Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Pelly, John Henry
to Grey, George 26 June 1849, CO 305:2, no. 5639, 297.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Other documents (3), Marginalia (2).
Pelly writes Grey to acknowledge receipt of Grey's letter that announced Blanshard's appointment as governor of Vancouver Island. Pelly wishes to know when Blanshard will receive his
Commission and Instructions,as an HBC ship is set to depart to Vancouver Island shortly—a passage, as Pelly asserts, provided at cost to the government, and not the HBC.
In the minutes, Smith speculates that Blanshard's fees for passage would be roughly £250. Merivale is cautious to hasten Blanshard's commission and instructions as they may contain
provisions of some noveltythat require legal advice. Grey asks that a letter be drafted immediately to Pelly that states that it is out of Grey's power to pay the whole fee, but that Grey can recommend to the Treasury to remit a portion.
In the three enclosures, the first is a draft letter from the Colonial Office (CO) to Pelly, which reports that all fees associated with Blanshard's governorship must be borne by the company; the second is a draft letter from the
CO to Pelly that confirms that the Treasury would be asked to remit a large portion of the cost of Blanshard's commission, within legal limits. The last is a draft letter from the CO to the
Attorney General and Solicitor General, which forwards drafts of Blanshard's commission and instructions for approval.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's
letter of the 20th Instant, acquainting me that the Queen has
been pleased to approve of the appointment of Mr Richard Blanchard to the
office of Governor of Vancouvers Island.
2Ansd 28 June/49.
As one of the Hudson's Bay Company's ships will be dispatched
for that Island in a short time I beg to be informed when Mr Blanchard may have the honour of waiting on Your Lordship to receive his Commission and Instructions.
In reply to the last paragraph of your Lordship's letter, I beg to
assure you that it was not intended
to make any claim on H.M.
Government; but on the other hand it is expected that H.M. Government
will make no claim on the Hudson's Bay Company either in the shape of
fees or any other payment, as in the event of such claim being made, I
should feel it my duty to protect against it, in order that it might not
be drawn into a precedent.
to make any claim on H.M.
Government; but on the other hand it is expected that H.M. Government
will make no claim on the Hudson's Bay Company either in the shape of
fees or any other payment, as in the event of such claim being made, I
should feel it my duty to protect against it, in order that it might not
be drawn into a precedent.Minutes by CO staff
Lord Grey will be able to ascertain from Lord Lansdowne when it is likely that there may be a Council.
It is out of my power to state the probable amount of the fees on
Mr Blanchards Commissn without consulting the several offices.
But I should think that 250 £ would cover the whole charges.
PS
27 June
Mr Hawes
The ship which is to convey Mr Blanshard is to be ready to sail, as I understand from Sir J. Pelly, on the 20th July. It would be desirable if possible that the Commn & Instructions should receive the sanction of the Law Advisers, containing as they do provisions of some novelty? If therefore there is any Council so near the 20th July as to admit of such a reference taking place first — the law advisers being warned of the reason for wanting an immediate answer — the reference should be made accordingly?
The ship which is to convey Mr Blanshard is to be ready to sail, as I understand from Sir J. Pelly, on the 20th July. It would be desirable if possible that the Commn & Instructions should receive the sanction of the Law Advisers, containing as they do provisions of some novelty? If therefore there is any Council so near the 20th July as to admit of such a reference taking place first — the law advisers being warned of the reason for wanting an immediate answer — the reference should be made accordingly?
Sir J. Pelly is ambiguous about the fees: I hardly know whether
he means to object to paying them, or only to enter a protest
against the precedent: I cannot well suppose the former?
HM
June 27
Immediate — As there is a council to be held tomorrow a letter must
be written at once to Sir J. Pelly telling him that it is out of my
power to relieve the Co from the whole of the fees payable on passing a Commissn under the Gt Seal, but that I will recommend to the
Try that all charges which can be remitted shd be so on this
occasn. —
G.
28/
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Pelly, 20 June 1849, reporting the Queen
had approved the appointment of Blanshard as governor, and that his
salary, passage allowance, and the fees incurred in the preparation of
his commission must be borne by the company.
Draft, Colonial Office to Pelly, 28 June 1849, advising the Treasury would be asked to remit as large a portion of the fees on
Blanshard's commission "as can legally be remitted."
Draft, Colonial Office to Attorney General and Solicitor General,
30 June 1849, forwarding drafts of Blanshard's commission and instructions for approval.
Footnotes
- This addressee information appears at the foot of the first page of the despatch.
- This text runs perpendicular to main body text; see image scan.