Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Lytton, Edward George Earle Bulwer 8 June 1859, CO 60:4, no. 7339, 500.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (8), Enclosures (untranscribed) (4), Other documents (4), Marginalia (7).
Douglas discusses the placement of, and pay-rate concerns for, the roughly 160 Royal Marines
all volunteered from China for service in British Columbia.Financially, Douglas advises that
the Force should not be placed in a worse position than they enjoyed in China,where they claimed to earn
double pay;additionally, Douglas notes that these marines were promised
a grant of land, after six years faithful servicein British Columbia. Douglas lists the Royal Marines' revised
rates of Colonial Pay,then asks for
consideration of Her Majesty's Governmenton the question of land grants. Elliot notes that the roughly 100 marines not distributed
amongst different Ships of Warnow
form the English Force in the Island of San Juan,and he recommends that Douglas
be authorized to grant double pay to the Officers and Men,but only those
landed for some permanent duty on shore.
No. 168
Referring to my Despatch No 133 of the 11th of April last,
in which I report having made arrangements for the removal of the
volunteer Force of Royal Marines arrived at Vancouver's Island in
Her Majesty's Ship Tribune, from Esquimalt to Queensborough for
service in British Columbia, I have now
now the honor to acquaint you
that 6 Officers and 133 Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates were
embarked onboard the Satellite in Esquimalt Harbour on the 14th
April, were transferred to the Plumper at the entrance of Fraser's
River on the 15th April, and were shortly afterwards disembarked
at Queensborough.
now the honor to acquaint you
that 6 Officers and 133 Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates were
embarked onboard the Satellite in Esquimalt Harbour on the 14th
April, were transferred to the Plumper at the entrance of Fraser's
River on the 15th April, and were shortly afterwards disembarked
at Queensborough.
2. The remainder of the Detachment consisting of about 1 Officer
& 27 Men including the Sick, were retained at Esquimalt, principally
as a Guard for the Treasury
of British Columbia temporarily
established for the sake of greater convenience at Victoria.
What has the Governor got in it? He keeps drawing on home fund for the
Engineers, as if he had no money in said Treasury.
3. It is a source of much comfort
comfort to me to have so able and
efficient a body of men, as this Detachment appears to be, at my
disposal, but I am at the present time troubled at finding the ways
and means for their proper support.
It appears that they all
volunteered from China for service in British Columbia, and that in
China they were in the receipt of double pay together with various
rates of working pay when employed upon extra duties. Considering
the manifold temptations to Desertion which exist in a gold
producing Country, where the mining population are ever more or
less in a state of excitement, it requires more than the common
rate
rate of pay to a private soldier to ensure his fidelity, and as a
matter of justness the superior Officer
must be compensated for the
additional expense to which he is exposed, but apart from these
considerations, it was obvious that the Force should not be placed
in a worse position than they enjoyed in China, under the circumstances
of their volunteering
for special service in British Columbia and,
indeed, it would seem that they were actually promised
not only a continance of the benefits they were enjoying,
but the greater inducement of a grant of land, after six years
faithful service, was held out to them.
comfort to me to have so able and
efficient a body of men, as this Detachment appears to be, at my
disposal, but I am at the present time troubled at finding the ways
and means for their proper support.
Reason for their withdrawal.
rate of pay to a private soldier to ensure his fidelity, and as a
matter of justness the superior Officer
But no other Superior Officer is as yet so compensated.
No orders that I know of were [copied?]
sanctioning volunteering. They were, I conceive, simply sent to B.C.
as a matter of duty, the Canton War being over.
By whose authority?
By whom.
It
4. It was, therefore, incumbent on me, in the absence of any
direct instructions upon the subject, to keep faith with the men to
the best of my ability. I consequently addressed a letter to Colonel
Moody calling upon him to furnish me with any suggestions he might
have to offer. I enclose herewith his reply, together with a letter
from Captain Magin the Officer Commanding the Force, which details
the circumstances of the promises made in China.
4. It was, therefore, incumbent on me, in the absence of any
direct instructions upon the subject, to keep faith with the men to
the best of my ability. I consequently addressed a letter to Colonel
Moody calling upon him to furnish me with any suggestions he might
have to offer. I enclose herewith his reply, together with a letter
from Captain Magin the Officer Commanding the Force, which details
the circumstances of the promises made in China.
5. After due consideration, and viewing the rates of Colonial
Pay granted to the Officers and Men of the Royal Engineers I have
decided upon the following rates of Colonial Pay for the
the officers
and men of the Royal Marines, it being intended that the same shall
cover all claims for extra work, or for any extra service whatsoever.
.in +6 -3
To the Captains..........14/s per Diem
" " Subalterns........9/s " "
" " Sergeants.........3/s not to exceed 4/s per Diem
" " Corporals.........1/s " " " 3/6 " "
" " Rank & File.......1/s " " " 3/s " "
To be awarded discriminatingly according to conduct, work performed &c &c. .in -6 +3
the officers
and men of the Royal Marines, it being intended that the same shall
cover all claims for extra work, or for any extra service whatsoever.
.in +6 -3
To the Captains..........14/s per Diem
" " Subalterns........9/s " "
" " Sergeants.........3/s not to exceed 4/s per Diem
" " Corporals.........1/s " " " 3/6 " "
" " Rank & File.......1/s " " " 3/s " "
To be awarded discriminatingly according to conduct, work performed &c &c. .in -6 +3
6. The remaining question of the grant of land I submit for
the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. I concur in its
general expediency, and consider it would be a beneficial measure
on behalf of the Colony, the more particularly under the circumstances
of
of the situation of the Colony bordering as it does upon the
possessions of a Foreign Power, and it is upon the Frontier that
we propose to make the Free Grants.
of the situation of the Colony bordering as it does upon the
possessions of a Foreign Power, and it is upon the Frontier that
we propose to make the Free Grants.
7. I also forward herewith, a Copy of Colonel Moody's letter
requesting me to transfer the Force of Royal Marines to Queensborough,
and pointing out how they could be profitably employed. I am sorry
to say, however, that Colonel Moody's anticipations as to the
return to be expected from their labor by the sale of the wood
cut, have not been realized.
Trusting my proceedings herein may meet with your approval.
This phrase rather implies a doubt.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
The expense which is cast upon us on account of a force sent to B. Columbia solely with a view to protective objects, at a time when the reports from the Governor gave us reason to apprehend disturbances from a rough foreign mining population, is becoming very serious, & as it seems to me requiring as to be immediately and peremptorily checked. If this should be the view taken by the Duke of Newcastle I suppose that it should be conveyed to the War Office and the Admiralty, to whom copies of these papers should be sent. You remember that on the 9th instant we told the War Office that the Supernumerary Marines of the "Tribune" might be withdrawn, & that the Govr shd be instructed not to employ the remainder of the Crews of H.M. Ships on land services, unless it was absolutely necessary so to do.
The expense which is cast upon us on account of a force sent to B. Columbia solely with a view to protective objects, at a time when the reports from the Governor gave us reason to apprehend disturbances from a rough foreign mining population, is becoming very serious, & as it seems to me requiring as to be immediately and peremptorily checked. If this should be the view taken by the Duke of Newcastle I suppose that it should be conveyed to the War Office and the Admiralty, to whom copies of these papers should be sent. You remember that on the 9th instant we told the War Office that the Supernumerary Marines of the "Tribune" might be withdrawn, & that the Govr shd be instructed not to employ the remainder of the Crews of H.M. Ships on land services, unless it was absolutely necessary so to do.
2. I am unacquainted with any order from this Office
sanctioning double pay & grants of Land to the Marines when
they reached B. Columbia. We had better ask the Admy to
explain adding that such double pay cannot be derived from
Imperial funds—no provision being made for the same.
Question of Colonial Pay to the Royal Marines
Sir E.B. Lytton particularly desired that a party of Marines
might be transferred from China for service in British Columbia
or Vancouver's Island. They volunteered for the purpose. When
they arrived the Governor reported (on the 8th June 1859) that
they had been in receipt of double pay in China, together with
working pay when employed on extra duties, and that they had been
led by the Captain in command to expect at least equal advantages
in British Columbia. Governor Douglas added that on the
recommendation of Colonel Moody he had agreed to give these men
whilst
whilst employed as working parties, certain rates of working
pay equal to those of the Royal Engineers.
whilst employed as working parties, certain rates of working
pay equal to those of the Royal Engineers.
By subsequent letters from the Admiralty it appeared that
the Captain had possessed no due authority for holding out the
expectation to the men, but still as it was in fact held out
to them, it seems undesirable that they should be disappointed.
All accounts agree in representing that it is impossible for either
Officers or men to live on their simple pay in these Colonies.
But by a recent letter from the Admiral it appears that
after all none of these Marines have received extra pay. Perhaps
the reason is, that in consequence of the trouble at San Juan,
they were
were soon withdrawn from British Columbia, where alone they
could have been so employed as to earn working pay. The Admiral
represents that it is hard to give them no extra allowance.
About 160 arrived from China, but they were rapidly diminished
by distribution amongst different Ships of War, and I believe
that their number is now less than 100. They form the English
Force in the Island of San Juan.
were soon withdrawn from British Columbia, where alone they
could have been so employed as to earn working pay. The Admiral
represents that it is hard to give them no extra allowance.
About 160 arrived from China, but they were rapidly diminished
by distribution amongst different Ships of War, and I believe
that their number is now less than 100. They form the English
Force in the Island of San Juan.
Under these circumstances I would recommend that the
Governor be authorized to grant double pay to the Officers and
Men, by allotting to them a Colonial rate exactly equal to their
English rate of pay, and that it be explained to him that this
Colonial pay will only be issuable to Officers and Men landed
for some
some permanent duty on shore, but that to all who come within
that description it may be issued retrospectively upon receiving
from the Admiral or Senior Officer present accounts showing the
sums properly due under these directions.
some permanent duty on shore, but that to all who come within
that description it may be issued retrospectively upon receiving
from the Admiral or Senior Officer present accounts showing the
sums properly due under these directions.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Secretary to the Admiralty, 11 August
1859, forwarding copy of the despatch for report.
Draft, Colonial Office to Under-Secretary to the War Office, 13
August 1859, forwarding copy of the despatch for information.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
It will be necessary, I think, to keep the War Office duly informed, as we have communicated so much with that Dt on the subject.
It will be necessary, I think, to keep the War Office duly informed, as we have communicated so much with that Dt on the subject.
Other documents included in the file
*
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Moody to Douglas, 12 April 1859, forwarding copy of letter
from Captain Magin and further discussing rates of pay and land grants
for soldiers serving in the colony.
Thomas Magin, Captain Commanding Detachment of Royal Marines,
to Moody, 9 April 1859, explaining that the force volunteered for
special service because they would receive double pay.
Minutes by CO staff
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
*
Return describing the strength and rate of pay for the detachment
under Magin's command.
Moody to Douglas, 1 April 1859, requesting the transfer of the
Royal Marines to Queensborough in order to clear ground and cut trees.