"I certainly should not like to sell any portion of the
territory to the United States - exchange (if the territory were
once acquired) would be a different thing, - but that would not help
towards the liquidation of the purchase-money.
"I admire your larger views, and have some tolerably large ones
in this matter of my own, but I fear purchase of this great territory
is just now impracticable.
"I am, yours sincerely,
"NEWCASTLE.
"Edwd. Watkin, Esq."
This letter was written in the educational period. The doubts came from
the officials of the Colonial Office. I removed them.
"Downing Street,
"17 Novr. 1862.
"My dear Mr. Watkin,
"I send you the 'route' from the Pacific to Canada, which I promised.
"I cannot vouch for it; but it comes from an unusually well-informed
quarter, and I incline to think it is much nearer accuracy than such
information as represents the obstacles to be almost insuperable.
"I am, yours very truly,
"NEWCASTLE."
"Memorandum of a Route from Vancouver Island to
Canada.
Stations Conveyance Time
"Victoria, Vancouver Island
Yale, on Fraser River, or
Douglas, on Harrison Lake Steamer 2 days
Lytton, on Fraser River, or
Lillovet Stage coach 2 days
Alexander, on Fraser River Do. 4 days
Fort George, on Fraser River Steamer 2 days
Tete Jaune Cache do. Do. 5 days
between 53 degrees and 54 degrees N L - - - -
15 days
=======
The stage road from Douglas to Lillovet is described as complete, and
that from Lillovet to Alexandria as in progress, as also the machinery
of a stern-wheel steamboat for the water communication between
Alexandria and Tete Jaune Cache.
The last-named place [Sidenote: Tete Jaune Cache.] is situated between
53 degrees and 54 degrees N.L., and is at the western extremity of the
most practicable pass of the Rocky Mountains. The distance from this to
Jasper House, [Sidenote: Jasper House, between 53 degrees and 54
degrees N.L., and distant 120 miles from Tete Jaune Cache.] at the
eastern extremity of the pass, is 120 miles by trail, admitting, it is
said, of conversion at small cost into an easy carriage road.
The distance from Jasper House to the next post, Edmonton, [Sidenote:
Edmonton, 200 miles by road from Jasper House, and 90 miles by road
from Assiniboin.] on the Saskatchewan, is 200 miles by road through a
level wooded country, or the Elk and Athabasca Rivers may be descended
by water to Fort Assiniboin, whence to Edmonton is only 90 miles.
The road communication between Tete Jaune Cache and Edmonton is
represented as the only necessary work beyond Alexandria, and may be
opened for 50,000l.
Two courses are suggested from Edmonton to the Red River, one by water
along the Saskatchewan and Lake Winnipeg, another by road from
Carleton, on the Saskatchewan, through the Prairie.
No remarks are offered upon the character of the route between the Red
River and Lake Superior, except that it is said to present no serious
difficulties.
"13th Nov. 1862.
R.E."
"DOWNING STREET,
"18 Novr. 1862.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"I have had a long interview of two hours today with Mr. Berens, Mr.
Colville, and Mr. Maynard; but I am sorry to find that matters have by
no means progressed so far as I was led to expect.
"I think I ought now to see Mr. Baring, Mr. Glyn, and yourself as soon
as possible.
"Can they and you come here on Thursday at any hour not earlier than
2.30 nor later than 4? If that will interrupt other business, I could
propose 11.30 on Friday at Thomas' Hotel.
"Yours sincerely,
"NEWCASTLE."
"CLUMBER,
"7 April, 1863.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"I have received from Sir F. Rogers the draft print of your Bill, and
his remarks upon it.
"I still think it quite possible to meet your views respecting the
lower portion of the Athabasca territory; but the mode of doing
it does not appear to me so simple or clear.
"I should much desire to consult the Land Commissioners before the
matter is settled; and I do not see that the delay of ten days or a
fortnight from this date could endanger the measure, for Lord Monck
wrote to me by last mail that the Parliament had as yet not begun
business.
"If you agree to this, I will send the papers and my remarks to the
Land Commissioners at once, and see you (after getting their report) on
Wednesday next, or any day after it, except Friday.
"Pray let me hear by return.
"Yours very sincerely,
"NEWCASTLE."
"DOWNING STREET,
"6 May, 1863.
"MY DEAR MR. WATKIN,
"I hope and believe that the despatches in their final shape, as they
went out to N. Columbia on Friday last, and to Canada on Saturday, were
quite what you and the proposed 'N. W. Transit Company' would wish.
"I added words which (without dictation) will be understood as implying
'No Intercolonial, no Transit.'
"If you happen to be in this neighbourhood any day between 3 and 4.30,
I shall be glad to see you, though I have nothing at all pressing to
say.
"Yours very sincerely,
"NEWCASTLE."
CHAPTER IX.
The Right Honorable Edward Ellice, M.P.
I have alluded to this remarkable man under the soubriquet attached to
him for a generation - "the old Bear." I assume that when his son, who
for many years represented the Scotch constituency of the St. Andrews
Burghs, grew up, the father became the "old" and the son the "young"
Bear. Mr. Ellice was the son of Mr. Alexander Ellice, an eminent
merchant in the City of London. Born, if the "Annual Register" be
accurate, in 1789, he died at the end of 1863.
