Colonial Despatches

Despatch to London. Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (2).

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.

Douglas informs the Colonial Office of Commander Swartwout’s report of an assemblage of Northern Indians, on Vancouver’s Island or in its immediate vicinity, preparatory to a combined hostile movement into the American Territory. Douglas was not aware of this muster but refrained from giving a decided opinion. He reports that the Natives in question are quiet and submissive to all the police regulations.

The minutes advise that they ask the Admiralty what Naval force is at Vancouver Island. The Colonial authorities observe that Douglas’s language & conduct inspires strong confidence in his judgment, but they worry that he may be overpowered or drawn against his will into the Indian War now raging in Washington Territory.

Enclosed is a draft from Merivale to the Secretary of the Admiralty forwarding this report and enquiring into the disposition of naval forces in the North Pacific; a draft from Merivale to Hammond forwarding the despatch to the Foreign Office; a letter from Swartwout to Douglas, reporting rumours from Bellingham Bay that a large gathering of Northern Indigenous forces on Vancouver Island were planning to attack American settlements and asking if there were any grounds for such fears; and a reply from Douglas to Swartwout stating that similar reports had circulated in Victoria but he believed them to be unfounded.