Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Nicolay, C. G. to Cuffe, John Otway O'Conner 14 May 1852, CO 305:3, no. 4255, 546.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
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.
Nicolay’s letter to Desart claims that the current method of colonial management by the HBC is risky, in light of both the recent annexation of Hawaii by the Americans and rumours in San Francisco that suggest a similar plan for the annexation of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.
The minutes discuss how to prevent a possible American annexation of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.
Of the two enclosures, the first is a list of
memorandaon
the importance of the North West coast of British North America,and the second is a draft reply to Nicolay.
Nicolay to Desart (Parliamentary Under-Secretary)
Sloane Terrace
14 May 1852
My Lord
In accordance with your request I send You some Memoranda on the
importance of the N.W. coast of British North America.
Although they have run to Some length I feel that no portion of the
subject is fairly represented. I am however prepared to go fully into
eavry part of it.
I take the liberty to caution
caution Your Lordship against a hasty
judgement with respect to the interests of this country on the Pacific
at the same time that I would beg you to remark that the opinion I have
expressed does not in the main affect the subject of the accompanying
memoranda. But more especially I would venture to warn You against
accepting the statements of the Hudsons Bay Co as satisfactory with
respect to
to the condition or government of their territories. The truth
can only be got at primarily by careful Examination on the spot by
some one well acquainted with the history of the fur trade & of
discovery on the N.W. Coast.
caution Your Lordship against a hasty
judgement with respect to the interests of this country on the Pacific
at the same time that I would beg you to remark that the opinion I have
expressed does not in the main affect the subject of the accompanying
memoranda. But more especially I would venture to warn You against
accepting the statements of the Hudsons Bay Co as satisfactory with
respect to
to the condition or government of their territories. The truth
can only be got at primarily by careful Examination on the spot by
some one well acquainted with the history of the fur trade & of
discovery on the N.W. Coast.
I do not wish to be considered as making any reflection on its
Governors but it is not in the nature of things that a trading monopoly,
the operations of which are carried on among savages, should fairly
represent
itself or that it should be in a condition to undertake large
and important national affairs.
itself or that it should be in a condition to undertake large
and important national affairs.
A perusal of the statements of all witnesses on the Subject might
lead to a moral but not probably a judicial opinion.
I would also add that what is true of the natives as to isolation
would be equally true of convicts if the government desired to Land any
where their labour might compensate for the Expense of their
maintenance.
I would also suggest to you whether the cure of many of our social
evils at home may not more easily be found in the extension of our
Colonial Empire not in territory but in men & the consequent
extension of our Commercial and manufacturing relations, than by any
other means. Since the accompanying memoranda were written we have
learnt from the daily papers the formidable nature of
the preparations
made at San Francisco for the occupation of Queen Charlottes Island by
American citizens which has by this time taken place. Also of their
having Caused a republic to be proclaimed at Honolulu & of their
intentions to do the same shortly at the Sandwich Islands—the latter
has been long the avowed object of their diplomatic agents in centeral
America & the Pacific
the preparations
made at San Francisco for the occupation of Queen Charlottes Island by
American citizens which has by this time taken place. Also of their
having Caused a republic to be proclaimed at Honolulu & of their
intentions to do the same shortly at the Sandwich Islands—the latter
has been long the avowed object of their diplomatic agents in centeral
America & the Pacific
The Lord Desart
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
This is an interesting memorandum especially at this moment when the recent discovery of gold in Queen Charlotte's Island makes information concerning the N.W. Coast of America of value. But I suppose an ackt with thanks is all this Office can return for the trouble the writer has taken.
This is an interesting memorandum especially at this moment when the recent discovery of gold in Queen Charlotte's Island makes information concerning the N.W. Coast of America of value. But I suppose an ackt with thanks is all this Office can return for the trouble the writer has taken.
ABd
20/May
Lord Desart
Acknowledge with thanks? but I cannot say there seems to me to be much in this gentleman's memorandum. It is made up chiefly of observations suggested by the map, by Sir G. Simpson's travels, & some older books, and a very little heresay from H B Co's servants & others. What we want to know is the actual condition of Q Ch. Island—its capabilities—its native population—the prospects of intercourse between it, San Fransisco, & the Sandwich Islands—of all which there is nothing whatever here. The writer has evidently no personal knowledge.
Acknowledge with thanks? but I cannot say there seems to me to be much in this gentleman's memorandum. It is made up chiefly of observations suggested by the map, by Sir G. Simpson's travels, & some older books, and a very little heresay from H B Co's servants & others. What we want to know is the actual condition of Q Ch. Island—its capabilities—its native population—the prospects of intercourse between it, San Fransisco, & the Sandwich Islands—of all which there is nothing whatever here. The writer has evidently no personal knowledge.
It seems to me that although
the Admiralty may send a ship of War,
& prevent anything like "annexation" of the island by the Americans
easily enough, it will be necessary to give some farther & more distinct
instructions, how the wandering miners who may arrive there are to be
dealt with.
the Admiralty may send a ship of War,
& prevent anything like "annexation" of the island by the Americans
easily enough, it will be necessary to give some farther & more distinct
instructions, how the wandering miners who may arrive there are to be
dealt with.
I assume that Govt would not exclude foreigners, as some seem
to recommend. I do not know that they have legally the power.
Leaving this out of the question two courses are open:
1. To form an establishment on the island, treat the land as Crown
Land, exact the payment for licenses from miners, & constitute some kind
of force for public protection.
Land, exact the payment for licenses from miners, & constitute some kind
of force for public protection.
This cannot be done, 1. without some expense—it is idle to
suppose, as many do, that such establishments can be made
self-supporting, unless there were some very extraordinary mining
results. 2. without incurring the perpetual difficulty of guarding a
settlement against natives reported to be numerous & warlike. 3.
without forming a new colony, with all the adjuncts of representative
Government, &c. For it is a recognised principle in colonial law that
the Queen cannot (without parliamentary authority) impose a tax, or make
a law, or
allow others to make one, in colonies founded by Englishmen.
allow others to make one, in colonies founded by Englishmen.
2. The other course would be, to direct the Adml to maintain as
I have said British supremacy, and to lend his assistance if absolutely
required to keep the peace among the miners, but not to interfere with
them in any other way. If in the course of time the wish for something
like settled Government should manifest itself, the immigrants might
then be encouraged to constitute one, paying its own expenses. This
latter
Scheme would certainly be facilitated if commissions of the peace
could be issued to one or two individuals, but the difficulty is, to
know to whom. I fear commissions in blank are not legal. I would
strongly recommend you to talk this matter over privately with any
member of the Admiralty who would charge himself with it.
Scheme would certainly be facilitated if commissions of the peace
could be issued to one or two individuals, but the difficulty is, to
know to whom. I fear commissions in blank are not legal. I would
strongly recommend you to talk this matter over privately with any
member of the Admiralty who would charge himself with it.
As to the H.B.C. whose position the writer does not correctly
represent, their case stands thus. They have rights both of territory &
government over an immense
tract of N.E. America. These rights have
been very much attacked of late years; that they are vexatious &
monopolistic is easily shewn. that any other body, except such a
Company, could make any use of those vast but desolate regions, and,
above all, could manage the Indians on any terms of humanity & good
order, is not so easily shewn. But however this may be, they have their
rights by charter—the law advisers of the late Government declared them
valid—it is open to any one to attack them at law, or to move
Parliament to control them, but the Crown
has no power in the matter.
tract of N.E. America. These rights have
been very much attacked of late years; that they are vexatious &
monopolistic is easily shewn. that any other body, except such a
Company, could make any use of those vast but desolate regions, and,
above all, could manage the Indians on any terms of humanity & good
order, is not so easily shewn. But however this may be, they have their
rights by charter—the law advisers of the late Government declared them
valid—it is open to any one to attack them at law, or to move
Parliament to control them, but the Crown
has no power in the matter.
But these rights extend only as far W. as the Rocky Mountains. The
N. West Coast, & islands (except Vancouver) are under no Government at
all. The Company have an exclusive right to trade with the Indians
there, but nothing more. That right expires in 1859, but if the Crown
makes a "colony" in any part of this region, the Crown can (not
must) revoke the license so far as that colony is concerned.
HM
May 20
I concur very generally with all that is said in the above minute.
I think however that the annexed memorandum explains fully of how much
advantage the colonization & formation of trading establishments in
Queen Charlottes & Vancouvers Islands might be to this empire. I sent
to Lord Palmerston a short precis of what passed during a short
interview I had with the writer of this memorandum.
I think however that the annexed memorandum explains fully of how much
advantage the colonization & formation of trading establishments in
Queen Charlottes & Vancouvers Islands might be to this empire. I sent
to Lord Palmerston a short precis of what passed during a short
interview I had with the writer of this memorandum.
D
21
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
"Memoranda on the importance of the North West coast of British
North America in connexion with
1. The discovery of Gold in Queen Charlottes Islands.
2. The trade of the Pacific.
3. The British Colonies in North America.
4. The Native inhabitants."
Other documents included in the file
