Fisher to Newcastle

Since I had the honour of appearing before you on behalf of
the Colonists of British Columbia I have been in constant
communication with Steam Boat proprietors; but find among them an
unwillingness to enter into the Northern Pacific trade, to compete
with the American Steamers which have been so long established
between "Panama" and "San francisco," unless they can depend upon
a liberal subsidy from the Imperial Government, as well as from
the Colonies, for the conveyance of the Mails to and from British Columbia direct. The
Pacific Royal Mail Steam Company appear to be the best
prepared for this service; and with their establishments on the
Bay of "Panama," and a connecting link with the West India Royal
Mail packets at Colon (or Aspinwall) command all the requisites
for performing extra work with greater facility than any other
existing company: and have already sent in a Notice to The
Treasury that they are prepared to tender so soon as it may please
Your Grace to desire it. But, as they only propose to run twice
a month between "San francisco" and the Colonies, the advantages
for direct Mail communication will only be partially realized.

In noticing the reply of "The Right Honourable The Chancellor of
the Exchequer" to Mr Caird's motion in the House of Commons on the
21st ultimo, I came to the conclusion that the Imperial
Government had already sanctioned the appropriation of a certain
portion of the Colonial revenue for the Ocean postal service: But
as the arrangement alluded to by the "Post Master General" only
appears to be a temporary one; and with an "American Company," it
can never be depended upon. The irregularities and corrupt
practices connected with the American "postage" system are so
notorious, that neither this Government nor the Commercial
interests of the country can place any confidence in it. As a
large Emigration is likely to take place this season, and has
already commenced, very great inconvenience and an alarming degree
of suffering is sure to attend those who venture across the
Isthmus, and are detained in Panama for want of Steamers to convey
them further unless speedily guarded against. The American Boats
which sail every ten days, in connection with those from "New York,"
(but with no regard to the West India Mail packets) are
generally overcrowded; and are now conveying Troops of the Federal
Government: so that all the horrors of the middle passage have to
be endured by those who have no other alternative left.

Besides all this, the passengers from "New York" by
American Boats, which run every ten days in connection with those
on the Pacific, have a preference over those by the English
Steamers; who may be left for weeks, and even months, exposed to
the unhealthy climate of the Isthmus, unless immediate steps are
teken to avert the danger. These American Steamers which run
between Panama and San Francisco, have long been considered (by
those who travel most) very inefficient: but even if they had
proved adequate for the work of the past, they are not calculated
for the increasing traffic with the British Colonies, and the rush
to the Gold fields which may be anticipated "a rush" not only from
"Europe" and the "Eastern States" of America, but from the
Southern portions of the globe, equal to and perhaps surpassing
that which called the present line of large Steamers into existence
to supply the demands of California, at a time when Thousands of
our Countrymen were left to die in Panama for want of accommodation.

The communication ought on no account to be less frequent
than three times a month—say every ten days—between San
francisco and British Columbia, by (or in immediate connection
with) the Steamers from Panama; or the Mails and passengers may
still be detained from five to fifteen days in San Francisco.
Families of limited means (and the means of nearly all Emigrants
are very limited) allured by all the temptations of the place, and
exposed to the designs of the heartless, will soon be deprived of
the resources necessary to convey them to their destination; and
left in a foreign country to deplore their inevitable ruin: whole
commercial operations the success of which depends so much upon
frequent and direct communication will continue to be confined to
the Americans whose monopolizing spirit and exclusive aim has so
pernicious a tendency.

In granting a subsidy, to foster a young
Colony, permit me to suggest that some conditions might be
introduced to secure the cheap conveyance of Third class
passengers, on the same principle if not at the same rate as
Parliamentary Railway trains which run at a penny a mile and
althoug[h] at present there appears to be a great unwillingness
on the part of British Steam Boat proprietors to interfere with
the American Companies on the Northern Pacific, I feel confident
that they could compete with success now: and not only open a new
and profitable trade with distant markets, but secure political as
well as commercial advantages: the value and importance of which
it would be difficult to over estimate. The presence of a Mail
Steamer under British colours, with qualified officers and a
disciplined crew, in the Frazer river; would have as great a moral
and political affect as a Ship of War: and cost very much less
under the most liberal Mail subsidy.

I trust Your Grace will
excuse me for presuming to address you so freely. The fear of
trespassing too much upon your very valuable time alone prevents
me entering upon the no less important question of internal
communication, and the great and growing importance of a regular
and more efficient "postal" system throughout the Colony. For
although the recent experiment of a Military Gold escort from the
Cariboo mines proved a failure, as was predicted by the best
informed persons on the route, there is no reason to doubt but
that a more economical a more successful and (ultimately) a self
supporting mode of transit can be established, to meet the
exigencies of the time and circumstances of the place: and more
in accordance with the wants and wishes of the people, who are
most deeply interested. Recent exposures in the "Post office"
department as well as in the "Land" and other financial
departments in Vancouver's Island, must have attracted the
attention of the Imperial Government before this; and proved the
urgent necessity of a more vigilant control over the public
revenue, when the sources and distribution (under one head) are so
dissimilar: and when the less governs the greater.

And although there is heavy taxation without representation
in British Columbia, very little has been done towards the
necessary Surveys and the construction of leading highways or
roads into the interior. I might say something about the disputed
Island of "San Juan" the "Boundary Commission" and the Treasury
which would prove worthy of grave consideration at the present
junction: but, relying as I do upon the information which Your
Grace may already possess, I cherish the hope that the Infant
Colony for which I have the honor to plead will soon prove worthy
of the highest consideration which Your Grace can bestow.

I have not considered it necessary to use any influence
which I may be fortunate enough to possess outside the Cabinet to
secure the object of my mission: because all the information
which I am able to give, and any degree of intelligence or energy
which I can devote, is reserved for Your Grace, whenever you may
be pleased to command my humble services. And as I must soon
prepare to leave this country, I shall feel happy if I may be
honored with another interview before I return to British
Columbia, to give an account of my Stewardship to my Brother Colonists.