Quebec, Lower Canada, Upper Canada, Canada. Civil Secretary to the Governor : Following the recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry into the Indian Department (the Bagot Commission), 1842-1844, a general reorganization of the Department was undertaken. By orders issued in May 1844, the central business of the Indian Department in the Province of Canada was brought to the seat of government, and coordination of Indian Affairs was placed under the Civil Secretary who was designated ex officio Superintendent General of Indian Affairs. The office of Chief Superintendent in Canada West was subsequently abolished. A number of staff changes were also made in the local Indian Department structure in both Canada West and Canada East. The following is a list of the Civil Secretaries who were also Superintendents General of Indian Affairs, 1844-1860: J. M. Higginson, 1844-1846; G. Vardon (acting), 1846-1847; Major T. E. Campbell, 1847-1849; Col. R. Bruce, 1849-1854; L. Oliphant, 1854; Lord Bury, 1854-1856; S. Y. Chesley (acting), 1856; and R. T. Pennefather, 1856-1860. While it is true that the titular responsibility for coordinating Indian matters in the Province rested with the Civil Secretary, the nature of this officer's work meant that his energies were often directed elsewhere and the responsibility for the actual day-to-day operations of the headquarters Indian Department office fell largely upon the Chief Clerk and the Accountant. The coordination of Indian Affairs remained with the Civil Secretary until responsibility for Indian Affairs was transferred from Imperial control to the Province of Canada in 1860 (23 Victoria Chap. 151). Thereafter, Indian Affairs was added to the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Crown Lands and a branch was created within the Crown Lands Department for the administration of Indian Affairs. The Commissioner of Crown Lands was designated Chief Superintendent of Indian Affairs. By way of providing a context for the Indian-related role of the Civil Secretary within the larger duties performed by that office, it should be noted that matters relating to the civil administration of the province were handled by the Civil Secretary and those relating to military affairs by the Military Secretary. Historically, the superintendence of Indian affairs was at various times classed as a matter of civil or military administration; the appropriate Secretary to the governor preserved the correspondence and letterbooks in separate series. Distinctions between the responsibilities of various offices are often not readily apparent. While the Private Secretary was on the personal staff of the Governor and the Civil Secretary was part of the permanent staff of the province, although on occasion one individual held both offices. Continuity of operations was provided by the Civil and Military Secretaries remaining in office while Governor succeeded Governor. RG10 General Inventory
