, 1854-09-23
Civilization in the WeSt--Van-
cOuVcr's Island.

appeared Of late number of articles upon
the growing importance of Vancouver'S
Island and British North America on the
/ Pacific. From one of them we make the
/ following extract:
We live in an age Of progress, when, to
be stationary or apathetic whilst the world
is moving on at a railroad speed in all or
every department, is to be criminal, and a
clog and hindrance of the general advance
ment and well-being Of mankind. Whilst
strenuogs exertions are making by mer-
chants. and politicians to open up foreign
countries that have been closed to our COM
merce, there is growing disposition on
the part of our statesmen to abandon the
footholds and vantage grounds we have Sc
cured in various quarters, and to overlook
the Importance which these may possess in
after years. Before California had enroll
cd her name in the annals of history as
commercial State, politicians debated furi-
ously on the subject of the colonization Of
VancOuyer's Island, and after its great i'm
portance had been vaunted in all direc-
tions, and notOriety and publicity obtain
ed by sundry politicians, setting forth
its advantages to Great Britain in every
possible shape-after sharp contest on
the part of the private settlers for its
occupancy, it was ultimately handed over
to the tender mercies of the great antioch
olization fur company, which had so long
held individual sway over millions Of unset
tied acres in North America. At that
time the matter under discussion was Of
comparatively slight importance. There
was no great commercial state settled in its
vicinity. The trade of the Pacific was of
trivial amount, and we were not then at
war with an empire whose territories stretch
into immediate proximity. The United
States are now, however, casting longing
eyes on the Russian territories into the
northwest, and think they might obtain
them cheaply just now, and that they
would prove useful trading posts for ice
and furs, and station for their whalers.
These acquisitions, they tell us, would hem
in the Hudsons Bay Company's posses
sions. Whilst, therefore, we are abandon
ing our distant posts, America is quietly
adding, year by year, by purchase and con-
quest, to its dominions, and, what is worse,
settling these territories with British colo
nists,
Embedded in the northwest coast of
America is the long narrow island about
which such considerable stir was made only
a few years ago when colonization was
more popular than at present. The geo.
graphical position Of Vancouver is very
important one, occupying much the same
position with regard to the Pacific as
Great Britain does to the Atlantic Ocean
Its climate and soil offer every facility for
an agricultural settlement. Its minerals
and its fisheries, its timber and spars, which
are the largest and finest in the world,
might form valuable exports. Sooner or
later there will be thriving British colony
in Vancouver. The country, the climate,
the position, all points it out as the home
Of strong and enterprising race. Apa-
thy and indifference may retard, but can
never prevent this consummatiOn f; others
will fulfill what the powerful corporation to
whom it has been entrusted have neglected.
The destinies of man will bo accomplished
Ito go forth and replenish the cath.
In February, 1s49, Mr.. Fitzgerald, in
a book well deserving of attentive peru
SAL thus expressing himself
"The blindest cannot long avoid seeing
the immence Importance Of Vancouver's
Island to Great Britain. Those who, two
years ago, first began to attract public at
tention to this question, are not the less
amazed at the unexpected manner aud
rapidity with which their anticipations
have been realized. Six months ago 1t was
a question of colonizing Vancouver's Is
land now is a question involving the in
terests of the whole of British north Anne
rica, and of the Empire Of Great Britain
in the Pacific Ocean"
Little did the writer then foresee the
future 10 store for the countries bordering
on Vancouver's Island. Through the dis
covery of gold state has arisen into be-
ing with unparalleled celebrity in California,
whose trade and commerce is now scarcely
second to any Of the older States Of the
great republic of which it is part and par
eel. And, in the south seas, superior au-
riferous attraction have swelled the com
merce and doubled the population of our
Australian settlements. The islands of the
Pacific are also advancing in the scale of
Importance and civilization. The Sand
wich Islands, in addition to the large trade
they have hitherto carried on with the i'm
mense whaling fleet, of which they are the
special rendezvous, have now become more
important still as the half way house Of
the Pacific The French are creating colo
MES in those seas. They hold sway over
Tahiti, which will, ere long, be resorted to
as coaling station for steamers, and have
recently taken possession of New CaledO-
mia. 1t is impossible to imagine what the
close of the 18th century may bring forth,
and what great changes in the history OF
the world will grown out Of the rapid colo.
nization of the Pacific shores, and the open
ing of new channels of commerce and So