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 THE HEW OOVSBirHENT COLONY. 
 
 BRITISH COLUIMBIA 
 
 AND 
 
 VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 
 
 m 
 
 REPLETE WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERJiriNG 
 
 THE ITEWLT-DISCOVSBED 
 
 G O I. D F I £ L D S* 
 
 WITH A MAP. 
 
 PBICE ONE SHILLING. 
 
 tt 
 
 C^ LONDON: 
 
 EFFINaHAM WILSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE. 
 
 1868. 
 
 PRINTED BY WIIXTAM J'K V, 67, UNCOLN'SINN FIBLDS. 
 
BRITISH COLUMBIA 
 
 AN]) 
 
 VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 
 
 & il^m^^mTW, li-|l3S1i-B<l<i3K„ 
 
 REPLETE WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING 
 
 THE NEWLY-DISCOVERED 
 
 O-OLID ZPIELIDS. 
 
 WITH A MAP. 
 
 ll 
 
I 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 WILLIAM PENNY, 
 
 rKINTER, LITHOGIlArJlEIl, AND EXOKAVEn, 
 
 f)7, lincoln's-inn fiklds. w.o. 
 
TO 
 
 VISCOUNT BURY, M.P. 
 
 r.ATE crvrr, secrktauy and stiperintendknt op Indian apfaiiis 
 
 IN CANADA, ETC. KTC. ETC. 
 
 la humble testimony to his private and public worth, and 
 
 gratitude for the earnest and able manner in which his 
 
 Lordship has advocated the interests of the New Colonics of 
 
 British Columbia and Vancouver's Island,, this brief sketch of 
 
 that important portion of the British Empire is respectfully 
 
 inscribed 
 
 By his Lordship's 
 
 Most obedient, very humble Scrvani, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 
BRITISH COLUMBIA 
 
 AND 
 
 VANCOUVER'S ISLAND. 
 
 It has often been mentioned as an illustration of 
 the knowledge possessed by some of those gentlemen 
 in Downinjr Street who used to direct and control 
 the destinies of our vast and magnificent colonial 
 possessions, that a few years ago, in the House of 
 Commons, when a certain noble lord asked what steps 
 bad been taken for forming a government in Van- 
 couver's Island, the Under-Secretary for the Colo- 
 nies replied, that " the quaranteen arrangements of 
 Gros Island were of the most satisfactory descrip- 
 tion." It must be admitted that the official hazarded 
 a rather wide guess, for the widest part of the con- 
 tinent of North America separates the two islands. 
 
 Another instance is also recorded, where a go- 
 vernor, having been appointed to a colony, quitted 
 this country, and after the lapse of a certain time 
 returned, and said he was not able to find it. Sam 
 Slick tells us the anecdote of an official in the 
 Colonial Office being so profoundly versed in the 
 language of his department, that he spelt colony 
 with two n's. But the most remarkable thing ever 
 done by the Colonial Office was the consignment 
 from England to the dock-yards at Kingston of 
 water-casks for the use of her Majesty's ships 
 floating on the fresh-water lakes. 
 
 B 
 
2 
 
 It will thoroforc excite little surprise that the 
 great majority of the people of this country are not 
 aware of the fact that we possess upon the Pacific 
 coast of North America the most fertile and valu- 
 able portion of mainland adapted for Euroj)ean 
 colonization ; and that, parallel to this coast of 
 British territory, and separated from it only by a 
 narrow strait, runs an island the most important in 
 the Pacific Ocean, both in a political and commercial 
 point of view, one that also belongs to the British 
 Crown, and of which a recent able writer has said : 
 " It would seem that a special ])rovidence has placed 
 this magnificent inland sea of harbours precisely 
 where it is placed, for the special j)urj)ose of a 
 national depot for the shipping of the world on the 
 western terminus of our great highway for all 
 nations across the continent." It is a conceded 
 point, that the Pacific coast will soon command 
 the trade of the vast regions of China, Japan, and 
 the Asiatic archipelago, which has always been 
 the great commercial prize in ancient as well as 
 modern times. Persia, Assyria, Carthage, and Rome 
 swayed the world, as they controlled the commerce 
 of the East; Venice, Genoa, Lisbon, Amsterdam, 
 and London, each in its turn obtained com- 
 mercial supremacy as it became the disposer of 
 Eastern luxuries to the Western world. To this 
 grand inheritance the Pacific coast is to succeed ; 
 and that point where the railway terminates on the 
 Pacific is to be the place. As yet there are but 
 two rivals for this proud distinction — San Francisco 
 and the Straits of Fuca. It may seem absurd to 
 some to think of even placing the latter in com- 
 
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 petition ^v!tll tlio mistress of the golden gate, hnt 
 WG have it stated upon the autliority of tlie ablest 
 engineers in the United Slates, — men wlio liavo 
 actually surveyed the route, — that the '* Gr«'at 
 Atlantic an<l Pacific Railway is only practicable 
 across the Rocky Mountains through Rritish terri- 
 tory." At its terminus in Fuca's Straits we have the 
 most magnificent harbour and most im|)ortant island 
 in the whole Pacific, possessing great natural advan- 
 tages, with which even those of San Francisco camiot 
 for one moment bo compared, and to which in a later 
 portion of this book we will more particularly refer. 
 Although nature has favoured the Pacific coast of 
 British North America, in an eminent degree, with 
 a delightfully temperate climate and fertile soil* 
 inexhaustible forests of the finest timber, rich un- 
 dulating prairies, safe and spacious harbours, — the 
 only ones, with one exception, upon a coast of 
 3,000 miles, and which are capable of sheltering in 
 their waters the fleets of the whole world, — long and 
 numerous rivers, the richest fisheries, extensive 
 regions of coal, iron, and other valuable minerals, 
 near proximity to a good market (San Francisco), 
 and the very centre of what must become the great 
 highway of commerce between the Eastern and 
 Western worlds ; yet these unparalleled and natural 
 advantages did not even attract the notice of Eng- 
 lishmen, much less their colonization and settlement, 
 until there occurred one of those marvellous gold 
 discoveries which have tended so much of late vears 
 to extend the trade and commerce, and enrich the 
 Old World, actually adding to the p]uroj)ean stock 
 of gold £107,500,000 sterling within the last seven 
 
 B 2 
 
 il 
 
years, and destined to raise up great and powerful 
 nations of the Anglo-Saxon race in countries hitherto 
 f!0nsidered inhospitable and unfit for colonization 
 and settlement by civilized man. 
 
 By the last accounts from Vancouver's Island, it 
 was estimated that there were at the gold diggings in 
 Brilish Columbia, and on their way thither, upwards 
 of 50,000 people. Now when we contemplate the 
 fact that the whole country is in a state of nature, 
 and has never been penetrated except by the red man 
 and the hunter, and that those implements of civil- 
 ization necessary for the cultivation of the soil and 
 the sustenance of life have as yet to be introduced, 
 it becomes at any rate highly important to know, 
 upon the best authority that can be obtained, what 
 sort of a climate emigrants will have to encounter, 
 and the capabilities of the soil to aid their suste- 
 nance, or the means of conveying the necessaries of 
 life to such a vast and rapidly increasing population. 
 
 The object of this pamphlet is to lay before 
 t'n> public, but more particularly those who may 
 contemplate emigrating to these new and impor- 
 tant colonies, information gathered from personal 
 journeys through the country, and also extracts 
 from evidence taken before a select committee of 
 the House of Commons of last session of Parlia- 
 ment, and despatches and correspondence from the 
 governor of Vancouver's Island, and other reliable 
 sources of information in reference thereto; toge- 
 ther with directions as to the most expeditious and 
 agreeable route, rates of passage, and distances, &c. 
 
 The colony of British Columbia, within which 
 the recent gold discoveries have taken place, is 
 
bounded on the south by the frontier of the United 
 States, on the 49th parallel of latitude ; to the east 
 by the Rocky Mountains ; to the north by Simp- 
 son's River, and Finlay branch of Peace River ; and 
 to the west by the Gulf of Georgia, in the Pacific 
 Ocean. The island of Vancouver running parallel 
 with the coast for about 250 miles, British Colum- 
 bia embraces an area of about 220,000 square miles. 
 Its principal rivers are the Fraser, which rises in 
 the north, and keeps a direct course through the 
 centre of the colony for upwards of 400 miles, until, 
 at the " Forks," where it is joined by the Thompson 
 River ; it then turns to the west, until it empties 
 itself into the Gulf of Georgia: it is at present 
 navigable for steamers for about 150 miles from its 
 mouth. The Thompson River, which is but an 
 insignificant stream as compared with the Fraser, 
 rises in the east, in the Rocky Mountain range, and 
 flows through an extremely fertile and magnificent 
 country until it unites with the latter ; it is inter- 
 sected also by a great arm of the Columbia, but 
 which has no outlet to the sec. except through the 
 territory of the United States. The Finlay River, 
 rising north of the Fraser, keeps a southerly course 
 until it joins the Peace River, whicb runs through 
 the Rocky Mountains to the east into Lake Atcha- 
 basca. There are other rivers again to the north- 
 west,— the Salmon and the Simpson, which flow 
 into the Pacific Ocean opposite Queen Charlotte's 
 Island, and which island is also embraced in the 
 new colony. There are also numerous inland lakes, 
 but none of great magnitude. The country is prin- 
 cipally mountain and valley ; the Peak Mountains 
 
 H 
 
6 
 
 «i 
 
 11! 
 
 r 
 
 i; 
 
 and Cascade Mountains running through its centre, 
 parallel with the Rocky Mountains, in a north-west 
 course : the valleys are described by all who have 
 seen them as rich and beautiful, and the moun- 
 tain scener truly sublime. Sir John Richardson 
 states that the mean temperature on the Pacific 
 coast of British North America is about 20° higher 
 than what it is on the Atlantic coast in the same 
 parallel of latitude. From observations made by 
 Commodore Wilkes in 1841, "the mean standing of 
 the barometer near Vancouver during the day hours, 
 for the months of June, July, August, and Sep- 
 tember, was 30-32 in.; of the thermometer, 65° 33'. 
 The state of the weather during a period of 106 
 days was as follows : — fair, 76 days ; cloudy, 19 ; 
 and rainy, 11. The crops of all descriptions were 
 good, and this is the best criterion. The climate 
 throughout the western section is mild, owing, pro- 
 Vibly, to the prevalence of south-westerly winds?;. 
 Vegetation is earlier than in England. The fall of 
 snow in the more southerly part rarely exceeds a 
 few inches. The fig, orange, lemon, melon, vine, 
 and many other fruits proper to the tropics are the 
 indigenous growth of the soil of this favoured shore." 
 Lieutenants Warr and Vavasour (the latter of the 
 Royal Engineers) state : — " The specimens of lead 
 found in the mountains on the coast are very fine. 
 The fisheries of salmon and sturgeon are inexhaust- 
 ible ; and game of all descriptions abounds. The 
 timber is extremely Ijxuriant, and increases in size 
 as you reach a more northerly latitude ; that in 50° 
 to 54° being considered the best. Pine, spruce, red 
 and white oak, cedar, arbutus, poplar, maple, willow. 
 
 i 
 
»> 
 
 and yew grow in this section of the country ; north 
 of the Columbia River the cedar and pine particu- 
 larly becoming of immense size.*' 
 
 Mr, Cooper, who resided in Vancouve-'s Island 
 six years, in his evidence before a select committee 
 of the House of Commons, of last session, says, 
 speaking of British Columbia : — '* 1 hsve not myself 
 personally visited Thompson's River, but I have my 
 information from persons who have lived there 
 themselves for thirty or forty years in the service of 
 the Hudson's Bay Company. They say that it is 
 one of the most beautiful countrib^ in the world ; 
 and that gold is discovered in that and the neighbour- 
 ing district now. When Heft, the miners were getting 
 from four to twenty dollars a day. I believe, from all 
 I have heard and seen, that it is capable of producing 
 all the crops that we produce in England. Its cli- 
 mate bears no comparison to Canada; it is much more 
 mild, much finer; decidedly as much as Great Britain 
 to the eastern states of America. That difference 
 attaches to all the territory west of the Rocky Moun- 
 tains. In the same parallel of latitude to the west 
 of the Rocky Mountains, and in the east, you have 
 as different climates as it is possible to imagine." 
 
 Mr. Blanshard, late governor of Vancouver's 
 Island, in his evidence before the same committee, 
 in reply to the question by Mr. Labouchere, " Did 
 you hear enough of that country [Fraser River] to 
 be able to express any decided opinion of its capa- 
 bilities for settlement ? " replied, "I have heard it very 
 highly spoken of by everybody who has been there, 
 as being extremely fertile, and a soil of much the 
 same quality as Vancouver's Island." 
 
I I 
 
 b 
 
 II 
 
 8 
 
 The Riglit Hon. Edward Ellice, M.P., in his 
 evidence before the same committee, speaking of the 
 territory immediately adjoining British Columbia, 
 said : " The Hudson's Bay Company, before the 
 treaty of 1 846, supposing the Columbia to be the 
 boundary, at that time occupied the whole country, 
 and, with some better prospect than either upon the 
 Red River or upon the Saskutchewan, formed con- 
 siderable farming establishments. The grain which 
 they produced, and the timber which they felled, 
 they found a good market for in the South-Sea 
 Islands. They made large establishments ; they had 
 immense herds of cattle ; they produced a great deal 
 of corn of all descriptions — samples of which I have 
 seen, and there could not be better corn ; and at 
 last the undertaking exceeded their own means; they 
 made an offshoot from the Hudson's Bay Company, 
 called the Puget Sound Company. Since 1846, 
 when the boundaries were settled, it was found that 
 the establishments within this country were ceded to 
 the United States; and the Hudson's Bay Com- 
 pany and the Puget Sound Company have now a 
 great claim in discussion before Congress, for in- 
 demnity for surrender of possessary rights." 
 
 In an account furnished by the Hudson's Bay 
 Company to the Colonial Office, dated the 8th of 
 June, 1857, they state, as an item of their capital : 
 " Property and investments in the territory of 
 Oregon, ceded to the United States by the treaty 
 of 1846, and which are secured to the Company as 
 possessary rights under that treaty, 1,000,000 dol- 
 lars, say £200,000." 
 
 What the estimate of the value of the Puget 
 
9 
 
 Sound Company's property is within the Oregon 
 territory, we have not been able to ascertain. 
 
 Sir George Simpson, governor of the Hudson's 
 Bay Company, published, in 1847, a " Journal of a 
 Journey from the Red River Settlement across the 
 Rocky Mountains," wherein he described, in very 
 glowing terms, the varied beauties of the country 
 and the fertility of the soil ; but I shall decline to 
 quote from him, for reasons which will appear in the 
 following extract from Mr. Gladstone's speech in 
 the House of Commons, on the 21st of July of the 
 present year, on Mr. Roebuck's motion respecting the 
 Hudson's Bay Company. Referring to Sir George 
 Simpson, Mr. Gladstone said, " There is a large 
 portion of the surface of the earth with regard to 
 the character of which we have been systematically 
 kept in darkness (hear, hear) : for those who had 
 information to give, have also had an interest 
 directly opposed to their imparting it. I am at 
 liberty to say so, because I refer only to public 
 documents; and as an illustration of the truth of 
 what I have said, I need only direct attention to 
 the interesting and important work of Governor 
 Simpson, who gives a glowing description of the 
 capabilities and fitness for colonization of a con- 
 siderable portion of the territories of the Hudson's 
 Bay Company. (Hear, hear.) Last year my right 
 honourable friend Lhe then Secretary of State for 
 the Colonies moved for, and the House granted, 
 a committee to inquire into the affairs of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company. Before that committee 
 questions were raised seriously involving all their 
 rights. Governor Simpson was examined before it, 
 
i I 
 
 10 
 
 if'. 
 
 i 
 
 r t 
 
 h: 
 
 and the lionoiirable and learned member for Shef- 
 field, and other gentlemen, questioned him upon 
 the agricultural and colonizinr capabilities of the 
 territories of the company. An entire change had 
 come c'ler the spirit of his dream. (Hear, hear.) 
 He represented that these territories were bound 
 by frost and ba.^I.ed by fog, and that woe would 
 betide any unfortunate individuals who might by a 
 reckless spirit of adventure be so far diverted from 
 the path of prudence as to endeavour to settle in 
 these parts. (Hear, hear.) And when some mem- 
 ber of the committee, with inconvenient curiosity, 
 ferreted out the book of Governor Simpson, and 
 made quotations from it, the governor, with all his 
 ingenuity, which is not small, was greatly puzzled, 
 and indeed entirely failed to reconcile the account of 
 the country which he had given as an author^ and 
 that which he gave as Governor of the Hudson s Bay 
 Company.^' 
 
 But Sir John Pelly, when governor of the Hud- 
 son's Bay Company, in a letter to Lord Glenelg, 
 then Colonial Secretary, dated the 10th February, 
 1837, asking for a renewal of the exclusive license 
 of trade, used the following arguments : — 
 
 " The company now occupy the country between 
 the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific, by six per- 
 manent establishments on the coasts, sixteen in the 
 interior country, besides several migratory and hunt- 
 ing parties ; and they maintain a marine of six armed 
 vessels— one of them a steam vessel — on the coast. 
 
 " Their principal establishment and depot for the 
 trade on the coast and the interior is situate ^.bout 
 ninety miles from the Pacific, on the northern banks 
 
 i 
 
11 
 
 of the Columbia River, and called Vancouver, in 
 honour of that celebrated navigator. In the neigh- 
 bourhood they have large pasture and grain farms, 
 affording most abundantly every species of agricul- 
 tural produce, and maintaining large herds of stock 
 of every description. These have been gradually 
 established ; and it is the intention of the Company 
 still further not only to augment and increase them, 
 to establish an export trade in wool, tallow, hides, 
 and other agricultural produce, but to encourage 
 the settlement of their retired servants and other 
 emigrants under their protectiori. 
 
 " The soil, climate, and other circumstances of the 
 country are as much, if no- more, adapted to agri- 
 cultural pursuits than any other spot in America ; 
 and with care and protection the British dominion 
 may not only be j)reserved in this country, which 
 it has been so much the wish of liitssia and America 
 to occupy to the conclusion of British subjects^ but 
 British interest and British influence may be main- 
 tained as paramount in this interesting part of the 
 coast of the Pacific." 
 
 As we shall devote a separate chapter to the cli- 
 mate, soil, and capabilities of Vancouver's Island, and 
 its important geographical position, we will at once 
 proceed with the evidence of the gold discoveries 
 in British Columbia, having already proved its great 
 desirability :or settlement as an agricultural country. 
 
 Long before the discoveries of gold in California, 
 it was reported that the Indians traded with the Hud- 
 son's Bay Company in small quantities of gold dust : 
 both parties kept the secret ; for it was no doubt to 
 their mutual profit to do so. The extremely rich 
 
 ; I 
 
12 
 
 Si:; 
 
 gold discoveries in California had such an all-absorh- 
 ing interest, that for many years the Company and 
 the Indians were left in peaceable possession of 
 their secretly accruing wealth ; and it certainly is 
 not owing to any indiscretion on the part of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company that the " Open Sesame" 
 ever became known ; but those adventurous spirits, 
 the gold-diggers, who think little of travelling from 
 California to Australia, and from Australia to Cali- 
 fornia, on a prospecting tour, penetrated into the 
 territory of British Columbia, and with that keen 
 eye to the geological formation of a country, which 
 no one who has not lived amongst them can suffi- 
 ciently appreciate, they discovered that gold must 
 be there. The Hudson's Bay Company, with a 
 discretion and tact which has for many years 
 characterized them, fenced with the matter as long 
 as possible ; but we ran scarcely say the same 
 of Lord Palmerston's Government : they, either in 
 utter neglect of their duty, or for some unac- 
 countable purpose, withheld from the committee 
 of the House of Commons on the Hudson's Bay 
 Territory the most important evidence regarding 
 the resources of British Columbia — evidence which 
 was of so important a nature that it would most 
 certainly have influenced the committee in their 
 report to the House of Commons. We will illus- 
 trate this statement from the disclosures made 
 before the said committee, and also from cor- 
 respondence relative to the discovery of gold in 
 Fraser's River district, in British North America, 
 presented to Parliament by command of her Ma- 
 jesty, July 2nd, 1858. 
 
 \^ 
 
18 
 
 Ea^tract from Minutes of Evidence taken before the 
 Select Committee on the Hudson's Bay Company^ 
 2\st May, 1857. 
 
 The Right Hon. Henry Labouchere in the Chair. 
 
 Mr. James Cooper examined. 
 
 Q. With regard to the ?^'scovery of gold at 
 Thompson's River, are you aware when that took 
 place? — A. It has been discovered now probably 
 eighteen months. 
 
 Q. Can you give the committee any idea of the 
 number of miners who are now settled there? — 
 A. None at all ; it is at Fort Colvile where the 
 gold is discovered. 
 
 Mr. Edward ElUce. — It is an American territory, 
 is it not? — A. It is in both American territory and 
 British territory: the further north they go, the 
 better the diggings are. 
 
 Mr. J. H. Gurney. — Therefore there are those 
 miners in the British territory as well as in the 
 American territory ? — A. Yes. 
 
 Mr. Edward Ellice. — How do you know that ? — 
 A. From people who have been there. 
 
 Q. Are these miners in the Thompson River 
 district in the British territory? — A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Americans? — A. Both Americans and British. 
 Wherever there is gold there is a rush of people. 
 
 Mr. J. H. Gurney. — Are you aware whether the 
 Hudson's Bay Company's officers have held any com- 
 munication of any description with those miners 
 
 M 
 
14 
 
 D British t( 
 cogiiizanco 
 
 ,'llGtll 
 
 :<, 
 
 who are located in tli 
 they have taken any 
 
 there, either favourably or tlie reverse? — ^. i>io, 
 I do not know that thv3y have. It would be 
 impossible to take any measures to j)revent ilicir 
 going there ; it would require a large force to turn 
 them away ; and if gold is discovered there, there 
 will be as great a rush to there as to California. 
 
 Mr. Edward EUice. — If you look at the map, you 
 will see that Fort Colvile is not on Thompson's 
 River. — A. I am aware of that : it is on the 
 Columbia River. 
 
 Q. Where did you say the gold was on Thompson's 
 River? — A. I did not say that it was on Thompson's 
 River ; I said that it was in the neighbourhood of 
 Fort Colvile. 
 
 Q. Fort Colvile is in American territory, is it 
 not? — A. The old Fort Colvile is; but the new 
 Fort Colvile is in British territory. 
 
 Q. Do you know that the gold-seekers have 
 crossed the boundary to the north and gone towards 
 Thompson's River?— r-y4. Yes; they have gone here 
 and there : wherever gold is to be found, there you 
 will find the people. 
 
 Q. Do you know that they are north of the 
 boundary? — A. I say they are north of the 49th 
 parallel. 
 
 Q. Where do you derive that information ? — 
 A. From people who have actually returned from 
 there during the winter before I left. 
 
 Q. What were those people ; were they Ameri- 
 cans? — A. No; they were English people. 
 
 Q. Were they in the employment of the Hudson's 
 
15 
 
 Bay Company? — A. No; they were settlers, like 
 myself, who had been there. 
 
 Q. Settlers where? — A. In Vancouver's Island. 
 
 Q. Had they returned to Vancouver's Island? — 
 A. They had before I left. 
 
 Q. By what route did they come to Vancouver's 
 Island? — A. They came down the Columbia, and 
 passed over the portage. 
 
 This examination took place on the 21 st May, 
 1857. No one will deny that Mr. Ellice subjected 
 Mr. Cooper to a severe and scrutinizing examina- 
 tion, and by his leading questions tried to lead 
 him off the scent; whilst there sat as chairman 
 of that committee Mr. Labouchore, tlie Secretary 
 of State for the Colonies, who had received from 
 Mr. Douglas, the governor of Vancouver's Island, 
 the following despatches, neither of which did he 
 or the Government communicate to that com- 
 mittee, although all the other despatches from 
 Governor Douglas, which did not refer to the 
 gold discoveries, were handed in, and are printed 
 in the Appendix to the Report. 
 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island, April 16, 1856. 
 
 (Received June 30, 1856.) 
 
 (Answered, No. 14, August 4, 1856.) 
 
 Sir, — I hasten to communicate for the informa- 
 tion of her Majesty's Government a discovery of 
 much importance, made known io raeby Mr. Angus 
 McDonald, clerk in charge of Fort Colvile, oue of 
 
16 
 
 !' 
 
 I 'I 
 
 (I! 
 
 H 
 
 tho Hudson's Ray Company's trading posts on tlio 
 Upper Columbia district. 
 
 That gentleman reports, in a letter dated on the 
 Ist of March last, that gold has been found in con- 
 siderable quantities within the British territory on 
 the Upper Columbia, and that he is moreover of 
 opinion that valuable deposits of gold will be found 
 in many other parts of that country. He also states 
 that the daili/ earnings of persons then employed in 
 digging gold were ranging from 21. to 8/. for each 
 man. Such is the substance of his report on that 
 subject ; and I have requested him to continue his 
 communication in respect to any further discoveries 
 made. 
 
 I do not know if her Majesty's Government will 
 consider it expedient to raise a revenue in that 
 quarter by taxing all persons engaged in gold dig- 
 ging, but I may remark, that it will be impossible 
 to levy such a tax without the aid of a military 
 force ; and the expense in that case would probably 
 exceed the income derived from the mines. 
 
 I will not fail to keep you well informed in respect 
 to the extent and value of the gold discoveries made; 
 and circumstances will probably be the best indica- 
 tion of the course which it may be expedient to 
 take, that is, in respect to imposing a tax, or leav- 
 ing the field free and open to any persons who may 
 choose to dig for gold. 
 
 Several interesting experiments in gold-washing 
 have been lately made in this colony, with a degree 
 of success that will no doubt lead to further attempts 
 for the discovery of the precious metal. The quan- 
 tity of gold found is sufficient to prove the existence 
 
 n 
 
17 
 
 of the inc'tui, niul the purties eii;:;!ige<l in the enter- 
 prise entertain sanguine hopes of discoverini; ricli 
 
 and prodiK'tivc heds. 
 
 I hav(», &e. 
 
 (Signed) J amks DoudLAs, 
 
 Governor. 
 
 To the lliglit Hon. IFenry Lahoucliere, 
 
 &c. &c. &e. 
 
 Downing Street, Aufjiid 4, 1850. 
 Sir,— T have to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 despatch, No. 10, of the IGth of April lust, report- 
 ing the discovery of gold within the Tiritish territory 
 on the Upper Colomhia liiver district. 
 
 In the absence of all elVecfivc niachinery of go- 
 vernment, I conceive that it would be quite abor- 
 tive to attempt to raise a revenue from licenses to 
 dig for gold in that region. Indeed, as her Majesty's 
 Government do not at present look for a revenue 
 from this distant quarter of the British dominions, 
 so neither are they prepared to incur any expense 
 on account of it. I must, therefore, leave it to your 
 discretion to determine the best means of i)reserv- 
 ing order in the event of any considerable increase 
 of poi)ulation flocking into this new gold district; I 
 shall rely on your furnishing me with full and regu- 
 lar accounts of any event of interest or importance 
 which may occur in consequence of this discovery. 
 
 J have, &c. 
 (Signed) H. Larouchere. 
 
 To Governor Douglas, 
 &c. &c. 
 
 c 
 
 , i. 
 
ii I 
 
 i i 
 
 
 18 
 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island, October 29, 185C. 
 
 (Ucoeivcd, Jimuary 14, ISf)?.) 
 
 (Answered. No. 5, January 24, IS.OT.) 
 
 Sir, — I liave tlio honour to acknowledge the 
 receipt of your despatch, No. 14, of the 4th of 
 August, communicating the arrival of my despatch, 
 No. 10, of the IGth of April last, in which was 
 reported the discovery of gold within the British 
 territory in the Upper Columbia River district. 
 
 I have, since the date of that letter, received 
 several other communications from my correspon- 
 dent in that part of the country, who, however, 
 scarcely makes any allusion to the subject of the 
 gold discovery ; but I have heard, through other 
 almost equally reliable sources of information, that 
 the number of persons engaged in gold-digging is 
 yet extremely limited, in consequence of the 
 threatening attitude of the native tribes, who being 
 hostile to the Americans, have uniformly opposed 
 the entrance of American citizens into their countrv. 
 
 The peoj)le from American Oregon are therefore 
 excluded from the gold district, except such as, 
 resorting to the artifice of denying their country, 
 succeed in passing for British subjects. The num- 
 ber of persons at present engaged in the search of 
 gold are chi^^fly of British origin, and retired 
 servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, who, being 
 well acquainted w ith the natives, and connected by 
 old acquaintanceship and the ties of friendship, are 
 more disposed to aid and assist each other in their 
 common pursuits than to commit injury against 
 persons or [)roperty. 
 
 ,1 
 
19 
 
 They appear to pursue their toilsome occupation 
 in peace, and without molestation from the natives ; 
 and there is no reason to suppos'^ that any criminal 
 act has been lately committed in that part of the 
 
 country. 
 
 It is reported that gold is found in considerable 
 quantities, and that several persons have accumu- 
 lated large sums by their labour and traffic ; but I 
 cannot vouch for the accuracy of those reports; 
 though, on the other hand, there is no reason to 
 discredit them, as about 220 ounces of gold-dust 
 has been brought to Vancouver's Island direct 
 from the Upper Columbia ; a proof that the 
 country is at least auriferous. 
 
 From the successful results of experiments made 
 in washing gold from the sands of the tributary 
 streams of Eraser's River, there is reason to sup- 
 pose that the gold region is extensive ; and I 
 entertain sanguine hopes tliat future researches 
 will develop stores of wealth i)erhaps equal to the 
 gold-fields of California. The geological formations 
 observed in the " Sierra Nevada" of California being 
 similar in character to the structure of the cor- 
 responding range of mountains in this latitude, it is 
 not unreasonable to suppose that the resemblance 
 will be found to include auriferous deposits. 
 
 I shall not fail to furnish you witii full and 
 regular accounts of every event of interest con- 
 nected with the gold district, which may from time 
 to time occur. 1 bav(% &c. 
 
 (Signed) James Douglas, 
 The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, Governor. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 c 2 
 
 k / 
 
20 
 
 1''. u 
 
 ,1,: 
 
 1;^ 
 
 t !( 
 
 i!j 
 
 
 '■b 
 
 ^i 
 
 u 
 
 Downing Street, January 24, 1857. 
 Siij^ — 1 liave to acknowledge your despatcli 
 (No. 28) of tlie 29t1i October, 1856, relative to 
 the discovery of gold in the Upper Columbia 
 
 River district. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 (Signed) II. Labouchere. 
 
 Governor Douglas, 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 Mr. Douglas was not only governor of Vancou- 
 ver's Island, but also chief factor of the Hudson's 
 Bny Company. He furnished the same informa- 
 tion to the secretary of that company as he did to 
 the Colonial Secretary. Now that Mr. Ellice, who is 
 the very head an«l champion of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company, whilst testing, and Avhat would appear 
 to be attempting to mislead, Mr. Cooper, in his evi- 
 dence, knew of those despatches, no one can doubt. 
 But, what is more remarkable, Mr. Ellice, in his 
 evidence before the committee, acknowledged that 
 crold had been found, not in British Columbia, but in 
 Vancouver's Island. He (Mr. Ellice) had a per- 
 fect right to do the best he could for the interests 
 of the company ; but the conduct ot the Colonial 
 Secretary (Mr. Labouchere), and the Government, 
 is inexplicable. They must surely have had some 
 good reasons for withholding those despatches, 
 otheriv'ise they neglected or violated their duty 
 to V^irliament and the country. Are wo to look 
 for the explanation in the fact that when in the 
 House of Commons, on the motion of Mr. Roe- 
 
21 
 
 buck in reference to the future government of the 
 territories of the Hudson's Bay Coni])any, whilst on 
 the one hand his exposition found a most masterly 
 and able se onder in Lord Bury, and obtained a 
 brilliant and fervent response from Mr. Gladstone, 
 Lord John Russell, and the great majority of the 
 House, the late Colonial Secretary and the late 
 Vice-President of the Board of Trade stood up, the 
 first as an apologist, and the second as a cham])ion, in 
 order to perpetuate the monopoly of the company ? 
 It remained for the present Government to lay 
 the whole of those papers before Parliament, and 
 to bring in a bill for founding a colony in British 
 Columbia. 
 
 Sir Ed ward BulwerLytton, in introducing the Bill, 
 said, his right hon. friend, Mr. Ellice, in his evidence 
 before a committee of the House, stated that tbe 
 harbour of Vancouver's Island might be regarded as 
 the proper one for naval purposes in that quarter of 
 the world, as it was the only good harbour along that 
 part of the North-American coast ; but he did not 
 think it desirable to colonize the adjacent coast. 
 He thought the country had enough in that way in 
 hand. Circumstances had arisen, however (the dis- 
 covery of gold), which had induced him (Sir E. B. 
 Lytton) and his colleagues to establish a system of 
 government in the adjacent coast : gold had been 
 discovered in two rivers in the territory — the 
 Thompson River and Eraser River. Some persons 
 might perhaps be disposed to think the distance of 
 the place from England would be fatal to extensive 
 colonization from this country. But Mr. Cunard 
 has proposed to convey letters and passengers from 
 
22 
 
 11 I 
 
 
 ^5 
 
 M 
 
 Liverpool to British Columbia, and calculated it 
 might be performed in thuty-five days. 
 
 The whole territory of British Columbia was 
 remarkably fertile. Reports had been received 
 which stated that the fisheries there were most valu- 
 able and the timber of a very superior description; 
 also that beds of bitumen coal existed there, so that 
 it appeared to be a very suitable place for colonists. 
 He should say it was not wholly to the gold 
 which had been discovered in British Columbia 
 that he looked for its future prosperity : he hoped 
 that for the prosperity of that country we might 
 rest in the other resources of the colony, and 
 in its geographical position. He believed the 
 time was not far distant when there would be 
 railway communication to this territory. Of one 
 thing he w^as certain, that if this new colony 
 was destined, as he hoped it was, to add a new 
 branch to the great family of nations, it would not 
 be by gold which diggers might bring to light, but 
 by the gradual progress of the inhabitants, by their 
 industrv in the cultivation of the soil and the 
 establishment of commerce ; it would be by respect 
 to those equal laws which secured to every man the 
 power to retain what he might have honestly 
 acquired ; and by the exercise of those social virtues 
 on the stability of which even the greatest empires 
 must Jepend. 
 
 The new Bill defines the boundaries of the new 
 colony, provides for a governor and legislature ; 
 repeals certain provisions of an Act of the 43rd 
 Geo. 3, cap. 108, and 1st & 2nd Geo. 4, cap. 66, 
 which had special regard to the Hudson's Bay terri- 
 
23 
 
 tory, for the punishment of crimes and offences ; 
 gives appeals from judgments in civil suits to the 
 Privy Council ; and states that Vancouver's Island 
 is not included in New Caledonia (British Colum- 
 bia), but may be on the joint address of the two 
 Houses of Legislature of Vancouver's Island ; and 
 that the Act is to continue in force till the 31st of 
 December, 1862. 
 
 The following copies of despatches are every 
 one of them so full of valuable and detailed infor- 
 mation in reference to the gold discoveries, that we 
 have copied them entire, and leave them to tell 
 their own tale. 
 
 Copy of a Despatch from Governor Douglas to the 
 Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, M..P. 
 
 (No. 22.) 
 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island, July 15, 1857. 
 (Received, September 18, 1857.) 
 
 Sir, — 1. I have the honour of communicating for 
 your information the substance of advices which I 
 have lately received from the interior of the continent 
 north of the 49th parallel of latitude, corroborating 
 the former accounts from that quarter respecting 
 the auriferous character of certain districts of the 
 country on the right bank of the Columbia River, 
 and of the extensive table land which divides it 
 from Eraser's River. 
 
 2. There is, however, as yet a degree of uncer- 
 tainty respecting the productiveness of those gold 
 fields, for reports vary so much on that point, some 
 parties representing the deposits as exceedingly 
 
24 
 
 It 
 
 \\ 
 
 rich, while others are of opinion that they will not 
 repay the labour and outlay of workinpf, that I feel 
 it would be premature for me to give a decided 
 opinion on the subject. 
 
 3. It is, however, certain that gold has been 
 found in many places by washing the soil of the 
 river-beds and also of the mountain-sides; but, on 
 the other hand, the quantities hitherto collected 
 are inconsiderable, and do not lend much sup- 
 port to the opinion entertained of the richness 
 of those de|)osits ; so that the question as to their 
 ultimate value remains thus undetermined, and 
 will i)robably not be decided until more extensive 
 researches are made. 
 
 4. A new element of difficulty in exploring the 
 gold country has been interposed through the oppo- 
 sition of the native Indian tribes of Thompson's 
 River, who have lately taken the high-handed, 
 though probably not unwise course, of expelling all 
 the }>arties of gold-diggers, composed chiefly of per- 
 sons from the American territories, who had forced 
 an entrance into their country. They have also 
 openly expressed a determination to resist all 
 attempts at working gold in any of the streams 
 flowing into Thompson's River, both from a desire 
 to monopolize the precious metal for their own 
 benefit, and from a well-founded impression that 
 the shoals of salmon which annually ascend those 
 rivers and furnish the principal food of the inhabi- 
 tants, Mill be driven ofl', and prevented from making 
 their annual migrations from the sea. 
 
 5. The officers in command of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company's posts in that quarter have received 
 
25 
 
 orders carefully to respect the feelings of the 
 natives in that matter, and not to employ any of 
 the Company's servants in washing out gold, 
 without their full approbation and consent. There 
 is, therefore, nothing to apprehend on the part of 
 the Hudson's Bay Company's servants ; but there is 
 much reason to fear that serious affrays may take 
 place between the natives and the motley ad. en- 
 turers who will be attracted by the reputed wealth 
 of the country, from the United States' possessions 
 in Oregon, and may probably attempt to overpower 
 the opposition of the natives by force of arms, and 
 thus endanger the peace of the country. 
 
 6. I beg to submit, if in that case it may not 
 become a question whether the natives are not 
 entitled to the protection of her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment, and if an officer invested with the requisite 
 authority should not, without delay, be appointed 
 for that purpose. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) James Douglas, 
 The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, Governor. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 EMract of a Despatch from Goxicrnor Douglas to 
 the Right Hon. Henri/ Labouchere, 31. P., dated 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island, December 29, 1857. 
 (Received, March 2, 1858.) 
 
 (No. 35.) 
 
 Since I had the honour of addressing you on the 
 15th of July last, concerning the gold-fields in the 
 interior of the country north of the 49th parallel 
 
26 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 tfi'M 
 
 of laticude, which, for the sake of brevity, I will 
 hereafter speak of as the " Couteau Mines " (so 
 named .ifter the tribe of Indians who inhabit the 
 country), I have received further intelligence from 
 my correspondents in that quarter. 
 
 It appears from their reports that the auriferous 
 character of the country is becoming daily more ex- 
 tensively developed, through the exertions of the 
 native Indian tribes, who, having tasted the sweets 
 of gold-finding: ^re devoting much of their time 
 and attention to that pursuit. 
 
 They are, however, at present almost destitute 
 of tools for moving the soil, and of washing im- 
 plements for separating the gold from the earthy 
 matrix, and have therefore to pick it out with 
 knives, or to use their fingers for that purpose ; a 
 circumstance which in some measure accounts for 
 the small products of gold up to the present time, 
 the export being only about 300 ounces since the 
 6th of last October. 
 
 The same circumstances will also serve to re- 
 concile the opinion now generally entertained of 
 the richness of the gold deposits by the few expe- 
 rienced miners who have seen the Couteau country, 
 with the present paucity of production. 
 
 The reputed wealth of the Couteau Mines is 
 causing much excitement among the population of 
 the United States' territories of Washington and 
 Oregon, and I have no doubt that a great number 
 of people from those territories will be attracted 
 thither with the return of the fine weather in 
 spring. 
 
 In that case, difficulties between the natives and 
 
27 
 
 whites will be of frequent occurrence, and unless 
 measures of prevention are taken, the country will 
 soon become the scene of lawless misrule. 
 
 In my letter of the 15th of July, I took the 
 liberty of suggesting the appointment of an officer 
 invested with authority to protect the natives from 
 violence, and generally, so far as possible, to main- 
 tain the peace of the country. 
 
 Presuming that you will approve of that sug- 
 gestion, I have, as a preparatory step towards the 
 proposed measures for the preservation of peace 
 and order, this day issued a proclamation declaring 
 the rights of the Crown in respect to gold found in 
 its natural place of deposit, within the limits of 
 Eraser's River and Thompson's River districts, 
 within which are situated the Couteau Mines ; and 
 forbidding all persons to dig or disturb the soil in 
 search of gold, until authorized on that behalf by 
 her Majesty's Government. 
 
 I herewith forward a copy of that proclamation, 
 and also of the regulations since published, setting 
 forth the terms on which licenses will be issued to 
 legalize the search for gold, on payment of a fee of 
 ten shillings a month, payable in advance. 
 
 When mining becomes a remunerative employ- 
 ment, and there is a proof of the extent and pro- 
 ductiveness of the gold deposits, I would propose 
 that the license fee be gradually increased, in such 
 a manner, however, as not to be higher than the 
 persons engaged in mining can readily pay. 
 
 My authority for issuing that proclamation, see- 
 ing that it refers to certain districts of continental 
 America which are not strictly speaking within the 
 
28 
 
 [i i' 
 
 M 
 
 jurisdiction of tliis (ilovornnioiit, may perliapH be 
 calknl in (juostioii ; but I trust that the motives 
 whicii bavo infbiouc'CMl mo on tbiw occasion, and tin; 
 fact of my bein<^' invested with the authority over 
 the premises of the Hudson's Hay Company, and 
 the only authority commissioned by lier Majesty 
 within reach, will plead my excuse. Moreover, 
 shouhl her Majesty's Government not deem it 
 advisable to enforce the rights of the Crown, as set 
 forth in the |)roclamati()n, it may be allowed to fall 
 to the ground, and to become a mere dead letter. 
 
 If you think it expedient that I should visit the 
 Coutcau Mines in course of the coming spring or 
 summer, for the jmrpose of inquiring into the state 
 of the country, ami authorize me to do so, if I can 
 for a time conveniently leave this colony, I freely 
 place my services at the d'oposal of her Majesty's 
 Government. 
 
 V, ; 
 
 
 Cop?/ of a Despatch from Governor Dour/las to the 
 li'uilU lion. 11. Labouchere, M.P. 
 
 (No. IT).) 
 
 Victoria, Vancouver's Island, April G, 1858. 
 
 Sir, — 1. Since I had last the honour of addressin«r 
 y(»u in my despatch. No. 35, of the 29th of Decem- 
 ber last, in reference to the discoverv of ffold in the 
 Coutcau, or Thompson's Kiver district, we have had 
 much communication with persons who have since 
 visited that part of the country. 
 
 2. The search for gold and " prospecting " of the 
 country, had, up to the last dates from the interior, 
 
20 
 
 1)0011 rarriod on almost oxcliisivolv bv the native 
 Indian popnlation, who have discovered the pro- 
 dnctive beds, and ])nt out almost all the gold, 
 about eight hundred ounces, which has been 
 hitherto exported from the country, and who are, 
 moreover, extremely jealous of the whites, and 
 strongly opposed to their digging the soil for 
 gold. 
 
 3. The few white men who passed the winter at 
 the diggings, chiefly retired servants of the Hud- 
 son's Bay Conipa?iy, though well acquainted with 
 Indian character, wore obstructed by the natives in 
 all their attempts to search for gold. They were 
 on all occasions narrowly watched, and in every 
 instance when they did succeed in removing 
 the surface and excavating to the depth of the 
 auriferous stratum, they were (piietly hustled and 
 crowded by the natives, who, having by that means 
 obtained possession of the spot, then proceeded to 
 reap the fruits of their labours. 
 
 4. Such conduct was unwarrantable and exceed- 
 ingly trying to the temper of spirited men, but the 
 savages were far too numerous for resistance, and 
 thev had to pubmit to their dictation. It is, how- 
 ever, worthy of remark, and a circumstance highly 
 honourable to the character of those savages, that 
 they have on all occasions scrupulously res])ected 
 the persons and property of their white visitors, 
 at the same time that they have expressed a 
 determination to reserve the gold for their own 
 benefit. 
 
 5. Such being tlie purpose of the natives, affrays 
 and collisions with the whites will surely follow the 
 
80 
 
 
 accession of numbers, which the latter are now 
 receiving by the iuHux of adventurers from Van- 
 couver's Island an<l the United States' territories in 
 Oregon ; and there is no doubt in my mind tliat 
 sooner or later the intervention of Her Majesty's 
 (Jovornment will be required to restore and main- 
 tain the peace. Up to the j)resent time, however, 
 the country continues rpiiet, but simj)ly, I believe, 
 because the whites have not attem|)ted to resist 
 the impositions of the natives. I will, however, 
 make it a part of my duty to keep you well 
 informed in respect to the state of the gold 
 country. 
 
 6. The extent of the gold region is yet but im- 
 perfectly known, and I have, therefore, not arrived 
 at any decided opinion as to its ultimate value as a 
 gold-])roducing country. The boundaries of the 
 gold district have been, however, greatly extended 
 since my former rei)ort. 
 
 7. In addition to the diggings before known on 
 Thom})son's River and its tributary streams, a 
 valuable deposit has been recently found by the 
 natives on a bank of Fraser's River, about live miles 
 beyond its confluence with the Thompson, and gold 
 in small quantities has been found in the possession 
 of the natives as far as the Great Falls of Fraser's 
 River, about eighty miles above the Forks. The 
 small quantity of gold hitherto produced — about 
 eight hundred ounces — by the native population of 
 the country is, however, unaccountable in a rich 
 gold-producing country, unless we assume that the 
 want of skill, industry, and proper mining-tools on 
 
:n 
 
 tho part of tlio natives sufficiently accounts for the 
 
 fact. 
 
 8. On tho contrary, tho vein rocks and its other 
 geological features, as described by an experienced 
 gold-miner, encourage the belief that the country is 
 highly auriferous. 
 
 9. The miner in question clearly described the 
 o'lder slate formations thrown up and pierced by 
 beds of (piartz, granite, porphyry, and other igneous 
 rocks ; the vast accumulations of sand, gravel, and 
 shingle extending from the roots of the mountains 
 to the banks of Fraser's River and its affluents, 
 which are pecu''ar characteristics of the gold 
 districts of California and other countries. We 
 therefore hope and are preparing for a rich harvest 
 of trade, which will greatly redound to the advan- 
 tage of this colony. 
 
 10. I have further to communicate for your 
 information that the proclamation issued by me, 
 asserting the rights of the Crown to all gold in its 
 natural i)lace of de])Osit, and forbidding all persons 
 to dig for gold without a license, has been published 
 in the newspapers of Oregon and Washington terri- 
 tories, and that, notwithstanding, some seventy or 
 ei.^hty adventurers from the American side have 
 gone by the way of Fraser's River to the Couteau 
 Mines without taking out licenses. 
 
 11. I did not, as I might have done, attempt to 
 enforce those rights by means of a detachment of 
 seamen and marines, from the Satellite, without 
 being assured that such a proceeding would meet 
 with the approval of Her Majesty's Government ; 
 
32 
 
 but the moment your instructions on the subject 
 are received, I will take measures to carry them 
 into effect. 
 
 * » 4K « 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) Jamks Douglas, 
 
 Governor. 
 The Rio'ht Hon. Henrv Labouchere, M.P. 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Ect'trnd of a Despatch from Governor Douglas to the 
 BJfjht Hon, Henry Lahoncherc, dated Victoria, 
 Vancouver' s Island, May 8, 1858. 
 
 (No. 19.) 
 
 Since I had the honour of addressing you, on the 
 6th of A])ril hast, on the subject of the " Couteau" 
 gold mines, they have become more than ever a 
 source of attraction to the people of Washington 
 and Oregon territories, and it is evident from the 
 accounts published in the latest San Francisco 
 papers, that intense excitement prevails among 
 the inhabitants of that stirrinof citv on the same 
 subject. 
 
 The "Couteau" country is there represented 
 and supposed to be in point of mineral v.eaith a 
 second California or Australia ; and those impres- 
 sions are sustained by the false and exaggerated 
 statements of steamboat owners and other inter- 
 ested parties, who benefit by the current of emi- 
 gration which is now setting strongly towards this 
 quarter. 
 
33 
 
 Boats, canoes, and every species of small craft 
 are continually employed in pouring their cargoes 
 of human beings into Eraser's River, and it is 
 supposed that not less than one thousand whites 
 are already at work and on the way to the gold 
 
 districts. 
 
 Many accidents have happened in the dangerous 
 rapids of that river ; a great number of canoes 
 having been dashed to pieces and their cargoes 
 swept away by the impetuous stream, while of the 
 ill-fated adventurers who accompanied them, many 
 have been swept into eternity. 
 
 The others, nothing daunted by the spectacle of 
 ruin, and buoyed up by the hope of amassing 
 wealth, still keep pressing onwards towards the 
 coveted goal of their most ardent wishes. 
 
 On the 25th of last month, the American steamer 
 Commodore arrived in this port direct from San 
 Francisco, with 450 passengers on board, the clnet 
 part of whom are gold miners for the " Couteau ' 
 
 country. 
 
 Nearly 400 of those men were landed at this 
 place, and have since left in boats and canoes for 
 
 Eraser's River. 
 
 I ascertained through inquiries on the subject, 
 that those men are all well provided with miumg 
 tools, and that there was no dearth of capital or 
 intelligence among them. About 60 British sub- 
 jects, with an equal number of native-born Ame- 
 ricans, the rest being chiefly Germans, with a 
 smaller proportion of Frenchmen and Italians, com- 
 posed this body of adventurers. 
 
 They are represented as being, with some excep- 
 
 u 
 
34 
 
 tions, a specimen of the worst of the population of 
 San Francisco ; the very dregs, in fact, of society. 
 Their conduct while here would have led me to 
 form a very different conclusion ; as our little town, 
 though crowded to excess with this sudden influx 
 of people, and though there was a temporary 
 scarcity of food and dearth of house accommoda- 
 tion, the police few in number, and many tempta- 
 tions to excess in the way of drink, yet quiet and 
 order prevailed, and there was not a single com- 
 mittal for rioting, drunkenness, or other offences, 
 during their stay here. 
 
 The merchants and other business classes of 
 Victoria are rejoicing in the advent of so large a 
 body of people in the colony, and are strongly in 
 favour of making this port a stopping point between 
 San Francisco and the gold mines, converting the 
 latter, as it were, into a feeder and dependency of 
 this colony. 
 
 Victoria would thus become a depot and centre 
 of trade for the gold districts, and the natural con- 
 sequence would be an immediate increase in the 
 wealth and population of the colony. 
 
 To effect that object it will be requisite to 
 facilitate by every possible means the transport of 
 passengers and goods to the furthest navigable 
 point on Fraser's River ; and the obvious means of 
 accomplishing that end is to employ light steam- 
 ers in plying between, and connecting this port 
 [Victoria] with the Falls of Fraser's River, distant 
 130 miles from the discharge of that river into 
 the Gulf of Georgia, those falls being generally 
 believed to be at the commencement of the remu- 
 
35 
 
 nerative gold diggings, and from thence the miners 
 would readily make their way on foot, or, after the 
 summer freshets, by the river, into the interior of 
 
 the country. 
 
 By that means, also, tlie whole trade of the gold 
 regions would pass through Eraser's River, and be 
 retained within the British territory, forming a 
 valuable outlet for British manufactured goods, and 
 at once creating a lucrative trade between the 
 mother country and Vancouver's Island. 
 
 Taking a view of the subject simply in its rela- 
 tions to trade and commerce, apart from considera- 
 tions of national policy, such perhaps would be the 
 course most likely to promote the interests of this 
 colony; but, on the contrary, if the country be 
 thrown open to indiscriminate immigration, the 
 interests of the empire may suffer from the intro- 
 duction of a foreign population, whose sympathies 
 may be decidedly anti-British. 
 
 Taking that view of the question, it assumes an 
 alarming aspect, and suggests a doubt as to the 
 policy of permitting the free entrance of foreigners 
 into the British territory for residence without in 
 the first place requiring them to take the oath of 
 allegiance and otherwise to give such security for 
 their conduct as the Government of the country 
 may deem it proper and necessary to require at 
 
 their hands. 
 
 The opinion which 1 have formed on the subject 
 leads me to think that, in the event of the diggings 
 proving remunerative, it will now be found impos- 
 sible to check the course of immigration, even by 
 closing Eraser's River, as the miners wouUl then 
 
 D 2 
 
» 
 
 36 
 
 force a passage into the gold district by way of 
 the Columbia River, and the valuable trade of 
 the country in that case be driven from its natural 
 course into a foreign channel, and entirely lost to 
 this country. 
 
 On the contrary, should the diggings prove to be 
 unremunerative, a question which as yet remains 
 undecided, the existing excitement we may suppose 
 will die away of itself ; and the miners, having no 
 longer the prospect of large gains, will naturally 
 abandon a country which no longer hole 3 out any 
 inducement for them to remain. 
 
 Until the value of the country, as a gold-pro- 
 ducing region, be established on clearer evidence 
 than can now be adduced in its favour — and the 
 point will no doubt be decided before the close of 
 *he present year. I would simply recommend that 
 a small naval or military force should be placed at 
 the disposal of this Government, to enable us to 
 maintain the peace, and to enforce obedience to the 
 laws. 
 
 The system of granting licenses for digging gold 
 has not yet come into operation. 
 
 Perhaps a simpler method of raising a revenue 
 would be to impose a custom's duty on imports, to 
 be levied on all supplies brought into the country, 
 whether by Eraser's or the Columbia River. 
 
 The export of gold from the country is still in- 
 considerable, not exceeding 600 ounces since I last 
 addressed you. The principal diggings are reported 
 to be at present, and will probably continue, flooded 
 for several months to come ; so that, unless other 
 diggings apart from the river-beds are discovered. 
 
37 
 
 the production of gold will not increase until the 
 summer freshets are over, which will probably hap- 
 pen about the middle of August next. In the 
 meantime the ill-provided adventurers who have 
 gone thither w'll consume their stock of provisions, 
 and probably have to retire from the country until 
 a more favourable season. 
 
 I shall be most happy to receive your instructions 
 on the subjects in this letter. 
 
 Copy of a Despatch from Secretary Sir E. Bulwer 
 Lytton to Governor Douglas. 
 
 ^No. 2.) 
 
 Downing Street, July 1, 1858. 
 
 Sir,— I have to acknowledge your Despatch, 
 No. 19, of the 8th ultimo, in continuation of former 
 despatches, informing the Secretary of State from 
 time to time of the progress of the gold discoveries 
 on Eraser's River, and the measures which you had 
 taken in consequence. I am anxious not to let the 
 opportunity of the present mail pass without in- 
 forming you that her Majesty's Government have 
 under their consideration the pressing necessity for 
 taking some steps to establish public order and 
 government in that locality, and that I hope very 
 soon to be able to communicate to you the result. 
 
 In the meantime her Majesty's Government 
 approve of the course which you have adopted 
 in asserting both the dominion of the Crown over 
 this region, and the right of the Crown over the 
 precious metals. They think, however, that you 
 
38 
 
 acted judiciously in waiting for further instructions 
 before you endeavoured to compel tbe taking out 
 of licenses by causing any force to be despatched 
 for that purpose from Vancouver's Island. 
 
 The) vi^ish you to continue your vigilance, and to 
 apply for instructions on any point on which you 
 may require them. They are, however, in addition, 
 particularly anxious to impress on you that, while 
 her Majesty's Government are determined on pre- 
 serving the rights both of Government and of 
 commerce which belong to this country, and while 
 they have it in contemplation to furnisli you with 
 such a force as they may be able to detach for 
 your assistance and support in the preservation of 
 law and order, it is no part of their policy to 
 exclude Americans and other foreigners from the 
 gold-fields. On the contrary, you are distinctly 
 instructed to oppose no obstacle whatever to their 
 resort thither for the purpose of digging in those 
 fields, so long as they submit themselves, in 
 common with the subjects of her Majesty, to the 
 recognition of her authority, and conform to such 
 rules of police as you may have thought proper to 
 establish. The national right to naviijate Fraser's 
 River is of course a separate question, and one 
 which her Majesty's Government must reserve. 
 
 Under the circumstance of so large an immi- 
 gration of Americans into English territory, 1 need 
 hardly impress upon you the importance of caution 
 and delicacy in dealing with those manifold cases 
 of international relationship and feeling which are 
 certain to arise, and which but for the exercise of 
 temper and discretion might easily lead to serious 
 
30 
 
 complications between two neighbouring and power- 
 
 ■fill states. 
 
 It is impossible by this mail to furnish you with 
 any instructions of a more delinite character. Her 
 Majesty's Government must leave much to your 
 discretion on this most important subject ; and 
 they rely upon your exercising whatever influence 
 and powers you may possess in the manner which 
 from local knowledge and experience you conceive 
 to be best calculated to give development to the 
 new country, and to advance imperial interests. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) E. Bulwer Lytton. 
 
 Governor Douglas, 
 &c. &c. 
 
 Governor Douglas has also issued the following 
 proclamation (evidently under a misconception of his 
 own powers and the rights and powers of the Hud- 
 son's Bay Company; for their charter gives them 
 « the exclusive privilege of trading with the Indians 
 but there is no exclusion of white men trading with 
 white men of any nation), but which has since been 
 remedied by instructions sent out by the Colonial 
 Secretary. 
 
 " By his Excellency James Douglas, Goveraor and 
 Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Vancou- 
 ver's Island and its Dependencies, and Vice- 
 Adm'ral of the same. 
 
 ..Whereas it is commonly reported that certain 
 boats and other vessels have entered Frasers River 
 for trade : and whereas there is reason to appre- 
 
40 
 
 henci that other persons are preparing and fitting 
 out boats for the same purpose : Now, therefore, I 
 have issued this my Proclamation, warning all per- 
 sons that such acts are contrary to law, and infringe- 
 ments of the rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, 
 who are legally entitled to the trade with Indians 
 in the British possessions of the north-west coast of 
 America, to the exclusion of all other persons, 
 whether British or foreign. And also that from 
 fourteen days from the date of this my Proclama- 
 tion all ships, boats, and vessels, together with the 
 goods laden on board, found in Fraser's River, or in 
 any of the bays, rivers, or creeks of the said British 
 possessions on the north-west of America, not 
 having a license from the Hudson's Bay Company, 
 and a sufferance from the proper officer of customs 
 at Victoria, shall be liable to forfeiture, and will be 
 seized and condemned according to law. Given 
 under my hand and seal, at Government House, 
 Victoria, this 8th day of May, in the year of our 
 Lord 1858, and in the 21st of her Majesty's reign. 
 " James Douglas, Governor. 
 *^' By his Excellency's command, 
 
 " Richard Golledge, Secretary. 
 
 " God save the Queen." 
 
 By the last accounts from San Francisco, 
 June 21st, we learn that the excitement caused 
 by the richness of the gold discoveries exceeded 
 anything ever witnessed in the palmiest days of 
 California or Australia, and all agreed in believ- 
 ing that a climax had not been reached, — that 
 
41 
 
 the question bad almost universally become, not, 
 "Are you going?" but, "When are you off?" 
 People seemed to have suddenly come to the conclu- 
 sion tbat it was their fate to go. " Going to Eraser's 
 River?" — "Yes; oh, of course, I must go!" — 
 "You going?"— "Yes, sir; I am bound to go!" 
 None are too poor and none too rich to start ; none 
 too young and none too old for the journey. Many 
 depart with money, many without ; some to invest 
 in " real estate," others to see what may turn up, 
 some to gamble, and many to steal, and, unquestion- 
 ably, not a few to die. People of all nations are en 
 route. Men who cannot speak a word of English are 
 among them, accompanied by interpreters. From 
 Yreka, in the north, bordering on Oregon, to San 
 Diego, in the extreme south, whole masses are in 
 commotion, and flocking in thousands to San Fran- 
 cisco, on their way to the new El Dorado ; and 
 labour was getting extremely dear in consequence. 
 It had become necessary to coax and " softsawder" 
 mechanics to get any work done. The Times 
 correspondent, speaking from his own personal 
 experience, says the reply of one to him was— 
 « My dear sir, I'll give you one day in three ; I 
 must distribute my time so as to do a little for each 
 of my friends:' This man, he adds, was a tinman 
 skilled in roofing houses; I used to call him a 
 tinker, in joke. He calls me now by familiar 
 epithets, and I address him " Mr. Snooks." My 
 joking days are over— at any rate suspended. The 
 ordinary relations of life are being reversed. We 
 are become primitive. « When Adam delved and 
 Eve span, where was then the gentleman ?" If our 
 
42 
 
 I ?7tu 
 
 Eves would spin, we would not complain so much ; 
 but our domestic Eves are going to Vancouver's 
 Island to become ladies. It is a great reproach 
 to us ; but we cannot keep the women ! We learn 
 also that six large steamers had been put on the 
 route, besides numerous sailing vessels ; — that on 
 the 14th of June 900 passengers left in one steamer, 
 and on the 17th, 1,400 passengers in another ; — that 
 the present departures for Eraser's River were 
 about 1,000 a day ; — that a gentleman who went 
 down to the wharf and on board to see the sight 
 says the crush actually lifted him off the deck ; — 
 that it resembled a crowd at one of the London 
 theatres on a " star" night — that the vessel ap- 
 peared perfectly black with human beings crowded 
 in every part of her when she drew away from the 
 Avharf — that although she could not be comfort- 
 able with more than six hundred passengers, she 
 took 1,600 at least; — that the entire exodus from 
 California during the first six months would ex- 
 ceed 40,000, a rapidity and extent of emigration 
 never paralleled ; — that one American vessel, the 
 Suiyrise, had entered Eraser's River in spite of the 
 blockade, and run up to Eort Yale, thereby prov- 
 ing the navigation of the river for 150 miles (What 
 will Sir George Simpson say to this ? he denied its 
 being navigable further than Fort Langley, twenty- 
 five miles, and that only by small steamers of light 
 draught ; yet the Surprise was a vessel that had 
 doubled Cape Horn under sail) ; — that the Hudson's 
 Bay Company's officials had appointed customs' 
 officials, and chosen magistrates from amongst the 
 immigrants; — and that the best feeling existed 
 
43 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
 between the Company's people and the miners. 
 Although all passengers by steamers arc to be 
 provided with a passport, and an American had 
 2,000 dollars' property confiscated by the Company 
 for trading near Fort Langley, miners were allowed 
 to carry full supplies for themselves, but none for 
 trade. After July, the license fee from the diggers 
 was to be strictly exacted. Nearly all the diggings 
 were being carried on between Fort Langley and 
 Fort Yale, and for some thirty miles above the 
 latter, an entire distance of better than 100 miles. 
 The yield per man was from ten dollars to 250 
 dollars per day ; at Hill's Bar the men had averaged 
 fifty dollars a day the whole time they had been 
 there. The diggings on Thompson's River were still 
 richer ; but the excess of water and opposition of 
 the Indians prevented much being done. 
 
 The Times correspondent quotes the following 
 as the experience of a man from San Francisco, 
 well known there, connected with a business firm 
 in that place, and whose statement is worthy 
 of credit : — " We left San Francisco in April, in 
 company with seven others, and ascended the 
 Fraser River 275 miles. We prospected all along, 
 coming up from Fort Hope to Sailors' Bar. We 
 camped, and commenced mining Sailors' Bar, about 
 twenty-five miles above Fort Yale, which has rich 
 diggings, in some places paying as high as six 
 bits to the pan (a bit may be set down at the 
 value of one shilling sterling). When I arrived, 
 miners were making as high as six ounces a day 
 to the rocker. We mined along the banks of 
 the river [the Fraser], and the average was from 
 
44 
 
 m 
 
 "■:| 
 
 two to tliree ounces per day to the rockers. Miners 
 are at work all along the banks of the river for 
 twenty-five miles above Fort Yale; they average 
 from two to four ounces a day. The country is 
 very rich and very beautiful, but high and moun- 
 tainous. There is plenty of timber and everything 
 a miner can wish for, except game and provisions. 
 There are plenty of salmon in the river, and brown 
 bears in the woods, which are very good eating. 
 Wherever we * prospected * we found gold — at 
 some places more, at others less ; but we found gold 
 everywhere. At the rapids or falls, twenty odd miles 
 above Fort Yale, w here the water fell nearly fifteen 
 feet over the rocks, and prevented our ascending 
 higher in the canoe, we prospected, and found gold 
 very plenty. Near the falls, and from Sailor's Bar 
 up, many minevs were at work, all with rockers. 
 Gold very fine — requiring blankets to be spread in 
 the bottom of the rockers to save the finer par- 
 ticles. By the use of quicksilver twice as much gold 
 could be saved, as some of it is as fine as flour." 
 
 This man left his mining claim in charge of two 
 partners, and brought to San Francisco a quantity 
 of the " dust," and returned to Fraser's River with 
 supplies of provisions, &c. 
 
 The special correspondent of the San Francisco 
 Bulletin, a reliable authority, writes from Fort 
 Langley, on Fraser River, under date of May 25, 
 that he had just come down from Fort Yule — the 
 locality above spoken of — where he found sixty men 
 and 200 Indians, with their squaws, at work on a 
 " bar" of about 600 yards in length, called " Hill's 
 Bar," one mile below Fort Yale, and fifteen miles 
 
45 
 
 from Fort IFopo, all trading ports of the Hudson's 
 Bay Company. The morning I arrived, two men 
 [Kerrison and Co.] cleaned up 5^ ounces from the 
 rocker, tiie produce of half a day's work. Kerrison 
 and Co. the next day cleaned up lOj ounces from 
 two rockers, which I saw myself weighed. Old 
 Californian miners say they never saw such rich 
 diggings. The average result per day to the man 
 was fully twenty dollars, some much more. The 
 gold is very fine ; so much so that it is impossible to 
 save more than two-thirds of what went through 
 the rockers. At Sailor's Diggings, above Fort Yale, 
 they are doing very well, — averaging from eight to 
 twenty-five dollars per day to the man. I am told 
 that the gold is much coarser in Thompson River 
 than it is in Fraser River. I saw yesterday about 
 250 dollars of coarse gold f om Thompson River, 
 in pieces averaging Jive dollars each. Some of the 
 pieces had quartz among them. Hill, who was the 
 first man on the bar bearing his name just spoken 
 of, with his partner, has made some 600 dollars 
 in about sixteen days' work. Three men just 
 arrived from Sailors' Diggings have brought down 
 670 dollars in dust, the result of twelve days' work, 
 gold very fine." 
 
 Another authority, a Californian miner, known in 
 San Francisco, also lately returned from the Fraser 
 and Thompson Rivers, testifies to the existence of 
 gold in great quantity : — " This statement," he says, 
 "is true; gold does exist in this new country, and there 
 is no doubt in my mind that the upper mines are 
 much like the upper mountain mines of California. 
 The first diggings are not far from Puget Sound ; 
 
46 
 
 
 but there, as in California, the richest mines will be 
 found far up in the mountains. There is no occa- 
 sion to hurry, as the gold won't run away, nor be 
 dug up ill days nor in years." Another writer says, 
 " There are rich diggings in the Cascade Mountains, 
 between Fort Hope and Fort Yaie, as well as to 
 the southward and eastward of Fort Hope." The 
 writer of another letter reports, " Mines have been 
 discovered in the interior, at a great distance inland 
 from the Fraser River (some 190 miles to the 
 Borth and east of that river). These mines," he 
 says, " will cause the Fraser River mines, which 
 only last some six months in the year, owing to the 
 freshets, to be almost forgotten." 
 
 Provisions and mining tools were very dear up 
 the river ; but as there was an abundance of all 
 those articles in San Francisco, these inconveniences 
 would soon be remedied, as small steamers were 
 being put on the river to ply as far up as the rapids 
 would permit them. 
 
 One inestimable advantage we possess on Van- 
 couver's Island is, that the harbour Esquimault is 
 the finest in the Pacific — and Victoria is a free 
 port ; no duties being levied on merchandise. This, 
 independently of its favourable position, carries all 
 British and other foreign goods liable to American 
 duties to Victoria, in preference to all the American 
 ports on the north-west coast. No vessel or passen- 
 gers are allowed to enter Fraser River without first 
 obtaining a permit at Victoria; this necessitates all 
 vessels on their way from San Francisco to Fraser 
 River calling there, a fact that the merchants of 
 this country should take advantage of, by making 
 
47 
 
 Victoria at once the depot and mart of the 
 
 Pacific. 
 
 Before closing this portion of our book which 
 relates to British Columbia, it is necessary that we 
 should refer to the Indians. They number upwards 
 of 60,000, and live almost entirely by hunting ; they 
 have always been celebrated as a warlike race, 
 but although they have this character, the Hudson's 
 Bay Company have never found much difficulty in 
 dealing with them ; but the rapid progress of the 
 white man will but hasten their destiny, for in a few 
 years the great and powerful warlike Shoushwap, 
 Kootanie, and Carrier tribes will be numbered 
 among the things that were. 
 
 A very graceful allusion to British Columbia was 
 made in her Majesty's speech on proroguing Parlia- 
 ment, viz. : — 
 
 «' The Act to which her Majesty has assented for 
 the establishment of the colony of British Columbia 
 was urgently required in consequence of the recent 
 discoveries of gold in that district ; but her Majesty 
 hopes that this new colony on the Pacific may be 
 but one step in the career of steady progress by 
 which her Majesty's dominions in North America 
 may ultimately be peopled in an unbroken chain, 
 from the Atlantic to the Pacific, by a loyal and 
 industrious population of subjects of the British 
 Crown." 
 
48 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 r^ 
 
 Vancouver's Island, as we before stated, runs 
 parallel with the coast of British Columbia, in a 
 north-west direction : it is situate in longitude 125° 
 from Greenwich ; and lying between the 48th and 
 61st parallel of latitude, it is about 250 miles long, 
 and in breadth varies from 60 to 70 miles ; with 
 a climate stated by some persons to be equal to 
 Madeira, and by others to Ireland, and summers 
 somewhat warmer. It has no rivers of importance, 
 but its coast is indented with many good and three 
 or four magnificent harbours, whilst from there to 
 Acapulco a distance of 3,000 miles, safe anchorage 
 for large ships is only to be found at the single port 
 of San Francisco ; but even the harbour of San Fran- 
 cisco is so excessively large that it is said not to be 
 safe at all times. A range of hills runs through the 
 centre, and to the north rises into mountains. The 
 timber which covers its surface is described by all 
 who have seen it, as the j&nest in the world. The 
 soil, where it has been tried, is most favourable to 
 agriculture ; and, to crown the catalogue, coal of 
 most excellent quality has been found in abundance 
 within a few yards of the sea-beach, the importance 
 of which, to the future population, is incalcula- 
 ble, and many years ago attracted the attention 
 of Mr. Cunard, who, with that sound judgment 
 which has characterized all his splendid undertak- 
 ings, made a timely suggestion to the Colonial Office, 
 
49 
 
 but his statement was disregarded ; and in 1848 the 
 Imperial Government handed over this magnificent 
 island to tlie exclusive possession of the Hudson's 
 Bay Company, making two stipulations, — first, that 
 at the expiration of five years the grant of the island 
 might be removed by the Crown, if the Company 
 should not have established one or more settlements, 
 according to the intent of the charter, or if they 
 should not freely dispose of the land at a reasonable 
 price; secondly, that in the year 1859, on the expi- 
 ration of the license of exclusive trade with the 
 Indians on the north-west coast, the Government 
 are empowered to repurchase from the Company 
 the island and their premises, on payment of the 
 sums expended by them in colonization, and the 
 value of their establishments, property, and effects 
 then being on the island. The latter alternative 
 the Government have adopted, and given notice to 
 the Company that they will resume possession of 
 the island next year ; and the Company have there- 
 fore intimated that their " little bill " already ex- 
 ceeds 87,000/. 
 
 Now, we have it proved upon the most respectable 
 evidence — and it is not denied by the Company — 
 that the first thing they proceeded to do on taking 
 possession of the island, was to appropriate to them- 
 selves ten square miles round the best position in 
 the island — at Victoria, and the land round the 
 coal mines at Naniam, to the extent of 2,000 acres ; 
 and that tiiey refused to sell any portion of this 
 land to the settlers who wished to occupy it. And, 
 as their "little bill" of 87,000/. is for colonizing,— 
 all of which they confined to themselves, by actually 
 
 E 
 
50 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 forcing' all indopoiKloiit sottlors to le.ivc, and by tlic 
 ini]>edir.ients they tlirew in tlieir way, — a job had to 
 be perpetrated, and the fewer hostile witnesses the 
 better, thought the Com])any ; but when it was com- 
 pleted, and a certain [)osse8sary right obtained (the 
 Company lay great stress upon possessary rights), 
 they come forward before Parliament, and say, "Oh, 
 by all means, resume the government of it, we 
 strongly recommend you to do so ; but please pay 
 us our little bill/' But what have they done to en- 
 title them to it? Let us just inquire: — Lord Grey 
 appointed as governor a gentleman independent of 
 the Company, Mr. Blanshard ; but this did not suit 
 their interests, and they pdopted the following mode 
 of getting rid of him antl having Mr. Douglas, their 
 chief factor, appointed in his place. A grant of 
 1,000 acres of land was promised to Mr. Blanshard, 
 in lieu of salary, by Sir John Pelly, the governor of 
 the Company, in London ; but when he got out 
 there, they evaded that promise, and would not give 
 him an acre ; they would only supply him with goods 
 at a profit of 300 per cent., and it must be borne in 
 mind, he had only " Hobson's choice." To avoid this 
 exorbitant charge he sent to England to have goods 
 shipped to him direct ; but here again he had no 
 choice but the Company's ships, and on his agents 
 calling at the Hudson's Bay House to inquire when 
 their ships sailed, they were promised they should 
 have timely notice ; but the only notice they ever 
 had was, on again inquiring, that the " ship had 
 sailed." 
 
 The chief factor, Mr. Douglas, set the governor's 
 authority at naught, and took upon himself to sign the 
 
51 
 
 register of ships. In fact, they fairly harassed and 
 starved him out of his office. But let us hope that the 
 reckoning day is not far distant ; and when they press 
 the payment of their "little bill," that Parliament 
 will require them to render an account of their stew- 
 ardship. It certainly must force any one who will 
 take the trouble to peruse the evidence that has been 
 given upon the matter, to this conclusion, that they 
 call upon the Imperial Government to repay them 
 an ed?penditure actually incurred in appropriating to 
 themselves all the most valualle portion of the island. 
 
 But brighter days are in store for Vancouver's 
 Island, for next year it will be under the direct 
 government of the Crown; that it is one of the 
 most desirable places in the British Empire to 
 emigrate to, we shall, we hope, satisfactorily prove. 
 Mr. Cooper, in his evidence before a committee of 
 the House of Commons last year, said : — " I was 
 a resident there six years, from 1851 to 1857. I 
 had a farm of 300 acres. Its climate is superior in 
 every way to Great Britain ; its agricultural capa- 
 bilities are very great ; it is capable of producing all 
 the crops which we can produce in this country, 
 and some others which we cannot produce, such as 
 Indian corn, &c. It is one of the finest wheat- 
 growing countries in the world, farmers have got 
 forty bushels of wheat to the acre. The country is 
 partially wooded and partially open prairie ; there 
 is no occasion to cut the timber at present, so as to 
 convert the land to agricultural purposes, as there 
 is a great deal of oi)en land yet to be disposed of; 
 the open land is beautifully fertile. The timber is 
 principally pine, oak, ash, beech, and maple. It 
 
 E 2 
 
52 
 
 I'. 
 
 abounds in coal of good quality at Nanaimo ; tliero 
 is a large colliery in oj)eration within a few yards of 
 the sea shore, so that skips might shoot into the 
 ships ; the mine is capable of supplying the whole 
 Pacific, when I left they had 10,000 tons ready for 
 sale. It has many very fine harbours, one, the 
 harbour of Esquimault, the finest in the world. 
 There are well-conducted schools. It is a Roman 
 Catholic bishopric, and there is also a clergyman 
 of the Church of England ; two days and a half is 
 the average passage from San Francisco in sea- 
 going ships." 
 
 The Hon. Chas. W. Wentworth Fitzwilliam, a 
 member of the committee, examined, said : — " I was 
 in Vancouver's Island in the winter 1852-3. The 
 climate appeared to me particularly adapted for 
 settlement by Englishmen ; it resembles the climate 
 of England, but not quite so cold ; the soil is 
 generally productive. The country is divided into 
 wood and prairie. I visited the coal mines at 
 Nanaimo, they were working a 6-feet seam of coal 
 at a depth of 40 feet, and which is close to the 
 sea shore. The coal is of excellent quality, very 
 like the West Riding of Yorkshire coal. The 
 soil and climate is remarkably fine, and produces 
 excellent wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes ; the 
 timber is magnificent, and the harbour of Esqui- 
 mault is the finest 1 ever saw. Nobody who has 
 not seen the enormous quantities of fish can possibly 
 credit the value and excellence of the fisheries ; 
 the only safe harbours on the coast exist in 
 Vancouver's Island, with the exception of San 
 Francisco. There are good schools, a Roman 
 
53 
 
 Catholic bishop and clergy, and a clergyman of the 
 Church of England." 
 
 R. Blanshard, Esq., stated he was appointed 
 governor of Vancouver's Island in 1849, and re- 
 mained for nearly two years ; the climate was very 
 good and very temperate, not subject to occur- 
 rences of heat and cold. It is milder than that of 
 England, a great portion of the soil seemed to be 
 very fertile ; it is very well adapted for an English 
 settlement, it is well covered with fine timber. 
 The fisheries are very abundant. The Hudson's 
 Bay Company claimed ten square miles round 
 Victoria as their own property, which they would 
 not sell. It has several fine harbours, the harbour 
 of Esquimault in particular, which is a perfect 
 shelter for a dozen line-of-battle ships in any wind. 
 Mr. John Miles, a servant of the Hudson's Bay 
 Company, stated he had been twice to Vancouver's 
 Island, in 1852, and again in 1854. Its soil is very 
 good and very rich, and the climate superior to 
 that of England ; it is well covered with timber, and 
 its coal mines are very valuable. The fisheries are 
 very productive. There is every necessary on the 
 island itself for its becoming one of the finest 
 colonies in the world. It has got wood, coal, good 
 land, and iron : the fisheries are good round about 
 it; the position is good and the climate is good, and 
 the harbour of the Esquimault very favourable. 
 
 The Right Hon. Edward Ellice, M.P., a member 
 of the committee examined, said : — " The sooner 
 the public re-enter into possession, and the sooner 
 they form establishments worthy of the island and 
 worthy of this country, the better. It is a kind of 
 
 i i 
 
54 
 
 ■'i 
 
 England attached to the continent of America. I 
 think it shouUl not only be on the ordinary system 
 of English colonies, but that it should be the j)rin- 
 cipal station of your naval force in the Pacific. It 
 is an island in which there is every kind of timber 
 fit for naval j)urposes. It is the only good harbour 
 (and it is an excellent harbour) to the northward 
 of San Francisco, as far north as Sitka, the Russian 
 settlement. You have in Vancouver's Island the 
 best harbour, fine timber in every situation, and 
 coal enough for your whole navy; the climate is 
 wholesome, very like that of England ; the coast 
 abounds with fish of every description : in short, 
 there is every advantage In the island of Vancouver 
 to make it one of the first colonies and best settle- 
 ments of England. Political questions are con- 
 nected with making a settlement in that quarter 
 which I will not enter into. 
 
 The Indians on Vancouver's Island number about 
 13,000, and are a quiet, peaceable race. They live 
 almost entirely by fishing ; they make very useful 
 labourers, and are engaged in the coal-mines. 
 
 It would be superfluous to add further testimony 
 in favour of the climate and capabilities of this 
 favoured island ; we will therefore proceed to 
 consider the claims of British North America to 
 become the great high road from the Atlantic to 
 the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 The Hon. John Ross, M.P., inspector-general, 
 and president of the Grand Trunk Railway of 
 Canada, says : — ** If any project were set afloat for 
 carrying a railway across the continent, I believe it 
 is conceded that that portion of the continent of 
 
55 
 
 Nortli America over which the (Jueen's Governiiient 
 extends is the most feasible that can be adopted. 
 I believe that it is conceded by all the American 
 gentlemen who had investigated the subject, and I 
 think it is so accepted now. I have heard that 
 opinion generally expressed by leading and influ- 
 ential Americans who have investigated the subject. 
 1 believe it is Mr. Whitney's opinion." 
 
 One of the ablest French jonrnals of the day, in 
 a recent article on this subjwol., said, " England and 
 the United States are both of them fully sensible 
 that the time has arrived when the sceptre of the 
 commercial world must be grasped and held by the 
 hand of that power which shall be able to maintain 
 the most certain and rapid communication between 
 Europe and Asia. It is not merely by the Isthmus 
 of Suez and the Red Sea that henceforth the trade 
 with the East is going to be carried on. The 
 eastern continent of Asia will be waked up to a 
 new commercial activity from other ports, and 
 especially from the several ports of the Chinese 
 empire. Consequently, the empire of the world, in 
 a commercial point of view, will henceforth belong 
 to that one of the two powers of England or America 
 which shall be the first to find means to establish 
 a direct road across the continent of America, 
 whereby to communicate most rapidly with the 
 great East on the Pacific side, and with Europe on 
 the Atlantic side. This will be the great highway 
 by which the products of the Old World will have 
 to be carried to the Eastern World. ♦ * * 
 
 '• Hence it is that the victory which is to give 
 the empire of the world will be gained by that 
 
\ 
 
 50 
 
 i\ 
 
 which shall 
 
 power wliicli sliall be the first to establish the line 
 of railroad across re^rions and countries which are 
 yet unknown and unexplored. The struggle for 
 the attainment of this great victory is well worth 
 the trouble and expense which it will cost ; for the 
 empire of the seas and the commercial dominion 
 over tije whole world are the great stakes which are 
 being played for. * * * * We shall soon be 
 witnesses of one of those grand and peaceful revolu- 
 tions which in all ages of the world have played a 
 greater part in deciding the fate of the human race 
 than all the great and most decisive battlles that 
 have ever been fought, or all the completost con- 
 «iuests that have ever been made." 
 
 On the Atlantic coast of British North America 
 we have but one safe open serport accessible at all 
 seasons, the rest being closed by ice for six months 
 of the year. But that port — Halifax (in Nova Scotia) 
 — has the finest harbour on the Atlantic, and is nearer 
 to Europe by 400 miles than any other port in the 
 whole continent of America. From Halifax to 
 Quebec, through British territory, measures about 600 
 miles. A railway for 170 of the distance is in course 
 of construction. From Quebec there is a direct line 
 of railway through Canada to Lake Huron, a dis- 
 tance of 500 miles. Lake Huron is connected with 
 Lake Superior by a short ship canal ; from the ter- 
 minus of the railway in Lake Huron to the head of 
 Lake Superior is about 500 miles ; and from the 
 head of Lake Superior by the Red River settlement 
 and the valley of the Saskatchewan (a great part of 
 which is navigable) to the head-waters of the 
 Columbia River, in British Columbia, is about 1,200 
 
57 
 
 miles (of this portion of the route from Red Jliver 
 settlement to the foot of the Rocky Mountains all 
 witnesses agree in stating that it offers the most favour- 
 able natural facilities for the construction of a railway, 
 and that by making a detour to the north, the Rocky " 
 Mountains can be passed on a favourable Jiltitude), 
 and thence to the mouth of Fraser's River, opposite 
 Vancouver's Island, a length of about 300 miles. 
 
 Ships of 800 tons burthen now go from Liverpool 
 to the head of Lake Superior. There is now a per- 
 fect inland navigation through the great Canadian 
 lakes from the gulf of the St. Lawrence to the 
 head of Lake Superior, longer than from Liverpool 
 to New York. 
 
 A proposal has been submitted to the Govern- 
 ment, and most favourably received by them, for 
 completing the line of railway between Halifax and 
 Quebec ; and there is no doubt whatever that its con- 
 struction will be speedily accomplished ; for it is des- 
 tined to be the high road through Canada from one 
 ocean to the other, spreading intercommunication 
 far and wide, and entirely independent of the United 
 States. It is likewise absolutely essential to the 
 preservation of British North America. At the 
 present time we are for six months of the year en- 
 tirely dependent upon the United States for any 
 communications whatever to or from Canada. 
 
 A proposal has likewise been submitted for carry- 
 ing a railway from the head of Lake Superior, through 
 the Red River settlement (about to be formed into 
 a colony), and along the valley of the Saskatchewan, 
 and through British Columbia to the mouth of 
 Fraser's River, opposite Vancouver's Island. 
 
h 
 
 5H 
 
 The lungth of lino will therefore bo as follows : — 
 
 MileH. 
 
 Liverpool to Halifax 2,460 
 
 Halifax to Fort William on Lake Superior 1,484 
 Lake Superior to Fucas Straits, opposite 
 
 Vancouver's Island 1,700 
 
 5,050 
 
 The following table will sbow tlic comparative 
 advantages of the several routes: — 
 
 Miles. MileH. 
 
 From Liverpool to Panama is ... 4,100 
 
 „ Panama to Shangliai 9,800 
 
 13,900 
 
 „ Liverpool to Halifax is ... 2,466 
 
 „ Halifax to Fucas Straits ... 3,184 
 
 „ Fucas Straits to Shanghai ... 5,800 
 
 11,450 
 
 Difference in favour of the route through 
 
 Canada 
 
 • • • • • • 
 
 ••• ••• ••• 
 
 2,350 
 
 ■ 1 
 
 
 
 Miles. 
 
 From Panama to Japan is 
 
 . 8,600 
 
 >» 
 
 n 
 
 Canton 
 
 , 10,000 
 
 »» 
 
 ft 
 
 Singapore 
 
 . 10,800 
 
 !■ 
 
 tf 
 
 Sandwich Islands 
 
 . 4,700 
 
 ri 
 
 »» 
 
 Sydney 
 
 8,220 
 
 H 
 
 Fucas Straits to Japan 
 
 . 4,400 
 
 1 
 
 »t 
 
 Canton 
 
 6,900 
 
 m 
 
 *» 
 
 Singapore 
 
 8,200 
 
 m 
 
 a 
 
 Sandwich Islands .. 
 
 2,370 
 
 1 
 
 »» 
 
 Sydney 
 
 . 7,230 
 
 .il 
 
50 
 
 Mr. Roebuck, a few days ngo, in alluding to tlieso 
 projects in a very able speech in the Mouse of 
 Commons, on his motion with regard to the terri- 
 tories of the Hudson's Bay Company, said, — " The 
 present state of the North American continent 
 was a matter of great interest to England. That 
 continent was divided among three possessors : the 
 southern and most important part belonged to the 
 United States, which ran up to where they met the 
 domain of England, which stretched from the 
 Atlantic to the Pacific. England possessed the 
 larger portion of the continent, and proceeded north- 
 ward until it trenched upon the western territo.^y 
 belonging to Russia. We heretofore had planted 
 colonies in the southern division he had named ; we 
 had planted thirteen colonies in that country ; those 
 colonies had declared their independence, and had 
 since increased to the number of thirty-five or 
 thirty-six free states. We had created a power 
 there, which, if something was not done by England 
 as a counterpoise to the United States of America, 
 would overshadow not only England, but the earth. 
 He believed that in the northern part of the con- 
 tinent we had the means of establishing the counter- 
 poise which he sought. If England would carry 
 out a systematic colonization upon that portion of 
 the continent which now belonged to her, she would 
 enable the world to resist what he believed would 
 otherwise be the predominant power of the Anglo- 
 Saxon race now established in the United States. 
 The English possessed a portion of the American 
 continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific ; north of 
 the great lakes. Prince Edward's Island, Nova Scotia, 
 
00 
 
 n 
 
 II 
 
 New Brunswick, Lower and Upper Canada, were 
 colonies when the l^nglish became possessed of the 
 country, and since that time they had not added to 
 the territory one acre of land in the way of 
 colonization. In the meantime the Americans had 
 increased from thirteen to thirty-six independent 
 states, and from 3,000,000 population to very nearly 
 30,000,000; while the English had remained idle; 
 and though they had seen the Americans become 
 one of the greatest of nations, they, notwithstanding 
 they had the means, had effected nothing as a 
 counterpoise. Plans had been laid before the right 
 hon. baronet the Secretary for the Colonies, for 
 carrying a railway completely across the continent, 
 so that a direct communication would be established 
 between England and Vancouver's Island by way 
 of Halifax. This was a magnificent scheme ; and 
 he would tell the right hon. baronet that if he suc- 
 ceeded in carrying out this scheme, he would achieve 
 a renown that would hand his name down to pos- 
 terity as a great colonial minister. The accomplish- 
 ment of such a scheme would unite England to 
 Vancouver's Island and with China, and they would 
 be enabled to widely extend the civilization of Eng- 
 land. H3 would boldly assert that the civilization 
 of England was greater than that of America; 
 because the English were a free people. They 
 were not contaminated by the infernal blot of 
 slavery, and they would, as a fr*^'^ people, carry 
 England's name, England's laws, and England's 
 literature, across the whole continent of America. 
 They afforded a refuge to the slave, and they 
 exhibited to the population they had planted on the 
 
 ]« 
 
Gl 
 
 more favoured portion of America a most striking 
 example of greatness, goodness, and happiness." 
 
 Mr. Roebuck was followed by a most able an<l 
 masterly speech from Viscount Bury, and by Mr. 
 Gladstone, who said, "I am sure I only express 
 the unanimous feeling of the House when I 
 say that I have listened with great interest to 
 this discussion as far as it has gone. My lion, and 
 learned friend is a veteran in these matters. It is 
 a fact upon which the hon. and learned gentleman 
 has a right to reflect with gratification, that upon 
 this subject, and other questions relating to our 
 policy in British North America, he has frequently 
 been the expositor of truths at an early date, 
 which, though not at once acknowledged, have 
 subsequently been admitted by all. I believe the 
 exposition he has now made is one in which he is 
 so far fortunate that it is not even now unpopular ; 
 and I am convinced that the history he has given 
 and the opinions he has expressed are so sound 
 and just that they must become the basis of our 
 future policy in respect of t'jat country. I am sure 
 my hon. and learned friend has hailed with joy 
 and satisfaction the accession he has received to- 
 night in the person of one who is a novice indeed 
 in years, but who in knowledge and accomplish- 
 ments has shown himself a thorough master of the 
 subject. If I do not say more of the speech of 
 the noble viscount, it is because I feel that he has 
 80 completely possessed himself of the whole facts 
 and bearings of the question, that it would be pre- 
 sumptuous in me to comnient upon it." 
 
 Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Secretary of State for the 
 
';■ . • 
 
 G2 
 
 Colonies, following on the same subject, said, " In 
 glancing over the vast regions devoted to tlie free 
 trade, which are said to be as large as Europe, the 
 first thought of every Englishman must be that of 
 humiliation and amaze. Is it possible, that so 
 great a segment of the earth under the English 
 sceptre has so long been abandoned as a desolate 
 hunting-ground for wandering savages and wild 
 animals ; turning our eyes from a trade which, un- 
 like all other commerce, rests its profits, not on the 
 redemption, but on the maintenance of the wilder- 
 ness? It must cheer us to see already, in the great 
 border lands of this hitherto inhospitable region, 
 the opening prospects of civilized life. Already, 
 on the Pacific, Vancouver's Island has been added 
 to the social communities of mankind. Already, on 
 the large territory west of the Rocky Mountains, 
 from the Americaii frontier up to the Russian 
 domains, we are laying the foundations of what 
 may become hereafter a magnificent abode for the 
 human race. And now eastward of the Rocky 
 Mountains, we are invited to see in the settlement 
 of the Red River the nucleus of a new colony, a 
 rampart against any hostile inroads from the Ame- 
 rican frontier, and an essential one, as it were, to 
 that great viaduct by which we hope one day to 
 connect the harbours of Vancouver with the Gulf 
 of St. Lawrence." 
 
 Lord John Russell said, " The i)rospect before 
 us was one of immense magnitude ; we have to 
 deal with the important subject of the colonization 
 of that country which stretches from Vancouver's 
 Island to tlie banks of the St. Lawrence. The 
 
C3 
 
 habitation of that vast territory, and its being tra- 
 versed by railroads and canals, all are questions 
 which depend much on the decision which may be 
 arrived at in the next twelve months. He believed 
 with Sir E. B. Lytton, that we shall have, in the 
 territory with which we are called upon to deal, 
 colonists attached to the institutions of this country, 
 — attached even to her name." 
 
 These are indeed sentiments that must cheer and 
 support our hopeful and enterprising people on their 
 journey to that land which Lord Durham said was 
 " the rightful patrimony of the English people^ 
 the ample appanage which God and nature had set 
 aside in the New World for those whose lot had 
 assigned them but insufficient portions in the Old." 
 We also confidently hope that the advantages 
 offered by these magnificent new colonies will be 
 such as to attract the higher grades of society. The 
 late Charles Duller said, " If you wish colonies to be 
 prosperous, to reflect back the civilizations, and 
 habits, and feelings of their parent stock, and to be, 
 and long remain, integral parts of your empire, care 
 should be taken that society should be carried out 
 in something of the form in which it is seen at 
 home ; that it should contain some at least of all 
 the elements that go to make it up here ; and that 
 it should continue under those influences that are 
 found effectual for keeping us together in har- 
 mony." 
 
 On such principles alone have the foundations of 
 successful colonies been laid. Neither Phoenician, 
 nor Greek, nor Roman, nor Spaniard, — no, nor our 
 own great forefathers, when they laid the tbunda- 
 
IIS; 
 
 I' 
 
 r 
 
 I '' *. 
 
 i: 
 
 I '1 
 
 CA 
 
 tions of a European society on tlie continent and 
 in the islands of the western world, ever dreamed 
 of colonizing with one class of society by itself, 
 and that the most helpless for shifting by itself. 
 The foremost men of the ancient republics led forth 
 their colonies ; each expedition was in itself an 
 epitome of the society which it left. The solemn 
 rites of religion blessed its departure from its home ; 
 and it bore with it the images of its country's gods, 
 to link it for ever by a common worship to its an- 
 cient home. The government of Spain sent its 
 dignified clergy out with some of the first colonists. 
 The noblest families in Spain sent their younger 
 sons to settle in Hispaniola, and Mexico, and Peru. 
 Raleigh quitted a brilliant court and the highest 
 sphere of political ambition, in order to lay the 
 foundation of the colony of Virginio. Lord Balti- 
 more and the best Catholic families founded Mary- 
 land. Penn was a courtier before he became a 
 colonist. A set of noble proprietors established 
 Carolina, and intrusted the framing of its constitu- 
 tion to John Locke. The highest hereditary rank 
 in this country below the peerage was established 
 in connection with the settlement of Nova Scotia ; 
 and such gentlemen as Sir Harry Vane, Hampden, 
 and Cromwell, did not disdain the prospect of a 
 colonial career. In all these cases the emigration 
 was of every class. The mass — as does the mass 
 everywhere — contributed its labour alone ; but they 
 were encouraged by the presence, guided by the 
 counsels, p.nd supported by the means of the wealthy 
 and the educated, whom thev had been used to fol- 
 low in their own rountry. 
 
65 
 
 And thus was colonization always conducted, 
 until all our ideas on the subject were perverted by 
 the foundation of convict colonies ; and emigration, 
 being associated in men's minds with transportation, 
 was looked upon as the hardest punishment of guilt, 
 or necessity of poverty. But a great change has 
 come over this state of things ; and let us hope that 
 that class of emigration, which was so successful of 
 old, will be again adopted in the settlement of these 
 new colonies. The present time is peculiarly pro- 
 pitious for such an emigration ; for the competition 
 for a livelihood amongst the educated and higher 
 class of society in this country is so great that no 
 one need disdain a colonial career. And to what 
 more fitting place could they go than to that island 
 which is pronounced on all hands to be the England 
 of the Pacific? 
 
m 
 
 ROUTE.^, RATES OF PASSAGE, &c. 
 
 1', I 
 
 «i ! 
 
 Lt i 
 
 Tliere are three routes to British Columbia and 
 Vancouver's Island, viz. : — 
 
 First. — By the Isthmus of Panama. 
 
 Second. — Through Canada or the United 
 States, across the Rocky Mountains. 
 
 Third. — Round Cape Horn. 
 
 The first-named route is the quickest, occupying 
 only thirty-five to forty days. The West-India 
 mail packets leave Southampton for Colon (Isthmus 
 of Panama), on the 2nd and 17th of each month. 
 First-class fares, fiom £38. lO*. to £GC) — the difter- 
 cnce in the fares merely refers to the sleeping- 
 berths, in all other respects they are the same. A 
 limited number of second-class passengers are taken, 
 at from £20 to £25. The length of voyage is 
 ^wenty-two days, inclusive of the day of sailing and 
 arrival. Trains run across the Isthmus to Panama 
 daily ; and from thence steamers run up to San 
 Francisco in about fourteen days — fares, from £20 
 to £40. From San Francisco steamers run almost 
 daily to the mouth of Eraser River, calling at 
 Victoria to obtain ])assports and permit — fares, from 
 20 to 60 dollars. Small steamers, capable of carry- 
 ing from 200 to 300 passengers each, run from the 
 mouth of Eraser River up to Fort Yale, a distance 
 of 150 miles, and into the very centre of the 
 diggings. 
 
67 
 
 By the second route, across the Rocky Mountains, 
 l)assengers can book in London at the Grand Trunk 
 Railway of Canada Office, 21, Old Broad Street, by 
 steamer to Quebec and thence by railway to St. 
 Paul's, in Minnesota, ne.r the head of Lake 
 Superior. Fares: from London to St. Paul, from 
 £13 to £27 ; this will occupy about sixteen days. 
 From St. Paul's, by the United States mail, 
 across the Rocky Mountains, to the head waters 
 of the Columbia, 1,200 miles ; at this point passen- 
 gers can either turn to the right overland to the 
 Thompson and Fraser River districts, or go down 
 the Columbia and cross over to Puget Sound and 
 across the Straits to Vancouver's Island. 
 
 Several expeditions are being fitted out in Canada 
 and the United States for this overland route. Wag- 
 gons can cross the Rocky Mountains at the Kootanie 
 l*ass ; the autumn season is the most favourable for 
 this journey ; but it must be clearly understood it 
 will not do to take any luggage by this route. 
 
 The third route is by Cape Horn, which of course 
 is the longest ; but passengers can go on board in 
 London and without change of conveyance be landed 
 at Victoria, Vancouver's Island. Several first-class 
 ships have been put on this route in London. 
 Fares: first class, about £70; second, £35; and 
 third, £25. This voyage will occupy about four 
 months. 
 
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