Hudson's Bay House
April 16 1851.⎯
My Lord/
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of
Mr Hawes' letter of the
7 Instant 〜 transmitting copy of a Despatch from
Governor Blanshard
tendering his resignation of his office, and
communicating that Her Majesty had been graciously pleased to accept the same, and
enquiring whether the
Hudson's Bay Company had any Gentleman to recommend for the Situation. ⎯
In answer to this enquiry, I have to state that the Governor and Committee consider
that in the present state of
Vancouver's Island as respects the Native Indians and the white population it is of importance that
the Governor should possess
some
some experience in conducting the requisite intercourse with the Indians and for this
and other reasons they have requested me to recommend
James Douglas Esq Chief Factor of the
Hudson's Bay Company and Manager of their affairs in
the Island as well qualified to fill the Office.
I take this opportunity of stating that the Governor and Committee are surprised at
the observations made by
M Blanshard respecting the conduct of the Company towards him which they feel to be unjust
He was offered a passage in one of the Company's Ships, but
declined it, and preferred proceeding by the Steam Packet to Chagres and
thence by
Panama to
the Island. ⎯ The Governor and Committee understood that this course was to be at his own expence,
and when a Bill for £100
was drawn upon them by him from
Jamaica, it was referred
to
to his own
relations in
London. ⎯ But afterwards on hearing from him that there was
some
misapprehension respecting the expence of his journey by the route which he had taken, he was informed
that the amount was placed to his
credit, and he must have been in possession of this decision at the date of his letter
viz
18 November 1850
It was necessary to
import provisions from the
Oregon Territory and
elsewhere, cultivation on
the Island at that time being insufficient for the supply of the Company's Establishment there,
and the prices may have
been high but the Governor and Committee are confident that neither the
prices of provisions, nor of European Articles were enhanced or "run up"
by the Company as alleged by
M Blanshard who in point of fact had a
Seat at the table kept at the Company's Establishment
I have the honor to be
My Lord,
Your most Obed Ser
JH Pelly Gov
Minutes by CO staff
2 If
Lord Grey […] adopts the recommendation of
M Douglas for the
Office vacated by
M Blanshard I presume steps should be taken for
informing
[…] Sir J. Pelly that
the Queen has approved of the nomination of that Gentleman, & for making out his appointment.
3 I suppose it will hardly be thought expedient for this Office to
be[…] the medium for prolonging the Correspondence between the Governor, & Company on differences
[…] which have no public importance AB 17/4. and which we are not likely to reconcile.
M Hawes
This is a question for
Lord Grey's consideration: there are of course
many obvious advantages in the appointment of
M Douglas, but it will
be regarded as a complete surrender of
the Island to the Company.
A 18
I fear this is true. And I think before assented to, some
understanding might be come to as to what the H.B.
C intended to do towards Colonizing
the Island. If the
C w or c undertake
this suddenly, I
sh have little doubt it
w be best promoted in their hands. I confess this may be doubtful.
There being no means of provid a salary for a
Gov except
from the Comp I see no possibility of mak any other arrangement
than that *here proposed. ⎯ Say that I will submit
M Douglas's name to
the Queen & let the necessary steps be taken for mak out the appoint.
Other documents included in the file
People in this document
Blackwood, Arthur Johnstone
Blanshard, Richard
Douglas, James
Grey, George
Grey, Henry George
Hawes, Benjamin
Merivale, Herman
Pelly, John Henry
Victoria, Alexandrina
Organizations in this document
Colonial Office
Hudson's Bay Company
Places in this document
Caribbean
London
Oregon Territory, or Columbia District
Panama
Vancouver Island