Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Mundy, Godfrey Charles to Merivale, Herman 12 June 1855, CO 305:6, no. 5422, 292.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (8).
Mundy writes to Merivale to transmit a letter from the
Chairmanof the HBC—which concerns Vancouver Island’s defencelessness against a possible Russian attack—and to forward Foreign Office correspondence related to the reciprocal neutrality agreement between the HBC and the Russian American Company.
In the minutes, Blackwood instructs that Douglas receive documents on the
reciprocal neutralitybetween the HBC and the Russian-American Company.
The eight documents included in the file discuss the reciprocal neutrality between
the Russian-American Company and the HBC, with respect to the northwest Pacific coast and Vancouver Island.
Mundy to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
War Department
12th June 1855
Sir
Lord Panmure has had under his consideration your letter of the
10th ultimo, with its enclosure calling attention to the defenceless
state of Vancouvers Island, and I am to transmit to you for the
information of Lord John Russell, copy of a letter from the Chairman of
the Hudson's Bay Company, whom His Lordship had consultedwith
with regard to
the probability of any attack from the side of Russian America, together
with copies of a correspondence, which has been obtained from the
Foreign Office, respecting the agreement with the Russian American
Company, for reciprocal neutrality, to which Mr Shepherd refers.
with regard to
the probability of any attack from the side of Russian America, together
with copies of a correspondence, which has been obtained from the
Foreign Office, respecting the agreement with the Russian American
Company, for reciprocal neutrality, to which Mr Shepherd refers.
From these papers, Lord Panmure is led to believe, that there is no
reason to apprehend any danger of attack on VancouversIsland
Island.
Island.
His Lordship, has however, requested the Admiralty to instruct the
Senior Naval Officer on the Station to cause that Island to be more
frequently visited by one of Her Majesty's Ships of War.
H. Merivale Esq.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Either send the Governor a copy of these documents or tell him the result. Probably the first alternative is best as he shd be possessed of the agreement between the countries.
Either send the Governor a copy of these documents or tell him the result. Probably the first alternative is best as he shd be possessed of the agreement between the countries.
ABd
15 June
Annex dt.
HM
June 15
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
John Shepherd, Deputy Governor, Hudson's Bay Company, to Lord
Panmure, 28 May 1855, suggesting there was little likelihood of an attack
on Vancouver Island by the Russians, in view of the company's reciprocal
neutrality agreement with the Russian American Company.
Lord Clarendon, Foreign Office, to Admiralty, 22 March 1854, transmitting copies of correspondence between the Hudson's Bay Company
and the Russian American Company respecting agreement for neutrality.
A. Colvile, Governor, Hudson's Bay Company, to Clarendon, 28 February 1854, enclosing copy of letter from the Russian American Company
and seeking sanction for the proposed agreement.
Direction Superieure de la Compagnée Russe Americaine (W.
Politkowsky, N. Konsow, Ct Etholin, B. Wrangell) to the
Directors, Hudson's Bay Company, 14 February 1854, proposing an
agreement for neutrality.
Direction Generale de la Compagnie Russe Americaine (W. Politkowsky, L. Khipffell, Ct Etholin, B. Wrangell) to the
Directors of the Hudson's Bay Company, 17 April 1854, forwarding
the official letter establishing their neutrality.
Leon Seniavine, Ministere Imperial, to Major General
Politkowski, President, Russian American Company, no date, authorizing
the agreement of neutrality.