No. 38

The ordinary passenger Steamer on the Upper Fraser called
at Alexandria a few hours after I emerged from the Chilicoten
Country, but my appearance was such, that I did not think it
proper for me to go on board. The following day she was specially
sent down to convey me to Quesnel Mouth. I mention this circumstance
as this unavoidably egotistical despatch will be confined to the
manifestations of loyalty which were bestowed on me as the
representative of the Imperial Government during my recent visit
to the Gold Mines. It was the first time that a Governor had been
seen in the Upper Country.

2. Not satisfied with gratuitously furnishing me with a special
conveyance, the Directors of the Company invited the principal
inhabitants of Quesnel Mouth to accompany me in the Voyage. A
public dinner followed by the usual loyal toasts, was served on
board, and according to an American Custom, "free drinks" to the
number of the guns in the Salute I was to receive on landing,
were bestowed at the Bar. That is to say, the quests were at
liberty to call for seventeen glasses of any thing they pleased,
free of charge.

3. At Quesnel Mouth I was met by, I believe, the whole population
with much cheering and a Royal Salute of twenty one guns. On the
following morning the principal inhabitants called on me. The
enclosed address was presented and replied to. I was then invited
to name the first white child born in the town.

4. I started in the afternoon of the 30th of July for Williams
Creek, Cariboo. At Captain Evans' claim, the first gold mine in
active operation, the miners turned out and gave me a Royal Salute.
On arrival at Williams
Creek, though it was raining hard, a salute
was fired, and several hundred persons cheered me so loud at the
Magistrate's residence, that I had to come into the Street to
thank them.

5. On Tuesday the 2nd August an invitation was given to me
to see the Aurora claim "wash up." I was too late to see this
operation, but the pan of gold just washed, weighing 450 ounces,
was placed before me and I was invited to take any lumps I
pleased. Being lowered down the shaft I found a good "lead"
kept open for me, and I washed a pan I filled, and got upwards
of three ounces of Gold. The miners insisted that I should carry
away the proceeds of my pan, and I was told by the Magistrate that
any offer of payment would be badly received. The high price of
Wines and Spirits in Richfield, however enabled me without
difficulty to return, without hurting the Miners' feelings,
nearly an equivalent for the Gold I accepted.

6. At night a serenade was given to me by about fifteen,
gentlemen, headed by the Member of Council for Cariboo West.

7. On the 4th I accepted similar invitations to wash pans of
"pay dirt" in the Ericson and Caledonia claims and with even
greater success than in the Aurora. I had to retain the Gold
procured by myself, but declined the many other valuable specimens
offered to me during the course of the day.

8. In the Evening I was entertained at dinner by the Miners
at the New French Hotel. The Member for Cariboo West presided,
the Judge, Magistrates, and Clergy, were invited. The dinner,
which must have cost an enormous sum where ordinary Champagne
sells at fifty shillings a bottle, was excellent. The hosts
though indulging in every latitude of costume were perfectly
well bred, and I was glad to find that my presence was no
restraint upon the hilarity of the Evening. The toast of my
health was received with a greater amount of warmth than I
have anywhere else been honored with.

9. I enclose copy of an Address presented to me by the
Mining Board of Cariboo and of my reply. On the 5th I left
Richfield. On the 6th I received a public dinner from the
inhabitants of Quesnel Mouth. On the 7th I was escorted
to the Steamer by most of the gentlemen of the town and embarked
under a Salute.

10. There is no place of importance on the Road to New Westminster,
until Clinton is reached. The inhabitants of that pretty village
fired a salute on my arrival. At Lytton the usual number of guns
were given and fireworks let off during the greater part of the
night. The same at Boston Bar, and I left Yale under two salutes
from the North and South ends of the town. The same marks of
respect attended my departure from Hope and arrival in New Westminster.

11. If the white people were loyal in their demonstrations, Her
Majesty's Indian Subjects were by no means behind them. The
Salmon Season had attracted thousands of them to the Fraser, but
the fishing was neglected for the opportunity of making acquaintance
with, or seeing again, the Supreme Chief. It might be that the
Chilicolten
War, as it is considered by all the native tribes,
made them the more anxious to show that all Indians are not disloyal.
Be that as it may there was the utmost respect shown to me by all
the Natives and the few kind words and trifling presents of tobacco
which I bestowed in return seemed full compensation for the loss
of time and of fish caused by visiting the Chief. I have invited
all to meet me at New Westminster on Her Majesty's next birthday.

12. I shall in other despatches notice several matters of
importance with which I became acquainted on my late travels through
the interior.