Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Lugard, Edward to Merivale, Herman 16 June 1859, CO 60:6, no. 6306, 282.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Lugard transmits a copy of an Admiralty letter on
the Party of Royal Marines who had been despatched from Chinato British Columbia, noting Peel's puzzlement as to why the detachment was sent. Blackwood's lengthy minute relates the reasons for the detachment's deployment, and Douglas's use of them at New Westminster. Blackwood is
of opinion that we want the marines less in B. Columbia than we do nearer home,subject to
unfavorable accounts from the Colony.
Lugard to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit
to you, for the information of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, the
enclosed copy of a letter from the Admiralty, in reference to
the detention in British Columbia of the Party of Royal Marines
who had been despatched from China to that Colony.
Major General Peel is not aware of the circumstances under
which this Detachment was sent to British Columbia, but he presumes
that instructions were given 
before it had been decided to station a
Military Force in that Colony. He therefore proposes to inform the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that arrangements have some
time since been made of the nature which they suggest for the
performance of the Military duties in British Columbia by the
regular Troops, and that the Secretary of State for War is aware of
no reason for the detention of the Royal Marines.
before it had been decided to station a
Military Force in that Colony. He therefore proposes to inform the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that arrangements have some
time since been made of the nature which they suggest for the
performance of the Military duties in British Columbia by the
regular Troops, and that the Secretary of State for War is aware of
no reason for the detention of the Royal Marines.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Soon after the establishment of this Colony this Office pressed most strongly upon the Admiralty the importance, & necessity, of strengthening the naval force off B. Columbia, and of sending as many marines as possible—who, if the emergency required it—cd be employed on shore as well at sea. You will notice Sir E. Lytton's earnest
views in his
private Letter to Sir John Pakington of the 20 August.
In consequence the "Tribune" was ordered from China with
as many Supernumerary Marines as she cd carry, and the Rear
Admiral on that Station cd spare: and she duly arrived
at V. Couver's Island on the 13th Feby.
Gun Boats were also ordered; but I have not heard of their having
reached the Colony. The object of the Marines was that they
should assist in keeping good order in the Colony; but this
Office has not given the Governor any instructions that he was
to land them. He has, however, done so, as reported in his
despatch of the 11th April, & has sent them up to
Queensboro, or as it is now called "New Westminster," saying
that he wd report hereafter more fully as to his reasons
for that step. And I presume, he will accy shortly do
so. But we can scarcely wait the Governor's report before
we ansr the War Office definitively. My own impression
is that in view of the numerous ships which are now being
put in Commission, & the demand made upon the Admiralty for
the complement of Marines required for each vessel—in view
of the fact 
of the remarkable quiet & order which has
prevailed, & I hope does still prevail in this new gold
producing Colony, and remembering that we have 150 Royal
Engineers in the Colony, besides Justices of the Peace,
& an Inspector of Police (who was to have organized a
police force but has not done so) ready to come forward on
disturbances arising, I am of opinion that we want the
marines less in B. Columbia than we do nearer home; & that
the Admiralty ought to be informed that though it is
impossible to dispense with some Naval force off the Colony,
which wd necessarily have its usual strength of Marines
on board, we shall be ready to instruct the Governor not to
employ those Marines on land service, unless it be absolutely
indispensable, and that the present force of Marines may be
diminished if the Admiralty wish it, & subject to the non
receipt of unfavorable accounts from the Colony.
Soon after the establishment of this Colony this Office pressed most strongly upon the Admiralty the importance, & necessity, of strengthening the naval force off B. Columbia, and of sending as many marines as possible—who, if the emergency required it—cd be employed on shore as well at sea. You will notice Sir E. Lytton's earnest
views in his
private Letter to Sir John Pakington of the 20 August.
In consequence the "Tribune" was ordered from China with
as many Supernumerary Marines as she cd carry, and the Rear
Admiral on that Station cd spare: and she duly arrived
at V. Couver's Island on the 13th Feby.
Gun Boats were also ordered; but I have not heard of their having
reached the Colony. The object of the Marines was that they
should assist in keeping good order in the Colony; but this
Office has not given the Governor any instructions that he was
to land them. He has, however, done so, as reported in his
despatch of the 11th April, & has sent them up to
Queensboro, or as it is now called "New Westminster," saying
that he wd report hereafter more fully as to his reasons
for that step. And I presume, he will accy shortly do
so. But we can scarcely wait the Governor's report before
we ansr the War Office definitively. My own impression
is that in view of the numerous ships which are now being
put in Commission, & the demand made upon the Admiralty for
the complement of Marines required for each vessel—in view
of the fact 
of the remarkable quiet & order which has
prevailed, & I hope does still prevail in this new gold
producing Colony, and remembering that we have 150 Royal
Engineers in the Colony, besides Justices of the Peace,
& an Inspector of Police (who was to have organized a
police force but has not done so) ready to come forward on
disturbances arising, I am of opinion that we want the
marines less in B. Columbia than we do nearer home; & that
the Admiralty ought to be informed that though it is
impossible to dispense with some Naval force off the Colony,
which wd necessarily have its usual strength of Marines
on board, we shall be ready to instruct the Governor not to
employ those Marines on land service, unless it be absolutely
indispensable, and that the present force of Marines may be
diminished if the Admiralty wish it, & subject to the non
receipt of unfavorable accounts from the Colony.
ABd
17 June
HM
June 19
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
H. Corry, Admiralty, to Under-Secretary, War Office, 9 June 1859,
transmitting Colonial Office letter relative to use of marines
in British Columbia for information.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Under-Secretary of State, War Office, 9 July
1859, advising that the marines were less urgently required in the
colony than elsewhere, so the force could be withdrawn if desired.