Corry to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
21 March 1859
Sir
I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you herewith, for the information of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, a Copy of a Letter from Captain Prevost of Her Majesty's Ship Satellite, dated the 10th Jany last, with Copies of its enclosures, reporting the measures taken on the requisition of Governor Douglas for strengthening the hands of the Civil Power in the disturbed district in Fraser's River.
My Manuscript image
My Lords deem it proper to direct Sir Bulwer Lytton's attention to the expediency of maintaining such a Military Force in British Columbia as may be sufficient to uphold the authority of the Civil Power, and to obviate the necessity of rendering Her Majesty's Ships from time to time inefficient for the general Service of the Station from their Seamen and Marines being landed for this purpose.
I am etc.
H. Corry
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Merivale
These papers furnish us with no fresh infn. It may be hoped that the arrival in B. Columbia of the main body of the Engineer force—which went round the Horn, & wd reach its destination about the end of Jany will, with the aid of the gun boats, despatched by the Admiralty, relieve these surveying ships from duties which only necessity of the case compelled the Governor to ask them occasionally to undertake.
ABd 23/3
HM Mh 23
C Mch 24
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Manuscript image
James C. Prevost, Captain of Satellite and Senior Naval Officer at Vancouver Island, to Secretary of the Admiralty, No. 1, 10 January 1859, reporting on disturbed state of Fort Yale.
Manuscript image
Prevost to Rear Admiral R.A. Baynes, Commander in Chief, Pacific Station, 10 January 1859, reporting on the situation in the interior.
Manuscript image
Douglas to Prevost, 9 January 1859, communicating worry over disturbance at Fort Yale and asking that sufficient men be despatched to the area to handle the situation.
Manuscript image
Prevost to Douglas, 10 January 1859, advising that a force consisting of all available Royal Marines had been assembled.