Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Blanshard, Richard to Grey, Henry George 18 September 1850, CO 305:2, no. 1394, 51.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Other documents (2).
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.
Blanshard writes Grey to report, initially, that there is
nothing of importanceto relay from Vancouver Island, as all communication for the north Island has ceased. Blanshard next discusses Grant's claims of Indigenous
outrages,and the HBC's denial of Grant's request to settle close to Victoria. Blanshard then proposes a military scheme for the Island, one that would, among other aims,
over-awe the natives.
In the minutes, Smith questions Blanshard's military suggestions, and presumes that Grey will want Pelly to weigh in on the matter. Merivale is concerned that the HBC has denied Grant's request for settlement, so too does Grey, who asks that a letter be written to the HBC to (1) explain Grant's denial, and (2) to detail Company measures for the protection of settlers.
Of the two enclosures, the first is a draft letter from the Colonial Office to Pelly, which requests information on Grant's denial of land, and stresses the need for military protection of settlers. The
second is a draft reply, from Grey to Blanshard.
I have nothing of importance to communicate respecting this colony,
as all communication is stopped with the Northern part of the Island, and the want of force has prevented me from going there myself to
enquire into the late disturbances.
Some complaints of Indian outrages have reached me from Soke, about
thirty miles from Victoria where a gentleman of the name of Grant, late in Her Majesty's service has a small settlement. He complains of want
of protection, which owing to the distance at which he is located cannot
be afforded him; he informs me that he was anxious to settle near
Victoria, but was not allowed to do so by the Hudson's Bay Company who have appropriated all the available land in the neighbourhood.
Future settlers will labour under the same disadvantages viz.
being dispersed at considerable distances from each other and from the
establishment, as well as being exposed to the depredations of the
Indians, which no means are afforded me of checking.
I would beg to press on your Lordships consideration, the necessity
of protecting this colony by a garrison, of regular troops, in
preference to a body of pensioners, for as the principal service that
they would be called on to perform would be to repress and over-awe the
natives a moveable force would be necessary, and I think that Marines
would be better calculated for the duty than troops of the line. Two
companies would be sufficient of which a detachment would be stationed
at Fort Rupert, and the remainder near Victoria. A cantonment might
easily be formed on the plains near Esquimalt Harbour, and as timber is
abundant there, the troops if landed in the spring could easily complete
their own barracks before the rainy season which does not commence till
October. The expense of maintaining a garrison would be inconsiderable,
and there are ample funds for the purpose, as the Hudson's Bay Company
has still in their hands the price of the lands they have taken in their
own name and that of the Puget Sound Association. Should your Lordship
decide on placing such a garrison, I would recommend that an engineer
officer should be sent, beforehand to select such sites for barracks &c
as might be most convenient.
To Earl Grey
Minutes by CO staff
The Governor applies for two companies of troops of the line
but marines would be preferable. He deprecates the sending of pensioners almost as if they had been promised to him. But I cannot ascertain that any communication has been made to him on the subject, and it is very possible that he may have had in his mind the Hudson Bay Company's scheme of having a detachment of pensioners at Fort Garry —where by the bye these pensioners are unhappy and anxious to come away.
but marines would be preferable. He deprecates the sending of pensioners almost as if they had been promised to him. But I cannot ascertain that any communication has been made to him on the subject, and it is very possible that he may have had in his mind the Hudson Bay Company's scheme of having a detachment of pensioners at Fort Garry —where by the bye these pensioners are unhappy and anxious to come away.
It may be presumed that Lord Grey will think it expedient to hold
some communication with Sir John Pelly.
PS
19 Feb.
It seems to me singular that the Govr has so little communication
with those who represent the HBC, on the island, that he speaks of the
Company having prevented Mr Grant from establishing himself near
Victoria on mere hearsay, without having apparently made himself certain
whether the fact was so or not. Communicate to the HBC?
HM
F 19
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Pelly, Hudson's Bay Company,
25 February 1851, requesting information about denial of land near
Victoria to Grant, and also the need for military protection of settlers.
Footnotes
- Please note that, at the time of this writing, the correspondence transcribed below has only what appears to be a title page, for a document marked "No. 6;" see image scan. The despatch does not appear to be in the Colonial Office volume. It was, presumably, transcribed from another source, as yet undiscovered. Therefore, the transcription below has not been vetted for accuracy or content.