Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Pelham-Clinton, Henry Pelham Fiennes to Douglas, James 31 December 1861, LAC RG7:G8C/2, 606.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Newcastle informs Douglas that Foster's requests have been denied. Officers of the
Vancouver Island Volunteer Corps will not be announced in the
London Gazette and the terms of their appointment will be decided by authorities within the colony,
not by
the rules and regulations promulgated for the guidance of the Volunteer Corpsin Britain.
No. 83
Downing Street
31 December 1861
Sir,
I have the honor to acquaint you that Lieut. Colonel Foster, Commanding the Vancouver Volunteers has addressed to me a letter on the subject of the mode of appointing
the Officers of the Corps. Colonel Foster suggests that they should be appointed permanently
and subject to the same rules as in England instead of as in the United States being
liable to annual election, and he also requests that the names of the Officers may
be inserted in the London Gazette.
and subject to the same rules as in England instead of as in the United States being
liable to annual election, and he also requests that the names of the Officers may
be inserted in the London Gazette.
The Secretary of State for War to whom I referred Colonel Foster's
letter has expressed his opinion that it would not be expedient to
adopt the suggestion of inserting the names of Officers belonging the
Colonial Militia or Volunteer Corps in theLondon
London Gazette, the
appointments being doubtless duly notified in the Local Gazette. With
regard to Colonel Foster's suggestion that the appointments should have permanent effect and be subject to
the rules and regulations
promulgated for the guidance of the Volunteer Corps in this Country,
Secretary Sir G.C. Lewis conceives that it must rest with the local
authorities to decide how far those rules can properly be adopted in
the several Colonies.
London Gazette, the
appointments being doubtless duly notified in the Local Gazette. With
regard to Colonel Foster's suggestion that the appointments should have permanent effect and be subject to
the rules and regulations
promulgated for the guidance of the Volunteer Corps in this Country,
Secretary Sir G.C. Lewis conceives that it must rest with the local
authorities to decide how far those rules can properly be adopted in
the several Colonies.
I have caused this
decision to be communicated to Col. Foster in
answer to his letter.
decision to be communicated to Col. Foster in
answer to his letter.