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RETURN to an Address of the Honourable The Houie of Contmom , dated a July i8ti8;-;/i>r, " COPY Of Extracts of Cohrespondbnce between Governor Kennedif of Vancouver Itland, Governor Seymour of British Clumbia, and the Colonial Office, on t^e subject of a Site for the Capital of Britith Columbia." . . . ,■..., ll Gqlonial Office,! S7jal}r 1888. J C. B. ADDERLET. .Tfi ^j..:rFL^ (^Mr. Gravet.) Cfdered, Jjjf "Die House of Commoni, to he PrkOtit •28/«/yi868. [ 3 J LIST OF PAPERS. DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 (41) (61) (87) (161) (164) (31) (51) 11 March 1867 - - - (Extract) 10 April 1867 - - - (Extract) 13 July 1867 - - - (Extract) 10 December 1867 - 24 Deceniber 1867 - - - - 29 April 1868 - - . . 28 May 1868 PAOK 8 8 4 8 9 9 12 DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. No. 1 2 4 (49) (67) (46) 17 August 1867 1 October 1867 9 July 1868 - PAOE 13 13 14 [ 3 ] ^-.iK'-,.i-l<' COPY or Extracts of Correspondence bitwcen Governor Kennedy of Vancouver Island, Governor Seymour of British Columbia, and the Colonial Office, on the subject of a Sitb for the Capital of British Columbia. .■,■•{. Despatches from the Governor. — No. 1. — No. 1. Extract cf a DESPATCH from Governor Seymour to His Grace the Duke of Governor Seymour Buckingham and Chandos, dated New Westminster, lltli March 1867. No. 41. '^ *^i„'^;j|['^°3*'„j " I HAVE the honour to forward the address and reply with which the present Chandog. Legislative Session was opened," i» March 1867. Enclosure 1, in No. 1. EXTBACT of SPKECH of the GOVERNOR. End. 1, in No. I^ I SHALL address you by message on the subject of education and a few other topics of importance during the course of the session. One of these will probably be as lo the cause of the selection made for the seat of Government of the United Colony. Up to within a few hours of meeting you, I had not the intention of touching upon it; but I ara intormea that the question creates an amount of interest which I cannot comprehend, but wdicu appears to me a sign of g.cai local depresBion. I shall uddress you on the subject oy message. Enclosure 2, in No. 1. Extract of Reply of the Legislative Council. Wb shall look forward with anxietv to the messages which your Excellency lias been pleased to promise us u|>on the important subjects of education and the seat of Govern- ment. En cl. 3, ui No. 1. No. 2. — No. 2. Extract of DESPATCH from Governor Seymour to His Grace the Duke of Governor Seymour Buckingham and Chandos, dated Naw Westminster, 10th April 1867. No. 61. to the Duke of ° T • 1 Buoltinghsin and A session of the Legisla- Chandos. " I HAVB the honour to report that 1 closed the _ ture of the United Colony on the and instaut. 1 e .ose copy of my speech 10 April 1868. 483- A a End. ia No. S. 4 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO A SITE Enclosure in No. 2. Extract of GovERNon'a Speech. If, in spite of your resolution in favour of Victoria, I still hesitnte on remoTing my abode and the seat of the Leuislature from tlie spot establialied by law, you will understand that I consider the public faith and honour en<>aged on the one side, and possible expediency on the otbf^r. It', as some |)ersons assert, the present uncertainty be found to bo more detri- mental to the public interests than any decision which may be arrived at, I shall come to that decision, and make public the recommsndution I may lay before the Secretary of State. I, however, look confidently forward to the time when the centre of population will be found on the eastern side of the Cascade Range. No. 3. Governor Seymour to the Duke of fiuckinghom and Chandos. 13 July 18G7. ^1^ 90 3«^ . . : . •) •. .■ . — No. 3. — Extract of DESPATCH from Governor Seymour to His Grace the Duke qf Buckingham and Chandos, dated Victoria, 13th July 1867. No. 87. " I WISH the question of the seat of Government to bo set at rest, and if your Grace can see your way to establish it ut Victoria without injustice to those who liave purchased land at New Westminster nn the faith of the proclamations I enclose, I shall not offer one word of remonstrance. Eitlior town will suit me equally well as a place of residence, and in the present financial condition of the Colony, I shall be very glad to have but one house to keep up. Victoria has made tiie most progress; consequently, perhaps, under exifiing depression, it would be well u concentrate our waning resources upon the spot where the greatest outlay has been made. I will not allow that Victoria possesses any natural advantages over New Westminster, but it is older and more developed as a town." -J- I I enclose the message I addressed to the Legislative Council on the subject. The last paragraph simply means that I will not be controlled in my policy by meetings held in the Victoria Theatre. 'I Enclosure 1, in No. 3. End. l.inNo.s. BRITISH COLUMBIA. Proclamation . By His Excellency James Douglas, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander in Chief of British Columbia. Whereas it is expedient to publish, for general information, the method to be pursued with respect to the alienation and possession of agricultural landH.and of lands proposed for ; the sites of towns in British Columbia, and witn reference also to the places for levying shipping and customs duties, and for establishing a capital and port of entry in the said Colony ; Now therefore, I, James Douglas, Governor of the said Colony, do proclaim and dedare as follows, viz. : 1. All the lands in British Columbia, and all the mines and minerals therein, belong to the Crown in fee. 2. The price of lands, not being intended for the sites of towns, and not being reputed to be mineral lands, sliall be 10 *. per acre, payable one-half in cash at the time of the sale, and the other half at the end of two years from such sale. Provided that under special circumstnnces some other price, or some other terms of payment may from time to time be specially announced for particular localities. 8. It m FOR THE CAPITAL OF DRITISH COLUMBIA. .f concentrating the commercial interest of the Colony in and around the capital, purchaserb of town lots in the said proposed capital who may be owners of town lots in Langley, Uiider the late sale on the 26th November last, on which the whole amount uf purchase-moi ey has been paid to the Government, will if so disposed, be allowed to surrender the lots ii Langley so purchased, and to havethe price so paid 10 the Government allowed them us payment in full for a lot or lots pur- chased by them in the said proposed capital of an equal or less price in the aggregate, and as payment in part for lots in the said pnpoRed capital of a greater price in the aggregate. Every such surrender must be cxecu.'jd and delivered in writinij;, addressed to the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works iii l?ritish Columbia, iit Victoria, Van- couver Island, one week ut lea^it, previous to the day appointed for the intended sale. 13. The proposed capital will be declared to be a port of entry so soon as the necessary arrangements shall have been provided, which will be done with all convenient dispatch. Custom House officers will then be stationed there, and vessels will be able to proceed direct to Fraser River without touching at Victoria, or may clear at Victoria, at their option. 14. The whole of the river frontage will be laid out in a continuous road, the edge of which it is contemplated ultimutely to convert into a public quay. No quay will, how- ever, be at present constructed at the public expense, nor will the absolute property of the soil along the edge of the water be now alienated by the Crown, But the right to make and maintain quays of convenient sizes, and to demand certain tolls and rates for the use thereof, will be granted to private individuals for the space of seven years; such rights will be disposed of at public auction at or immediately after the sale of town lots, to the 483. A 3 bidder CORUESI'ONDENCE RCLATIVE TO A SITE EdcU 9, in No. 8. bidder of iho lii.jhent annual rent. No restrictions will be placeJ on the les«ee an to the form or niiturc ol' the quuyn, c-xc-pi such a«>hall he nncessary to protect thf pulilic «afety uud convenience. IsKued under the public seal of the Colony of British Coiuinbla at Victoria, Viincouvrr L>iand, thin fiiiiittirntb dnj of February, one thous.ind ei^ht hundred and fit'tv-niiie, in the twenty>grC'>nd year of Her Vliijc-ittv's reign, by me, By his Exfellcncy's coniniand, William A. G. Young, Acting Coloniiil Secretary, James Dougla$, ^i. a.) OOD BATB TUB QUBBN. Enclosure 2, in No. 3. BRITISH COLUMBIA. Pboclamation .» t By His Excellency Jamu Douglas, Compani n of tlio most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander in Cliit-r of British Columbia, Vice Admiral of the eunie, &c. Whereas Her Mnjestv the Queen has been f^rncioufsly pleased to decide that the capitil of British Columbia shall be styled the City of New Westminster; N< w therefore, I, Junies Douglas, do hereby declare and pnx'laim that the town hereto- fore called and known as Queensboroiigli, and sonietimes as Qiieenboroiii;h, in the Culoriy of British Columbia, shall from hencelnrth be called and known as New Westminster, and Khali be so described in all le<;al processes and ofEcial documents. IsBUtd undt r the public seal of the said Colony at Victoria, Vancouver Island, this tHeiiiieth day of July, one thouooud ei>^ht hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her j^Iajesty's reign. By command of bis Excellency, William A. G. Young, Acting Colonial Secretary. (signed) James DougtoM. Iiv(1 othl pBfl of itti the I towl the I tepi coul mei| of! intfl thai retiT upd proj ti ofFil ge{ of QOD SAVE THE QUEEN. Enel. S, in No. 8. (No. 37.) Enclosure 3, in No. 3. MESSAGE. Frederick Seymovr. Thf. Governor fays before the Legislative Council, for their information, certain petitions addressed to him, requesting that Victoria may be mode, according to some of these papers, the capital, according to others, the seat of Government of the Unitf d Colony. It is in no cavilling spirit that he points out that those first alluded to, appear to have been signed under a false impression. There is no intention of erecting public offices in New Westmmster during the present condition of the colonial finances. The Government otficers do not complain of the accommodation afforded to them ; and if economy be alone con- sidered, the retention of the seat of Government on the banks of the Fraser is to be preferred, inasmuch as a considerable outlay would be required to make the Government House at Victoria permanently habitable. It is a matter of sincere regret to the Governor, that this vast and thinly-peopled territory should, in the early stajie of its political existence, have been divirlcd into i wo separate Colonics, and that iwo necessarily rivid towns should have been founded in comparatively rinse proximity. His labours would now be lighter, and the Colony more prosperous, had the spare resources of the inhabitants been concentrated in the erection of one town of magnitude, of sufficient importance ami attraction to retain during the winter the greater part of the unattached population of the Colony. He would not care if the site for the capital had been fixed where Victoria now stands, or on the Bay of Esquimalt, or at New Westminster. Nor could he, if the matter had been clearly understood by ail, have objected to one scale of taxation beina; fixed, favourable to commerce, upon those who elected to ' Hve M to the ii' >arety Viotoriii, iiiiudred uf the of the -'npilitl lereto- 'I'lony r, and land, II the lot. on* srs, five ew era )n- be snt ite Ivr id of er le w d .0 e I FOU THE CAPITAL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. y live in the chief town, or within a cprtnin radius ofit, and another upon thoxe who took to other (iccupiitioni in outlying diittiicta. But it iH nut in order to cxpresii regret over the pBKt, thiit the Governor now cimiments on the petitioiiH lie forwardx. New WegtniinBtcr woi«, liy prochinialion, huviiiir ihe (tirre oC law, crented the "Cnpiinl" of Britiih Columbia. Hir MRJetty wan invited in name the younij; city, and beiilowed on it the designation it now beam. 'rliniiKh Btylcd cipitnl, it would not uppear to have been the lipat III' Ooveniment, and the DfTiiirg of the iiininlaiid were directed from the chief town of the iiciy;hl)onr,ng insular Colony. Ditsatislaciion, whether (general or local the Oovernor it not !ii a pottitioii to gny, ensued, and Her Majesty ^^ai advited to ■eparate the .'Vrlmiiiistiation of the Oaveinment of British Columbia troin that of Van- couver Inland. On his acceptance ol ofhce in this Colony, the pres^ iit Oovernor wa« i^^t^uoted to use all means in his power to biin); about an entire union of the two Colonies, whii'h the Secretary of State had reluctiiiitly advised the Queen to disconnect. His Orace ntated that it was the intention of the Government, that New Westminster siiouUi be the sent of Guverninent of the Colony, if a tusion could I i>btained, alhou^h he believed that Victoria would always retain coinmerciul supremacy. The Legislature of the Mainland wan accordingly called upon to provide a house, suitably furnished, for the residence ol the Governor, while no such provision was requied from Vancouver Island. On his arrival in the Colony, the (iovernor found the sum of 10,001)/. voted for the erec- tion of public buildings in '^ ew Westminster, but with ihe cheerful concurrence of the public ofTiceis interested, he declined to liiy out the money in that manner, choosing rather, in the ge i shores ot the North Pacific were con''olidnted by Act of Par- liament. The Governor understands that, during ilie piissai:e of the Act, it was state'l in both Houses of Parliament, that New Westinin>t«i' should be the seat uf the general Oovern- nieni. An influential memlior of the Government informed him ii few days before his departure fiom England—"! do nut think it necessary that ihe Secretary of Siaie should give you inst'iictious us to the seat of Ooveriiment. It is understood tlist New Westminster ahoid'd be the capital, ami that you should visit Victoiia when yuu think necessary. Bm-^ illMlilMIMHM FOR rnr: capit/Vl of immsn Columbia. ^uko of («fl7. h 17 th I favour The |l>ytho 3U this kcsved |)prou8, the Van- union New i^ever, nd, many I might gi) the round of the states by name, and nhow that tlic dclilaTutivu and oxccntivo g()V(>rnin(>nt nro removed from the {^rnat l)UHtlingnnd czcituhle centres of popuhttion. Our, to U8 liere, eastern (Julunios Hecm to have foUowed the same principle , Ottawa hus nut the trade of Quebec or Montreal, Fredericklon that of Ht. John's. I . . i. ,<_ ,, 8. As roBJirds the [yolitical question connected with the Boat of Government for British Columbia, I would observe, that I never saw a community more politically excitnlile and tempest-torn than that of Victoriii. Your (trace's pre- decessors will have had but too great knowledge of the mode in which matters were conducted under the late legislative constitution of Vancouver Island. Under that at present existing; people are quieter, but I do not think that the Council would be as much able to do their duty to the community at large when sitting in the feverish political atmosphere of Victoria, as if deliberating in the less troubled town of New Westminster. 0. If, however, we consider the "; estion merely as how to please imme- tliately the greater number of persoi Oie selection of Victoria as a capital would be most advisable. ' 10. I had written thus far who" T received your Grace's Despatch, No. 07,* of the 1st October ; the matte whicii it refers sliall have ray most careful consideration, and 1 shall reply to it by Mie tu d opportunity. I have, &.C. ■ ■ (signed) Frederick Sei/mour. • Pego 13. I — No. 5. — (No. 164.) Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sn/mour to His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Cliundos. No. 5. CTOvernor Spymour tif the Dtike of Buckingham Md Chandof. 24 D«c. 1867. My Lord Duke, Now Westminster, 24 December 1867, 1 HAVE the honour to forward the following documents : t A memorial from the president and members of the municipal council of | The Ehbiofurei New Westminster, addressed to your Grace, prayinj? that this city may bo not printed. declared formally the capital of the united Colony of British Columbia. Certain resolutions passed at a public meeting in Victoria, representing that that city iiod better be silected us the seat of government. 2. This latter is the complement of the papers wiiich were forwarded to me in your Grace's Despatch, No. 07,t of the Ist October. These papers fairly repre- \ Pago 13. sent the two communities. I have, &c. (signed) Frederick Seymour. — No. 6. — (No. 31.) Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Srnnour to his Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Cliandos. My Lord Duke, New Westminster, 29 April 1868. In obedience to the instructions conveyed in your Grace's Despatch, No. 67 ,§ of the Ist of October 1867, I have ilxed upon a capital for the united Colony. The Message which I enclose will show that I have selected Victoria. a. There is one circumstance in the affair which I trust you will pardon, and tliat is my having ventured to lay your Grace's Despatch before the Council. No. 6. (Jovcmor Sejmour to the Duke of Buokingham and Cbandof. 20 Anril 1868. j Page 18. -^,. 483. B The 10 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO A SITE The fcelinu existiiijj; in both New Westminster and Victoria is so strong on the subject of the sesit of Government, that I felt it necessary wlien acting in the matter to invoke the assistance of a stronger power than my own in order to prevent disturbance. • ■ , ' . i 3. I forwarded your Grace's Despatch in the Mes:?age I enclose. I received the following reply. I commenced my Despatch with the final conclusion. 4. I sincerely trust I have acted for the best. I well know I have secured but present tranquillity. B. In my own heai t, I must allow, there was a feeling in favour of the manly, respectable, loyal, and enterprising community established on the banks of the Fraser. I have, &c. (signed) Frederick Seymour. "And establishi without 1 " Be i « Thai ment, nl render it and pen prove to Wher On til End. 1, in No. 6. Enclosure 1, in No. 0. Message No. l. ■t..,i Frvderick Seymour. fi'i:,!.' .fi('\tjy).;ii) Vide page IS. The Governor lays before the Legislative Council a Despatch,* with Enelosures, from Her Majesty's Secretary of State, diiectinp; him to come to a decision as to the scleciion of a Reat of Gnvcrnuient for the united Colony of British Columbia. He adds a copy of his reply. The Governor would feel preatly obliged by the Honourable Council assisting him with their advice on the subject. He wishes it to be clearly understood that Honourable Members holding official positions are requested freely to pronounce their opinion. , ■ . ■ ' - :•■■{,.*■'■! . Go\ernnicnt House, 30 March 16C8. Tb( So Th Th until Or End. 2, in No. S. .t:uv<,.-,/ Enclosure 2, in No. 6. PuBsuANT to the Order of the day, the consideration of his Excellency the Governor's Message No. 1 was taken up. The Hon, Mr. Walkem moved, the Hon. Mr. Stamp seconding: " That this Council having been requested by his Excellency the Governor to assist him with their advice in coming lo a decision as to the selection ut' a seat of Government fur the United Colony of British Columbia, is of opinion, after careful consideration of his Excel lency's Message and its Enclosures on the subject, that Victoria is the place most suitable for the seat of Government of the United Colony." Moved in amendment by the Hon. Mr. Robson, the Hen. Mr. Barnard seconding! " Whereas, it is highly probable that this Colony will very shortly form u part of the new Dominion of Canada ; " And whereas, under Confederation, the seat of Government will naturally gravitate towards the centre of population on the mainland ; " And whereas, a considerable expenditure of revenue would be involved in the removal of the seat of Government to Victoria ; " And wher^as, a reaction has already set in on the mainland against the removal of the seat of Government to Victoria ; "And whcieiis, it is probable that, were the seat of Government now removed to Victoria, the people on the niainlHud would be found, in less tlian 12 months, petitioning for its reiitoration to the Uiainland ; " And whereas, the frequent removal of the seat of Government involves great expense and inconvenience, and exerts a tnost injurious influence upon the public mind, by keeping up a continual agitation upon the subject, and destroying confidence ; " And whereas, the conslitutiim of this Council is not of that representative character which should entitle it to deal with such a question as the removal of the seat of Govern- ment, where it bus been established by law ; " And whereas^ there is every reason to believe that a dissolution of this Council and a diiect fippcal to the country would demonstrate that a large majority of the bond fide colo:iists arc averse to the removal of the seat ot Government to Victoria-, "And ii A FOR THE CAl'ITAL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. h the the |er to the bured [atily, " the W' n " And whereas, the removal of the seat of Government from where it is at present established would inflict serious injury upon an imponant community of Briti'^h subjects, without secuiitip any compensiUing advantages to the Colony at lar(;e ; " Be it therefore Kesolved : " That this Council is of opinion that it would be inexpedient to remove the seat of Govem- nient, at least until the Colony shall possess such full powers of self-t;overninent as will render its Legislature competent to deal with the question, and such fixity of population and permanent interests iis may indicate, with some degree of clearness, a site which would prove to be permanently suitable." Whereupon a debate arose. On the amendment being put, the Council divided : ■■■'.i V,K n< Ayes 6. Messrs. Crease, Hamley, Barnartl, Bobson, Ball. f- t-jr:. -Z Jr. ■ Noes 14. Messrs. Smith, ' Spalding, - Ker, Elwyn, r ; !, V . Wood, - Walkem, • Macdonald, Helmcken, - De Cosmos,^ Stamp, Pemberton,-^ Cox, - O'Reilly, - Trutch, - The names having been taken down by the clerk, pursuant to request. So the amendment was lost. The Hon. Mr. Robson rose to speak to a quebiion of privilege. The Hon. the Presiding Member ruled that it could not be brought before the Council until after the question now before it was disposed of. On the original question being put, the Council again divided : Ayes 14. Noes 6. Messrs. Smith, Messrs. Crease, Spalding, Hamley, Ker, Barnard, Elwyn, RobsoD, Wood, Ball. Walkem, Macdonald, Helmcken, De Cosmos, Stamp, Pemberton, Cox, O'Reilly, Trutch. The names having been taken down by the Clerk, pursuant to request So it was carried in the affirmative, and resolv,}d accordingly. Enclosure 3, in No. 6. Mbssaob No. 16. End. 8, in No. 0. Frederick Seymour, The Governor has received the Resolution of the Legislative Council, of the 2nd of April, expressing the opinion that Victoria is the place most suitable for the capital of the united Colony. Her Majesty's Government would seem to lean to the same opinion. Under these circumstances, the Governor will cause to be proclaimed, on .the Queen's birthday, the selection of the o.ipital within the town which bears Her Royal name. Government House, ::8 April 1808. 483. No. 7. GoTernor Seymour to tiio Duke of liuokiiigliaiu and C'baiidos. 28 May 1808. 12 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO A SITE — No. 7. — (No. 5'.) Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Seymour to liis Grace the Duke of Buckimjltam and Cliandos. My Lord Duke, Victoria, 28 May 18G8. I HAVK tlie lionour to forward copy of ihe Proclamation by which I dechu'ed Victoria to be the capital of the \u)ited Colony. f2. So thoroughly has the (juestion of the relative merits of the two principal towns for the scat of Cjoverninont been canvassed, that I do not tliink it neces- sary that I should prolong the present Despatch. I have, &c. (signed) Frederick Seymour. Enol. in No. 7. Enclosure in No. 7. Government Gazette Extraordinary. BRITISH COLUMBIA. (l. s.) Frederick Seymour. Peoclamation By His Excellency Frederick Scymnur, T.sq., Goveinor and CdtiunaiKler in Chief in and over the Go\ony q\' Britiah Colnmhia and its IJepjndciicics, Vic.' Adiuiiid mid Ordinaiy of the same, &c., &c. Whereas, under and by virtue of a Proclaniiition, made and issued on ilu- 14tli ouv of February 1859, tlie »itf of the |>resenl city of New Westa-.inster was laid out as the Capital of the Colony of British Columljia as then defined and e.\i>tinL>-. And whereas, under and liy virtue of iin .\i\x of i'mliament, inade and jiassed in t'le 2!)tli and 30th years of the reijiu o( Her Majesty Quetn Victoria, ■.ititidcd "The British Cokimbia Act, 1866," and the Proclamation thereof made by the Governor of British Columbia, upon the 19tii day of November l!?(i(i, the formerly separate Colony of Vancouver Island and its dependencies was united with tlie formerly sejiarate Colony of British Columbia and its dependencies, under the name of the Colony of British Columbia : And whereas it is expedient to dechire the capita! and seat of Government of the said united Colony : Is'ow know ye, and I do hereby proclaim and declare as follows : — From and after the date hereof, and until otherwise apiomttd by Her said Majesty Queen Victoria, Her lieirs and successors, the City of VictDiia, in the Colony of British Columbia, shall be and be deemed for all purposes whatsoever the capital and seat of Government of the uniti;d Colony of British Columbia. Given under my hand and the public seal of the Colony of British Columbia, at Government House, Victoria, in the said ("olony, this asth day of May, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eij^ht hundred" and sixty-eight, and in the 3lst year of Her Majesty's reign. By Command, (signed) Hilliitm A. G, Young. QOU SAVB THE QUEEN. FOR THE CAPITAL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. '3 Despatches from the Secretary of Stale. No. 1.— (No. 49.) No. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Giace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos The Duke of . . *-« _._. c» __..__ . "D 1,: 1 to Governor Seymour Sir, Downinnj-strcel, 17 August 1807. I HAVE had brought under my notice the resolutions apparently passed l)y the Legislative Council of British Columbia in March last, but respecting which I have not received any report from you, for placing the scat of Government; at Vancouvcrs Island, but I have informed the gentiemen from whom I received them, that I must decline adopting any conclusion on the subject until the arrival of your report, which I conclude tliat I shall shortly receive. I have, (signed) &c. Burhinqham and Chandos. Burkirifihaiii and Chandos to Go- vernor Seymour. 17 August 1807. (No. 67.) Copy op a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos to Governor Seymour. No. -2. The Duke of Euckinfrham end Chandus to Go- vernor Seymour. 1 October 1887. • Page i. Sir, Downing-strcet, 1 October 1867. I HAVE to acknowledge your Despatch, No. 87*, of the l3th of July last, from which 1 ieam that you are not yet prepared to recommend the adoption either of Victoria or of New Westminster as the capital of British Cohim'iia. 1 leave the determination of this (jucstion still in your hands, merely desiring that it may not be lon>; dclayeii. I take the opportunity ot forwarding to you various documentsf which may | Not printed affect your judgment, but which I havt- not hitherto sent to you, because I was ex|)ecting from you a deiinite recommendation on the subject to which they related. As the second j)aragrapli of your Despatch contains somi-thing like an appeal to me for an txjiression of oj)inioii, I think it re(|uisite to say that the establish- ment of New Westminster as tlie capital of British Columbia did not, in my opinion, involve any |)ledgo on the part of the Government that the site of that capital shall never be moved. It is, of course,, always uude-irable to disappoint natural expectations, and much consideration nniy be due to those who are so dis- appointed. But every land purchaser in New Westminster or any other locality, must be considered to buy his land, subject to the possible changes which the varying political or commercial interests of the whole communit}' may from time to time render necessary. I will add that, although I do not pn scribe to you the choice of one or the other capital, you will be at liberty, in case you should decide in favour of Victoria, to quote the authority of the Home Government in support of that course. I have, &c. (signed) Buckingham and Chandos. 483. 14 CORRESPONDENCE :-CAPITAL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. No. 3. Tbe Dnke of BaokinghttDi and Chandoi to Go - vernor Seymour. 9 July 1808. • Page 9. t Page i'>. ^>ik (No. 4fi.) — No. 3. Copy of a DESPATCH from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandot to Governor Seymour. Sir, Downing-sfreet, 9 July 18fi8, I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatches, No^31*, of the 29th of April, and No. 61 fi of the 28th of May, the first reporting that, havitij; brnught the question of the selection of a capital for the united Colony under llic consideration of the Legislative Council, you had received a resolution from them, expressing the opinion that Victoria is the place most suitable for the capitnl ; and the second, forwarding a copy of the Proclamation by which you declared Victoria to be the capital of the united Colony on the 25th of May. In reply, I have to inform you that I have been glad to be apprised of the settlement of a question wiiich, while it remained open, must have furnished a contiiiuai source of irritation and uncurtaiiity, and I feci little doubt that you have judged rigiilly in placing the seat of Government in ihat part of the Colony where .the greatest stationary population has collected, and where maritime communicaiion is easiest. I have, tec. (signed) Buckingham and Chandos, i I Id 00 X ^ 2, 0* 1 •> n o &• n E "■ 2. 3 ^ C3 1^ ft.- » s- - to o 9 o i? »*i M I i I ^ e» n n o f* q » \ ■(!'ii Si- >. r ■ \ n itl ggg^ mi^ smm (x^ti