Part 6 (1/2)
I have heard that all the crews of the s.h.i.+ps in Puget Sound have deserted, and have gone to the diggings; I am happy to say that as yet I have not lost a single man from the ”Satellite” since the information was received, and I have every reason to hope that I may not be unfortunate in this respect, although, doubtless, soon the temptations to desert will be of no ordinary character.
NO. XIII.
_Secretary Sir E. Bulwer Lytton to Governor Douglas_.
Downing Street, July 1, 1858.
Sir,--I have to acknowledge your despatch of the 8th ult, in continuation of former despatches, informing the Secretary of State from time to time of the progress of the gold discoveries on Fraser River, and the measures which you had taken in consequence. I am anxious not to let the opportunity of the present mail pa.s.s without informing 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 a.s.serting both the dominion of the Crown over this region, and the right of the Crown over the precious metals. They think, however, that you acted judiciously in waiting for further instructions before you endeavoured to compel the taking out of licences, by causing any force to be despatched for that purpose from Vancouver's Island.
They wish 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 preserving the rights, both of government and of commerce, which belong to this country, and while they have it in contemplation to furnish you with such a force as they may be able to detach for your a.s.sistance 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 navigate Fraser River is, of course, a separate question, and one which Her Majesty's Government must reserve.
Under the circ.u.mstance of so large an immigration of Americans into English territory, I need hardly impress upon you the importance of caution and delicacy in dealing with those manifold cases of international relations.h.i.+p and feeling which are certain to arise; and which, but for the exercise of temper and discretion, might easily lead to serious complications between two neighbouring and powerful states.
It is impossible by this mail to furnish you with any instructions of a more definite 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, etcetera, (Signed) E. Bulwer Lytton.
Governor Douglas, etcetera, etcetera.
CHARTER INCORPORATING THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.
In 1670, a royal charter was granted by Charles the Second, for incorporating the Hudson's Bay Company. The grant to the company was of ”the sole trade and commerce of all those seas, straits, bays, rivers, lakes, creeks, and sounds, in whatsoever lat.i.tude they shall be, that lie within the entrance of the straits, commonly called Hudson's Straits, together with all the lands and territories upon the countries, coasts, and confines of the seas, bays, lakes, rivers, creeks and sounds aforesaid, that are not already actually possessed by or granted to any of our subjects, or possessed by the subjects of any other Christian prince or State, with the fis.h.i.+ng of all sorts of fish, whales, sturgeons, and all other royal fishes in the seas, bays, inlets, and rivers within the premises; and the fish therein taken, together with the royalty of the sea upon the coasts within the limits aforesaid, and all mines royal, as well discovered as not discovered, of gold, silver, gems, and precious stones to be found or discovered within the territories, limits, and places aforesaid;” and the charter declares that ”the said land be from henceforth reckoned as one of our plantations or colonies in America, called Rupert's Land.”
COMPARISON BETWEEN PRICE OF LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA AND CALIFORNIA OR BRITISH COLUMBIA.
_From the Times' Correspondent_.
I take the wages in Australia from a Melbourne paper of 16th March, which gives the wages current at that time! I received it direct a few days ago. I reduce our American currency into sterling at 48 pence to the dollar, that being about its current value here.
_Melbourne Wages_.
Married couples (servants), 60 pounds to 70 pounds per annum; female servants, 25 pounds to 30 pounds per annum; gardeners, 55 pounds to 60 pounds per annum; grooms, 40 pounds to 50 pounds a-year; carpenters, 12 s.h.i.+llings to 14 s.h.i.+llings per day; ditto, rough, 25 s.h.i.+llings to 30 s.h.i.+llings per week; masons and bricklayers, 10 s.h.i.+llings to 15 s.h.i.+llings per day; waiters, 20 s.h.i.+llings to 25 s.h.i.+llings per week; compositors, 1 s.h.i.+lling 4 pence per 1000; blacksmiths, 40 s.h.i.+llings per week; farm labourers, 15 s.h.i.+llings to 20 s.h.i.+llings per week; shepherds, 20 pounds to 25 pounds a-year.
_California Wages_.
Married couples (servants), 192 pounds per annum, and found; female servants, 80 pounds to 96 pounds, and kept; gardeners, 120 pounds a-year, and found; by the day, 3 dollars, now 4 dollars; young men in stables as grooms, 120 pounds a-year, and found, 16 pounds a month and find themselves; carpenters, with us till lately 1 pound a-day, now 28 s.h.i.+llings a-day; ”rough” and smooth, I never knew any difference--and all bad; masons and bricklayers at lowest time, 25 s.h.i.+llings a-day, here at present 35 s.h.i.+llings a-day; waiters, 6 pounds to 8 pounds a-month in San Francisco; compositors, 2 s.h.i.+llings 10 and a half pence per 1000 type, our types double size; blacksmiths, 3 pounds 12 s.h.i.+llings to 6 pounds a-week; general rate, 5 dollars a day; farm labourers, 6 pounds a-month, and found, and only work from 7 o'clock to 6 o'clock, with two hours for meals; shepherds, 144 pounds, 10 s.h.i.+llings a-year, and found; a competent shepherd worth 240 pounds a-year, and found; or, to serve on shares of increase of stock, on very liberal terms.
All provisions except animal food, are cheaper in San Francisco than in Melbourne.
TREATY MADE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN IN REGARD TO THE LIMITS WESTWARD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, JUNE 15, 1846.
Article 1. From the point on the forty-ninth parallel of north lat.i.tude, where the boundary laid down in existing treaties and conventions between the United States and Great Britain, terminates, the line of boundary between the territories of the United States and those of her Britannic Majesty shall be continued westward along the said forty-ninth parallel of north, lat.i.tude to the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island, and thence southerly through the middle of the said channel, and of Fuca's Straits, to the Pacific ocean: Provided, however, that the navigation of the whole of the said channel and straits, south of the forty-ninth parallel of north lat.i.tude, remain free and open to both parties.
Article 2. From the point at which the forty-ninth parallel of north lat.i.tude shall be found to intersect the great northern branch of the Columbia River, the navigation of the said branch shall be free and open to the Hudson's Bay Company, and to all British subjects trading with the same, to the point where the said branch meets the main stream of the Columbia, and thence down the said main stream to the ocean, with free access into and through the said river or rivers, it being understood that all the usual portages along the line thus described shall, in like manner, be free and open. In navigating the said river or rivers, British subjects, with their goods and produce, shall be treated on the same footing as citizens of the United States; it being, however, always understood that nothing in this article shall be construed as preventing or intended to prevent, the government of the United States from making any regulations respecting the navigation of the said river or rivers not inconsistent with the present treaty.
Article 3. In the future appropriation of the territory south of the forty-ninth parallel of north lat.i.tude, as provided in the first article of this treaty, the possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and of all British subjects who may be already in the occupation of land or other property, lawfully acquired within the said territory, shall be respected.
Article 4. The farms, lands, and other property of every description, belonging to the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, on the north side of the Columbia River, shall be confirmed to the said company. In case, however, the situation of those farms and lands should be considered by the United States to be of public and political importance, and the United States Government should signify a desire to obtain possession of the whole, or of any part thereof, the property so required shall be transferred to the said government, at a proper valuation, to be agreed upon between the parties.
FORM OF LICENCE GRANTED TO DIGGERS.