Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Grenville, Richard to Seymour, Frederick 24 February 1868, NAC RG7:G8C/15, 59.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Buckingham describes the circumstances in which British naval forces will be able to provide
support on land in British colonial holdings and discusses why this support cannot
always be guaranteed. Buckingham informs Seymour that the Admiralty will provide
specific instructionsfor when British naval forces can support colonial administrations on land.
No. 14
24 February 1868
Sir,
I have received your Despatch of the 18th October reporting that
affairs were in a more satisfactory state in Cariboo, and expressing
your hope that the liberty to detach Officers and men from Her
Majesty's Ships for the purpose of enforcing order, which was allowed
to AdmiralHastings
Hastings in conformity with the telegram of 18th of
September may not be withdrawn.
Hastings in conformity with the telegram of 18th of
September may not be withdrawn.
A request for specific instructions has also been addressed to
the Lords of the Admiralty by Admiral Hastings.
Their Lordships have informed me, and have instructed Admiral
Hastings that the Commanding Officers of Her Majesty's ships will
always be ready, at any place where they may be, to afford local aid
in support of law and order, but that their Lordships cannot
sanction as an established regulationthe
the sending of Officers and men
to a long distance from their ships, thereby rendering the ships
inefficient and possible endangering even their safety, and that any
measure of this kind can only be justified by such circumstances of
pressing and exceptional necessity as it is impossible to define
beforehand by rule.
the sending of Officers and men
to a long distance from their ships, thereby rendering the ships
inefficient and possible endangering even their safety, and that any
measure of this kind can only be justified by such circumstances of
pressing and exceptional necessity as it is impossible to define
beforehand by rule.
Instructions in the above terms will be addressed by the Lords
of the Admiralty to Admiral Hastings.