Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hammond, Edmund to Rogers, Frederic 27 August 1860, CO 305:15, no. 8438, 238.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3).
Hammond to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
27 August 1860
I have laid before Lord John Russell your Letter of the 14th
Instant, transmitting Copies of a Despatch and it's Inclosures from
the Governor of British Columbia, explanatory of the cirucumstances
under which he had requested the opinion of Colonel Moody as to the
Site
Site to be selected for the encampment of British Troops on the
Island of San Juan, but had declined the Services of an Engineer
Officer in surveying the position.
Site to be selected for the encampment of British Troops on the
Island of San Juan, but had declined the Services of an Engineer
Officer in surveying the position.
With reference to the proposal of the Secretary of State for the
Colonies to approve Governor Douglas' proceedings in this matter, I
am to observe that the
the Governor had doubtless some grounds for the
course which he pursued on the occasion in question, but that Lord John Russell does not understand His Excellency's Reasons for
requesting Colonel Moody's opinion, if he did not wish to have a
Military opinion upon the case.
the Governor had doubtless some grounds for the
course which he pursued on the occasion in question, but that Lord John Russell does not understand His Excellency's Reasons for
requesting Colonel Moody's opinion, if he did not wish to have a
Military opinion upon the case.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Fortescue
The concluding remark of the Foreign Office is more pointed than correct. The Governor asked an opinion, but Colonel Moody on the contrary proposed a survey, which the Admiral and the Governor, for reasons which appear to me ample, would not authorize. The plain truth is that Colonel Moody is very apt to favor us with criticisms on Governor Douglas's acts, but the one is Governor & residing on the spot, the other is a subordinate and residing in a different colony. Which of the two possesses in himself the best judgment is a point on which I apprehend that no one with any general knowledge of mankind, or any particular knowledge of the two individuals, can for a moment doubt.
The concluding remark of the Foreign Office is more pointed than correct. The Governor asked an opinion, but Colonel Moody on the contrary proposed a survey, which the Admiral and the Governor, for reasons which appear to me ample, would not authorize. The plain truth is that Colonel Moody is very apt to favor us with criticisms on Governor Douglas's acts, but the one is Governor & residing on the spot, the other is a subordinate and residing in a different colony. Which of the two possesses in himself the best judgment is a point on which I apprehend that no one with any general knowledge of mankind, or any particular knowledge of the two individuals, can for a moment doubt.
I annex a draft of the answer which I would recommend to be returned
to the F.O. and also the draft of a despatch to the Governor.
TFE
28 August