promote his views, by furnishing every necessary assistance and information respecting the country.\nYou will please to forward a valued and receipted copy of the account of supplies made to\nMr. Jeffreys in your department when he leaves for Fort Vancouver and with these remarks 1\nrecommend him most warmly to your kind attention and hospitality.\nI have just received your communication of the 12th inst, and have to thank you for the\ninformation it contains.\nWe expect the \" Mary Dare \" from the Sandwich Islands, on, or about the 10th June, and\nif you ascertain that her presence is required at Nesqually, we will send her thither as soon as\nyou communicate information of the same to us.\nThere have been no arrivals from any quarter since the date of my last communication, and\nnothing has occurred here worthy of particular notice.\nI remain\nDear Sir\nYour obt Servt.\nJames Douglas.\nP.S. Antoine Gagnon is travelling on leave to Fort Vancouver, and will return from thence\nby way of Nesqually with Mr. McLeans daughter and his own two children. You will oblige\nme by supplying him with a horse to the Cowelitz and by sending them on to this place from\nNesqually. J. D.\nMy7 Deab Sib :\nI have received your private note of the 12th, and thank you for much intelligence.\nThe attempt to arrest the progress of the surveyors was a very foolish thing, and worthy\nof the men who made it. Pattle has no doubt long ere this made appearance at Nesqually\u00E2\u0080\u0094 V 94\nProvincial Archives Department.\n1914\nand I shall therefore say nothing about him. Large oxen are certainly much required here\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094and I think it would be advisable to employ Wren in driving them in as you have suggested.\nAVith kind respects to Mrs. Tolmie\nSincerely yours,\nJames Douglas.\nNote.\u00E2\u0080\u0094This refers to the stopping of the survey of the P. S. Agr. Compy's claim (land) in Pierce\nCounty. Mr. Chapman, Senr., was the Surveyor.\u00E2\u0080\u0094in 1862 I was with Mr. Chapman. The armed\nmob were squatters. I recollect the names of a few\u00E2\u0080\u0094Sandy Smith; Chas. AVren; John McLeod;\nHenry Murray; Thos Tallentire (Father of the printer \" Tallentire \" once well known in Olympia).\nThey made (the mob) loud threats of what they'd do, if we continued the work, and Scared Old\nChapman, from finishing the work, which was more than % completed. After the lapse of a few\nweeks, / went quietly to work and finished the Survey.\nE. Huggins\n(Fort Nisqually).\n(I4-)\nFort A'ictoria\n2S July 1S52\nWilliam F Tolmie Esqre\nMy Dear Sib,\nI duly received your letters of the 8th and 21st July with their enclosures, respectively.\nThe former of those letters was brought to this place, by Mr. Way and Company who took\ncharge of the packet, after the wreck of your express canoe near Point Partridge: the Indian\ncrew did not come to this place, and did not consequently receive the articles you requested\nmight be delivered to them here. I have engaged Mr. Way to put up a two story house in\nConstance Cove Esquimalt, which lies contiguous to a very fine tract of land on the Puget's\nSound Cos claim: the situation is very valuable, and will give an impulse to the settlement of\nthe neighbouring coast.\nI received the copy of the letter to Mr. Holbrooke containing the decision of the Treasury\nDepartment in reference to the seizure of the \" Mary Dare.\" It is just such a result as I\nanticipated and as our (suptneness) has merited\nAs long as we submit tamely to wrong, injuries will be heaped upon us with an unsparing\nhand, and the triumph of our oppressors be complete.\nThe services of the Mary Dare are pressingly wanted for the coast, otherwise we might as\nyou have suggested, make her over to the United States for the expenses incurred by the seizure.\nAVe have charged the 100 dollars drawn by Mr. Lemprit on Pere Rioard, to Fort Nesqually\n1852. The 12 riding saddles were duly received here.\nThe mail forw7arded by the Damariscove was duly received here, and also your Requisition\nof goods from A'ancouver. I am sorry to observe that your stock of blankets is exhausted, more\nso as we have no means of sending you a further supply at present, as the Mary Dare must\nproceed to the coast, as soon as she returns from Fort A'ancouver.\nI trust Mr. Ballenden will succeed in freighting a vessel from the Columbia for Nesqually,\nindeed he spoke to me so positively as to the facility of carrying out such an arrangement,\nthat I have no doubt of your soon seeing a vessel with supplies from A'ancouver; on the contrary,\nI will endeavour to supply the Post from this place. Mr. Tempier of Marseilles has given an\nannual credit of 10,000 francs, equal to \u00C2\u00A3375 sterling, on behalf of Mr Ricard or his coadjutor,\nMr. Herberney, including how7ever the sum of \u00C2\u00A375 already drawn for last year, and you may\nadvance Father Ricard to that amount, in such articles as he may require, and the credit may\nbe continued from year to year until further instructions.\nWith best wishes\nI remain\nMy dear Sir\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\nP.S. Your letter of credit for 500 dollars on behalf of Captn. Balch, was presented here by\nCaptn. Hatheway, and goods to the amount of $477.71c for which Captn Hatheways receipt is 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 95\nherewith transmitted, were delivered to him. In making that advance to Captn Balch, I have\nno doubt you have acted with your usual prudence, but I would nevertheless remark, that as a\ngeneral thing the system of credit should not be extended, as it is expressly prohibited by the\nCompany's regulations. i\nYours sincerely\nJ. D.\nMr. Peers is anxious to visit this place after harvest, to look after his property on A'ancouvers Island, and I have consented to his coming, provided you can spare Mr. Huggins to\nremain at the Cowelitz during his absence. J. D.\n(I5-)\nFOBT A'ICTORIA\n17 Septr. 1852.\nMy dear Sir\nI was sorry to learn by your much esteemed private letter that you had been exposed to\nso much bad wreather on your return to Nesqually, and trust Mrs. Tolmies health has not\nmaterially suffered by it.\nI am sorry to hear of the loss of the Eagle, on the west coast of A'ancouvers Island and\nregret the bad conduct of the Indians, which I will represent to the Colonial office, for consideration.\nAt present I have no force at my disposal to resent such acts, but I have no doubt due\nnotice will be taken of the matter.\nBalch appears to be driving a flourishing trade at Clayoquot, but I would advise him not\nto repeat the experiment too often for fear of accidents.\nI am glad to hear that Mr. Moses is disposed to be reasonable and I wish we were prepared\nto take advantage of the mood, which may not be lasting\u00E2\u0080\u0094probably we might make up a cargo\nof sundries say sugar, salt, Flour and woolen goods, sufficient to settle all accounts with him.\nIn that case send your order and we will forward it by the Recovery. Ross' conduct is I\nam sorry to hear been very bad. It will probably end in his ruin.\nMrs. Douglas and family unite with me in kind respects to Mrs. Tolmie.\nAVith best wishes\nSincerely yours\nJames Douglas.\nP. S. You w7ill oblige me, by purchasing 100 Bushels of oats ou my private account and\nforwarding the same, with the oats purchased for the Company. I do not however wish to pay\nfor it in cash\u00E2\u0080\u0094at the present ruinous price, I will therefore send you a sufficient number of\nBlankets from my own stock of goods to cover the cost. J. D.\n(16.)\nFort A'ictoria\n17th Septr. 1852. ,\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqre.\nSir\nThe return canoe arrived here from Nesqually yesterday afternoon and I have to acknowledge the receipt by that conveyance of your letter of the 12th Septr. and the accompanying\ndocuments.\nThe balance due by the Revd. Mr. Staines at Nesqually has been charged to his account\nin the Sale Shop Books at this place, and you will therefore please to charge that Sum Say\n\u00C2\u00A325.13.1%d. to Fort Victoria Sale Shop, under the following entry\u00E2\u0080\u0094To balance of the Revd. Mr.\nStaines account transferred. I was not aware of the advance of $155 made on account of the V 96\nProvincial Archives Department.\n1914\nRevd. Mr. Staines, as mentioned in your private letter and no trace could be found of it in his\naccount here: I have now had that Sum charged to his Shop account, and beg that you will\nalso carry it to account of Fort A'ictoria Sale Shop in your Books.\nIn future I beg that you will advise me immediately of all payments made at Nesqually on\naccount of persons at this place, to prevent irregularities, the necessity of that precaution, being\nobvious from the instance just quoted, which proves that without the hint in your private letter\nthe large Sum of 155 dollars advanced at Nesqually, would not have been charged to the Revd.\nMr. Staines; no record of the transaction having been kept here.\nAs there may be other instances of the same kind I beg that a copy of your charges against\nthis place may be made out and forwarded to me at your earliest convenience.\nI notice the proposition made by Collector Moses, in reference to the payment of his Bill\nand we shall forward the Goods, as Soon as you send a requisition to this place: the sooner\nthat is done the better, as the retirement of Mr. Moses from office, may endanger the Security\nof the debt. The large Sales lately made at Nesqually will I have no doubt enable you to sell\na much larger quantity of Goods than we have ordered from England, so that the Post will be\nalso a gainer by the transaction.\nI wish you would inform me by return of Mail, if you will be able to meet a draft in favour\nof Mr. Way, for $1,000\u00E2\u0080\u0094if so it will save the expense and risk of sending that quantity of cash\nto this place.\nThe 2 dozen of Pit Saw Files forwarded by the Indians were delivered here.\nMr. Pemberton has returned from Nanymo; and has ascertained, that the Nanymo district\nis one vast coal field. Mr. Muir's explorations have also proved satisfactory, but have not been\ncarried to an extent sufficient to determine the great question as to the extent of the 5 foot\nSeam.\nThe \" Cadboro \" has returned with a Second cargo, and the \" Recovery \" is I presume by this\ntime loaded. The \" Mary Dare\" lately from Fort Simpson was despatched yesterday to the\nMines for a cargo.\nWe have now 80 Tons of Coal here for sale, and the Recovery is expected in a few days\nwith a cargo of 120 Tons, which will be sold to any vessel touching at this port.\nI will thank you to circulate that intelligence at Nesqually, and to forward our lumber by\nany vessel coming this way.\nAVith best wishes\nI remain Sir\nYours truly.\nJames Douglas.\n(I7-)\nFort A'ictoria,\n14th October,\n1852\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.,\nDear Sib\nThe Nesqually Indians arrived here on the 12th Inst, with the Vancouver Mail, and your\nletter dated the Sth of October to which I shall now reply.\nMr. Walker's removal to Newmarket will I fear prove an inconvenience to us, should lumber\nbe purchased from him; as the increased distance will add considerably to the charge of transport to this place. In those circumstances I approve of your not giving him the order for the\ncedar clap boards, which can be prepared here at fully less expense; but I beg you will complete\nthe order given for the inch deals which will all be required for the new farming Establishments\nof the Puget Sound Company.\nIn regard to the transport of that lumber to this place, we will be able to effect it by one of\nour own vessels as I shall send either the New Brigatine Vancouver or the \" Mary Dare \" to\nNesqually, about the beginning of December next, about which time the lumber should be brought\ndown to meet the vessel there in order to avoid detention. A requisition for any Goods required\nby that Conveyance should therefore be forwarded to this place some time previously, that they 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 97\nmay be put up in readiness for the vessel. The Nesqually Wool and Furs may also be shipped\nby the same conveyance.\nShould any earlier opportunity however occur of forwarding the lumber, and other freight\nat a low rate of charge by any other vessel to this place, I have no objections to your taking\nthat course but I feel assured that Chartering a vessel expressly for the purpose would involve\na very serious expense, which I do not feel disposed to incur.\nI may reply to your enquiry Concerning Coal that we have about SO Tons on hand at this\nplace, which we will sell at 12 dollars a Ton, and further that very large quantities may be\nprocured at short notice from the Mines at Nanaimo, where it is delivered alongside for 10\ndollars a Ton. The coal is of excellent quality, and burns with a bright flame, and ardent heat,\nto a white ash leaving no dross or waste whatever.\nThe demand made by the Collector of Taxes for the levy on the Puget Sound Companys\nlands is I suppose according to Law, and the sum would have been levied by execution on the\nCompany's property, even if you had not consented to pay the demand; you had therefore no\nalternative but to pay the Sum, under protest which was the proper course. You remark that\nthe sum paid was \" 645 dollars and 12 cents, that being the amount of tax at 75 cents per acre,\non the extent of our'land 224 square miles as shown by the late survey.\" By my calculation\nof the extent of that area, the rate of Tax will not come to more than one half cent per acre\nor exactly 2 dollars and 88 cents a square mile, a matter to which I call your attention lest there\nshould be a mistake in your statement.\nYoung Dean is now sent to his Father with whom I trust he will behave better than he has\ndone at this place and become a steady and useful man.\nJohnson is here, but we have as yet entered into no arrangement with him, his terms being\nhigher than w7e are disposed to give.\nThe supplies ordered in your note will be forwarded.\nI am sorry that a better supply of horses has not been sent from Fort A'ancouver, but I trust\nyou will be able to purchase such as we want from the Indians, making the payments in goods,\nwhich will be charged at transfer price.\nMr. Walter Ross is now under the Doctors hands, and I fear it will be some time before\nhe is fit for duty.\nThe \" Mary Dare \" & \" Recovery \" have been both despatched to California with cargoes of\ncoal, the latter the day before yesterday and the former on the 6th Inst.\nCoal is very abundant at Nanaimo; in addition to the first discovery a second 6 foot Seam\nhas been lately discovered, at the distance of 1% miles from the former, and it is supposed we\ncan take out about 10,000 Tons by Indian labour alone. The Coal is of excellent quality, superior\nas Mr. Muir thinks to any Scotch Coal he has ever seen, and fully equal to good English coal.\nI will make no further comment on that discovery, lest I should say too much, as it is\naltogether so extraordinary, that one can hardly think temperately on the Subject.\nWe have not received the Onion seed, which you promised to send, and you will confer a\ngreat favour by forwarding it by any early conveyance.\nI remain\nDear Sir\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\n(18.)\nReed. Novr. 10th\nFort A'ictoria\n5th Nov. 1852.\nWilliam F. Tolmie, Esqre.\nDear Sib\nI have received your letters of the 20th Octr. with the packet from A'ancouver. The letters\nnow forwarded for England and Fort A'ancouver by the bearers, contain remittances, and refer\nto matters of great importance\u00E2\u0080\u0094let me therefore beg that they be forwarded with despatch,\nand by a safe conveyance.\n7 V 98\nProvincial- Archives Department.\n1914\nI wish you could forward a few rams for Mr Langford as we cannot send a Boat to Nesqually\nat present.\nWe have a large quantity of salmon on hand at this place and Fort Langley and sell at\n11 Dollars a barrel. Coal is sold at 12 dollars a ton here, and 10 Dollars at Nanaimo.\nLime Stone and Lime may be procured here by Sending an order in advance but there is\nno fixed price as Scarcely any business has yet been done in that way.\nMany thanks for the San Francisco price list and for the onion Seed.\nTen dollars a ton is an extravagant price for freight from Nesqually to A'ictoria, yet if\npayment be made in Coal at 12 dollars a ton\u00E2\u0080\u0094I should not object to it. Take the Clapboarding\nfrom Mr. Walker, since you have agreed to do so. Charge the goods given for that lumber, to\nthe \" Pugets Sound Company \" at transfer price, with all expenses incurred and a Commission\nof 2% per Cent for the benefit of Fort Nesqually. Such is the principle on which all transfers\nbetween Districts will be hereafter Settled.\nI am glad to hear that Moses' Bill is on its way to AVashington.\nThe arrangement with Miller is good\u00E2\u0080\u0094my best respects to him\u00E2\u0080\u0094I agree with you that no\ndependence can be placed on Moses.\nAll well at Nanaimo and elsewhere.\nWith best wishes\nVery truly yours\nJames Douglas.\nMy dear Sir\nMany thanks for your private note. I am glad the grass seeds are coming up; and delighted\nwith Dr. Shumards opinion of the Cowelitz Coal.\nI cannot employ Charles Ross\u00E2\u0080\u0094perhaps it would be as well to purchase the Ross farm;\nbut it should be done with the Consent of the principal members of the family. I shall give Tod\na reading of the Tribunes\u00E2\u0080\u0094I have not heard except by your letter, of the adjustment of the\nFishery question with the U. S.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Kind respects to Mrs. Tolmie.\nA'ery truly yours\nJames Douglas.\n(I9-)\nFort A'ictoria\n6th December 1852.\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqre.\nDeab Sir\nThe York Factory party arrived here on the 4th Inst, and delivered the packet Safely, also\nyour letter of the 29th November.\nWe have not yet Succeeded in purchasing a Canoe for Nesqually, as there are none of the\nright description within reach; but we shall endeavour to procure one at the first favourable\nopportunity. The Indians have been therefore paid for the trip in order to save the expense\nof paying them at Nesqually.\nWe shall see what can be done for you in the way of Flour by the first Ship that proceeds\nto Nesqually; but I hardly think it will be in our power to send you any, as we have not a large\nStock on hand.\nThe \" Mary Dare \" and \" Recovery \" have both returned from California. The market was\nunfortunately overstocked with Coal before their arrival at San Francisco, and purchasers\nhesitated in bidding for an article whose qualities had not been thoroughly tested.\nThe Cargoes were therefore sold at a low price the one, at 15 & the other at 16 dollars pr.\nTon. The experiments since made with that Coal have proved, I am informed, very Satisfactory, and the opinion is expressed that it will answer well for Steamers use.\nThe news from Nanaimo is good. The Miners Struck Coal in the Shaft at the depth of\n46 feet. This proved to be a bed of excellent Coal measuring rather over 72 inches from roof\nto pavement, and great things are expected from it. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 99\nThe Recovery sailed yesterday for a Supply of potatoes at Cowetchin. The Mary Dare will\nbe detained at least 15 days in Port for repairs. No word of the Steamer as yet. Indians all\nquiet. Have not yet attempted to catch the murderers, reserving that duty till the arrival of\nthe Steamer,\nAVith best wishes\nYours sincerely\nJames Douglas.\nP.S. Please mail the accompanying letters for England p first opportunity.\n(20.)\nFort A'ictoria\ni 29th April 1S53.\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqre.\nDear Sib\nI received your letter of the 23rd of April with enclosures two days ago, by the arrival of\nMr. Simpson at this place.\nI shall not fail to make inquiries about the articles stolen from Nesqually by the Indians\nof our last mail Canoe, and we shall endeavour to procure restitution of the Stolen Goods, though\nthe success of the experiment is uncertain, as from the Scarcity of Indians about the place at\nthe time, the two Canoes w7ere not manned by our regular voyaging Indians, but by Stragglers\nfrom different parts of the Country.\nI have strictly charged Mr. Simpson to protect and make your Indians as comfortable as\npossible while here, so as to leave no room for complaint.\nThe Steamer and \" Cadboro \" lately arrived from Fort Rupert, The \" Recovery \" having\nremained as guard Ship at Nanaimo. The Coal works there are doing wonders; the shaft being\nfairly Started. The Coal is in places 9 feet thick, and every where of excellent quality. I have\nsent up 10 assistant miners, engaged at \u00C2\u00A325 per year, who turn out as much coal as the regular\nhands who came from Scotland. The latter are rather annoyed at this and disposed to be\nsarcastic at the expense of the novices.\nHer Majesty's Steam Sloop \" Virago\" Captn. Prevost, called here on her way to Queen\nCharlotte's Island, to guard and protect the Coast against the unauthorized visits of foreign\nvessels and will return to this place in the Course of three weeks.\nI have perused the reply of Messrs. McElroy & Bebie, editors of the Columbian, and beg\nyou will inform them that the Kind of printing wanted, is such as used in the Columbian, that\ntype being sufficiently large and distinct; for printing proclamations, acts of the Legislature,\nand such like documents required for the information of the public.\nI beg you will be good enough to forward the accompanying packets and letters for England\nsome of which are from Her Majesty's Ship \" Virago.\" The Canvass Bag contains the Seamen's\nletters, with money for the postage say rather over $2% ; which you will oblige me by paying\naccordingly.\nWith best wishes\nSincerely yours\nJames Douglas.\n(21.)\n(Private.)\nA'ictoria 21 June 1853.\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqre\nMy dear Sir\nI had flattered myself with the hope of meeting you here, before this, but find from your\nlast letter, that I must look to a future time for that pleasure\u00E2\u0080\u0094I w7ish you could manage to come\nover, when I am not much engaged, and when I am not from home, as your company will be\nquite a treat, which I should be sorry to miss. V 100 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nThe time is now at hand when I must leave this, to meet the Brigade at Langley from\nwhence I will return about the 5th July\u00E2\u0080\u0094therefore do not come before that date. Your private\nnote contains much interesting matter. I fear squatters will encroach on the Company's lands,\nin defiance of all our exertions to the contrary. The Agents of the Company appear to take the\nannouncement of such proceedings very cas'ly. I suppose they are like ourselves, at a loss how\nto act, in the circumstances, unwilling to lay out money in the improvement of uncertain\nproperty, and unable to get government to take any active measures for their relief. There\nremains to us only two modes of proceeding, either to warn trespassers off the Company's lands\nor to grant portions of it on leases\u00E2\u0080\u0094and I think you had better consult our lawyer, as to the\nquestion of which plan will be expedient at present.\nI shall strive to get you Pierre Lagace as an assistant, if he comes this way, of which\nhowever I can see little or no chance\u00E2\u0080\u0094so that you must strive to provide a substitute for\nMontgomery from your own establishment.\nWe have just received intelligence by Indians from the northern Posts. All well in that\nquarter, and returns remarkably good at Fort Simpson. The Mary Dare returned on the 2d from\nSan Francisco, with a supply of flour, laid in at 10 dollars a barrel\u00E2\u0080\u0094the A'ancouver has just\nleft for the same port, chiefly for a cargo of flour\u00E2\u0080\u0094which is still scarce here.\nI hope Mrs. Tolmie and family are quite well\u00E2\u0080\u0094my son James is still ailing though he bears\nup bravely, and is full of life. I have not time to say all that I wished to say, but we shall\ntake a good spell when we meet.\nAA'ith best wishes\nSincerely yours\nJas. Douglas.\n(22.)\nFort A'ictoria\n22d June 1853.\nWilliam F. Tolmie Esqre.\nDear Sir\nMr. Langford having authorised Mr. Thomas Cooper to purchase twelve thousand feet of\nassorted lumber, on account of Esquimalt Farm, according to a descriptive list in Mr. Coopers\npossession, it being understood that the price of lumber is thirty dollars per thousand feet, I beg\nthat you will furnish said Mr. Cooper with funds to make the said purchase and charge the\nsame to the account of Esquimau Farm. If you can manage to make the payment in goods, it\nwould lighten the cost of the lumber, and be less burdensome to the Farm\u00E2\u0080\u0094which has been so\nfar very expensive to the Company\u00E2\u0080\u0094though the improvements are worth the outlay.\nThe flooring boards for A'ictoria Depot may be also shipped by the return of the Alice, Mr.\nCooper having agreed to bring them here at the rate of eight dollars a thousand feet as freight.\nI have received your letters of the 28th May, and Sth June, which I will now briefly notice,\nbefore I leave for Langley, where the Brigade arrived three days ago, with fair returns from the\ninterior.\nI have seen and approve of your advertizing the public of the sheep you have on hand for\nsale. I foresee the annoyance, that will be caused by squatters on the Company's lands, the\nonly preventive in our power is to warn them off\u00E2\u0080\u0094and so also with the squatter on the Sequale-\nchem unless the Company's legal adviser should recommend leasing the place, as the more\nexpedient course.\nI shall be most happy to hear that you have sold the disposable sheep, on hand, at a good\nround price, as something in the way of income is needed to keep the shareholders of the Puget\nSound Company in good humour.\nI have not heard lately from friend Ogden. who is I trust in good health\u00E2\u0080\u0094Peers poor fellow\nis suffering from an attack of fever\u00E2\u0080\u0094a plague from which- we enjoy a happy exemption at this,\nplace. 4 Geo. 5\nBritish Columbia.\nV 101\nThe Otter is not yet arrived and I do not expect her here before the first week in July.\nShe has some goods on board which were ordered for the supply of Nisqually, but probably they\nwill not be sent there now7.\nI trust Ogden will send your supplies in good time, and not keep you waiting to the great\ninjury of the trade.\nWith best wishes\nSincerely yours\nJames Douglas.\n(23-)\nFOBT A'ICTOBIA\n14th July 1853.\nWilliam Fraser Tolmie, Esqre.,\nDeab Sib\nI have to acknowledge the receipt of your much esteemed letter of the Srd Inst, with the\nCash which was delivered to Mr. Finlayson and I believe found correct.\nThe sheep have been sold to great advantage and it is to be hoped you may turn the other\ndisposable sheep to equally good account.\nI hope you may benefit by the exchange of Rams for sheep in the Walamette, though I\nwould not consider it an advantage to get Sheep of inferior Fleece.\nThe Farmers of the Puget Sound Company on this Island being in great want of work-oxen\nwhich cannot be supplied here I beg that you will take measures to get as many as 24 Oxen\npartially tamed and broke to the Yoke for their use, and I will send a vessel for them as soon\nas I am informed of your being ready to make the delivery.\nThe \" Cadboro \" being often disposable I could send her to Nesqually, at very little expense,\nprovided we could get her safely through the Custom House.\nPray write me if that can be managed, and if so her services will become more useful than\never.\nI remain\nDear Sir\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\nP.S. Fitzwilliams made a dreadful mess with the packet intrusted to his care. Pray trust\nnone of those fancy travellers with our letters, as they will always disappoint us. I commend\nthe present packet for England to your care.\nMany thanks for your private letter, which I will reply to when we meet. Compliments to\nMrs. T. and family. Sincerely yours J. D.\nWilliam F. Tolmie, Esqre.\n(24.)\nA'ICTOBIA VANCOUVEES ISLAND,\n14th Jany., 1854.\nDear Sir\nI herewith transmit to your care, the following packets vizt:\n2 packets His Grace Duke of Newcastle\n1 \u00E2\u0080\u009E Archibald Barclay Esqre\n1 \u00E2\u0080\u009E Messrs. Maitland Phelps & Co.\nwhich I desire may be transmitted by first mail for San Francisco.\nI have nothing of importance to communicate on business matters-\nour vessels, which you will hear from Mr. Work.\n-except the movements of V 102 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nI forward this canoe chiefly for the purpose of conveying Mr. J. H. Saunders, solicitor of\nSan Francisco, to Nisqually. He is a party interested and arrived here, by ship, with Captain\nHoward, to make the final arrangements in the Ice contract. The deposit money has been paid\nto Lowe, and the first instalment of rent will be paid on the 1st day of March. Saunders is\nremarkably intelligent and gentlemanly\u00E2\u0080\u0094and may give s7ou valuable hints, in regard to the\nCompanys lands.\nI have given him a letter of introduction to you and beg you to treat him kindly and liberally.\nPush him forward on his journey\u00E2\u0080\u0094as he is anxious to catch the mail steamer of the 26th.\nVery sincerely yours\nJames Douglas.\n(25-)\nFort A'ictoria\n21st Jany, 1854.\nWilliam F. Tolmie, Esqre.,\nDear Sib\nThe \" Otter \" being now here waiting the arrival of the \" Colinda \" from England, she being\nrequired to take the passengers to \" Nanaimo,\" I have resolved on despatching her in the interval\nfor a cargo of Fresh beef and mutton to Nesqually, as we are Short of fresh provisions at this\nplace\u00E2\u0080\u0094and you are aware that a large supply of food will be required on her arrival\u00E2\u0080\u0094with the\nMiners\u00E2\u0080\u0094therefore make up a load of fresh beef and mutton with as little delay as possible, and\nwith that pray send the Otter back to this place\u00E2\u0080\u0094I give her the coming week for that service\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nand will expect her here, on or before Saturday the 29th Inst.\nI have today received your letter of the 11th Novr. with the charges against Constance Cove\nand Maple Point Farms.\nThe last cargo of Deals by the Alice consisting by Mr. AValkers account of 20,000 feet of\nlumber, was sent to Nanaimo, and may be all charged to that place.\nThe former cargo which you allude to as having been purchased at a cost of $397.85, I am\nnot very certain about. I authorised you in a letter dated 19th June last, to purchase 12000\nfeet of assorted lumber for \" Esquimalt Farm \" which was duly received here, and also to send\nthe Flooring boards for A'ictoria Depot, to this place by the Alice. AA'e received on the latter\naccount about 3200 feet, but that is the only lumber excepting the last cargo sent to Nanaimo\nwhich appears to have been received from Nisqually this year. Pray correct me if I am wrong.\nThe Alice brought another and third cargo of Deals, but it was not on our account, the\nBishop and another party here, having furnished Captain Cooper with Cash, to purchase it at\nOlympia on their account.\nWe shall be infinitely obliged to you for a supply of 2 or 3000 dollars in specie by return of\nthe Otter.\nWe had a fall of ten inches of snow last night.\nWith best wishes\nYours sincerely\nJames Douglas.\n(26.)\nFobt A'ictoria\n4th March, 1854.\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.,\nDeab Sib :\nI have received your letter of the 21st February, with the accounts, and other Documents\nforwarded by Captain McLean.\nI have examined your account of charges against the AVestern Department, and see nothing\nto remark upon, except the Beef, which is valued at a price much beyond the understanding I 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 103\nhad with you on the Subject. It was agreed that the Beef should be charged against the Fur\nTrade, at the rate of 3d per lb: It was only on those terms that I agreed to purchase the lean\nill-fed Beef of Nesqually. I am at a loss to conceive how you came to deviate from the principle\nof that agreement. I am however resolved on one thing, that we shall get no more Beef from\nNesqually as long as a better article can be had for less money at San Francisco. Your charge\n5d for the Beef supplied, and I am convinced that price w7as doubled by the time it was issued\nhere, through waste, depreciation, and loss of weight during the voyage and shipment from\nNesqually.\nThe \" Colinda \" has not yet arrived with our supplies from England. AA'e lately heard that\nshe had put into the Port of A'aldivia, in consequence of a mutiny on board.\nPier arrival here is therefore uncertain, AVe expect the \" Otter \" next week with supplies\nfrom California.\nI have heard from Kennedy up to the Sth January and from Fort Rupert to the 13th Feby\nall was then well and trade good.\nWe are very short of Cash at present, not having a single Dollar, and the servants are all\nclamourous for money.\nI shall take your hint about the \" Otter \" and not send her to Nesqually until the excitement\nsubsides.\nPlease forward the accompanying Packets for England.\nWith best wishes\nYours truly,\nJames Douglas.\nP. S. Have the goodness to prepay the three enclosed letters and oblige yours\nSincerely\nJas. Douglas.\n(27-)\nFoet A'ictoria\n13th April, 1S54.\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.\nDear Sir\nBy the arrival of the Alice at this Port I was favoured with your letter of the 1st of April,\nwith the accompanying Documents, which I have perused with much attention..\nI have noted your remarks in regard to the weight of the Beef supplied this place, and the\nexplanation is satisfactory. It is however not my intention to get any more Beef from Nesqually,\nuntil there is a reduction in the price, as we can import it from other quarters at much less\nexpense. The last mess Beef, brought from California cost $16 a Barrel, and we have just\nreceived a supply from the Sandwich Islands at the rate of $11 a Barrel, being scarcely half\nthe cost of the Nesqually Beef, though a much Superior article.\nWe have received the Oats per \" Alice \" and do not require the Pease, as we have received,\na supply. '\nIn reply to your enquiry, about the \" Prince Albert,\" expected in August next from England,\nshe will have to touch at this port and discharge her cargo before going to Nesqually\nPray therefore make all necessary arrangements with the Custom House Authorities at\nOlympia and acquaint me with their decision. \\nIf any Blankets can be spared from the \" Thomasine's \" cargo, for the trade of Nesqually I\nshall send you a supply, that is however a point which cannot be decided until the arrival of\nthe vessel, as neither the Invoice nor Bill of Lading have arrived here, and I do not know what\nproportion of our Requisition was shipped by her.\nWe have just received the accounts from the Interior. The returns are excellent. The\nincrease on New Caledonia is about \u00C2\u00A32,000 and on Thompsons River about 50 per cent, on the\namount of returns. All our friends in that quarter are well and food abundant. V 104 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nI beg your kind, attention in forwarding the accompanying Packets, for England and Fort\nA'ancouver, per first mail.\nYours sincerely\nJames Douglas.\n(28.)\nA'ictoria, 14th July, 1854.\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.,\nDear Sib\nI have to thank you for your letter of the 27th June, and for your kind wishes on the birth\nof our infant daughter.\nMrs. Douglas is now leaving for Nesqually with James and baby to try the effect of a change\nof air. I am afraid they will put you to much trouble, which I will not forget.-\nHave the goodness to supply them with anything they may want at Nesqually on my account,\nas I regret no expense for their good.\nDr. Helmcken accompanies them, and will return immediately with the canoe and mails\nfrom England. I am glad to observe by the Document received with your letter, that the Puget\nSound Agents have taken your Services into consideration aud allowed you a per centage on\nthe nett profits of Nesqually Since 1S52. It will not in my opinion interfere with your Fur Trade\nprospects, being a distinct allowance, from them.\nI am glad to hear that Mr. Mason was pleased with A'ictoria. Pray give him my respects,\nand tell him that the Tomgass Indians have been traced nearly to their distant homes, and are\nno longer in the vicinity of this Colony. A large party of Hyda's lately arrived at this place,\nbut they have Since left on their return homeward, owing in a great measure to the advice I\ngave them. Those wild migrations must be discouraged, as they may lead to much evil. I met\nthe Brigade at Fort Langley; our Interior friends are all well and the returns remarkably good;\nno foreign arrivals from any quarter. Please to forward the packet for England per first mail.\nAA'ith kind respects to Mrs. Tolmie, and commending my little ones to your kind care,\nI remain My Dear Sir\nYours sincerely\nJames Douglas.\nP. S. I wish you could send a few hundred dollars in cash by the return canoe. J. D.\n(29.)\n, FOBT A'ICTOBIA\n19th Septr. 1854.\nHenry N Peers, Esqre.,\nDear Sir\nI herewith transmit a packet for London, which you will oblige me by forwarding with the\nfirst mail, as w7ell as the accompanying letters for San Francisco, which I am anxious should\nreach that place in time to catch the \" Otter \" there, about the end of this month.\nIt being rumoured here that the combined Anglo Franco Fleet, consisting of 8 vessels, will\nshortly rendezvous at this place, for the purpose of commencing some new plan of operations,\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nI feel assured that they will be in want of supplies of all kinds, particularly fresh Beef, mutton\nand vegetables.\nIt will be out of our power to meet their demands, for fresh Beef and mutton, and we will\ntherefore have to apply for assistance to Nesqually, and you may consequently hold yourself\nprepared to meet all our demands of that kind. 4 Geo. 5\nBritish Columbia.\nV 105\nI think it unfortunate that Dr. Tolmie sent away so many of the wedder sheep, when there\nwas a prospect of a better market at home.\nBegging your attention to that object and advising that the Prince Albert will leave this\nplace in a few days for Nesqually,\nI remain Dear Sir\nYours truly,\nJames Douglas.\n(30.)\nVictoria, Srd Octr. 1854.\nMr. Huggins.\nSib\nI herewith transmit to your kind care a Packet addressed to Archibald Barclay Esqre and\nseveral letters for Fort A'ancouver, all which I beg you will forward by the very earliest conveyance ; should the \" Prince Albert\" arrive at Nesqually before Mr Peers' return, please to\ndischarge and despatch her with all possible diligence and give Captain Mannock, a large Supply\nof fresh provisions when he leaves Nesqually on his way to Nanaimo. The Allied Fleet have\njust anchored in the offing, and w7e will probably have to send to Nesqually for a supply of Beef\nand Mutton, therefore Keep the wedder Flocks at hand.\nI remain\nYours very truly\nJames Douglas.\n(3i.)\nFort A'ictoria\n26th April, 1855.\nWilliam F. Tolmie, Esqre.\nDear Sib\nI have this moment received a Despatch from Admiral Bruce, Commander in Cheif of the\nSquadron in the Pacific announcing his intention to call at this place, with part of the Fleet,\nunder his command in all July next.\nHe has sent a demand for a large supply of vegetables, and fresh meat, which will afford\na good opening for the Pugets Sound Sheep at Nesqually.\nIf the ships make any stay here\u00E2\u0080\u0094between 1500 and 2000 wedders will be required, and I\nthink they should be brought here early in June, so as to have time to recruit, before they are\nw7anted for use, I would also advise sending an active agent of the Pugets Sound Company to\nlook after them here\u00E2\u0080\u0094and to make the sales of mutton.\nI dare say Mr. Skinner would take charge of 300 head and the others might be kept in\none flock. Could you also furnish a number equal to 40 head of tame bullocks for beef, and a\nquantity of vegetables, which might be bought from the Settlers for resale here, say Cabbage,\ncarrots, turnips, onions and potatoes.\nWe will employ the Cadboro and Steam vessel in this traffic. You had better therefore clip\nthe young wedders early next month.\nPray write me soon on that subject and tell me what you propose to do.\nYours sincerely\nJames Douglas. V 106 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(32.)\nA'ictobia, 21st July, 1855.\nMy7 dear Sib\nHanson having called to say that he was on the point of leaving this place, on his way to\nNisqually I have to acknowledge by him the receipt of your letter of the 30th Litmo., which\nmust have lingered somewhere on the way. Many thanks for the intelligence it contains.\nThe \" Recovery \" arrived last night from the Sandwich Island;\u00E2\u0080\u0094ship and cargo, in high\norder; no news of any importance from thence. Salmon still low, and lumber, not paying cost\nand charges.\nHer Majesty's Propeller \" Brisk \" arrived here they day before yesterday. Left the Fleet\noff Sitka, two days before. Petro Paulowski has fallen, the fleet dashed in and took the place\nwithout firing a shot.\nThere was no enemy to oppose them, Ships, troops and inhabitants had all left the scene of\ncontention and no traces of the fugitives could be found. A great disappointment to our gallant\ntars w7ho expected some hard fighting. No attempt was made to molest our friends at Sitka\nwho were assured of safety. Admiral Bruce writes that he will not call here this year, himself,\nbut the \" Trincomalee \" will be despatched to this place in a short time.\nNo other tidings of any importance.\nWith best wishes\nYours sincerely\nJames Douglas.\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.\n(330\nA'ictobia, 25th Aug: 1855.\nWilliam F. Tolmie, Esqre.\nMy7 Dear Sir\nThe Nesqually canoe arrived here and A'enn safely delivered the packet into my hands.\nThe news from Fenchurch Street is important; the cargo of furs ex \" Princess Royal \" was\nlanded in excellent order; and from the report of Fur transactions at the last Leipsic Fair, there\nis every probability that the autumn fur sales will go off satisfactorily. Dr. Johnson will not\nbe allowed to return to this country, in the Compauys service; in consequence of his trading\ntransactions at Nanaimo. Pembertons return is also uncertain\u00E2\u0080\u0094he has had a very tempting\noffer, in connection with the projected rail-ways in India\u00E2\u0080\u0094and may probably accept it\u00E2\u0080\u0094so he\nwrites to me.\nMany thanks for your kind letter of the ISth and 19th. I am grieved at the state of my\npoor wifes health, and am ready to do any thing to comfort and relieve her. The letters were\nfor her as well as Mrs. Helmcken, family letters that all might read.\nYour report of proceedings in respect to San Juan affairs, is useful and interesting, those\nworthies of AVhatcomb, appear disposed to agitate, until matters are brought to a crisis\u00E2\u0080\u0094their\nblood be upon their own heads should any be shed. I trust the rumoured repulse of the Allies\nat \" Sebastopol \" is false or greatly exaggerated. The successes at Kertch, and the Sea of Azoff\nare so complete and have so important a bearing on Crimean affairs, that one is tempted to ask\nwhy the Fleet was kept so long inactive and the attempt not sooner made. The Trincomalee\nwas at Sooke last week and is expected here today. Symptoms of scurvy among the crew\ninduced Captain Houston, to leave Sitka sooner than he intended.\nWe expect the Otter about the 27th Inst. She will afterwards take a run to Nesqually,\nexcept in the case of her having an insufficient stock of coal for the trip, requiring her to make\na previous call at Nanaimo\u00E2\u0080\u0094which will cause a weeks further delay.\nAirs. Douglas will return here with the \" Otter.\" 4 Geo. 5\nBritish Columbia.\nV 107\nThere is not a man about this place who can be called either trusty or faithful or I would\nplace him, immediately at your disposal.\nWith kind respects to Mrs. Tolmie and family and sincere best wishes,\nYour friend\nJas. Douglas.\n28th sVug. The Monarch Admiral Bruce is just arrived in Esquimalt\u00E2\u0080\u0094magnificent ship.\nJ. D.\n(34-)\nA'ictoria, A'ancouver's Island,\n1st May, 1856.\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.,\nDeae Sir\nI had this pleasure on the 28th of April by Jone's Boat, who took charge of the Packet for\nNesqually, I believe that no mention was made in that letter of a payment of $20 having been\nmade to him at this place, being the charge in full of the Mails Carried by him up to said date.\nI have again to beg the favor of your attention to the forwarding of the two packets herewith, by the earliest Conveyance for San Francisco.\nSeveral interesting experiments have lately been made here in washing out Gold at Soke\nand other places; the result is encouraging and will lead to further researches, as the attention\nof the public is now strongly directed towards that object.\nThere is nothing else of much importance to communicate at present.\nWith best wishes\n1 Packet H. Labouchere Esqr. Yours truly\n1 \u00E2\u0080\u009E AV. G. Smith Esqr. James Douglas.\n(35-)\nA'ictobia, A'ancouver's Island,\n26th May, 1856.\nW. F. Tolmie, Esqre.\nDear Sir.\nI have to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters of the llth of May, one of them\nenclosing a communication from W. H. Frost, in respect to the importation of goods, via Fraser's\nRiver, to Fort Colvile.\nIt is our intention to build a new Post on British Territory, within 30 miles of Fort Colvile,\nwhere the greater part of the goods, sent to that district, will be deposited.\nAA'e therefore do not wish to enter all the goods, taken in by Mr McDonald, at the U. S.\nCustom-house, but only such part of the same, as may be intended for the Posts within the\nAmerican limits, and, as that proportion cannot be ascertained here, we wish Mr McDonald to\nmake the entries on his return to Colville, where I am of opinion Mr. Frost ought to station a\nCustom-house Officer, and if he considers the expense too great, we will bind ourselves to Act\nas revenue Officers, in our own affairs, and to pay duty on all the goods, we send over the\nFrontiers. Pray mention this subject without delay to Mr. Frost.\nWe have received the mail forwarded by Dr Johnstones boat, and also, that, by Jones who\ntakes on the present mail to Nisqually.\nI will thank you to forward my despatches, which are herewith transmitted.\nAA'ith kind respects to Mrs. Tolmie I remain\nDear Sir\nYours very truly\nJames Douglas. V 108\nProvincial Archives Department.\n1914\n(36.)\nA'ictoria, A'ancouver's Island,\n26th August, 1856.\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.,\nDeab Sib\nThe Nisqually Docket exhibits (a) (grea)t array of your welcome letters, which have not\n(yet) (be)en acknowledged, but I will now7 pay off the score (without) further delay. I have\nthree of your letters (dated) 17th July, and two of the 7th and 11th August. (I) (inten)ded\nto have sent the \"Otter\" to Nisqually last (week, but the) \"Recovery\" being here waiting for\na cargo, she was (?) Sent to Langley for Salmon just cured, (and has not yet) returned.\nTwo days ago a Squatter named Thomas (?) (was) brought to this place by a party of\nCowegines (in a serio)usly wounded state. It appears that (he was fire)d at by a Sarimina\nIndian, a Tribe who inhabit (the) Cowegin District, and I am now hourly expecting (the arrival)\nof the \"Otter,\" to proceed with a force allowed (by) Admiral Bruce, to secure the offenders.\nAVe shall have a desperate chase, but for the peace and security of the settlements, we must use\nevery exertion to seize him.\nThis will be a further detention to the Otter, as she cannot visit Nisqually until that\nbusiness is over. Salmon are exceedingly scarce in this quarter, and I greatly fear it will\nbe a year of privation in New Caledonia. You may act in the case of Gravelle, according to\nthe dictates of your own excellent judgment. I shall be most happy to see you at this place.\nRewarding faithful servants by small grants of land is I agree with you an excellent plan, and\nmay I think be adopted with advantage in the case of the Puget's Sound Company's servants.\nYour requisition for supplies has received best attention, and will be forwarded by the first\nconveyance.\nBoth Jones & Innis, arrived here and delivered their respective Packets. (The A'ictoria)\nPacket is forwarded by Jones, and I have (to) recommend my letters to your kind care, being\nherewith transmitted.\nWith kind respects and best wishes\nYours Sincerely\nJames Doug (las).\nP.S. I forward herewith a despatch from Admiral Bruce, which I will thank you to transmit\nwith care. I also herewith return the vouchers sent here for signature, say seven in duplicate.\nBe careful in forwarding the scrip only by a Safe conveyance, as it is not in duplicate. AVben\nare those Bills to be Settled? I trust Governor Stevens will see to that.\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\n(37-)\nA'ictobia, 13th Aug: 1857.\nMy deab Sir\nJones arrived last night and delivered your letter of the 7th of Instant, with a requisition\nwhich will receive our attention. Jones claims ten dollars for carrying your communication in\nfact precisely the Same price as for an English mail. Pray always make some previous and\nspecial arrangement with the Post man, when he brings only a small packet and no English\nletters.\nAVe have very lately heard of the murder of Colonel Ebey, on Whidbeys Island. The blood\nthirsty villains should be chaced to their homes, and capitally punished; or it will soon be\ndangerous to live on any part of this coast.\nWe are all well in this quarter, salmon is very abundant. Manson will go to Nesqually, by\nJone's boat in a few days.\nI send an express canoe with the mail, for the purpose of catching the mail Steamer\u00E2\u0080\u0094which\nleaves Astoria on the 19th Inst., as it is of immense importance that the letters should be trans- 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 109\nmitted by that conveyance. Pray therefore spare no expense in forwarding the letters by an\nexpress rider, should they be too late for the Steilacoom mail.\nI have sent Antoine in Charge of the Canoe; and you will please to send him back immediately with our letters and papers. The Indians are all Natives of Victoria\nIn haste\nYours faithfully\nJames Douglas.\n(38.)\nA'ictoria, V.I., 18th Deer. 1857.\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.,\nMy7 dear Sir\nI owe you many thanks for your Kind letter of the 10th of Instant, wiiich I have just\nreceived by Mr. Rhodes. I feel obliged by the trouble you have taken to collect information\nrespecting the American Stud horses that are for sale in your neighbourhood.\nIt would be very important to have one of those animals here, but since I spoke to you on\nthe subject it has occurred to me that there would be a difficulty in getting him attended to by\nany of our people, and that we will therefore defer the purchase for the present, though probably\nwe may make some such arrangement in the spring and thereby save the cost of Keeping him in\nidleness all winter.\nI have noted your remarks about Blenkinsop's business transactions. McArthur seems to\nbe feathering his nest pretty w7ell at our expense. You ought to write Blenkinsop, and inform\nhim that such extensive transactions should not be undertaken without consulting the Board of\nManagement.\nHis course throughout those transactions has been unbusinesslike as well as impolitic; it is\nin fact putting arms into the hands of those who seek the destruction of our trade.\nI feel all the importance of your remarks about the School, a subject in which I take a\nheartfelt interest, and I am willing to do anything in my power, and to support any well digested\nScheme for accomplishing the great object of having a respectable Seminary of education in this\nColony.\nI am certainly your debtor to a great extent for many unrequited and interesting letters.\nI must crave your indulgence in that respect in consideration of the constant pressure there is\nupon my time at present.\nIt would indeed be a great disappointment to me if deprived of your Kind and valued\nCommunications.\nPray write as often as you can. I was sorry that I missed seeing yourself and Mrs. Tolmie\nbefore leaving this place. The \" Otter \" has just returned from San Francisco having had a\nvery stormy passage. The \" Recovery\" sailed 3 days ago for the Sandwich Islands, with a\ncargo of Salmon, and the \" Satellite \" is here; the \" Plumper \" is still out surveying\nWith Kind respects to Mrs. Tolmie and best wishes\nI remain Dear Sir\nYours very truly\nJames Douglas.\nP.S. Pray send me 50 Apple Trees\u00E2\u0080\u0094% winter, y:i early fruits. J. D. V 110\nProvincial Archives Department.\n1914\n(39-)\nA'ictoria, A'ancouver's Island,\n28th December, 1857.\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.,\nDear Sir\nI have received your letter of the 3rd of December, enclosing a requisition of Goods for\nNisqually which will have our best attention. I have also noted your remarks about the early\ndespatch of the Otter. That vessel is now under repair and we have many pressing demands\nfor her services. AVe will however attend to your requirements as soon as business will permit.\nAVith best wishes\nI remain Dear Sir\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\n29th. P.S. We have just now received very favourable accounts from Thompsons River.\nAbout 209 oz. of Gold have been traded from the Natives since the 6th of last October. I am\nforming a transport corps for the purpose of pouring supplies into the interior by Frasers River\nmaking a Portage in whole or in part at the Falls, and we shall probably form a Depot at the\njunction of Thompsons River\u00E2\u0080\u0094with Frasers River. I propose employing Mr. Peers on that\nservice, which we must set about immediately. I have just issued a Proclamation, declaring the\nrights of the Crown in respect to all Gold found in its natural state of deposit and prohibiting\nthe removal of the same, by any persons not duly authorised by License, from this Government.\nThis is the fore-runner of a series of measures having for object the prevention of crime,\nand the protection of life and property in the Gold Country.\nI beg that you will cause the Proclamation and License regulations to be inserted in the\n\" Pioneer and Democrat\" for the information of the Public. The Couteau Indians have driven\noff all the whites who have attempted to work the Rivers of their country, and people should be\nwarned that they are decidedly dangerous.\nYours ever truly Jas. Ds.\nVIIL LETTERS OF JAMES DOUGLAS, K.C.B., TO ARCHIBALD BARCLAY, ESQ.,\nSECRETARY OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.\n(I-)\nJames Douglas, Esqe., to A. Babclay7, Esq., Secy,,\n17 August, 1850.\nH. B. Company, Fobt A'ictobia,\n\" Chief Factor Work arrived here lately by Canoe from Fort Rupert to consult about the\naffairs of that place, which are in great disorder. The Miners, with the exception of Mr. and\nMrs. Muir and their youngest boy left that place with their families for California by the barque\n\" England.\"\u00E2\u0080\u0094Walker the Blacksmith and six other men, recruits by the Norman Morison, whose\nnames are enclosed, absconded at the same time. The other men on the establishment consisting\nof 11 of the Norman Morison recruits, aud a party of 11 Canadians, influenced by their example,\nhad struck for double pay and many other allowances inconsistent with the rules of the Service.\nAnother party of eight men left the fort in presence of the Officers, and made their way by canoe\nto this place. To check the Spirit of insubordination in the bud I mustered a party of one\nclerk, Mr. H Moffat, and twelve men, volunteers and others, and despatched them to Fort\nRupert with instructions to Mr. Blenkinsop, the officer in charge, to treat the mutineers as\nprisoners at large, and to feed them on bread and water until they returned to duty on the\nterms of their agreement. With that reinforcement there will be a force of 18 men not concerned in the Strike which will be sufficient to protect the Fort. The Mining operations are\ncompletely suspended as Mr. Muir objects to starting without the assistance of regular miners. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 111\nThe Indians however continue to bring in coal, which, owing to increased numbers at work,\nthey produce in larger quantities than last year. There were by last accounts about 700 Tons\nin the Coal Yard near the Fort. These difficulties have in many respects a baneful effect on\nthe Service, by impairing our influence with the natives, and destroying the character of the\nService. These effects have been felt at Fort Rupert, as I have received letters from Mr.\nBlenkinsop and Dr. Plelmcken declaring their intention of leaving the Service at the close of\nthe present year, a circumstance which adds greatly to my own pressing anxieties.\"\n\" Chief Factor AVork left this place a few days ago by canoe on his return to Fort Rupert,\nand will see that the instructions to Mr. Blenkinsop are carried out to the letter.\"\n(2.)\nFobt A'ictoria, 3d Jany. 1852.\nArchibald Barclay, Esqre.\nSib\nThe American Sloop \" Susanna \" bound from San Francisco to Nisqually but last at Neah\nBay called at this Port Yesterday to land Captain Mitchel with the Officers and Crew of the\nCompany's Brigantine \" Una\" which unfortunately drove on shore with two Anchors down,\non Neah Island, near Cape Flattery in a gale of wind, during the Night of the 25th December.\nThe master of the \" Susanna \" (Hoffmgton) then lying at Anchor in Neah Bay, very kindly\nand promptly rendered every assistance to the Crew of the \" Una \" whom he Received on board\nthe \" Susanna\" with all the Cargo Consisting of Furs and Gold Ore from Queen Charlottes\nIsland, so that fortunately No lives were lost and None of the Cargo.\u00E2\u0080\u0094The Vessel with her Stores\nand Rigging became a prey to the Indians who either from accident or design, set her on fire,\nand she was burnt to the waters edge before the party left Neah Bay. There was otherwise\nhowever No hopes of saving her as she was forced among the Rocks and lay Nearly dry at\nlow water.\nCaptain Mitchell has duly noted his sea protest and all the documents Connected with the\nRecovery of the Insurance, will be drawn up and transmitted as soon as possible for the information of the Committee.\nI feel great obligation to Captain Hoffmgton for his kindness to our people and have paid\nhim the Sum of $700 dollars which he charged for the detention of the \" Susanna \" a large sum\nConsidering the Circumstances, but Moderate Compared with the loss the Coy. would have\nsustained had the Cargo fallen into the hands of the Indians.\nThe Indians of Cape Flattery with a few honorable exceptions behaved Very badly on the\noccasion having Robbed and Maltreated some of the \" Unas \" Crew who landed soon after she\nwas cast on Shore.\nThis disaster has deprived us of a useful A'essel at a season when her services are greatly\nneeded and I would in Consequence Strongly Recommend that another A'essel be sent out to\nReplace the \" Una \" of the tonnage and description stated in My letter of the 23rd Novr. last,\nwhen advocating the same Measure on other grounds.\nThat description will show exactly the sort of A'essel adapted for the Company's service\non this Coast. One that will do the greatest Amount of work at the smallest Cost. The Trade\nof Queen Charlottes Island will probably furnish much occupation for the Coming Year and we\npropose taking every advantage of it.\nI have Received no late intelligence concerning our A'essels detained at Nisqually but I\nhave Requested Chief Factor Work to advise You directly from Nisqually of every event that\ntranspires Connected with them. This is forw7arded to Nisqually by the \" Susanna \" now on\nthe point of sailing,\nI have the honor to be\nSir\nYour Obedient Servt.\nJames Douglas. V 112 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nIX. PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS RESPECTING GOLD MINING IN THE DISTRICTS\nOF FRASER RIVER AND THOMPSON RIA'ER. 29th DECEMBER, 1857.\nGoveenment House A'ictobia\n29th December 1857.\nWith reference to the Proclamation issued on the 2Sth of December, declaring the lights of\nthe Crown, in respect to gold found in its natural State of deposit within the Districts of\nFraser's River and of Thompson's River, commonly known as the Quaailan, Couteaux, and\nShuswap countries, his Excellency the Governor, has been pleased to establish the following\nprovisional regulations, under which licences may be obtained, to dig Search for, and remove the\nSame.\n1st. From and after the first day of Feb next no person will be permitted to search for, or\nremove, gold, on or from any lands public or private, without first taking out and paying for, a\nlicence, in the form annexed.\n2nd. For the present, and pending further proof of the extent and productivness of the gold\ndeposits, the licence fee has been fixed at 10s/- per month payable in advance, but it is to be\nunderstood, that the rate is subject to future adjustment, as circumstances may render expedient.\n3rd. The licences can be obtained, at A'ictoria A'ancouvers Island, until a commission is\nappointed by his Excellency the Gove to carry those regulations into effect, and w7ho will be\nauthorized to receive the fee payable thereon.\n4th. Rules adjusting the extent and position of land to be covered by each license and for\nthe prevention of confusion, and the interference of one license with another, will be regulated\nby the Said commissioner.\nJames Douglas,\nGovernor Vancouvers Island.\nBy His Excellency's command.\nRichaed Golledge\nSecretary.\nX. LETTERS AND REPORTS RELATING TO THE OREGON TERRITORY, BY DAA'ID\nTHOMPSON.\n(1.) Letter to Captain H. Bagot, R. N.\nMontreal, 12 Feby 1S42.\nSir,\nSince the 3d. Instant the day of the receipt of your polite Letter, I have carefully examined\nmy Letters to Sir Robert Peel and Lord Stanley, forwarded to them in the Summer of 1840, and\nhave added a few7 sentences to render more clear what appears to have too much brevity. The\nLetters now sent by the Honble. Peter McGill are Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. Two letters yet remain,\nNo. 6 & 7 which close at the Pacific Ocean. I hope they may receive the approbation of His\nExcellency. The Third and following Letters refer to Maps of the Country on which the several\nletters are respectively written, and cannot well be understood without the Maps. My circumstances are now such that I cannot give my time to copy my original Maps without some\nremuneration, say at the rate of \u00C2\u00A330 per Month, for the Letters I make no charge. The Maps\nrequired to elucidate the disputed and unsettled parts of the 6th and 7th Articles of the Treaty\nof Ghent are first\u00E2\u0080\u0094a Map of Lake St. Clair, and its Channels\u00E2\u0080\u00942nd A Map of St. Maries River\nwhich connects Lake Huron and Lake Superior. 3rd A Map of Lake Superior with the unsettled\nterritory to the North end of the Lakes of the Woods and Westward to the Missisippi and the\nRed River. 4 A Map of the Countries on the West Side of the Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 113\nHow7 far any or all of these Maps may be useful to His Excellency or to Lord Ashburton\nwhom report says is shortly to be expected to arrive at AVashington with plenary powers to settle\nthe Boundaries of the two Nations, His Excellency must be the best Judge. To me it appears\nnext to impossible for any Minister to understand the effects of a Boundary without the Maps.\nI am &c.\n' David Thompson.\nCaptn. H. Bagot R. N.\nde. de. de.\n(2.) On the Seventh Article of the Treaty of Ghent.\n\"It is further agreed that the (said) two last-mentioned Commissioners, after they shall\nhave executed the duties assigned to them in the preceding Article, shall be, and they are hereby,\nauthorized upon their Oaths impartially to fix and determine, according to the true intent of\nthe said Treaty of Peace of 1783, that part of the Boundary of (between) the Dominions of the\ntwo Powers which extends from the AA'ater Communication between Lake Huron and Lake'\nSuperior, to the most northwestern point of the Lake of the Woods, to decide to which of the\ntwo Parties the several Islands lying in the Lakes, water communications and Rivers, forming\nthe said Boundary, do respectively belong, in conformity with the true intent of the said Treaty\nof Peace of 1783 \" &c.\nIt appears from the above that the 7th Article commences at the outlet of Lake Superior or\nhead of St. Maries River and apparently to pass through the middle of Lake Superior. By the\ntreaty of Peace of 1783 the Boundary in Lake Superior \" Shall pass North of Isles Royale and\nPhilipeaux to the Long Lake, thence through the middle of said Long Lake and the Communication between it and the Lake of the AVoods to said Lake of the Woods, thence through said Lake\nto the most North Western Point thereof\u00E2\u0080\u0094from thence on a due West course to the River\nMissisippi, and Northward to the Southern Boundary of the Territory granted to the Merchant\nAdventurers of England trading to Hudsons Bay.\" On the Old Maps which guided the Commissioners of both powers in laying down the Boundary through Lake Superior, Isle Philipeaux\nis represented as a large Island fully ten miles in length, lying about 20 miles, Westward of\nIsle Royale of which Island the Boundary shall pass northward according to the true intent of\nthe Treaty of 1783\u00E2\u0080\u0094Hence we have a specific distance in Lake Superior where the Boundary\nshall pass, being about 30 miles westward of the West end of Isle Royale\u00E2\u0080\u0094\" From Northward of\nIsle Philipeaux to the Long Lake, thence through the middle of said Long Lake.\" There is no\nLake of this name near Lake Superior, nor in any part of the interior Country to the Lake of\nthe Woods\u00E2\u0080\u0094the expression \" to the Long Lake \" seems to imply a Lake either in contact with\nLake Superior or near this Lake by some direct water communication. No such Lakes or Water\nCommunication exists, and unless the Boundary Line returns on itself, which could not be the\ntrue intent of the Treaty, there is no water communication that leads to the Lake of the Woods\nfrom opposite the place assigned to Isle Philipeaux but the continuaion of the Boundary in\nnearly the same direction through Lake Superior, leads to the fine estuary, of the River St. Louis\nand answers the description of the Long Lake then (in 1783) the great thoroughfare of the Fur\nTrade both to the interior, the Lake of the Woods, and to the rich Countries of the Missisippi,\nand its branches, and to the Red River and its Streams from whence the greater part of the\nFur Trade then came. The inspection of the Map will clearly shew the superior communication\nby the River St. Louis to the Lake of the Woods, over all the other Communications. It is a\nContinuous River to a height of Land: thence by a carrying place of 6278 yards to the A'ermillion\nRiver, which descends into Lake Namenkin, and thence direct to the Lake of the Woods. For\nseveral years after the Peace of 1783, the United States did not dare to lay claim to the Countries\non the West part of Lake Superior and westward to beyond the head waters of the Missisippi.\nThe Fur Trade of those Countries was then wholly carried on by British Traders with British\nManufactures\u00E2\u0080\u0094the Indians were numerous and hostile, and would allow no other.\nMichillimackinau (now called Mackinau) is an Island that lies in the Strait which connects\nLake Huron with Lake Michigan, then the Mart of the Fur Trade from Montreal to the Western\nCountries.\n8 V 114 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nIn 1800 the United States placed a collector of Customs on this Island who levied heavy\nduties on all British Merchandize\u00E2\u0080\u0094that passed to the Western Countries around and beyond\nLake Michigan yet the Fur Trade remained in the hands of the British Traders. In 17S3\nthe broken communication from the Mouth of the Pidgeon River in Lake Superior, to the Lake\nof the Woods, was the route of a few Fur Traders to the distant interior Countries, but by the\npersevering efforts of the North West Company, gradually increased and became one of the\nprincipal Thoroughfares of the Fur Trade.\nTo gain this broken communication every thing had to be landed in a Bay of Lake Superior,\nAVestw7ard of the Pidgeon River and by men to be carried eight miles to where the Pidgeon River\nis somewhat navigable for Canoes. In the Summer of 1800, a United States Collector Landed,\nand told the British Fur Traders, the Bay and carrying place were within the United States\nTerritory, and he would levy duties on all the Merchandize and Furs that should be landed\nin the Bay or pass on the carrying place. The whole of that Side of Lake Superior was then,\nand is yet, neutral, and not decided to which Nation it shall belong. The British Fur Traders\nwere aware that against the arbitrary duties to be levied they would have no support from the\nProvincial Government of Canada. They were therefore obliged to explore and open out a very\ncircutous route to the interior by the Kah-min-is-tik quoi-an River about 40 Miles North Eastward to the great Carrying place of the Pidgeon River, at a great labor and Expence, and in\n1802 removed thereto, and which communication bad as it is, is now the only route left for\nthe Fur Traders to the Interior Countries. The United States demand the Boundary shall pass\nthrough the middle of this circuitous communication although it was not known and opened\nuntil 17 years after the Peace of 1783. The United States, during the War declared in 1812,\nseverely felt the effects of British Influence on the Indians. In 1815 Congress passed a Law\nwholly prohibiting British Subjects trading or traficking with the Indians within their Territory.\nThe South Fur Trade by Lake Michigan was in consequence wholly given up. The Fur Trade\nby the River St. Louis on the South West end of Lake Superior to the interior Countries Westward had received but little interruption\u00E2\u0080\u0094That River was then, and is yet neutral ground, but\nin 1816, although the United States could not then on account of the Indians, make themselves\nMasters of that Country, yet by a Collector threatening to levy heavy duties on all British\nMerchandize and Furs that should pass by the River St. Louis, the British Fur Traders had to\nquit the River and the Trade connected with it, altho' east side of that River, strictly speaking\nought to be in the British dominions. The Treaty of 1783 then directs the Boundary to pass\n\" from the North West Point of the Lake of the AA'oods in a due West course to the Missisippi,\"\nat the Time of the Treaty of 1783 the North West point of the Lake of the Woods, w7as supposed\nto lie in about 50 degrees of North Latitude, and the head of the Missisippi, somewhat further\nNorth, which made the United States agree to a line due West. In the year 1796 conversing\nwith Mr. John Sager a well educated English Gentleman, wiio was then at the head of the Fur\nDepartment in those Countries, from his account of the extreme Sinuous course of the Mississippi\nto its head led me to doubt if it lay so far North as supposed.\nMr. William McGillivray and Sir Alexander McKenzie, then Agents for the North West\nCompany, requested me to examine all the AVestern Countries to the Missisouri River.\nIn the Spring of 1797, I was on the head waters of the Missisippi and by Astronomical\nobservations determined its head to be in the Latitude and Longitude laid down in the Map,\nmaking a difference of 2 degrees and 20 minutes more South than the then supposed North\nWest point of the Lake of the Woods. The result of my observations was to be kept secret\nuntil a Small Map of the Western Countries which I made could be laid before the Secretary\nfor Foreign Affairs in London. By Sir Alexander McKenzie going to New York, the Latitude\nand Longitude of the Missisippi became known and directly communicated to the President of\nthe United States at Washington who without loss of time sent Mr. Jay (I think) to propose\nanother Boundary. On Mr. Jay's arrival in London (as I was informed) he artfully represented\nto the British Minister that the head of the Missisippi River was an unknown place situated\namong barbarous and hostile Indians, on which account it would be next to impossible to draw\nthe Boundary Line, and that as the North AVest point of the Lake of the AA'oods lay in 50 degrees\nNorth Latitude, the United States would accede to a definite Boundary on the parellel of the\n49th. degree of North Latitude to the East foot of the Rocky Mountains, to which without\nconsideration the British Minister agreed, and this 49th. degree of North Latitude has since been\nand now is the established Boundary between the two Nations from the Lake of the Woods, 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 115\nto the East foot of the Rocky Mountains. By this artful policy the United States gained\n35,061 Square Miles of territory, full one third of which is fertile Soil of the first quality, the\nrest is part of the grassy Plains which extends to the foot of the Mountains.\nIn a review of the above, one cannot help being struck with the Steady and Successful\nconduct of the United States, in enlarging by various means, their territory, and circumscribing\nthe Dominions of Great Britain. In the year 1800 a United States Collector lands at the great\ncarrying Place iu Lake Superior, 147 miles north Eastward of St. Louis River, and by his\nsingle word, tho' on Neutral ground, obliges the British Fur Traders to remove 40 miles further\nnorth Eastward, and there open out a new communication to the Interior Countries, and which\nis now demanded by the United States, and in 1816, a Collector, by the threat of levying heavy\nduties, banishes the British Traders from the River St. Louis, tho' doubtful to which Power it\nmay belong. The United States take possession of all the Countries they think proper to claim,\nas a National right. The demand of the United States for St. Marie's River which connects\nLake Huron with Lake Superior, and the Countries interior of the latter Lake, may be said\nto place Great Britain on her last plank to contend with the Sovereignty of the vast possession\nin North America to the Pacific Ocean. If the demands of the United States are granted, She\ngives up the Keys of her North and AVestern Dominions, shuts herself out from those Countries\ncan have no communication with them, but by the Frozen Shores of Hudsons Bay. It may be\nasked what is the present use of St. Maries River and the Countries interior of Lake Superior\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nNone other at present than what has been stated, but the operations of time will make them\nof high value to the power in possession of them.\nThe same may be asked of the Rocks of Gibralta and Malta\u00E2\u0080\u0094All of them have their own\npeculiar value for the safety of the British Empire. The United States have (especially since\nthe Treaty of Ghent) in a manner taken possession of all the Countries they claim, as if since\nthat, sooner or later, they will be given up by Great Britain, and the negligence and procrastination of the British Ministry in settling the Boundaries of her vast possessions on this Continent\ngive them every right to think so, whatever may be the result. A few years ago the question\nof the North Eastern Boundary was treated with contempt as if below the notice of either\nnation; the whole of the disputed territory was said not to be worth one thousand Dollars,\nit lay dormant. It has started up as a question of importance and threatening aspect to both\nNations, causing much discussion & anxiety, and great expense, and who can tell when and\nhow it will be settled, yet it is a simple question of territory\u00E2\u0080\u0094no strong National prejudice\nor political motive is mixed up with it.\nOn the contrary to the settling of the Northern and Western Boundary between the two\npowers, the United States will bring to the tenacious grasp of territory the strong deep national\nprejudice against the Indians, and the sound policy of limiting Great Britain of as much as\npossible of her dominions; and with this the British Influence over the Indians. If the United\nStates can effect this they may call North America their own, they will gradually by fraud\nand force become Masters of the Fur Trade, and the Indians wholly at their Mercy for their\nwants, Arms, Ammunition, &c. and under their unprincipaled command the democracy of the\nseveral States will effect this and the Executive at Washington plead inability to prevent them;\nit is the Will and the AV'ork of the Sovereign People.\nRespectfully &c.\nDavid Thompson\nt &c &c &c\n(3.) On the West side of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.\nThere is a very valuable Country, extending from the east foot of the Rocky Mountains\nto the Pacific Ocean by the United States called the \" Oregon Territory \" to gain possession of\nwhich is one of the principal objects of the present ambition of the United States. The north\nWest Coast of America was discovered and partly surveyed by Captain Cook and notice was\ntaken of the great profits to be made of the fine Fur of the Sea Otter which induced several\nA'essels to proceed to the North Pacific Ocean. In the year 1792 there were 21 A'essels engaged\nin this trade, of which about one third were from England the rest from the United States, V 116 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nmostly from Boston in New England. One of those A'essels called the Columbia commanded\nby Mr. Grey, sailing near the Shore, perceived a large River which he entered for about 2 Miles,\nand anchored to trade with the Natives and departed the same year, shortly after, this River\nwas visited by the Ships of Discovery under the Command of Captain Vancouver who, with the\nBoats of his Ships surveyed the River for 120 Miles to Point A'ancouver near the foot of the\nRapids. The simple entrance of Mr. Grey in the Columbia, which A'essel gave name to the\nRiver, and which cannot be called discovery of the Coast and Country, is the foundation on\nwhich the United States make their Claim to this River and the extensive fine Countries watered\nby its Streams, but their Claim is directed to prevent any and every part of North America\nfrom being part of the British Dominions. The United States soon perceived the advantage of\nsuch a safe Port, and the extensive commerce that could be carried on from it to China and\nthe Islands of that Ocean, but they were not in a condition to attempt a Settlement until 1810,\nwhen Mr. Astor New York sent the Tonquin to establish a trading Post to be called Astoria on\nthe South Bank of the Columbia\u00E2\u0080\u0094about 15 Miles from the Ocean. This was my 5th. year of\ndiscovery on the West side of the Mountains and placing Trading Posts on the head water of\nthe Columbia River: In 1S11 I went down the Columbia to Astoria and hoisted the British\nFlag and above this place allowed no other Flag. In the War of 1812 The British Ministry sent\nthe \" Racoon\" Sloop of War, Captain Black, to take Astoria, which took place in 1813, and\nhoisting the British Flag, took possession of Astoria and Country for Great Britain. By the\ntreaty of Ghent, on the principle of \" Status ante bellum \" the United States sent Captain Biddle\nin the Ontario Sloop of War to take formal repossession, but this had no effect on the British\nFur Traders of the Columbia River. They were too firmly established both in position and\ninfluence over the Natives to allow the United States to have any footing in those Countries,\naltho' several fruitless attempts have been made to cross the Mountains. The British Ministry,\nwell informed of the situation of affairs, gave no countenance to the exorbitant Claims of the\nUnited States but the discussion on it led to the first Treaty on the Country, near the Pacific\nOcean. In the first treaty relative to the above Country under date of October 20th. 1818, it\nwas agreed that the Country on the north west of America, Westward of the Rocky Mountains\nclaimed by either Nation, should be open to the Inhabitants of both for ten years for the purposes\nof Trade, with the equal right of navigating all its Rivers. When these ten years had expired,\na subsequent Treaty of 1828 extended the arrangement to ten additional years which ended in\n1838, leaving the question in the same unsettled state as previous to the year 1818. In the year\n1815 a Law was passed by Congress prohibiting all traffic of British Traders within the territories\nof the United States The operation of this Law appears to relate only to the Territories south\nof the 49th. parallel of latitude and to the East foot of the Mountains, but until the Treaty of\n1818, the United States held it, with all its penalties, to extend to the Pacific Ocean, to which\nthis Law has again returned since the 20th. October 1838. Mr. AVashington Irving, a favorite\nWriter, and speaking the voice of the United States, thus expresses himself. \" The north west\nCompany were now in complete possession of the Columbia River and its chief tributary Streams\nand carrying on a trade throughout the neighbouring Region in defiance of the prohibiting Law\nof Congress which in effect was a dead Letter beyond the Mountains. The British Trading\nEstablishments were thus enabled, without molestation, to strike deep their roots, and extend\ntheir ramifications in despite of the prohibition of Congress. The British Government soon\nbegan to perceive the importance of this region, and to desire to include it within their territorial domains. A question has consequently arisen as to the right of the Soil, and has become\none of the most perplexing now open between the United States and Great Britain. In respect\nof commerce, we should have had a Line of Trading Ports from the Missisippi and Missourie\nRivers across the Rocky Mountains forming a high road from the great region of the west tc-\nthe Shores of the Pacific. We should have had a fortified Post at the mouth of the Columbia\nRiver, commanding the Trade of that River and its tributaries, and of a wide extent of Country\nand Sea Coast carrying ou an active and profitable Commerce with the Sandwich Islands, and a.\ndirect and profitable communication with China, gradually becoming a Commercial Empire\nbeyond the Mountains peopled by free and independent Americans and linked with us by ties\nof blood and interest. Every year the litigated claim is growing in importance, there is no\npride so jealous and irritable as the pride of territory; should any circumstance therefore occur-\nto disturb the present harmony of the two Nations this ill adjusted question which now lies\ndormant may suddenly start up into one of belligerent import and Astoria become the Watchword 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 117\nin a contest for dominion on the Shores of the Pacific.\" Such is the view the United States\ntake of this important question. AVhoever pays the least attention to Congress must notice\nthe Columbia River and adjacent region, under the name of the \" Oregon Territory \" annually\nbrought forward and the Executive urged to take possession of it; for notwithstanding the\nefforts of their several Agents for Indians Affairs, they deeply feel the insecurity of their\nNorthern and Western Frontiers.\nRespectfully submitted &c.\nDavid Thompson.\n&c &c &c\n(4.) Letter to His Excellency Sir Charles Bagot, Governor-General of Canada,\ndated February 22nd, 1S42.\nNo. 7.\nMay it please y'our Excellency.\nIn President Tyler's last annual Message to Congress is the following.\n\" I strongly recommend to your consideration that portion of the Secretary's Report which\nproposes the establishment of a chain of Military Posts from Council Bluffs (on the Missourie\nRiver) to some point on the Pacific Ocean within our Limits. The benefit thereby destined to\naccrue to our Citizens engaged in the Fur Trade over that AVilderness region, added to the\nimportance of cultivating friendly relations with Savage Tribes inhabiting it, and at the same\ntime of giving protection to our frontier Settlements, and of establishing the means of safe\nintercourse between the American Settlements at the mouth of the Columbia River and those on\nthis side of the Rocky Mountains, would seem to suggest the importance of carrying into effect\nthe recommendations on this head with as little delay as may be practicable.\"\nIt appears that the proposition of the United States will be to extend the Line of the 49th\nparallel of Latitude from the east foot of the Rocky Mountains across those Mountains until it\nstrikes the head waters of the Columbia River\u00E2\u0080\u0094thence down the middle of the said River to the\nPacific Ocean. Unfortunately the British Ministry appear to consider and prefer general Lines\nfor Boundaries in the wilderness of North America in preference to Lines more in detail, as if\nMountains, Hills and Rivers would assume the form place position and course intended by a\ngeneral line, and in consequence the effects of a Boundary Line is found to be almost anything\nbut what it was intended to be. Such is the state of the long vexed question of the North\nEastern Boundary, and such will probably be the effects of the intended Boundary from the\nEast foot of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The 49th parallel of Latitude will strike\nthe Columbia River in Longitude 117\u00C2\u00B0 30' AA'est, and by following down the middle of the said\nRiver will proceed as far as 52\u00C2\u00B0 8' North Latitude. Such an extent northward of the Parallel\nof the 49th. degree of Latitude, the Ministry surely do not contemplate equal to .218 Statute\nMiles in a direct North line. By my Maps of those Countries the Columbia River drains an\nextent of surface equal to 316,804 square Statute Miles; and according to the position of the\nMountains and Hills, the Rivers run in every direction before they finally bend their course\nto the Pacific Ocean. It requires a Map of the AVest side of the Mountains to understand its\nstructure, so different from the east side of the Mountains. To continue the 49th. parallel of\nLatitude from the East foot of the Mountains to the Pacific Ocean will be (in my opinion) the\nfirst and favorite demand of the United States for a Boundary, they will urge its simple form\nand certain direction. Should this Line be granted to the United States, it may be said to be a\nsurrender of all the valuable Country on the west side of the Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.\nIn this case, a stipulation in justice ought to be made to allow all British Subjects with their\nproperty freely to depart without any charges being made for the 29 years they have occupied\nand cultivated the Land they are settled upon, and have permission to sell their Cattle and other\neffects, which they may not be able to take away free of any Tax to be imposed on them. \" At\nthe same time giving protection to our Frontier Settlements and of establishing the means of\nsafe intercourse between the American Settlements at the Mouth of the Columbia River and\nthose on the side of the Rocky Mountains.\" V 118 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nExcept the transient trading Post named Astoria in 1S12, and which was taken and put an\nend to in 1813, the United States have never had even a visionary semblance of a Settlement\nat the Mouth of the Columbia River or on any part of the West side of the Rocky Mountains;\nbut this unfounded assertion, as usual, is intended for effect on the British Ministry, and on\nthe democracy of the States.\nIn the beautiful Valley of the AVilharmet River on the South east side of the Columbia,\nrunning from south to north, its Sortie 90 Miles from the Mouth of the Columbia River, are a\nfew farmers, mostly Canadian A'oyageurs who, with their families, live on the portion of Land\nthey have selected, and with them are a few Americans who, as Hunters, have crossed by the\nMissourie pass of the Mountains, and live in like manner. At least seven tenths are British\nSubjects. On the West side of the Columbia at Point A'ancouver, is a Settlement of one of the\nParties of the Hudson's Bay Company composed of many families a considerable quantity of\nground under cultivation, giving luxuriant returns in that fine Climate, where frost and Snow\nare not known\u00E2\u0080\u0094many Horses, Cattle, and farm stock of every kind which enables them to\ncarry on a trade in their own A'essels with the Isles and Shores of the Pacific Ocean. A Ship\nfrom the Port of London makes an annual A'oyage to this Settlement. In the Summer Season\nthe Columbia River is visited by miriads of very fine Salmon of fine species, the largest of about\n50 lbs weight, and the smallest species of 5 lbs weight. The latter ascend to the very head of\nthe River. The Sturgeon are excellent, weighing from three to five hundred and fifty pounds.\nA'egetation is on the same scale. I have measured Pines, clean grown, 42 to 48 feet girth and\n200 feet without a branch, immense Groves of the finest Cedar 18 to 36 feet girth\u00E2\u0080\u0094the Oak 18\nfeet girth even the Raspberry measured 18 to 21 feet high. Whoever Settles in this fine Climate\nand Country has no wish to return. The British Dominions in North America are certainly not\nthe splendid gorgeous regions of the East, but they are the Nurseries of Mankind to whom the\nManufacturers of Great Britain are essential, every year are encreasing in demand and value.\nUpon what foundation does the United States Claim of the West side of the Rocky Mountains\nstands\u00E2\u0080\u0094did those fine Countries form any part of the thirteen States at the Peace of 1783?\nthey did not then extend to the Missisipi River. It is a Claim without a Shadow of right to\nthe annoyance of Great Britain.\nRespectfully submitted &c.\nDavid Thompson.\nformerly Astronomer and Surveyor under the 6th and 1th\nArticles of the Treaty of Ghent.\nHis Excellency Sir Charles Bagot, Governor General, dc. dc. do.\nFebruary 22d. 18J/2.\nP. S. Since writing the above I have just learned from a Gentleman of the Hudson's Bay\nCompany that the United States in 1841 sent a considerable number of Men to the lower part\nof the Columbia River, and that at least an equal number is to be sent this next Summer.\n(5.) Letter to J. M. Higginson.\nMontreal 21 July 1S43.\nSib.\nPlease lay before His Excellency the Governor General, the following sketch of the Oregon\nTerritory. .\nThe United States demand a Boundary line through what is called the Oregon Territory,\nbeing the Country on the West side of the Rocky Mountains, drained by the Columbia River, and\nits tributary Streams, a surface of full 316,804 Square Miles. It may not be unacceptable to\nHer Majesty's Ministers, to have a brief description laid before them. It is a Country very little\nknown, and has not yet engaged the attention of the British Public.\nFrom whatever cause, hitherto not explained, the west sides of the Continents (more\nMountainous than the East sides) have a more temperate and regular Climate than the East\nsides. The Columbia River enjoys this mild temperature; even at the foot of the great 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 119\nMountains the AVinters are short and mild; for about four Months small rain with very little\nSnow. In February the Spring commences, and the flowers spring up. Near the Pacific Ocean,\nfrost and Snow are unknown; the Winter is a rainy Season of about four Months; the rest of\nthe year is mostly dry, with a clear Sky and every night heavy dew. The heat is finely tempered\nby the regular Sea breeze, which rises at about 10 A.M. and increases to about 10. P.M. it is\nthen a Gale, then decreases to 3 or 4 A.M. and is calm to 10 A.M. when the Sea Breeze returns;\nit is felt to the Mountains. This mildness of Climate gives every advantage to the Farmer, both\nfor Grain and Cattle; the latter require very little care from Man; the Hogs have become wild,\nherds of horses are in the same state. The Climate and Country is favorable to Sheep; of which\nthere are flocks of several thousands. On the east side of the Mountains, the A'egetation and\nForests, are in proportion to Alan, but on the head waters of the Columbia, and near the Ocean,\nMan shrinks into a pigmy among the Forests of Cedar of 18 to 36 feet girth. I have measured\npines of 42 and 4S feet girth at 10 feet above the root clean growth, and full 200 feet without\na branch, and then a fine head. The largest Oak I saw was only 18 feet girth. The raspberry\nI measured 18 to 21 feet in height, its berries were large but not in proportion, and had not the\nfine acid of humbler growth. All kinds of Grain have yielded a good return. In the Summer\nSeason, the Columbia River and its branches are visited by myriads of fine Salmon, of fine\nspecies, weighing from 5 to 55 pounds; no two species enter the same River on leaving the main\nstream. At the head of the Columbia I have weighed them of 251bs. The S(t)urgeon are from\n300 to 550 lbs.\nThe Animals natural to the Country are. in the Mountains, the Goat, with fine long silky\nhair, like Wool. The Sheep with the hair of the Deer. At the foot of the Mountains the Moose\nand red Deer\u00E2\u0080\u0094and Seaward various species of the Antelope. The formation of the greatest\npart of the Country is very undulating; every Stream has its Valley, bounded by the Spurs of\nthe Mountains, or by rising grounds, and its general structure seems to resemble Spain in Europe.\nCape Disappointment on the north side of the Sortie of the Columbia, can be made a strong\nfortification, commanding the entrance of the River. A'essels drawing twenty feet water can\nNavigate the River for about 120 Miles to near the falls. The Oregon Territory may be said\nto contain within itself all the Materials necessary to form a powerful Kingdom, and its\nsituation on the Pacific Ocean, opposite to Japan and China, its proximity to the Southern\nIsles and Northern sArchipelago, gives a most advantageous position for extensive Commerce,\nwhich on a small scale, it carries with a few vessels. It may be made of great service to British\ninterests in those Seas, especially for provisions and timber; and in the event of a AVar, a strong\nfortified Harbour, safe in all AVinds.\nOn what principle the United States demand a boundary, I cannot learn beyond report, they\nhave hitherto laid much stress on the right of discovery. Seaward, several years after Captain\nCooks discovery and survey of the AVest Shores of this Continent on the Pacific Ocean, Mr. Gray\nof the United States, Commanding the trading A'essel, Columbia, entered the River, and Anchored\nin Gray's Bay, and proceeded no higher. Captain A'ancouver was then surveying those Coasts,\nand shortly after entered the Columbia River and Lieut. Broughton R.N. surveyed it for about\n120 Miles up to the foot of the Rapids &.c. This is all the claim the States can make.\nIn the interior Country, they rest their claim on the discovery of Messrs. Lewis & Clarke,\nwhich was the Kamoenim River which they descended to the Columbia River, and thence to the\nSea (See the Map). This River is the most southern branch of the Columbia that flows from\nthe Rocky Mountains. Northward of this, for 400 Miles along the west side of the Mountains,\nthe Columbia and all the Rivers and Countries, are of my discoveries, during the space of six\nyears, which will limit them to a very small portion of the Oregon Territory. Sensible of their\nlimited claim, the United States may not urge it, but will, probably demand the Boundary Line\nto be the 49th parallel of Latitude, continued from the East foot of the Rocky Mountains, across\nthe Mountains and to the Pacific Ocean, and as usual urge its simple form, and certain direction;\n\u00E2\u0080\u0094but this insidious demand ought not to be granted, the 49th. parallel of Latitude intersects the\nColnmhia River in Longitude 117\u00C2\u00B030' AVest, then passes north of it, and comes on the Pacific\nOcean 87 Miles north of the Mouth of the Columbia River, thereby excluding England from all\nthe fine Countries south of this line; and giving to the United States the entrance of the\nColumbia River, and 87 Miles north of it. virtually giving up the whole of the Oregon Territory.\nAnother demand may be. from where the 49th. parallel of Latitude intersects the east foot of\nthe Rocky Mountains, the Boundary to pass the Mountains in a direcbWine to the source of the V 120 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nColumbia River, thence down the middle of the said River to the Sea. This would extend the\nUnited States to the Latitude of 52\u00C2\u00B08' North, giving to them all the most valuable Country and\nRivers of the Oregon Territory. To see the results of this, it is necessary to examine the Map.\nfor the devious course of the Columbia River. This ought never to be granted. The third\nprobable demand of a Boundary may be, the continuation of the 49th. parallel of Latitude, from\nthe East foot of the Mountains to where it intersects the Columbia River; thence down the\nmiddle of the said River to the Sea. Should this be granted, it gives to the United States, all\nthe Saleesh Country, its fine Climate, Soil, and Rivers, and the only great defile of the Rocky\nMountains, safe and open for nearly the whole of the year, by which the United States will pour\ntheir unprincipled people on the Oregon Territory. The passes of the Mountains by the\nMissouri are long with serious obstructions.\nThe Boundary I now point out is that which, in my opinion, Her Majesty's Ministers ought\nto insist on, and for once in the course of 60 years secure to Great Britain her Dominions, from\nthe hitherto successful policy of the United States. \" From where the 49th. parallel of Latitude\nintersects the east foot of the Rocky Mountains (in Longiude 113\u00C2\u00B040' West) the Boundary shall\npass southward along the east foot of the said Mountains to the Latitude of 4S\u00C2\u00B0 North thence\nalong the east foot of the said Mountains to the Latitude of 47 degrees north, thence on the\nParallel of this 47th. degree north, by a line due west, to cross the Rocky Mountains, and\ncontinue to where it intersects the Columbia River, thence down the middle of the said River\nto the Pacific Ocean.\" This Boundary secures to Great Britain the Saleesh Country and its\npass of the Rocky Mountains, and gives to the United States part of my discoveries, a great\nextent of fine Country, and 97 Miles of the east bank of the Columbia River on which they have\nno claim by discovery or otherwise.\nThe Oregon Territory from its structure and formation, the devious courses of its many\nstreams, requires an accurate Map. The Map now sent is the work of many years, founded on\nactual minute surveys, and numerous Astronomical observations; the places of observation are\nmarked \" Obsd.\" it is on the scale of three inches to one degree of Longitude. Shortly I hope\nto finish a Sett of Maps of the Oregon Territory only, yet including the Rocky Mountains and\nthe heads of the Rivers that flow eastward, on the Scale of six inches to one degree of longitude,\nwhich makes the Oregon Territory easy of inspection, and well adapted to the clear definition\nof a Boundary line. Her Majesty's Ministers, I think will require to keep the latter as a Map\nof reference, for as soon as the Boundary is determined, the Oregon Territory must rise into\nimportance.\nAs neither Letters nor Maps can answer questions, I am fully persuaded Her Majesty's\nMinisters will require my personal assistance, to explain in detail the several Boundaries I have\npointed out, over a Territory so complicated and diversified with Mountains, Hills, Lakes and\nRivers. My Services are at their command.\nI have &c.\n, David Thompson.\nJ. M. Higginson Esqr.\nPrivate Secretary dc. dc. de.\n(6.)\nTo the Right Honorable the Earl of Aberdeen, Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign\nAffairs.\nThe Memorial of the undersigned, most humbly and respectfully sheweth That he was\nAstronomer and Surveyor to the British Commission, under the 6th. and 7th. articles of the\nTreaty of Ghent, from May 1817, to the termination of the survey in 1827. The very arduous\nduties of which, he performed to the entire satisfaction of the Commissioners of both nations.\nPrevious to which, and since, he has performed several services to the British and Provincial\nGovernments. \u00C2\u00AB 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 121\nThat he has never, in any manner whatever, received any recompence beyond the bare\nsalary of his duty. That your Memorialist is now far advanced in the 74th. year of his age,\nand is no longer capable of following his profession of Surveyor, and civil Engineer, he therefore, most respectfully, solicits a pension of One hundred pounds pr. year, for the few7 remaining\nyears of his life (if any) be granted to him; or a sum of money as may be most convenient;\nand as in duty bound, he will ever pray.\nWith the highest respect\nYour most obedient Servant\nDavid Thompson.\nMontreal November 29th. 18,3.\nI most respectfully solicit a reference to His Excellency Sir Charles Metcalfe, Governor\nGeneral of Canada &c. &c.\n(7.)\nThe Right Honorable the Earl of Aberdeen, Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign\nAffairs, dc. de.\nYour Memorialist, most humbly, and respectfully shew7eth, that the two setts of Maps\nforwarded to Her Majesty's Foreign Office by him, to lay clearly before Her Majesty's Secretary\n\u00E2\u0096\u00A0of State, the geographical position of the northern part of Her Majesty's Dominion in North\nAmerica from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The one Map on the scale of three inches to\none degree of Longitude, extends from Latitude 45\u00C2\u00B0 to 60\u00C2\u00B0 north, and in Longitude from the\neast side of Lake Superior, and the western Shores of Hudson's Bay to the Pacific Ocean. The\nnther Map is from the west side of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, containing all\nthat country called the Oregon Territory, on the scale of six inches to one degree of Longitude.\nThese are manuscript Maps founded upon actual survey to 1/10 of a mile and corrected by very\nnumerous astronomical Observations for Latitude, Longitude, and A'ariation of the Needle Side\n(all which are in his possession)\u00E2\u0080\u0094the results of 28 years of the prime of his life on discovery.\nSuch are the scientific Maps placed in your possession, for which, by the hands of Mr. Anthony\nBarclay, British Consul at New York, you were pleased to award to him only \u00C2\u00A3150. This sum\nat a very low rate of wages does not pay even the time of the calculations for the Maps; and\nlet it be remembered, the survey of those extensive Countries, and these Maps, never cost the\nBritish Government one shilling, the whole was done at his own expence. Mr. Arrowsmith\ngave his award of \u00C2\u00A3150 for these original Maps, regardless of the high science of survey, and\npractical astronomy, which has been brought to bear on the extensive regions of North America,\nof which a great part are yet the Dominions of Great Britain: every year rising into importance.\nAA'here is the individual who has executed such a great work at his own expence. Add to this,\nhis services to the British Government for eleven years, under the 6th. and 7th. Articles of the\nTreaty of Ghent; for the four last years of which he was Astronomer and Surveyor to both\nNations, the United States having no practical Astronomer, Thus nobly supporting the scientific\nhonor of England (his native country) and for which your Memorialist has never received any\nreward whatever beyond his salary for the time he was on duty. Your Memorialist is in his\n75th. year, of which 48 years of his life has been devoted to the advancement of British Interests\non this Continent without reward. Your Memorialist therefore, most humbly and respectfully\nrequests, that you will take into consideration the long and scientific services of your Memorialist,\nand grant to him, for his Maps, and long services, a further sum of \u00C2\u00A3150, with which he will\nthankfully be content, to be a relief to him in his low circumstances, and old age; and as in duty\nbound he will every pray\nMost respectfully\nYour obedient Servant\nDavid Thompson.\nMontreal 28 October 18.fi. V 122 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(s.)\nThe Right Honorable, the Earl of Aberdeen, Her Majesty's Secretary for Foreign Affairs dc. dc.\nMay7 it please y7oub Lordship.\nI have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a Letter from Her Majesty's Foreign Office\ndated the 24th. October, in which it is stated \" having voluntarily accepted the sum of \u00C2\u00A3150,\nwhich on the authority of Mr. Arrowsmith's opinion, Lord Aberdeen offered you for those Maps,\nhis Lordship does not consider that you have just claim for the additional sum which you now\nsolicit.\" In reply to which I have to remark, that my acceptance of \u00C2\u00A3150 for my Maps of North\nAmerica from Ocean to Ocean, was anything, but voluntary.\nFrom the month of May 1S43 to late in the year, I was encouraged by Sir Charles Metcalfe,\nour Governor General, to prepare and bring forward the Maps of the Oregon Territory, & the\nconsequence was, that I left off the business of my profession ; and gave my whole time to the\nsetting in of a Canadian winter to get the Maps ready, and thereby had made no provision for\nmy family'during winter, relying on the Foreign Office doing me justice for my exertions; even\nthe time thus spent would have given me \u00C2\u00A3150; the consequence was I had to sell the best part\nof my furniture to procure the bare necessaries of life for my family; and when at length the\nvery low sum of \u00C2\u00A3150 was offered me for the Maps of my discoveries, which cost me upwards\nof 2S years of labor, and many hundred pounds of my private fortune, I had to accept it for\nthe remains of my furniture was then under a writ of execution for Rent. If I had not been\nill this sad destitute condition I should, most certainly, have refused the sum of \u00C2\u00A3150. I was\ndestitute, what could I do. AVith regard to Mr. Arrowsmith's opinion, I have to remark, that\nI have, several times been obliged to point out the errors of his Maps on North 'America, he\nhas had his revenge on me. My long services of 11 years under the 6th. and 7th. Articles of the\nTreaty of Ghent will I hope, plead something in my favor.\nMost respectfully\nYour obedient Servant\nDavid Thompson.\nformerly Astronomer and Surveyor,\nunder the 6th. and 1th. Articles of\nMontreal, December 2nd. 18f'i. the Treaty of Ghent.\n(9.) Lettee to Captain Sir James Alexander, Montreal.\nMontreal. May 9. 1S45.\nSir.\nMy son Mr. Henry G. Thompson having mentioned to me, that as a Member of the Royal\nGeographical Society of London you wished to see me, and render me any service you could,\nfor which I feel myself very much obliged to you; but to prevent any unfounded hope on my\npart, I lay before you a brief memoir of my life, which may enable j7ou to judge how far I\nam worth your kind attention. In Westminster on the royal foundation I received a mathematical education for the Royal Navy. I was free in AVestminster Abbey\u00E2\u0080\u0094its venerable cloisters\nwere my play grounds. The peace of 1783, and the reduction of the Navy, did not require us,\nand the Class had to enter into merchant service and my lot fell to be engaged to the Hudsons\nBay Company, and in September 1784, 1 was landed at Churchill, the most northern of their\nfactories. In September 1785 I was ordered to York Factory (a long 150 miles) which I performed on foot on an alluvial soil of curious formation. In 178S & 9 I studied practical\nastronomy under Mr. Philip Turnor, one of the compilers of the Nautical Almanac, and for\nsome time an assistant to the Astronomer Royal. From this time to 1796 by the Hudson's\nBay Company I made discoveries of the wild inhospitable regions of the north and west\ncountries; when finding the extreme parsimony of this Company would not even allow L25CV.\nto the discovery of the interior countries and extension of their fur trade, I was obliged to\nleave them, and enter into the service of the north west Company of Fur Merchants of Canada:\nthe late Mr. Simon McTavish was at the head of the firm, the Agents were the late Mr. William\nMcGillivray and Sir Alexr. McKenzie, Gentlemen of liberal and scientific views; they proposed\nto me an extensive circuit of survey, founded on astronomical observations for Latitude, Longi- 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 123\ntude and variation of the Compass\u00E2\u0080\u0094from some of the trading settlements I went to the\nMissourie River, thence to the head waters of the Red River, and followed it thence to the\nvery sources of the far famed Missisippi, which I surveyed, and descended, as far, as in those\ndays (1797) (for war parties) I dared to do, thence turned to Lake Superior, surveyed the\nsouth side of the Fall of St. Maries, and returned by the north side: from this to 1801 different\nsurveys took place. In 1S01 the northw'est company determined to extend their Fur Trade to\nthe w7est side of the Rocky Mountains, and if possible to the Pacific Ocean; this expedition was\nintrusted to me, and I crossed the Mountains to the head waters of McGillivray's River; but\nan overwhelming force of the eastern Indians obliged me to retreat a most desperate retreat\nof six days for they dreaded the western Indians being furnished with Arms and Ammunition.\nThe report of my attempt and defeat, soon reached AVashington and in 1804 the Executive\nof the U. States organised a plan of discovery, to be conducted by Captains Lewis and Clarke\n(the former the nephew of President Jefferson) of the United States Army, with a company\nof picked Soldiers. In 1805 they crossed the Mountains by the most southern branch of the\nColumbia River, and wintered near the Pacific Ocean. In 1806 they returned toy the same route\nand left no trace of possession behind them. This expedition directed the attention of the\nIndians to the head waters of the Missisourie, and in 1807 gave me an opportunity of crossing\nthe Mountains, and placing myself on the head waters of the Columbia River, and built a fortified\nPost of Stockades &c &c from thence exploring the country &c. and making trading settlements\nof the North West Company (of which I was a Partner) on the several Rivers, Lakes, &c. &c.\nIn the autumn of 1810 Mr. Astor of New York made a settlement of a few Log Huts (named Fort\nAstoria) as a trading Post, near the Pacific Ocean. In 1811 I went down the Columbia River,\nand placed the British Flag at their door, they had to sell out to the North AVest Company, and\nthere ended Fort Astoria of which the United States talk so much. The North West Company\ncontinued to extend their trading settlements to near the Pacific Ocean. In the year 1S22, the\njunction of the North West, and Hudsons Bay Companies, took place, and by this the Hudsons\nBay Company came into possession of the trading Posts of the Oregon Territory, and since\nwhich every thing in that country passes under their name, although until 1S22 not one of the\nHudsons Bay Company set a foot on the west side of the Mountains. Thus 28 years of my life\nwere spent in those distant countries, of which 20 years were passed on discovery from the\nLatitude of 45\u00C2\u00B0 north to 60\u00C2\u00B0 north and in Longitude from fludson's Bay and the east end of\nLake Superior, to the Pacific Ocean.\nMy surveys of these extensive (and I may say yet unknown countries) were all conducted\non scientific principles; the courses and distances to 1/10 of a mile were taken of the Rivers,\nLakes &c &c and sketched\u00E2\u0080\u0094these courses and distances worked, and corrected by numerous\nastronomical observations for Latitude, Longitude, variation of the Compass &c &c; every course\nand distance has its Latitude and Longitude; all the above in their original state are yet with\nme. How far these surveys and numerous observations over the above extensive countries are\nworth preservation is doubtful, North America has no interest in the eyes of the British Public,\nexcept at present the Oregon Territory, which, after lying 40 years dormant, has started into\nnotice. In 1817 I was appointed Astronomer and Surveyor under the 6th. and 7th. articles of\nthe Treaty of Ghent; the survey was conducted under strict scientific order, all the survey from\nSt. Regis to Lake Huron except Lakes Ontario and Erie (was by triangles of intersection; the\nBase Lines correctly measured, and the positions determined by the Transits of the Sun and\nStars and compared with very many observations for Latitude, Longitude, &c. &c. &c. this\nsurvey ended in 1827.\nThe great Lakes, Huron and Superior could not be surveyed by ordinary observations, nor\nthe interior countries to the north west corner of the Lake of the AVoods, they were subjected\nto practical astronomy and as the United States had no practical Astronomer for the last four\nyears I acted for both nations.\nThe above may give some idea of the mass of scientific materials in my hands, of surveys,\nof astronomical observations, drawings of the countries, sketches and measurements of the\nMountains &c &c &c all soon to perish in oblivion.\nMost respectfully\nYour obedient Servant\nDavid Thompson.\nCaptain Sir James Alexander lJt. Regt. dc dc dc R. Engr. Office. Montreal. V 124 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(10.) Remarks on the Oregon Tebbitoby-.\nMr. Falconer has given a clear view of the apparent claims of both nations to the Oregon\nTerritory, yet it appears neither nation placed any real confidence in their respective claims,\nfor Mr. Falconer justly observes, \" there can be no question that mere discovery is not alone\na complete title to possession.\"\nIn 1790, Great Britain and the United States, agreed to the joint occupation of the country,\nfrom Latitude 42\u00C2\u00B0 North, to Latitude 47\u00C2\u00B0 North; that is the Joint occupation of a Territory\nbounded on the South by the parallel of 42\u00C2\u00B0 (North) on the north by the parallel of 47\u00C2\u00B0 North;\non the East by the Rocky Mountains, and on the West by the Pacific Ocean. (I have the treaty\nbut cannot now find it, and must depend upon my memory.)\nThis treaty was for ten years subject to either party disallowing it by giving one years\nnotice: in 1801 it was renewed for 10 years, and in 1818 again renewed for an indefinite time,\nbut as yet neither party has given a year's notice, and President Polk has put an end to it, by\nclaiming the whole of the Oregon Territory. In 1792, Lieutenant Broughton R.N. under the\nsanction of the British Government, and by its orders, formally took possession of both banks\nof the Columbia River, and on this formal possession, Great Britain founds its claim to the\nOregon, altho' no settlement was formed, and the country directly abandoned, nor to this day,\ndo I believe that on the part of the Crown, there is a Magistrate, a Court, &c, &c, necessary to\nconstitute a Colony.\nIt is a great pity Mr. Falconer did not take the treaty of 1790 and its renewals into his\nconsideration. It is contended that Mr. Gray was not in the Columbia River, but only in an\narm of the sea: had Lieutenant Broughton been as w7ell acquainted with Rivers as he w7as\nwith the Ocean, he would have made no such assertion; an arm of the sea we naturally (take)\nto be salt water; whereas this arm of the sea is fresh water, formed by the Columbia River\noverflowing low lands, which is common to all Rivers, and it required six days for Mr. Gray\nto clear the Bar of the River.\nAstoria was a trading Factory for Furs, situated close to & westward of Tongue Point, on\nthe expanse of the Columbia called an arm of the Sea; composed of private individuals in 1810,\nand in 1813 sold to the North West Company, also private individuals; yet from this sale,\nauthorized by the British Crown. (I do not believe it) it became a British Colony without\na Magistrate or any legal authority to uphold the laws of a Colony; three days after the sale,\nthe Racoon sloop of War arrived to take Astoria, but found it in possession of the North West\nCompy.; the crew were very much disappointed, as they expected prize money, but the Captain\nquieted them.\nAt the peace of 1814, altho' Astoria was a Factory of private persons, yet the United\nStates obliged the Crown to give it up, and its limits to be for future discussion, which have\nnot yet been settled: here was lost a good opportunity for the Crown claiming the trading\nsettlements I made in 1807 & subsequent years.\nThe convention in 1818 was that of joint occupancy,\u00E2\u0080\u0094at the end of ten years, Mr. Canning\nand Mr. Huskisson proposed that \" the boundary beyond the Rocky Mountains, should pass from\nthose Mountains AA'estward along the 49th parallel of Latitude to the Northeasternmost branch\nof the Columbia River, and thence down the middle of the stream, to the Pacific,\"\u00E2\u0080\u0094this was not\nagreed to. I doubt much if I could point out any such branch of the Columbia River, for all\nthe Eastern branches are Southward of the Columbia River.\nPresident Munroe, in his Message of December the 2nd. 1.823 says. \" the occasion has been\nfound proper for asserting that henceforth the American Continents were not to be considered\nas subjects for European Colonization.\"\nPresident Polk declared the same in bolder language; and this is the sole principle the\nCrown has to contend with, everything else is argument to no purpose. The boundaries offered\nby Great Britain, show a defective knowledge of the Territory.\nThere is but one boundary which ought to be satisfactory to England, & ought to content\nthe United States. (If this is possible.)\nThis boundary is, from where the parallel of the 49th. degree of Latitude touches the East\nside of the Rocky Mountains, the boundary shall pass along the Mountains Southward to the\n47th. degree of Latitude and on this 47th. Parallel of Latitude cross the Rocky Mountains, and\ncontinue until this parallel of Latitude intersects the Columbia River, thence down the middle 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 125\nof the said River, to the Pacific Ocean, by this Great Britain cedes all the territory South of\nthe 47th. parallel of Latitude to the 42nd. parallel from the Pacific to the Rocky Mountains;:\nthis ought to content them.\nThe proposition of Mr. Canning for the Boundary to pass down the Northeasternmost branch\nof the Columbia to this River, shows that Mr. Canning had no map of the Country before him,\nfor all the branches of the Columbia lie Southeastward or Northwestward: the very devious\ncourses of the Columbia River, and of all its numerous branches to join it, show7 the necessity\nof a good map of the Oregon Territory, founded on actual survey.\nThe proposition of Lord John Russell to make Macgillivray's River a boundary, plainly\nshows he must have had very erroneous maps before him, for this River has a most devious\ncourse to the Columbia, and in a high Latitude of that Territory.\nThe speeches of Earl Aberdeen, Lord John Russell, and Sir Robert Peel, are all very good\non general principles, but will never determine a boundary over the Oregon Territory. There\nappears a total want of knowledge of that Territory, it may be beneath these great men to-\nstudy the Maps of the Columbia River, or they may have erroneous maps.\nEven the Saleesh River and its Lakes, (on which I passed two winters) is too devious for\na boundary.\nEngland has always been too forward to conciliate the United States, let this now be given\nup, and let the United States now propose a boundary over the Oregon Territory which may be\nmodified, accepted, or not allowed: & no longer leave their offers open to the United States.\nThe single determined principle of the United States is, that no foreign power has any right\nto any part of North America, and whatever they may grant to the British Crown, will be\nexpediency, to be resumed again as soon as possible. On the other hand the Crown ought to\nassume a right to the whole Territory, by formal possession taken by Lieutenant Broughton R.N.\nin 1792, and whatever is granted to the United States, to be matter of favor, not of right.\nLet the British Crown assume its natural dignified attitude, and no longer expose itself to\nthe refusal of the United States.\nDavid Thompson\n' formerly Astronomer and Surveyor under\nthe 6 d 7 articles of the Treaty of Ghent.\nSir Jas. Alexander, dc. dc. dc. lkth Regt. R. Engr. Office. Montreal. 10 June lSJ/o.\nNote by Sir J. E. Alexander. I lent Mr. D. Thompson Falconers Pamphlet on the Oregon\nand requested him to make notes on it, as he was the first to visit it from the east of the rocky\nMountains in 1801; subjoined are his ideas of the Boundary &c.\nJ E. Alexander.\nXI. REPORT BY CHARTRES BREW, INSPECTOR OF POLICE, BRITISH COLUMBIA.\nFort Yale B. C.\n26th February 1859.\nSir.\nI have the honor to inform you that the 22nd Inst was celebrated at Fort Yale by the\nCitizens of The United States as the Birthday of Washington. At Noon one hundred discharges\nwere fired in imitation of one hundred Guns by exploding Gunpowder between two Anvils. The\nnoise of each explosion was as loud as the report of the largest sized Gun. I am informed that\nthey subsequently fired ten Guns as a salute to me, as they imagined that a young lad who was\nbrought up before Captain Whannell for firing a squib out of a pistol in the street and was\ndischarged by him with a rebuke, was released through my interference. V 126 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nIn the evening a Ball took place at the House of a man named Campbell. I was invited but\ndid not go. Mr. McGowan, Mr. Perrier and others promised me that they would exert themselves\nto have peace and order maintained during the night, and I particularly requested that no pistols\nshould be taken into the Room. The utmost harmony prevailed till the company went to supper\nwhen some Jealousy arose about precedence for seats. A Mr. Bagly of Hills-bar abused McGowan\nand called him an old Grayheaded scamp. McGowan immediately broke a plate on Baglys head\nand Bagly in return broke McGowans head with another plate. At once there was a General\nrow and friends at both side(s) went off to get their pistols but when they returned to the\nscene the affair had subsided into a demand for \" satisfaction \" as soon as arrangements could\nbe made. On the following morning Bagly sent McGowan a Message and a Friend of McGowans\ncalling himself Major Dolan sent a Message to a Friend of Bagly's named Burns. McGowau\nreplied to Bagly that he would not fight in British territory but that he was willing to meet him\non the United States territory and fight him with rifles at 40 paces, to be placed back to back\nwalk to the mark and wheel and fire at the word. This proposition Bagly accepted and McGowan\nhas actually sold out his claim at Hills bar and distributed as presents amongst his friends all\nhis chattels and he proceeds on this day to the Washington Territory to be at the place appointed\nfor the meeting on I think the 2nd prox.\u00E2\u0080\u0094Every effort was made by peace making friends to\narrange the dispute amicably but without success: it may be settled yet though, as the parties\nare not gone: but McGowan is off Hills bar. If they were going to fight in this country I should\nhave had them arrested and bound to the peace but as they are leaving the Colony and are not\nEnglish subjects the propriety of interfering with them appears to me to be doubtful. I think\nBagly would not have challenged McGowan if he thought he would fight, and I am satisfied\nthat McGowan would be glad to get out of the duel if he could, but he knows he must fight or\nforever lose his influence over the reckless Band of which he is the Chief.\nThe duel between Dolan and Burns is off for the present\u00E2\u0080\u0094they had agreed to fight with\nrevolvers at 30 paces advancing a pace each shot, but Burns afterwards insisted that if there\nwas no hit after the six shots a side, they should finish the business with Bowie knives\u00E2\u0080\u0094to\nthis Dolan would not consent as his right arm is weak from a wound, and so the matter stands.\nThere are five or six Friends from Hills Bar to accompany each party.\nWith the exception of this \" difficulty \" everything has been quiet during the last w7eek.\nWe had another heavy fall of snow7 on yesterday and frost last night. Mining operations\ntherefore are not recommenced. The Chief number of miners on the lower River are I am\ninformed determined to abandon their claims and move up the Country this spring. They are\nled by reports to expect to find Gold there in sackfuls.\nI took possession of the Office in the New Government house here on the 24th Inst. The\nHouse as far as the Builders contract is concerned is nearly completed.\nJoseph AV. Cary one of the Constables at Fort Yale resigned on the 22nd Inst. I am just\nas well pleased that he did, he was one of those at a hundred Dollars a month.\nThere are great numbers of Boats coming up the river with freight. Provisions with the\nexception of Flour are excessively dear here. Mr. Land is getting down the timber on the flat\nvery slowly.\nI have the honor to be Sir\nYour obedient Servant\nC. Brew\nChief Inspector of Police British Columbia\nAg. Chief Gold Commissioner\nP.S. Mr. Elwyn has just come in to say that the row between McGown and Bagly is all\namicably settled. I have not heard whether or not McGowan will get back his claim, but I\nknow he sold it. Office 3.40 P.M. 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 127\nADDENDA.\nLetters of Sir James Douglas, K.C.B.. to Dr. AAt. F. Tolmie.\n(1.) Fort Victoria, 24th September, 1850.\n(2.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E Sth May, 1851.\n(3.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E Srd June, 1851.\n(4.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 25th June, 1851.\n(5.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 28th June, 1851.\n(6.) \u00E2\u0080\u009E 10th October, 1851.\n(7.) ,, 25th November, 1851.\nLetters and Reports by David Thompson.\n(1.) Memorandum for Sir Robert Peel and Lord Stanley. (Undated.)\n(2.) To Sir Robert Peel and Lord Stanley. (Undated.)\n(3.) Letter dated Montreal, February 24th, 1842. (Without address.)\n(4.) Letter to J. M. Higginson, Esqre., Private Secretary.\n(5.) \"To the Right Honorable The Earl of Aberdeen, Her Majesty's Secretary of State for\nForeign Affairs.\"\n(1.)\nFort A'ictoria,\n24 Septr. 1850.\nWilliam F. Tolmie,\nDear Sir\nI have to acknowledge your letters of 29th, Slst Aug., 9th. 17th and ISth Septr. The\nSchooner Cadboro arrived here safely and delivered the wool and other cargo, correct and in\ngood order. In reference to the squared timber which Glasgow has on hand, I do not see how\nwe can dispose of it to advantage, and therefore would not advise you to buy it.\nHindeswells effects have been received here, but it is impossible to say when there may be\na conveyance to the Columbia.\nThe price of the Sheep sent to A'ancouver, will remain for future adjustment.\nI would purchase more lumber from Bishop, but we have no means of getting it brought\ndown\u00E2\u0080\u0094we must therefore limit our purchases for the present to the kind and quantity specified\nin my letter. Your reply to Thurstons charges is what it should be, calm temperate and\nconclusive.\nH.M.Ship \" Daedalus,\" Captain Wellesly\u00E2\u0080\u0094arrived here on Sunday last, she brought English\ndates to 15th July. Sir Robert Peel is dead\u00E2\u0080\u0094he was killed by a fall from his horse\u00E2\u0080\u0094all quiet\nin Europe.\nI forward by the Bearers a packet for the Hudsons Bay House, which I beg may be\nforwarded herewith to A'ancouver in order to catch the mail of the 1st Oct. The Norman\nMorrison left yesterday with a fair wind bound direct for the port of London.\nWhat a relief to my mind.\nI will write again by the Cadboro, now absent on a trading excursion and expected here in\na few days.\nIn haste\nMy dear Sir\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\nPlease to pay the Indians half price for taking on this letter\u00E2\u0080\u0094they are the Indians\nFinlayson brought on. J.D. V 128\nProvincial Archives Department.\n1914\n(2.)\n(Private)\nFort A'ictoria,\nSth May, 1851.\nMy deab Sib\nMany thanks for your private note and your good wishes for Cecilia who I am glad to\nsay continues on the mend, but is still very weak and mostly confined to bed\u00E2\u0080\u0094though the\nDoctor has promised to let her take the air in a few days more. You \" believe \" that Olympia\nis a port of Entry, if so why not send the \" Una \" to Nesqually immediately for another cargo\nof live stock.\u00E2\u0080\u0094 ? Had your words been more positive, I would have taken that course, as the\n\" Una \" can do nothing until the \" Tory \" arrives. She must be now7 near at hand\u00E2\u0080\u0094it being\nwithin a few days of six months since she sailed. I will send you the Bailiff and recruits as\nsoon as possible after they reach this place.\nMr. McKay is off on a tour of the Cowetchin country, and will return to-morrow or next\nday when I will inform you of the result.\nThe men here are all on the qui vive about McKay's journey and suppose that there is gold\nin the case ! !\nPray remember me kindly to Mrs. Tolmie. I trust baby is doing well.\nAVith best wishes\nSincerely yours\nJames Douglas.\nLaporteur having received his supplies for the year is a saving of trouble and expense\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nit would be advisible to send other servants for clothing, as opportunities occur.\nJ. D.\n(3.)\nFobt A'ictobia,\n3d. June, 1851.\nWilliam F. Tolmie, Esqre.,\ndc. dc. dc.\nDear Sir\nI have to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 23d and 29th May, to which I will\nnow briefly reply.\nYour remarks on the subject of the deserters are quite correct, they were pursued more\nwith the view of alarming others, than from any hope or even wish to recapture them.\nThe postage charge and the sum of money advanced to Mr. Lewis have been carried to the\nproper accounts.\nI was not anxious about getting another cargo of cattle brought by the Orbit, on account\nof the high charge, and the opening of Nesqually as a Port of Entry, which leaves it accessible\nto our own vessels.\nThe Indian lads arrived here on the 1st Inst, with the \" Tory's \" Boat and your communication of the 29th May. The expenses of recovering and forwarding the Boat are charged in\naccount with the \" Tory \" and will be paid here by the Master.\nThe price of Lumber is high at $25 a m feet, and I could not think of taking any quantity\nfor the Company at that rate. I will however be obliged to you for 200 inch deals and 100\nDeals of 1% inch\u00E2\u0080\u0094on my account\u00E2\u0080\u0094to be forwarded by the Cadboro or other safe conveyance\nto this place.\nI must decline for the present entering into arrangements with Mr. Simmons for the transport of any stipulated number of live stock.\nWe want both sheep and cattle brought here, and we will give Mr. Simmons the preference\nover other parties provided his charge for transport is equally moderate\u00E2\u0080\u0094but I decline entering\ninto any fixed arrangement, until freights are less expensive. The Cadboro left for Frasers 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 129\nRiver last week, and is not expected to be back here before the 20th of the present month\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nwhen she will at once proceed to Nesqually, provided the arrival of the Collector be previously\nannounced.\nI remain\nDear Sir\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\nP. S. Ascohome brought the packet in his charge safe to hand. Your communication of the\n27th received by him contains I believe, no subject that has not been noticed in this sheet. J. D.\nI send you the original map of Nesqually make the most of it.\n(4.)\nFoet A'ictoria,\n25th June, 1851.\nWilliam F Tolmie, Esqre.,\nMy dear Sir\nI have just closed a hurried note, accompanying our account with Mr. Simmonds which I\nforwarded per \" Orbit,\" as she may reach Nesqually before the canoe which takes on this note.\nI duly received your private favour by Frize and appreciate your good wishes for baby.\nHe has been rather unwell, but is getting round again as well as Mamma who has been a great\nsufferer.\nI have heard from the agents of the Pugets Sound Company\u00E2\u0080\u0094respecting the employment of\nthe Bailiffs sent out this year by the Tory. Their communication contains very little else of-\ninterest, except the report and statements laid before the last annual meeting by the Agents,\nwhich exhibits the affairs of the Association in a satisfactory state.\nThose documents you will see when you come this way. I have a few Cheroots for Golds-\nborough which you may take on when you come yourself.\nTrudelles house will be removed from the Grand bas fond in a few days, as he has gone to\nanother claim. Pray charge five dollars a head for the wedders you send to Vancouver\u00E2\u0080\u0094they\nare wanted for food and are not dear at the price.\nTen of the last cargo of sheep per the \" Orbit\" died after landing at Esquimalt\u00E2\u0080\u0094the cause\nbeing surfeit in consequence of the confinement and privation on board. The first sheep landed\nare looking remarkably well.\nMr. Pemberton will begin w7ork tomorrow7 and I hope we will soon see the fruits of his\nlabours. I received by him a form of Title to be issued on the sale of lands. I have not had\ntime to peruse it with attention; but I suppose it will be found all right.\nI herewith enclose a duplicate of Simmonds account, containing all the. cargoes, appearing\nin our books, against him; from the balance remaining at his credit, yon ought to pay off any\nsums due to you. Please to forward the accompanying letters to Vancouver or if they will go\nas soon by post let them be mailed, at Steilacoom or New Market.\nAVith kind respects to Mrs. Tolmie\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\nP. S. H. M. Ship Daphnae has just arrived in the offing. J. D.\nP. T. O.\nMr. Roberts having decided on leaving the service, next autumn, I now send young Bayley,\nson of the Bailiff intended for the Cowelitz Farm, who will remain with Mr. Roberts to acquire\na knowledge of the business, untill his father can be sent over.\nThe young man writes a beautiful hand and is pretty well educated\u00E2\u0080\u0094pray send him on from\nNesqually.\nYours\nJ. D.\n9 V 130 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(5.)\nFort A'ictoria,\n28th June, 1851.\nDear Sir\nHer Majestys ship Portland arrived at Port Esquimalt yesterday, with the Commander in\nChief Admiral Moresby on board. He intends to make reprisals on the Indians of Neweete\nunless they give up the murderers of the three Seamen slain by them last summer.\nYoung Bayley does not go by this conveyance as he cannot get ready in time.\nI have not paid anything to the Indian Bearers here as we have very little Baize on hand,\nwith the exception of 2 yds of Baize to the tallest of the number.\nEnclosed is a list of the travelling gear supplied Clouston now returned.\nj Yours truly,\nJames Douglas.\n(G.)\nFort Victoria, 10th Oct., 1851.\nTo William F Tolmie, Esqre.,\nDeab Sir\nWe arrived here after a smooth and pleasant voyage in the Cadboro, on the morning of our\nfourth day from Nesqually, and the cargo of wool was landed in good order.\nThe \" Georgiana \" arrived a few hours after the Cadboro, and delivered the sheep safe and\n.well. Captain Rowland sailed again the following day for Nesqually, so unexpectedly that I had\nnot time to address you.\nThe Cadboro has been successfully employed since her return in trading trips for potatoes,\nof which we have now secured a considerable quantity.\nThe \" Una \" sailed yesterday with a party under the direction of Captain McNeill for Queen\nCharlottes Island, and will probably winter in Englefleld Bay.\nThe influenza has been very severe in this quarter, both among whites and Indians; but was\nnot accompanied with any other complaint nor has it terminated fatally in any case.\nThe country is now covered with a fine growth of grass\u00E2\u0080\u0094and the cattle are in high condition.\nI now forward an express canoe with letters for England, which I beg may be forwarded\nby the earliest conveyance.\nThese accompany the surveyors report and chart of Victoria and Esquimalt Districts, and\nI am most anxious that they should go safely. Use your own discretion as to sending them by\nthe Steilacoom Post or by special messenger, safety of conveyance being the first consideration.\nSome articles of hardware are now forwarded for the Cowilitz farm which I recommend\nto your care\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nNot ready will be sent next time.\nAVith best wishes\nYours sincerely\n\u00E2\u0096\u00A0 \u00E2\u0080\u00A2 James Douglas.\nP.S. Our kind respects to Mrs. Tolmie\u00E2\u0080\u0094Mr. Finlayson will tell you all about the Farm.\nI have requested Mr. Pemberton to send you a sketch of the land as laid out in his survey\u00E2\u0080\u0094\nagain adieu\u00E2\u0080\u0094\u00E2\u0096\u00A0\nJ. D. 4 Geo. 5\nBritish Columbia.\nV 131\n(7.)\nFort A'ictoria,\n25th Novr., 1S51.\nWilliam Fraser Tolmie, Esqre.,\nEtc. Etc. Etc.\nDear Sir\nI have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 11th Inst, with the accompanying documents which contained the desired information and were perfectly satisfactory. .\nThe charges against Nisqually connected with the cattle transport, have been noted in the\noffice and will be forwarded as soon as they can be made out. In my letter of the 31st Oct.\nI informed you that the sheep and cattle chargeable at the Victoria Depot, should be priced at\nthe following rates, vizt.\nSheep Ewe or Wedder 10/- per head.\nCow and Calf 70/-\nOxen 70/-\nwhich will be considered as the transfer price, until further instructions.\nIt is highly satisfactory to hear, that the Ewes will be in a productive state this year, as it\nwill be in our power to remove a large number in course of the tw7elvemonth\u00E2\u0080\u0094and the demands\nof the Colony will be great and pressing for many years to come.\nGeorge Edw7ards will be written off the books from the date he left the service. We received\nthe two sheep dogs forwarded per last Mail canoe and not three as mentioned in your letter.\nThe steam vessel will proceed tomorrow towards Nesqually with the \" Mary Dare \" in tow,\nthe latter having on board a large part of your requisition for 1852 as per invoice herewith, and\nthe remainder will toe forwarded by the next conveyance. Two men are shipped by the Steam\nvessel say James Paddock and wife and AVilliam Lagg for the Cowelitz Farm and I beg they\nmay be sent on by the first conveyance to that Post.\nBy the return of the A'essels you will ship the furs and wool for this place with as many\ncattle and sheep as they can take.\nAs you may probably not have it in your power, to load them exclusively with cattle, complete their cargoes with sheep, though cattle are most wanted at present.\nJames Goudie has 30 horses at Nesqually which may also be shipped at the usual charge\naccording to ages to be noted on the Bill of lading.\nThe Mary Dare will require Deals at Nesqually, to deck the lower hold, which please furnish.\nI beg that as much fresh beef as can be slaughtered up to 25 carcases may be forwarded by\nthe vessels, for the supply of this place. It ought to be put in pickle for the space of 24 hours\nto ensure its keeping sound\u00E2\u0080\u0094until used.\nWe have a very large establishment to feed at present and need all the assistance in food\nthat can be had.\nReferring to the documents herewith,\nI remain\nYours truly\nJames Douglas.\nP.S. Many thanks for your private favour which I have not time at present to acknowledge\nmore fully. I quite approve of your suggestion about the servants orders which had better be\nmade up at Nesqually from your outfit.\nWith kind regards and best wishes\nSincerely Yours\nJ.D.\nPray forward the letters for England by the first conveyance. J.D. and the case of Hayquois\nto Fort Vancouver.\nJ.D.\nA sea Otter is now sent for Mr. Holbrooke\u00E2\u0080\u0094do not put too high a price upon it\u00E2\u0080\u009430 dollars\nis enough. There are two seamen stil on board the Mary Dare, at 60 Dollars a month, I have\ndirected Mowat to discharge them at Nesqually, and I beg you will furnish cash if required to\npay them off there. J.D. V 132 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\n(1.)\nMemorandum for Sir Robert Peel and Lord Stanley. (Undated.)\nThe undersigned most respectfully begs permission to inform you that he has surveyed and\nsettled by numerous Astronomical observations a part of this Continent (North America) from\nthe Latitude of 43 Degrees North and in Longitude from the River St. Lawrence and Hudsons\nBay to the Pacific Ocean\u00E2\u0080\u0094the result of twenty-eight Years of the prime of his Life in discovery\nof the Rivers and Lakes that fall into the different Oceans. He has also noticed the various\nformations of this part of the Continent and the Rocky Mountains of all which he has accurate\nMaps; and it is from his rough Maps that Arrowsmith and Faden in their Maps have laid down\nthe above Countries. Eleven years he was employed as Astronomer and Surveyor, under the\nTreaty of Ghent in the Survey from St. Regis, a village on the South Bank of the St. Lawrence\n(76 miles above Montreal), to the North West end of the Lake of the Woods. The North East\nend of Lake Huron and the River St. Maria to Lake Superior were geometrically surveyed by\nTriangles of intersection and numerous astronomical observations. The great Lakes and the\ninterior Countries to the Pacific Ocean w7ere all Surveyed by courses and distances and determined by very many astronomical observations for Latitude, Longitude, variations of the Compass &c. &c. Also a Survey from Lake Huron to the Ottawa River for a Ship Canal, and several\nother Scientific Surveys in the Canadas.\nThe above is mentioned to point out my accurate and extensive knowledge of the North part\nof this Continent to give weight to the following Letters on the subject of the Boundary in\nquestion between Great Britain and the United States.\nI have, &c.\nDavid Thompson,\nFormerly Astronomer and Surveyor under\nthe 6th Article of the Treaty of Ghent.\n(2.)\n., To Sir Robert Peel and Lord Stanley. (Undated.)\nOn the Boundary of the 45th. Parallel of Latitude from St. Regis upon the River Cataraqui\n(St. Lawrence) to the Connecticut River.\nBy the 5th. Article of the Treaty of Ghent\u00E2\u0080\u0094\" from whence the 45th. degree of Latitude\nintersects the River ' Cataraqui,' the Boundary shall run due East, on the said parallel of\nLatitude to where it intersects the River Connecticut.\" That is the said Boundary Line shall\nbe the Arc of lesser Circle, running due East on the parallel of the 45th. Degree of North\nLatitude every where equidistant from the Pole of the Earth. In the Spring of the year 1817,\nPresident Munro sent Professor Elliott to determine the place where the 45th parallel of North\nLatitude intersects the River Cataraqui. This w7as done ufiknown to the Commissioners under\nthe Treaty of Ghent. Mr. Elliott placed a Stone on a Rising ground at St. Regis and returned\nto Washington. In the early part of the Summer of 1818 the Commissioners under the Sth &\n6th Articles of the Treaty of Ghent, agreed to determine the place of the 45th. parallel of\nLatitude. For the 5th. Article on the part of Great Britain, as astronomer, was Mr. John\nTiaiks, a German\u00E2\u0080\u0094on the part of the United States, Professor Hepler, a Swiss. After about\n6 weeks, they adopted the Stone placed by Mr. Elliott as the Boundary of the 45th. degree of\nLatitude. Mr. Adams, the United States Astronomer, and myself for Great Britain, under the\n6th Article, determined the 45th. degree of North Latitude to be 102 yards South of the Stone\nplaced by Mr. Elliott. When we were leaving St. Regis, several very respectable Gentlemen of\nthe State of New York came to us, and enquired \" AA'hether by the Treaty of Ghent the Boundary\nought not to be a straight line.\" We answered in the affirmative, they then informed us that 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 133\nso far as the Line was drawn, no part of it appeared a direct straight line, but appeared a\ncurved line. Upon this I perceived the line was probably drawn upon the Arc of a great Circle.\nUpon explaining the difference between a line due East, and the Arc of a great Circle, to the\nNew York Gentlemen, and to the Commissioners they desired me to speak to the Astronomers.\nI went, and Professor Hessler answered me \" that they drew the Line on the Arc of a great\nCircle, as it would give them a good job for five years, to reduce it to the Arc of a lesser circle.\"\nWhen I returned with this answer, the Gentlemen of New York said, they would represent it to\nthe President. How far the intervals between the places of observations for Latitude are drawn\non the Arc of a great circle, I cannot say as I never examined. Mr. Tiaiks told me they did not\ngo on beyond the 3rd. or 4th. Station of observations. All parallels of Latitude are lesser\nCircles, every where equi distant from the Poles, and except the Equator, do not intersect the\ncentre of the Earth. Whereas the plane of every great circle intersects the centre of the Earth,\nand in Northern Latitudes forms a Convex Curve between the Upper Circle, and the Pole, thereby\ncutting off a portion of ground from the Northern Territory (Canada). There is reason to\nbelieve that except the small boundary Stone at St. Regis, there is not another on the whole line\nto the Connecticut River, except, perhaps, at the Stations for observations for Latitude. To have\na well marked Boundary by Stones placed at every mile between Her Majestys Dominions and\nthe United States, appears of some importance to prevent the disputes which may arise from\nso litigant a neighbour.\nRespectfully submitted &c.\nDavid Thompson.\ndc. dc. dc.\n(3.)\nLetter dated Montreal, Febbuaey 24th, 1842. (AVitiiout addeess.)\nMontbeal,\n, February 24th, 1842.\nSir,\nOn the 22d. instant I had the honor of receiving your polite favor of the 19th. and highly\nappreciate His Excellency's favourable opinion of the Letters. Those now sent are No. 6 and\nNo. 7. The Letter No. 6 ends those sent to Sir Robert Peel and Lord Stanley. From the present\nposture of affairs and remembering that what is distant is obscure I have addressed No. 7 to\nHis Excellency on the state of the Country on the west side of the Mountains which in structure\nand Climate probably more resembles Spain than any other Country in Europe. I am convinced\nthe United States will now make a bold demand of the AA'est side of the Mountains, the accessible\nand commanding position of the Columbia River for the commerce of the Pacific Ocean, is of\nhigh importance to a Commercial Nation. The United States, with their usual policy will invest\nmany of those sent to the Columbia River with the title of Coll., Captain\u00E2\u0080\u0094Magistrate\u00E2\u0080\u0094Collector\nof Taxes, Customs &c. and as usual they will be on the alert to annoy the British Settlers.\nUnfortunately though the British Settlements are in a prosperous condition, they are as\nIndividuals unknown to England\u00E2\u0080\u0094not a single Officer of any title or authority has ever been\nsent there. This is a great fault from which we have suffered severely in all the disputed\nTerritory\u00E2\u0080\u0094every British Subject finds himself without protection from Lake Huron to the\nPacific Ocean. England has never legally acknowledged them.\nThere is a view of the connection of Canada with the Pacific Ocean which I respectfully\nwish you to think ou\u00E2\u0080\u0094that is in case of AA'ar with the United States, a communication of such\nan event could be sent across this Continent to Her Majesty's A'essels of War and all British\nInterests in less than half the time the News w7ould go round Cape Home, and sooner than by V 134 Provincial Archives Department. 1914\nthe Isthmus of Darien\u00E2\u0080\u0094would it be worth attention to shew this in detail. My apology is my\nanxious wish and hope to preserve entire the British Dominions on this Continent. Far, very\nfar too much has been carelessly given away\u00E2\u0080\u0094let every endeavour be made to preserve what\nremains.\nVery respectfully &c.\nDavid Thompson.\n(4.)\nLetter to J. M. Higginson, Esq., Private Secretary7.\nMontreal, 24th July, 1843.\nSib\nOn the 21st instant, I received a Letter from my Son, who is at New York, he mentions,\n\"I called on Mr. Barclay\u00E2\u0080\u0094he enquired about your Maps of the Oregon Territory if you had\nthem yet. I told him you had, he then said they could be disposed of to the Foreign Office, and\nintends writing you about them. No doubt you will hear from him immediately.\"\nAs yet I have not heard from the British Consul. This has made me hasten to forward the\ninclosed paper on the Oregon Territory, to be ready for this Packet: The morrow, by the Stage\nI hope to forward to His Excellency the first Sett of Maps on the scale of three inches to one\ndegree of Longitude. They are not equal to the Sett I am getting ready for the purpose of a\nwell defined Boundary Line. They will be ready by the next Packet, and sooner if required.\nI have, &c.\nDavid Thompson.\nJ. M. Higginson, Esqr.\nPrivate Secretary do. dc. dc.\n(5.)\n\" To the Right Honorable The Earl of Aberdeen, Heb Majesty's Secretary of State\nfob Foreign Affairs.\"\nThe Memorial of the undersigned most respectfully and humbly sheweth, that in order to\nparry into execution, the Treaty of Ghent, your Memorialist was appointed Astronomer, and\n/Surveyor to the British Commission under the sixth, and seventh, articles of the said treaty,\ncommencing early in 1817, and ending late in 1827, a period of nearly eleven years of incessant,\nand arduous survey, from seventy miles above this city, being the St. Lawrence, and its great\nLakes, and the countries beyond Lake Superior to the North end of the Lake of the Woods, with\n(all their islands.\nThat Lakes Huron, and Superior, and interior countries were surveyed by only your\n.memorialist acting Astronomer and Surveyor for both nations; the United States having no\npractical Astronomer: and the Maps of the seventh article of the Treaty of Ghent have only his\n(Signature. Your Memorialist for these, and other services, has never received in any manner,\nwhatever, any reward beyond his salary during the time of his actual service. Your Memorialist,\n\u00E2\u0096\u00A0who is now in the seventy fourth year of his age, most respectfully requests a pension of Two 4 Geo. 5 British Columbia. V 135\nHundred and Fifty Pounds sterling pr. Ann. may be granted to him, for the few years (if any)\nof his natural life. And after his decease, a pension of one hundred pounds Sterling to his aged\nwidow7, for her natural life, and as in duty bound, he will ever pray.\nDavid Thompson,\nformerly Astronomer, and Surveyor, under the\n6th and 7th Articles of the Treaty of Ghent.\nVICTORIA, B.C. :\nPrinted by William H. Cullin, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty.\n1814."@en . "Legislative proceedings"@en . "J110.L5 S7"@en . "1914_V02_20_V1_V135"@en . "10.14288/1.0059568"@en . "English"@en . "Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library"@en . "Victoria, BC : Government Printer"@en . "Images provided for research and reference use only. For permission to publish, copy or otherwise distribute these images please contact the Legislative Library of British Columbia"@en . "Original Format: Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Library. Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia"@en . "REPORT OF THE PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31ST, 1913"@en . "Text"@en . ""@en .