Handbook to the new Gold-fields Part 4

_The Right Hon. Henry Labouchere to Governor Douglas_.

Downing Street, August 4, 1856.

Sir,--I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Number 10, of the 16th April last, reporting the discovery of gold within the British territory of the Upper Columbia River district.

In the absence of all effective machinery of Government, I perceive that it would be quite abortive to attempt to raise a revenue from licences 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 preserving order in the event of any considerable increase of population flocking into this new gold district; and I shall rely on your furnis.h.i.+ng me with full and regular accounts of any event of interest or importance which may occur in consequence of this discovery. I have, etcetera, (Signed) H.

Labouchere.

To Governor Douglas, etcetera, etcetera.

NO. III.

_Governor Douglas to the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, M.P._

Victoria, Vancouver's Island, October 29, 1856.

Sir,--1. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Number 14, of the 4th of August, communicating the arrival of my despatch, Number 10, of the 16th April last, in which was reported the discovery of gold within the British territory in the Upper Columbia River district.

2. I have, since the date of that letter, received several other communications from my correspondent in that part of the country, who, however, scarcely makes any allusion to 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 att.i.tude of the native tribes, who, being hostile to the Americans, have uniformly opposed the entrance of American citizens into their country.

3. The people from American Oregon are, therefore, excluded from the gold district, except such, as resorting to the artifice of denying their country, succeed in pa.s.sing for British subjects. The persons at present engaged in the search of gold are chiefly of British origin, and retired servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, who, being well acquainted with the natives, and connected by old acquaintances.h.i.+p and the ties of friends.h.i.+p, are more disposed to aid and a.s.sist each other in their common pursuits than to commit injuries against persons or property.

4. They appear to pursue their toilsome occupation in peace, and without molestation from the natives, and there is no reason to suppose that any criminal act has been lately committed in that part of the country.

5. It is reported that gold is found in considerable quant.i.ties, and that several persons have acc.u.mulated large sums by their labour and traffic, but I cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports; though, on the other hand, there is no reason to discredit them, as about 220 ounces of gold dust have been brought to Vancouver's Island direct from the Upper Columbia, a proof that the country is at least auriferous.

From the successful result of experiments made in was.h.i.+ng gold from the sands of the tributary streams of Fraser River, there is reason to suppose that the gold region is extensive, and I entertain sanguine hopes that future researches will develop stores of wealth, perhaps 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 corresponding range of mountains in this lat.i.tude, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the resemblance will be found to include auriferous deposits.

6. I shall not fail to furnish you with full and regular accounts of every event of interest connected with the gold district, which may from time to time occur. I have, etcetera, (Signed) James Douglas, Governor.

The Right Hon. H. Labouchere; etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

NO. V.

_Governor Douglas to the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, M.P._

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 lat.i.tude, 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 Fraser River.

2. There is, however, as yet a degree of uncertainty respecting the productiveness of those gold fields, for reports vary so much on that point, some parties representing the deposits as exceedingly rich, while others are of opinion that they will not repay the labour and outlay of working, 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 was.h.i.+ng the soil of the river beds, and also of the mountainsides; but, on the other hand, the quant.i.ties. .h.i.therto collected are inconsiderable, and do not lend much support to the opinion entertained of the richness of these deposits; so that the question as to their ultimate value remains thus undetermined, and will probably 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 opposition of the native Indian tribes of Thompson River, who have lately taken the high-handed, though probably not unwise course, of expelling all the parties of gold-diggers, composed chiefly of persons 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 River, both from a desire to monopolise 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 princ.i.p.al food of the inhabitants, will be driven off, 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 orders carefully to respect the feelings of the natives in that matter, and not to employ any of the company's servants in was.h.i.+ng 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 adventurers 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 ent.i.tled to the protection of Her Majesty's Government, and if an officer invested with the requisite authority should not, without delay, be appointed for that purpose. I have, etcetera, (Signed) James Douglas, Governor.

The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

NO. VI.

_Extract of a Despatch from Governor Douglas to the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, M.P., dated Victoria, Vancouver's Island, December_ 29, 1857. (Received March 2, 1858.)

Since I had the honour of addressing you on the 15th July last, concerning the gold fields in the interior of the country north of the 49th parallel of lat.i.tude, which, for the sake of brevity, I will hereafter speak of as the "Couteau mines" (so named after the tribe of Indians who inhabit the country), I have received farther intelligence from my correspondents in that quarter.

It appears from their reports that the auriferous character of the country is becoming daily more extensively developed, through the exertions of the native Indian tribes, who, having tasted the sweets of gold finding, are devoting much of their time and attention to that pursuit.

They are, however, at present almost dest.i.tute of tools for moving the soil, and of was.h.i.+ng implements for separating the gold from the earthy matrix, and have therefore to pick it out with their knives, or to use their fingers for that purpose; a circ.u.mstance 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 circ.u.mstance will also serve to reconcile the opinion now generally entertained of the richness of the gold deposits by the few experienced 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 Was.h.i.+ngton 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 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 maintain the peace of the country. Presuming that you will approve of that suggestion, I have, as a preparatory step towards the proposed measure 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 Fraser River and Thompson River districts, within which are situated the Couteau mines; and forbidding all persons to dig or disturb the soil in search of gold, until authorised 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 licences will be issued to legalise the search for gold, on payment of a fee of ten s.h.i.+llings a-month, payable in advance.

When mining becomes a remunerative employment, and there is a proof of the extent and productiveness of the gold deposits, I would propose that the licence 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, seeing that it refers to certain districts of continental America, which are not, strictly speaking, within the jurisdiction of this Government, may, perhaps, be called in question; but I trust that the motives which have influenced me on this occasion, and the fact of my being invested with the authority over the premises of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the only authority commissioned by Her Majesty within reach, will plead my excuse. Moreover, should Her Majesty's Government not deem, it advisable to enforce the rights of the Crown, as set forth in the proclamation, 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 Couteau Mines in course of the coming spring or summer, for the purpose of inquiring into the state of the country, and authorise me to do so, if I can for a time conveniently leave this colony, I freely place my services at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government.

NO. VII.

_The Governor of Vancouver's Island to the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P._

Victoria, Vancouver's Island, January 22, 1858.

[Received March 15, 1858.]

Sir,--1. With reference to the proclamation and regulations legalising the search for gold in the districts of Fraser River and Thompson River, transmitted with my despatch, Number 35, of the 29th of December last, I have now the honour to communicate for your information, that we have since that date raised the licence fee from ten s.h.i.+llings to twenty-one s.h.i.+llings a-month, payable in advance, which is the present charge for gold licences.

2. We are induced to make that change through a desire to place a large amount of revenue at the disposal of Government to meet the expense of giving protection to life and property in those countries, and at the same time from a well-founded conviction that persons really bent upon visiting the gold district will as readily pay the increased as the lower rate of charge.

I have, etcetera, (Signed) James Douglas, Governor.

To the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

NO. VIII.

_Governor Douglas to the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, M.P._

Victoria, Vancouver's Island, April 6, 1858.