Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Grenville, Richard to Seymour, Frederick 28 March 1867, NAC RG7:G8C/14, 144.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Other documents (2).
Buckingham discusses Seymour’s and Bazalgette’s responses to the situation on San Juan Island regarding a British deserter joining the forces of the United States. Included documents
describe the conduct of Bazalgette on San Juan Island and the Admiralty’s response to Bazalgette’s conduct.
No. 12
28 March 1867
Sir,
I have had before me your Despatch of the 5th of January last,
enclosing your correspondence with Captain Oldfield, the Senior Naval
Officer, in reference to a demand which had been made by the Officer in
Command of the British Marines at San Juanfor
for a Soldier in the United
States Camp who was supposed to be a deserter.
for a Soldier in the United
States Camp who was supposed to be a deserter.
I entirely approve of the spirit of your correspondence with
Captain Oldfield, and of the desire exhibited by you and by him to
prevent any interruption to the good feeling which had previously
obtained between the two camps on San Juan arising from this occurrence.
It is to be regretted that the Officer in Command of the British
Detachment of Marines should have made a demand not warrantedby
by any
subsisting engagements with the United States, and with which it could
not be expected that an Officer of a Foreign Power, however well
disposed, would comply.
by any
subsisting engagements with the United States, and with which it could
not be expected that an Officer of a Foreign Power, however well
disposed, would comply.
I enclose for your information a copy of a letter which I caused to
be addressed on the subject to the Admiralty and a Copy of the answer.
Other documents included in the file
Copy, Elliot to the Secretary to the Admiralty, 22 March 1867, concerning the conduct of Captain Bazalgette regarding a deserter from San Juan.
Copy, Romaine to Elliot, 23 March 1867, informing of Captain Bazalgette being relieved from command for forcing the surrender of the deserter from San Juan.