Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 8 September 1859, CO 60:5, no. 10776, 114.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (2).
No. 212
I have the honor to forward herewith to your Grace, the Copy
of a letter addressed to me by Colonel Moody requesting that a
Commissariat Officer may be sent out at an early date.
2. As recent events have proved to me the expediency of
confining to one particular officer all matters connected with
Commissariat
Commissariat expenditure, I have as a temporary measure expanded
the duties of Captain Gosset, who has been acting as Commissary
for the Royal Engineers, so that he may act generally as Commissary
for the Colony, according to the system pursued in Ceylon, which
I am informed is found to work well.
Commissariat expenditure, I have as a temporary measure expanded
the duties of Captain Gosset, who has been acting as Commissary
for the Royal Engineers, so that he may act generally as Commissary
for the Colony, according to the system pursued in Ceylon, which
I am informed is found to work well.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
To me it appears that this is a most unjustifiable application.
To me it appears that this is a most unjustifiable application.
Captain Gossett [Gosset] was appointed Treasurer of British
Columbia, & Commissariat Officer to the R. Engineers. The arrangement
for the 2 offices was made on the recommendation of Colonel Moody. On
reaching Van Couver Island—for none of the public Officers took
up their quarters in B. Columbia—and no money finding its way
into the pockets of Govt from the gold fields or elsewhere,
Capn G. had literally nothing to do, except the Commissariat
business for this handful of Engineers. More recently he has had
to subsist a few supernumerary marines who have been sent on shore.
This being the case the Governor, finding Gossett a very clever
energetic person, has appointed him Acting Treasurer of
V. Couver Island—which
the Duke of N. has disapproved, ordering the Governor
not to employ B.C. Officials on V.C. Island affairs, & directing (on
a preceding occasion) that all the B.C. Officers shd repair to
their own Colony & set an example of settlement. I guess (I do not
know,) that the Governor is employing Captain Gossett in ways other
than are mentioned, the result of which is that Capn G. is taken
away from his own proper duties, and Colonel Moody, finding the
inconvenience thereof, is obliged to profer this request. If I am
right in my premises, and if H.M. Govt have no intention of adding
to the Military force, already in B. Columbia—whh Colonel Moody
implies must almost immediately be done—then I cannot perceive
why an Engineer soldier—or a Clerk acting of course with and under
Captain Gossett—should not perform all the duties of subsisting
the small body of men now stationed in the Colony. Should Her
Ms Govt contemplate sending a Regt or more to V.C. Island
a Commissariat Officer wd, in such case, necessarily accompany
the force—Captain Gossett's duties requiring him in B. Columbia.
ABd
2 Novr/59
Colonel Moody's application appears to proceed from an
anticipation on his part (which may I trust not be realized) that
some material additions must be made to the Military Forces in
British Columbia. I agree with Mr Blackwood in thinking that
the application should be rejected.
TFE
3 Novr
By the last Mail the Govr sent, without comment, a very
hasty letter from Col. Moody propounding a scheme for a considerable
Military Force of all arms (even including Cavalry) and the covering
despatch of the Govr led me to anticipate some remarks from
him by the next Mail and consequently to postpone any communication
with the W.O. Has any such despatch come by the present Mail? If
not, let me have Coll Moody's letter with this.
N
4
Duke of Newcastle
I Annex Colonel Moody's letter. No despatch has come from the Governor on the subject.
I Annex Colonel Moody's letter. No despatch has come from the Governor on the subject.
HT Irving
8 Novr
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 2, 2 January 1860, declining the request for a
Commissariat Officerto be sent to British Columbia.
