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Letter from Augustin Hibbard to [William Hibbard] 1862 Apr. 24

Creator

Augustin Hibbard

Recipient

[William Hibbard]

Transcription

Victoria April 24^th 1862

Dear Brother

Yours of Feby [February] 14^th came to hand last mail, but the Steamer remained here so short a time that I had not time to answer it then. The receipt of of it gave me much pleasure for I had not heard from any of you at home for a long time. The last letter that I received was from Ashley under date of Jany [January] 1^st which I answered on Mch [March] 5^th I shall expect to hear from him again in May. Our mail facilities for the past year have been very poor, but are now upon a better footing so that we shall receive our letters much sooner, and I hope with more regularity. The Steamer is due tomorrow, and I hope to get letters from some of you by her. Your kind letters my dear brother always do me a great deal of good and although I am well aware that your business leaves you but few leisure moments, yet I am selfish enough to ask you to write often. I received a letter last mail from Mr. G. W. Cameron of Thurso by the hand of his son John who arrived here in good health and spirits, he and his party remained here three days and then left for the mines. I hope that he will prove to be one of the lucky ones, he has promised to write to me, and I shall keep a lookout for him. I learned from him that there was two young men by

the name of McDougal from Montreal, came as far as San Francisco with him and that they had letters for me from you. They will probably arrive here tomorrow.

There seems to be a strong probability of their being a large immigration from Canada to this colony this year there being over 100 Canadians among the passengers who arrived by the last Steamer. I was glad to see them for they are the right kind of people to settle in, and develop the resources of a british colony like British Columbia for they are hardy, industrious, and accustomed to a cold climate. The Government is beginning to stir itself and will give employment to some 2000 men on the roads which will be constructed this season, this will prove a great benefit to many who will arrive here too late or without sufficient means to go to the mines.

It is the strong impression, and belief, of all those with whom I have conversed, who were in the rich mines discovered last fall, that the amount of gold which will be taken out of British Columbia this year will be immense, and that the mines will be found to extend over a large portion of the colony. I sincerely hope that these predictions may be verified, and if they are, the prosperity, and immediate importance of these colonies will be secured and recognised [recognized], and that parental aid extended to them, which the child has a right to [expect] demand as long as obedience exacted. They have had a hard time of it, the struggle for existence has been severe but I hope that it is now over and that their claim to the existence will be fully recognised [recognized]. Victoria is certainly destined to become a large and important place. As soon as the two colonies contain a certain amount of population, say, 150 000, it will advance with rapid strides for the advantages of its free port will then begin to tell, and it will become the main depot on the Pacific, for the products of all nations, except for those of the United States, and they will certainly come here for their foreign goods, if they keep up their present bonding regulations. It has now a population of about 4000, and presents quite a respectable appearance for a town of four years growth as you may say for previous to 1858 it was but a Hudson Bay Co fur trading post. It has fine macadamised [macadamized] streets, and in about a month will be lighted with gass [gas], it is not yet an incorporated town, but will be, this year. I am in Victoria about one third of my time attending to sales of lime, the business is slow, and not what I expected it would be but it is improving, and the prospect ahead I may say is very good. It has cost more by a good deal that I anticipated to get the lime works in opperation [operation]. I own one undivided half of them, and of 320 acres of land, upon which the Quarry is situated, my partner a Mr. Cutlan is a very good working man but he had no money and I have had to advance the amount required to get the business Started, which has been about $6000.00 for which I hold all of the land and improvements as security. I do not know of any better property here, for the Quarry is easily worked the lime is of the very best quality, and in a short time the demand for it is sure to be large. I have made nothing out of yet, although I

I have worked very hard to do so. I have made two mistakes in my calculations, one, with regard to the cost of establishing the business, and another, with regard to the amount of lime that would be in immediate demand, but I am not discouraged in the least although disapointed [disappointed], for I feel confident that all will be right, my health, thank God has been completely restored, and I never was better able to do a good days work in my life, as long as I am this blessed I feel that I ought not to complain, although I cannot help when I complete the barren results of past years, feeling at time weary of the struggle. It afforded me great satisfaction to learn that you all were, and, had been, so well, at home and that you were so well pleased with your new residence. I should like to be able to look in upon you some evening and refresh my heart again with a sight of your happiness and I trust that my Gods blessings I shall be, some time. I often think of home, and in my dreams am often with you. The old home that I used [I used] to think and dream of seems to have gone forever, and to be effaced from my memory by the new one I found when I returned to you, and singular it is, that in my dreams, I am often at St. Andrews, than at Montreal, but I suppose that is owing to the indelible impression which the events [which] that occurred while there, made upon my mind, so I shall continue to think of you as I found you, and left you, until I am with you again, which may God grant, to be before many changes shall have taken place. Give my dearest love to all, and say to Sarah that I have serious intentions of writing to her soon. With a kiss for the little ones, and kind regards to friends, I remain

Your Affectionate brother

Augustin Hibbard

Location

Victoria [Victoria Island]

Date Original

4-24-1862

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Source

MSS2.H621 HIBBARD, AUGUSTIN GOLD RUSH LETTERS

Owning Institution

University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections.

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Recommended Citation

Hibbard, Augustin, "Letter from Augustin Hibbard to [William Hibbard] 1862 Apr. 24" (1862). Gold Rush Life. 24.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/grcc/24