the order in 1868. He is a
veteran member of the church committee of the Reformed Episcopal
Church, and was active in the organization of this church about
thirty-five years ago."

CHAPTER XXX.

SOME COLORED PIONEERS.

Here is an interesting little story to early residents of over fifty
years ago that may be recalled for their edification. It would be
interesting to present residents to know that in 1858 Victoria had a
larger colored population than she has to-day, although with now
three times the population. This is how it happened, and thereon
hangs the tale:

Before the rush to the Fraser River gold diggings and in California
there was an act passed through the Legislature of that state making
it compulsory for all colored men to wear a distinctive badge. This
called forth indignation from all the colored residents of
California, and resulted in a meeting being held in San Francisco,
delegates from all parts coming. At this meeting, after the matter
had been fully discussed, it was decided to send a delegation of
three, representing the colored residents of California, to Victoria
to interview Governor Douglas, to know how they would be received in
this colony. The delegation, consisting of Mifflin W. Gibbs,--Moses,
a barber, and another, met Governor Douglas and received such
encouragement that they returned and reported favorably. The result
of this was that eight hundred colored persons--men, women and
children--emigrated to Victoria during 1858 and 1859.

What induced me to write this matter up was the resurrecting of a
newspaper cutting, evidently from the Victoria _Gazette_, for
which I am indebted to Mr. Newbury, collector of customs, and which
is given verbatim:

[Portrait: Samual Booth.]

"Application for Citizenship.

"We have copied the names and occupations of the persons who have
made application to be admitted to the rights of British subjects
within the past few days, and give them below. They foot up
fifty-four in number--fifty-three are colored and one white.

"_Victoria Town._

"George Henry Anderson, farmer.
William Isaacs, farmer.
Fielding Spotts, cooper.
James Samson, teamster.
Richard Stokes, carrier.
John Thomas Dunlop, carman.
Nathan Pointer, merchant.
Augustus Christopher, porter.
Isaac Gohiggin, teamster.
William Alex. Scott, barber.
Mifflin Wister Gibbs, merchant.
William Miller, saloon-keeper.
George H. Matthews, merchant.
Robert A