Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Hammond, Edmund to Rogers, Frederic 5 December 1864, CO 305:24, no. 11250, 110.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
Hammond forwards two reports from the Law Officers regarding fines imposed on the Alexandra at Port Angeles. The Colonial Office sends the report to Kennedy and informs him that the British diplomat at Washington will address the United States government about the matter.
Hammond to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)
I am directed by Earl Russell to transmit to you, to be laid before
Mr Secretary Cardwell copies of two Reports from the Law Officers of
the Crown upon your two letters of the 3rd and 21st Ultimo,
relative to the Fines imposed at Port Angelos, Washington Territory,
upon the British Steamer "Alexandra", and I am to request that you
will state to Mr Cardwell that Lord Russell is about to instruct Her
Majesty's Minister at Washington in conformitywith
with those Reports.
with those Reports.
Minutes by CO staff
At first the Crown Lawyers recommended a decided
representation to
the United States Govt in favor of the complainants at Vancouver,
but they have since said that it will be desirable first to consult
the Legal Adviser of our Embassy at Washington on the state of the
American Law. Hence we cannot be sure what will take place, and I
think that for the present the proper course will simply be to ackge
Governor Kennedy's despatch and inform him that a communication has
been made on the subject to HM's Minister at Washington.
representation to
the United States Govt in favor of the complainants at Vancouver,
but they have since said that it will be desirable first to consult
the Legal Adviser of our Embassy at Washington on the state of the
American Law. Hence we cannot be sure what will take place, and I
think that for the present the proper course will simply be to ackge
Governor Kennedy's despatch and inform him that a communication has
been made on the subject to HM's Minister at Washington.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Roundell Palmer, R.P. Collier and Robert Phillimore to Earl
Russell, 18 November 1864, reporting that after consideration of the
issue, they felt the fines levied against the
Alexandra were improperly charged and advising that the issue
should be brought up with the American government without delay.
Palmer, Collier and Phillimore to Russell, 20 November 1864,
suggesting that in view of further information on the dispute, it
might be more prudent to consult with the legal advisor to the British
Embassy in Washington prior to approaching the U.S. government.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Cardwell to Kennedy, No. 70, 23 December 1864, informing Kennedy that the British diplomat at Washington will approach the United States government about the matter.