Panning for Gold

Faces of the Gold Rush

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Thompson River First Nations

I have received dispatches from Your Excellency dated October 13th, 19th, 25th, and 28th; the last one yesterday.

I have forwarded all you require up to this period. I cannot find out the location of the silver mine, altho' I have sent out two men for that purpose, it is up in the Mountains at the back (or nearly so) of "Prince Albert's flat," I wont rest until I have found it(31)

There certainly has been a want of regularity in the transmission of Letters, sometimes I get two at one time and longer than the time required to forward them to California.

I would advise that a Post Office be immediately established here and at Fort Hope. If Mr. Postmaster Anderson will forward me the necessary instructions, I will take care it shall be satisfactorily carried out and all the miners would be delighted. A Letter from here costs a dollar to Victoria; this is enormous; one shilling sterling would produce a large revenue because there would he more Letters than are now sent.(32)

I have much pleasure in informing Your Excellency that another flat opposite Victoria Bar, named "Manuel Flat,"(33) has been discovered equally as rich as "Prince Albert's flat", and claims taken up all in front of the river, it will take some time to get water to work river flat claims.

I have also received application for and recorded to Ozious Hovey a quartz vein said to be very rich. Your Excellency will be pleased to make allowance for the secrecy maintained by parties making such discoveries-there are so many men of no character who are waiting only to jump upon such claims at the expense and labour of others. I shall however forward the Ore as early as possible. I will also visit the spot as soon as the weather will permit; the rains are very heavy and almost incessant-the vein is located upon the Creek at "rocky point" or "Indian reserve", about eleven miles up the Creek.(34) Mr. Kirby and Mr. Hovey started this morning, but were compelled to return, after getting up five miles of the Creek, on account of the rains. I will not loose no more time than I can help in forwarding the Quartz to Victoria.

I beg to thank Your Excellency for the appointment of Captain Whannell(35) as a justice of the Peace for Fort Yale. He will certainly relieve me of much labour.

Mr. Tennant has not returned from Victoria. I shall proceed to collect the second month's mining licence on Monday next, unless Your Excellency in the meantime order otherwise. I am, however, quite certain that more satisfaction would be felt by all classes had my plan been adopted. I am glad to know that you will do all in your power for the miners' interest; they are well pleased with your replies to their wishes in Your Letters of Oct. 19th and 28th.

I have drawn upon the Colonial Treasurers(36) for some money. I will keep a correct account and forward the amount as soon as I return collecting.

I have purchased a strong log house for a Prison and a Building for. a Court House for 350 dollars-they will soon pay for themselves.

Another case of murder occurred here on Sunday night last. I held an Inquest yesterday. I was compelled to go to Hill's Bar this morning to settle disputes with mining claims. Tomorrow I will take the examination; all the documents shall he forwarded in due course. I have not received any Sealing wax nor the Official Seal.

Officer Carey returned on Thursday last. Provisions are very high and hardly any flour for sale, the Company's store is almost empty, and much fear and complaints exist on account of the scarcity of all sorts of provisions.

I will, I assure Your Excellency, forward every information at the earliest possible moment.

RICHARD HICKS.

Footnotes:
(29) The boundary line along the 49th parallel had not at this time been located. This afforded the lawless element on Hill's Bar a ground for suggesting the territory was really a part of the United States, though, doubtless, they knew better. Amongst the miners on that bar were a considerable number of men of the worst class, who had been driven from California by the Vigilance Committee.
(30) B. Donellen, the chief of police at Yale.
(31) According to Mr. Hick's record book, it appears probable that he was to have an interest in this silver mine. See also note (18). The Governor reported, however, that the specimens proved worthless.
(32) On November 30, 1858, the Postmaster-General Alexander Caulfield Anderson, notified the public thet mails would be forwarded "by every favorable opportunity" to Langley, Hope, and Yale, and that the postage to these points would be five cents.
(33) There were two "Victoria" Bars about six miles above Hope and the other about the same distance above Yale. Manuel Flat named after a miner, G. Manuel, was opposite the former. On November 8, 1858, Mr. Hicks granted to G. Manuel and his associates the right to convey the water from French Bar Creek to Manuel Flat.
(34) The rerecord of this claim, made on November 8, 1858, simply states that it is "on the creek named Emory's Bar Creek", which flows into the Fraser about four miles below Yale.
(35) "Captain" P. B. Whannell. of the Victoria Yeomanry Cavalry to Australia, and late of the Nlgarris Cavalry to the East Indies.
(36) Captain W. Driscoll Gossett, R.E. He was not in any way connected with Colonel Moody's detachment of Royal Engineers.

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