No. 50
24th September 1864
Sir,
At the earnest prayer of Mr Thomas James Skinner I have the honor to forward a petition which he has addressed to the Secretary for War, praying for compensation for loss he states himself to have sustained by the sudden withdrawal of the detachment of Royal Engineers from this Colony.
2. I am informed that inAprilManuscript image April 1863 Messrs Skinner and Clark entered into an agreement to supply the Engineers at New Westminster with meat and vegetables for one year. At the expiration of eight months however Colonel Moody gave notice to the contractors that the Engineers were ordered home, and that the contract would have to be terminated in a fortnight.
3. The contractors complain that they were deprived of four months privilege of supplying the troops during the winter months, when their principal profits would have been made, the Engineers being all in Camp at that Season. Also, that they were compelledatManuscript image at great expense to open butchers' shops at New Westminster: That, shortly before the notice given to them by Colonel Moody, an embargo had been placed on the exportation of cattle from the United States, which compelled them to purchase cattle at a great price to enable them to fulfil their contract, and that, on the sudden termination thereof by Colonel Moody, these cattle were left on their hands to be disposed of at a loss, the embargo having been as suddenly removed. I am disposed to think that on these grounds they are entitled to some compensation.
4. The contractors further urge as a matter of complaint, that,havingManuscript image having memorialized Colonel Moody they received no reply.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
humble Servant
Frederick Seymour
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Elliot
Copies to the War Office for consideration? The enclosures in original.
VJ 30 Nov
Draft.
TFE 30/11
Other documents included in the file
Manuscript image
Elliot to Under-Secretary of State, War Office, 3 December 1864, forwarding copy of the despatch and original petition for consideration.