Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, James to Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes 3 December 1859, CO 305:11, no. 875, 296.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (6), Other documents (1).
Douglas requests £2000
in order to provide for the current expenses of the Troops together with extra pay,noting an earlier request for the same amount to
provide for the accommodation &c &c of the Troops serving in Vancouvers Island.Blackwood's minute questions the need
to maintain the Royal Engineers or Marines any longer in V. Couver Isd on acct of the San Juan difficulty,and Newcastle suggests
substituting some less expensive force than Engineers for the purpose of the occupation of S. Juan.
No. 62
3 December 1859
With reference to my Despatch No. 42 of the 27th August, In
which I had the honor to inform your Grace that in order to
provide for the accommodation &c &c of the Troops serving in
Vancouvers Island, I had drawn upon Her Majestys Paymaster
General for the sum of Two Thousand Pounds
Pounds, I have now the honor
to inform Your Grace that in order to provide for the current
expenses of the Troops together with extra pay, I have been
compelled to draw a further sum of Two Thousand Pounds (£2000)
and I trust your Grace will be pleased to obtain the requisite
authority from the Treasury that the Bill may be paid when due.
Pounds, I have now the honor
to inform Your Grace that in order to provide for the current
expenses of the Troops together with extra pay, I have been
compelled to draw a further sum of Two Thousand Pounds (£2000)
and I trust your Grace will be pleased to obtain the requisite
authority from the Treasury that the Bill may be paid when due.
I have etc.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Is it necessary to maintain the Royal Engineers or Marines any longer in V. Couver Isd on acct of the San Juan difficulty? It is prejudicial to the interests of B. Columbia where the services of the Engineers are so pressingly wanted for the laying out of Roads &c &c to keep them away from the Colony. The former charge [of] £2000, having arisen in consequence of the American occupation of San Juan the War Office was asked to provide for it. I presume we must take the same course with this application.
Is it necessary to maintain the Royal Engineers or Marines any longer in V. Couver Isd on acct of the San Juan difficulty? It is prejudicial to the interests of B. Columbia where the services of the Engineers are so pressingly wanted for the laying out of Roads &c &c to keep them away from the Colony. The former charge [of] £2000, having arisen in consequence of the American occupation of San Juan the War Office was asked to provide for it. I presume we must take the same course with this application.
ABd
28/1
HM
Jan 31
Duke of Newcastle
Under the temporary arrangement with the U.S. Govt, a certain number of British troops is likely to be required to occupy San Juan for some time to come. Would it not be advisable to substitute troops of the Line for the R. Engineers, leaving perhaps a small number of the latter, merely as overseers & instructors in road making? This, I suppose, must go to the War Office.
Under the temporary arrangement with the U.S. Govt, a certain number of British troops is likely to be required to occupy San Juan for some time to come. Would it not be advisable to substitute troops of the Line for the R. Engineers, leaving perhaps a small number of the latter, merely as overseers & instructors in road making? This, I suppose, must go to the War Office.
CF
Feb 1
Yes, and suggest the propriety of substituting some less
expensive force than Engineers for the purpose of the occupation
of S. Juan.
N
3
I find that this minute is wrong. The Governor states in an
earlier desp of 27 August that Marines not Engineers are
quartered on V.Couver Island. So it is only necessary to send
copy of this desp. to the War Office.
ABd
10 Feb/60
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Under-Secretary, War Office, 17 February
1860, forwarding copy of the despatch and asking that they
authorize payment of the £2000 drawn by the governor.
Minutes by CO staff
This draft is substituted for one passed on the 6th instant as
I find, on reference to other documents, that
Marines not Engineers are stationed in Van Couver Island. It is,
therefore, only necessary to send this desph to the War Office
who, either through the Admiralty, or by the means of the Army
Estimates will have to provide for the Expense.