Blanshard, Governor Richard to Grey, Third Earl Henry George 18 November 1850, CO 305:2, no. 2727, 95.

XML | Preceding document | Next document | Cite this document

Despatch to London
Blanshard, Richard to Grey, Henry George 18 November 1850, CO 305:2, no. 2727, 95.

Abstract

Despatch to London. Minutes (5), Other documents (4), Marginalia (2).

Blanshard sends Grey his letter of resignation as Governor of Vancouver Island, for reasons which include ill health and bankruptcy. Blanshard suggests that his successor have a large fortune; he then requests passage to Panama on a Royal Navy ship, as it would be costly, to both his constitution and finances, to travel with the HBC.

In the minutes, Blackwood reasons that since Blanshard was sent to Vancouver Island with public money, his passage back should be the same. Merivale wants to defer the matter to the HBC, and remarks on Blanshard's habit of indulging his hostility to the Company. Grey asks to send a copy of Blanshard's letter to the HBC, to then confirm that he will accept the resignation, and to inquire if the Company has any other gentleman to recommend for the appointment.

Of the four enclosures, the first is a draft reply from Grey to Blanshard; the second is a draft letter from the Colonial Office (CO) to Hamilton that requests passage for the outgoing governor; the third is from the CO to Pelly, which reports Blanshard's resignation and calls for suggestions for a replacement; the fourth is a draft reply from Grey to Blanshard, which advises that the Admiralty has been instructed to provide Blanshard passage.

2727. Vancouver's Island.

Copy

Victoria Vancouvers Island.

Novr 18. 1850.

My Lord,

I regret to inform your Lordship that I find myself compelled to tender my resignation

2Copy to Hudsons Bay Compy […]/51
Vide to Admiralty — // —.
Ackd 3 April/51 No 7

as governor, and solicit an immediate recall from this colony, as my private fortune is utterly insufficient for the mere costs of living here, so high have prices been run up by the Hudson's Bay Company, and as there are no independent settlers every requisite for existence must be obtained from them;

My health has completely given way under repeated attacks of ague, and shows no signs of amendment. Under these circumstances I trust your Lordship will at once recall me, and appoint some person as my successor whose larger fortune may enable him

to defray charges which involve me in certain ruin; I trust that your Lordship will give directions that I may be furnished with a passage as far as Panama in one of HM Ships, as my state of health will not bear the long voyage round Cape Horn, and being compelled to defray the expenses of my passage out, by the Hudson's Bay Company who repudiated the bills their Chairman had authorized me to draw, has so straightened my private means, that I am unable to pay the heavy expenses of the route through California.

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

Mr Merivale
Mr Blanshard was given a passage in a Queen's Ship from Callao to VanCouver's Island, & the expense paid by the Public —: Probably if his resignation is accepted a similar indulgence will now be accorded him — always supposing the Admiral on the Station has the means — on his return from the Settlement. See 2726.

ABd 29/3

But at all events this must go to the HBC. with reference to the charge of their "repudiating their bills"_ I cannot help remarking on the inconvenience of Lieut. Blanshard's habit of

indulging his hostility to the Company, whether well or ill founded, by throwing out these undefined & loose charges.

HM Mh 29

M 29 BH

Send a copy to the Co sayg that I propose to accept his resignatn & request to be informed whether they have any other gentleman to recommend for the appointment.

G. 31