2726 Vancouver's Island

Copy
November. 18. 1850.
My Lord,
2Ansd 3 […]/51 No 7 […] 2727
As I shall have completed two years absence from England, before your answer can reach me, may I take the liberty of requesting your Lordship to grant me leave to Visit England, as I have urgent private affairs to attend to which require my presence there, and since my arrival here I have suffered so severely from continual attacks of ague and subsequent relapses that I am now enfeebled to a degree which renders me incapable of the slightest exertion. I am not able to enclose a Medical certificate as the surgeon in the employment of the Hudsons Bay CompanyManuscript image Bay Company has been removed from this colony to one of their posts in Oregon.
Should your Lordship grant this application I trust you will direct a passage to be allowed me as far as Panama in one of H M Ships, as there are no direct means of communication, the indirect ones are very uncertain enormously expensive and the heavy expenses which have been thrown on me by the Hudson Bay Company, contrary to my expectation, for my passage out and during my residence here, have greatly straightened my private finances,
I have the honor to be
My Lord
Your Most Obedient Servant
Richard Blanshard
Governor of Vancouvers Island

1The Rt Honble
Earl Grey.
Minutes by CO staff
Manuscript image
Mr Merivale
See 2727.
ABd 29/3
I suppose Govr Blanshard sent this as an alternative, in case his offer of resignation is not accepted?
Govr Blanshard's father called on me to press this request some weeks ago.
HM Mh 29
M 29. Upon the grounds stated, it can hardly be refused. As there are now no Settlers, a Govr may be dispensed with at present.
His resignatn must clearly be accepted. — Therefore this is immaterial
G. 31
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Manuscript image
John Spurgin, M.D. to Blanshard, Sr., advising that "having read extracts from Letters written by Mr Richard Blanshard from Vancouver's Island I have no hesitation in certifying to the necessity of his immediate removal from the island."
Manuscript image
S.J. Goodfellow, MD, to Blanshard, Sr., advising that from the description given by Blanshard of his ailments, his removal back to England should be effected immediately.
Footnotes
  1. This addressee information appears at the foot of the first page of the despatch.
  2. This text runs perpendicular to main body text; see image scan.
People in this document

Blackwood, Arthur Johnstone

Blanshard, Richard

Blanshard, Thomas Henry

Goodfellow, J. S.

Grey, Henry George

Hawes, Benjamin

Merivale, Herman

Spurgin, John

Organizations in this document

Hudson's Bay Company

Places in this document

Oregon Territory, or Columbia District

Panama

Vancouver Island

Victoria