Judge Begbie. 29

have heard a good word for him, high expressions of confidence in
Mr. Hicks. The meeting broke up with 3 cheers for the Queen.

I only add two things: first, that the Captn?® here has certainly in
many instances overstepped his authority and acted with quite illegal
severity: 2ndly, that it is just as well to strike while the iron is hot,
and that a sort of log hut to act asa ¢éte du pont already projected shall
be erected immediately on the other side of the river.

Matters have so far quieted down that the sailors are counter-
manded and only the marines ordered up, to relieve, if thought fit, or
support the sappers, as the case may be.*

There is an excellent feeling on the lower bars in case of actual
fighting—but men don’t like to leave work for mere “ buncombe ”—
come up only to go down again. 200 could have been enlisted at
Hope alone.

Believe me,
Yours very truly,

Marr. B. Becster.

RESOLUTIONS OF A MEETING OF MINERS CONCERNING CHARACTER AND
Acts oF Mr. Hicxs anp CAPTAIN WHANNELL.

Resolved, That we, as law-abiding citizens, consider it an inalien-
able right guaranteed by the British Constitution to meet in public and
make known such grievances as press upon us, and in doing so hope that
His Excellency Governor Douglas will remedy the evils which we now
so grievously suffer from.

Resolved, That the late meeting held on the eve of December 31st
at the Court-house, and presided over by Dr. Fifer, did not represent
the sentiments or true expression of feeling as known to exist among
our most responsible citizens. And that we consider it a most das-
tardly and cowardly attempt to defame the character of a gentleman
who is now absent at Victoria upon official business.?8

(26) ‘‘ Captain’? P. B. Whannell, the Resident Magistrate at Yale.

(27) The Engineers had been left at Hope. They were now to go forward to Yale; while
the marines and bluejackets who were at Langley were to be ordered up to Yale also. Later
this request was varied and only the marines were sent up to Yale to aid or relieve the Engineers,
as might be thought advisable. See Lieutenant Mayne’s account in his book, ‘‘ Four Years in
British Columbia and Vancouver Island.’’

(28) As Governor Douglas had on January 8, 1859, reported to Sir E. B. Lytton that Hicks
‘“was removed from office some time ago,’’ it is presumed that his absence “upon official business ”’
was to make some explanation of the charges against him. Inasmuch as Hicks was not dismissed
until February 8, 1859, the removal from office probably means his suspension pending investiga-
tion. The meeting mentioned is probably that referred to by Judge Begbie in his letter of January
14, 1859, at which a ‘‘ multifarious conglomeration of heterogeneous nonsense ”’ had been passed
in the shape of resolutions. These Californian miners were fond of passing resolutions.