Panning for Gold

Faces of the Gold Rush

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Thompson River First Nations

I received your communication this morning dated November l lth.

I am deeply sorry that Your Excellency should be annoyed with continued complaints of my conduct. I assure you, Sir, as I live, they are entirely unfounded and false in every respect. As to dissipation, which I presume means drinking, I must say that I never have been in that state since I left England. I am much blamed by Gentlemen here and elsewhere for not indulging more than I do. God knows, Sir, I have had no time to devote to my own comfort. I have not entered any gambling house since I have been in Fort Yale, on the contrary I have been their greatest enemy.(48)

With regard to the charges made against me by I. C. Hawley, I have to state that a more scandalous and false accusation never was before uttered and sworn to. I have from pretty good authority learn'd.that certain parties are doing all in their power to harrass and cause disunion amongst the Officials appointed by Your Excellency, and, Sir had I not taken a firm stand and combat'd all their base designs they would have given our Government much trouble and inconvenience. I allude to their efforts to declare this an Independant Colony.

Captain Whannell is now here with me. I trust his account to Your Excellency will more than ever confirm me in your high esteem and confidence. I shall never forget Sir the high position you have confided to me, more especially when I call to mind the circumstances--an entire stranger in a far distant Country from friends and home.

I hope and trust you will no more be teased with such conternptable complaints. I have done my best to please every one, and the more people seem to be discontented. I will now try a new and independant course. Should you require it I can forward you high testimonial of my conduct here.

I beg most respectfully to submit the documents forwarded to the Crown Solicitor for rebutting the accusation, and feel confident you will not allow me to be so unfairly wronged by this man Hawley nor any one else. W. List (Hawley's partner) denies the charge.

There are many parties I cannot please, do what I will. W. Snyderll(49) is one, and pretends to be a friend, when his own writings in the San Francisco papers condemn him. He boasts that he will have me out, cost what it will. He is a bad man.

Your Excellency knows but little what I have gone through since I have been at Fort Yale. I do not mean to complain; on the contrary, I am proud of the office I hold under Your control.

(Sgd.)RICHARD HICKS.
Assistant Crown Comissioner.

Footnotes:
(48) At the very time that this letter was written Whanell alleges that Hicks was disgracefully drunk on the street of Yale and had to be taken home by the police, and that later he was in a gambling-house acting very familiarly with its inmates.
(49) Possibly H. M. Snyder, of San Francisco, the man who led the volunteers in their advance against the Indians in August, 1858.
(50) Canoe Country was the name given to the mining region about fifty or sixty miles above Lillooet, on the Fraser.

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