Lugard to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
30th April 1864
Sir
I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to request that you will acquaint Mr Secretary Cardwell that it appears that on the late withdrawal from British Columbia of the detachment of Royal Engineers, under the command of Colonel Moody,Manuscript image the arms and accoutrements specified in the accompanying List were left in charge of the Local Government.
Colonel Moody states that this course was adopted at the request of the Governor, who was desirous that the arms should be made over to the Local Militia & Volunteers, and who undertook to applyManuscript image for the consent of the Home Government to this being done.
In the event of Mr Cardwell being of opinion that it is desirable that the Local Forces should have the use of these arms, Earl de Grey will have no objection to their being retained on the usual terms,
These terms have been duly communicated to the Governors of B.C. & V.C.I.
namely, the Rifles on loan,Manuscript image and the accoutrements and ammunition on payment of their Actual Value.
I have the honor to be
Sir Your obedient Servant
Edward Lugard
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
It wd be very advisable to let the "local forces" of B.C., whatever that may be, benefit by the loan of these arms. If Mr Cardwell agrees acquaint the Governor with the terms in this Letter. And inform the W.O.
ABd 4 May
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Mr Jadis
Have we any report from the Governor on the existence and numbers of any Volunteer force in B. Columbia?
TFE 4 May
Mr Elliot
We have no such report. You will see from 9577 B. Columbia that in Augt 1862 no Militia or Volunteer Force existed. I have searched our Records since that date & do not find any further report or return.
VJ 5 May
Mr Fortescue
But then we know for a fact that in August 1862 there were no Militia or Volunteer Corps of any kind in British Columbia, and we haveManuscript image never heard of any since. I fear that there must have been some want of clearness in what Coll Moody may have said on this subject to the War Office.
In answer to their letter, I should tell them the above facts, but say that we had forwarded their letter to the Governor, and had called upon him to report the present state of these arms, and to let us know in whose charge they are kept, as well as to give his opinion on the best manner of turning them to the public advantage. And write to the Governor accordingly.
TFE 6 May
CF 9
EC 10
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Statement on the transfer of arms and accoutrements from the Royal Engineers to the colonial government, 11 November 1863.
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Cardwell to Officer Administering the Government, No. 5, 11 May 1864.
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Elliot to Under-Secretary of State, War Office, 12 May 1864, concerning the fact that as of 1 August 1862 there was no militia or volunteer force in the colony.