Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Seymour, Frederick to Grenville, Richard 17 March 1868, CO 60:32, no. 6290, 123.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (7), Other documents (1).
Seymour forwards correspondence between himself and Hastings and discusses how the miscommunication regarding support from Hastings’s forces occurred. Minutes by Cox and Rogers discuss how the Admiralty viewed Seymour’s correspondence as a
complaint.Buckingham’s minute discusses how to respond to Seymour’s despatch. Included documents describe correspondence regarding the communications between Seymour and Hastings enquiring about support for the incident in the Cariboo.
No. 18
New Westminster
17th March 1868
My Lord Duke,
I have the honor, though somewhat late, to forward the
correspondence with Rear Admiral Hastings which should have
accompanied my despatch No. 93 of 16thAugust
August 1867. It is unfortunate that it did not do so as its
omission has caused the further correspondence likewise
enclosed. I must allow that the distinction made by Admiral
Hastings between the physical and moral ability of Captain
Porcher to suppress an incipient rebellion 500 miles from the
coast appeared to me somewhat unintelligable.
August 1867. It is unfortunate that it did not do so as its
omission has caused the further correspondence likewise
enclosed. I must allow that the distinction made by Admiral
Hastings between the physical and moral ability of Captain
Porcher to suppress an incipient rebellion 500 miles from the
coast appeared to me somewhat unintelligable.
2. Captain Oldfield,H.M.S.
H.M.S. "Malacca" and Captain Porcher
H.M.S. "Sparrowhawk" had both expressed the wish to accompany me
to Cariboo (previous to the resistance to the Law) and it
appeared to me that it was for them to apply to their superior
officer for leave of absence for the purpose. My Secretary
however allowed the Telegram I enclose to be taken to Admiral Hastings.
3. If
H.M.S. "Malacca" and Captain Porcher
H.M.S. "Sparrowhawk" had both expressed the wish to accompany me
to Cariboo (previous to the resistance to the Law) and it
appeared to me that it was for them to apply to their superior
officer for leave of absence for the purpose. My Secretary
however allowed the Telegram I enclose to be taken to Admiral Hastings.
3. If either of these Officers accompanied me I thought he
might bring his uniform as I paid all the expenses of the
freight and conveyance.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir F. Rogers
Copies of Governor Seymour's despatches Nos 92 & 93 were sent to the Admiralty. In their answer (10657) they say "with reference to the complaint
made by the Govr
that R. Admiral Hastings had declined to detach any Force from
the Ships under his orders"—I do not think those despatches
warranted so strong an expression, & certainly would not had the
enclosures to 93 been recd.
Copies of Governor Seymour's despatches Nos 92 & 93 were sent to the Admiralty. In their answer (10657) they say "with reference to the complaint
made by the Govr
that R. Admiral Hastings had declined to detach any Force from
the Ships under his orders"—I do not think those despatches
warranted so strong an expression, & certainly would not had the
enclosures to 93 been recd.
But the matter may safely be allowed to drop I think.
CC
17 June
The Admy statement appears to be founded on Mr Seymour's
dph No 92, 18 Aug. par. 2—and that on Adml
H's mention of "moral" support. The
Admy expression is
loose—but Mr Seymour's dph tho' not strictly speaking a
complaint, is in a tone of asperity, wh
an inaccurate or careless writer wd take up as such.
Admy expression is
loose—but Mr Seymour's dph tho' not strictly speaking a
complaint, is in a tone of asperity, wh
an inaccurate or careless writer wd take up as such.
Put by.
I think this shd
be acknowledged with the remarks that there has surely been a
misapprehension which the enclosures remove—but have not had
time to read myself the whole case.
B&C
19/6
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Telegram, 29 July 1867, Seymour to D. Maunsell, Private Secretary,
expressing a desire to have
Oldfield or Porcher accompany him to Cariboo, "with uniforms."
Rear Admiral G.F. Hastings to Seymour, 30 July
1867, agreeing to send Porcher to accompany him to provide
"moral support."
Lord Henry G. Lennox, Admiralty, to Hastings, 28 October 1867,
transmitting copy of a letter to Elliot
respecting the alleged complaint.
