Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Moody, Colonel Richard Clement to
Carnarvon, Earl 15 September 1858, CO 60:3, no. 9485, 270.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (2), Other documents (2).
Moody reports that the expense of fitting a second vessel to transport Royal Engineers
to British Columbia would be “inordinately expensive.” He recommends that they only proceed with plans
if a second vessel can be made ready to leave at the same time as the first. Moody will go ahead to await the ships’ arrival to “obviate any inconvenience that might
arise from the arrival of the vessels at different times.”
The minutes fear that Moody is “a little too hasty” with his recommendations and note that if the second vessel,
“Briseis,” cannot be modified to transport soldiers then the War Office should be notified
that a second surgeon would not be required.
Enclosed is a draft from the Colonial Office to the War Office forwarding a copy of
the letter and advising that the surgeon was no longer needed; and a draft from the
CO to Moody stressing the importance of achieving a proper division of the stores.
Moody to Carnarvon (Parliamentary Under-Secretary)
Topographical Office, War Dept
4 New Street, Spring Gardens
15 Sept. 1858
4 New Street, Spring Gardens
My Lord,
I have the honour to report that the expense of fitting the
2nd Vessel engaged by the Admiralty in order to adapt it to
carry a portion of the Detachment of R. Engineers to British
Columbia would be inordinately expensive, as the vessel from
its construction is not in any way at present arranged suitably
for the purpose.
I do not therefore recommend it
with the exception of 2 men to take charge of the Stores but propose to
go on with such a division of the Stores that if the Vessels sail
at the same time we may escape any serious difficulty beyond
"loss of time" in case [an] accident
should happen to the second vessel.
I shall endeavor to get off the 2nd Vessel (the "Briseis")
which has been chartered before the 1st (the Thames City) and
immediately on my arrival will get forward some "shelter"
prepared to
receive the party so as to obviate any inconvenience
that might arise from the arrival of the vessels at different times.
receive the party so as to obviate any inconvenience
that might arise from the arrival of the vessels at different times.
In short I trust by contrivance and additional energy from all
hands to provide against the objectionable but as it stands
unavoidable division of the men from a portion of the Stores.
The Earl Carnarvon
&c &c &c
&c &c &c
Minutes by CO staff
Lord Carnarvon
I cannot but fear that Colonel Moody is a little too hasty in his recommendations to us, & that we, in our desire to promote the prompt despatch of these Engineers & stores, listen to him too readily. If we were likely to have much more correspondence with Col: Moody I should be disposed to advise increased caution with him.
I cannot but fear that Colonel Moody is a little too hasty in his recommendations to us, & that we, in our desire to promote the prompt despatch of these Engineers & stores, listen to him too readily. If we were likely to have much more correspondence with Col: Moody I should be disposed to advise increased caution with him.
In consequence of his recent pressing request we have
requested the
War Office, who will in turn request the Admiralty, to find us a
Naval Surgeon to accompany the R. Engineers in the second
vessel—this modern "Briseis." As it turns out, on further
enquiry, that the "Briseis" cannot except at a great expence take
the Soldiers we must now withdraw our solicitation to the War
Office, the Surgeon not being wanted.
requested the
War Office, who will in turn request the Admiralty, to find us a
Naval Surgeon to accompany the R. Engineers in the second
vessel—this modern "Briseis." As it turns out, on further
enquiry, that the "Briseis" cannot except at a great expence take
the Soldiers we must now withdraw our solicitation to the War
Office, the Surgeon not being wanted.
ABd
16 Sepr
1. Annex draft to W.O. enclosing this letter and in
consequence explaining that a naval surgeon will not now be required.
2. Annex draft to Col. Moody referring him, on the question
of fitting up the Briseis for the conveyance of men, to my letter
of yesterday the 15th and stating that as Sir E. Lytton is
desirous to avoid all unnecessary expense and as Col. Moody does
not appear from this communication to attach great importance to a
division of the men, Sir E. Lytton must only again impress the
importance of
selecting with great care those stores & articles wh
are to be shipped on board the Thames City with a special reference
to the probable immediate wants of the detachment on their landing
in B. Columbia.
selecting with great care those stores & articles wh
are to be shipped on board the Thames City with a special reference
to the probable immediate wants of the detachment on their landing
in B. Columbia.
C
S 16
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to War Office, 16 September 1858, forwarding
copy of the letter and advising that the surgeon was no longer needed.
Draft, Colonial Office to Moody, 16 September 1858, stressing the
importance of achieving a proper division of the stores.