9802. Vancouver's Island.
Hudson's Bay House
December 2 1850
My Lord
I have to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Hawes's letter of the 30th Ult. enclosing a copy of a Despatch from Mr Blanshard Governor of Vancouver's Island dated the 18th August, and requesting me to furnish your Lordship with
1Ansd 11 Dec/50.
any information which it may be in the power of the Hudson's Bay Company to afford on the subject of the melancholy occurrence reported by Governor Blanshard, the murder of three British subjects by the Indians in the neighbourhood of Fort Rupert at the northern end of the Island.
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The Hudson's Bay Company have received from Mr Douglas their principal Officer at Fort Victoria a letter dated 17th August in which no mention is made of such an occurrence. I enclose an extract from that letter containing all the information which he gives respecting the state of affairs at Fort Rupert, and what he was doing for the purpose of restoring order.
If no instructions have yet been given that one of Her Majesty's cruisers in the Pacific should visit Vancouver's Island, I would take the liberty of suggesting that the Admiral on that Station be instructed to cause frequent visits to be made to the Island by the cruisers.
I have the hounour to be
My Lord
Your Mo: Obedient
humble Servant
J H Pelly
The Right Honble.
The Earl Grey
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Merivale.
Should the Admiralty be requested to give directions as suggested at the close of this letter? Govr Blanshard states that he is in expectation of the arrival of a Ship of War, — but the Settlement appears to be more in want of some permanent protective Force, such as an efficient Body of Constables —
3 Decr
D 3 BH
Acknowledge — & point out to the H.B. Co that there appears to be an absolute necessity for some more permanent protectn than they can expect to have from the occasional visits of on of H.M.'s ships & request to be informed whether they contemplate adoptg any measures with that view? —
G. 9/
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Extract, Douglas to Barclay, Secretary, Hudson's Bay Company, dated Fort Victoria, 17 August 1850, reporting on conditions at Fort Rupert.
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Colonial Office to Pelly, 11 December 1850, asking what measures they planned to adopt for protection of settlers at Vancouver Island.