Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Cardwell, Edward 8 May 1865, CO 60:21, no. 6401, 426.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
This document contains mentions of Indigenous Peoples. The authors of these documents
often perpetuate a negative perspective of Indigenous Peoples and it is important
to look critically at these mentions. They sometimes use terminology that is now considered
hurtful and offensive. To learn more about modern terminology pertaining to Indigenous
Peoples, Indigenous ways of knowing, and decolonization, please refer to the Glossary of terms.
Seymour forwards a letter from Brew, the police magistrate of New Westminster, regarding the arrest of a local Chief accused of murdering his own wife. Seymour notes that, while Douglas’s policy was largely one of non-intervention, Seymour
cannot sanction murder being committed in our most settled districts.
No. 43
8th May 1865
Sir,
I have the honor to forward copy of a letter from Mr
Brew, Police Magistrate of New Westminster, which is not
without interest. You will perhaps be somewhat surprised
to see that onthe
the Lower Fraser, not many miles above New
Westminster, in a district surrounded by settlers, "the
Indian Chiefs have always killed their women when they had a mind."
the Lower Fraser, not many miles above New
Westminster, in a district surrounded by settlers, "the
Indian Chiefs have always killed their women when they had a mind."
2. Mr Brew adds, "it is their common law and
prescriptive right, and is considered by them a useful and
valuable institution. It is a ticklish matter to intermeddle
in for the first time, for it has never beeninterfered
interfered with yet."
interfered with yet."
3. Much as I wish to follow the Indian policy of my
predecessor, I cannot sanction murder being committed in
our most settled districts. I therefore gave orders for
the Law to take its course. The Chief was arrested. There
were alleviating circumstances. He was convicted of man-slaughter,
and sentenced to seven years imprisonment with
hard labour. Notthe
the slightest sympton of dissatisfaction
has been evinced by any member of the Tribe.
the slightest sympton of dissatisfaction
has been evinced by any member of the Tribe.
4. It is not the death of Indian women alone that has
hitherto been unavenged in this Colony. White men have been
killed in most of the districts, by the Natives, but no efforts
were made to punish the murderers. Bentinck Arm became
particularly notorious from the number of Europeans whowere
were
slain by the Natives without any retribution following, and
there is no doubt that the massacre of Mr Waddington's Road
party was mainly owing to the impunity with which similar
offences on a smaller scale had been attended.
were
slain by the Natives without any retribution following, and
there is no doubt that the massacre of Mr Waddington's Road
party was mainly owing to the impunity with which similar
offences on a smaller scale had been attended.
Minutes by CO staff
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
C. Brew, Police Magistrate, New Westminster, to Seymour, 20
March 1865, advising that a certain Indian tribe
allow the murder of women by their husbands.
