Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hammond, Edmund to Rogers, Frederic 8 November 1860, CO 305:15, no. 10510, 264.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Other documents (1).
Hammond to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
8 November 1860
I have laid before Lord John Russell your letter of the 2d instant
and its Inclosure from the Admiralty stating that the detachment of
Marines stationed at San Juan is about to be recalled and requesting
that immediate steps may be taken to have the duties otherwise
performed.
In reply to your request for Lord J. Russell's opinion as to the
answer which should be returned to the Admiralty on this
this subject, I am
to request that you will suggest to the Secretary of State for the
Colonies that the Admiralty should be informed that if these Marines
are withdrawn they should be replaced by others, but that it would be
very undesirable that the Officers commanding the present detachment
should be changed, owing to the good understanding which appears to
exist between them and the United States Officers on the Island.
this subject, I am
to request that you will suggest to the Secretary of State for the
Colonies that the Admiralty should be informed that if these Marines
are withdrawn they should be replaced by others, but that it would be
very undesirable that the Officers commanding the present detachment
should be changed, owing to the good understanding which appears to
exist between them and the United States Officers on the Island.
Lord J. Russell would however, further suggest for the consideration
of the Colonial Secretary
Secretary, whether it would not be desirable to apply
to the Secretary of State for War, requesting that as soon as Troops
can be spared from China, a Regiment should be sent to Vancouver's Island. Independently of the advantage which might be expected to
result to British Columbia from the presence of a British Regiment in
Vancouver's Island, the 100 men required for service on San Juan
might be furnished by the Regiment and the Marines might in that case
case
be available for their proper services.
Secretary, whether it would not be desirable to apply
to the Secretary of State for War, requesting that as soon as Troops
can be spared from China, a Regiment should be sent to Vancouver's Island. Independently of the advantage which might be expected to
result to British Columbia from the presence of a British Regiment in
Vancouver's Island, the 100 men required for service on San Juan
might be furnished by the Regiment and the Marines might in that case
case
be available for their proper services.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Fortescue
This is a letter on which you will probably remember that I have had more than one conversation with you.
This is a letter on which you will probably remember that I have had more than one conversation with you.
The Foreign Office suggest for consideration the question whether
after the operations in China are over, a Regiment might with
advantage be sent from thence to be stationed at Vancouver's Island.
This is a serious subject which can only be dealt with by the Duke of Newcastle, but the news which arrived from China immediately after
the receipt of this letter has deprived the question of any immediate
practical consequence.
For this reason however the other question arrives, vizt whether
the Marines must really be brought away as proposed by the Admiralty
in their letter of the 22nd of October, and if so what substitute is
to be provided for them at San Juan. The Foreign Office suggestion
that if the detachment be brought away they should be replaced by
other privates, but that the same Officers should remain on the spot
is one which I should think that it could hardly be possible to
reconcile with the usages of the Services. Besides who would have
charge
of the Soldiers on their voyage homewards?
is one which I should think that it could hardly be possible to
reconcile with the usages of the Services. Besides who would have
charge
of the Soldiers on their voyage homewards?
TFE
8 Decr
Duke of Newcastle
I sh. be disposed to recommend the F.O. to request the Admiralty to supply another detachment of Marines instead of the present one, (if the latter must be relieved), as the best force for the purpose of holding San Juan.
I sh. be disposed to recommend the F.O. to request the Admiralty to supply another detachment of Marines instead of the present one, (if the latter must be relieved), as the best force for the purpose of holding San Juan.
CF
14
The question of placing a Regiment in Vancouvers Island is one of too
much importance to be decided upon merely for the purpose of
providing a substitute for the 100 Marines who are to be withdrawn.
It may 
have an important bearing, for good or for evil, upon the
negociations now going on with the United States and ought not to be
done without the knowledge of the Cabinet.
have an important bearing, for good or for evil, upon the
negociations now going on with the United States and ought not to be
done without the knowledge of the Cabinet.
I think the best step to take will be to send the letter of the F.O.
to Mr Herbert, and say that I consider it a question of such
immediate and prospective interest that I hope he will
communicate further with the F.O. before any final decision is
adopted, and that if any such measure should be decided upon it would
be necessary at once to provide barracks for their accommodation. I
do not see any necessity for so large a force as a Regiment, even if
Soldiers must be substituted for Marines.
It would be well to add in the letter to the W.O. that if a Regiment
or portion of a Regt were to be sent to V.I. the occasion might be
taken for withdrawing the Sappers—a force which costs £22,000 per
ann: and has not answered the objects for
which they were sent out—of surveying, road-making, &c.
N
19
Other documents included in the file
Draft,
Colonial Office to Under-Secretary, War Office, 4 January
1861, forwarding copy of letter from the Foreign Office for
consideration, and promoting the withdrawal of a force sent to the
colony to execute public works projects.