Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer to
Douglas, Sir James 29 November 1858, CO 398:1, 155.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Lytton confidentially rescinds his endorsement of John D’Ewes for employment in British Columbia due to D’Ewes’ conduct during the Ballarat riots.
Confidential
Downing Street
29 November 1858
Sir,
In the early part of last September, on the representation of
various Gentlemen who vouched for his respectability of character, I
furnished Mr John D'Ewes formerly Police Magistrate in the Gold Fields
at Ballarat, a Commisioner of Crown Lands and Deputy Sheriff in Victoria
with a letter of Introduction dated the 11th
Instant.
1
I am not aware
whether Mr D'Ewes has in accordance with his intentions, proceeded to
British Columbia, and presented himself to you; but I feel it due to
myself and to you, to place you in possession of
information of which I
was at the date of my letter ignorant, but which may serve to guard
against any misapprehension on your part. That information I regret to
say is by no means of a satisfactory character. It appears that Mr
D'Ewes about the time of the Ballarat riots laid himself open to
suspicion and comment upon the manner in which he discharged the duties
with which he was entrusted, and my attention has been drawn to a Minute
of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Charles Hotham, entered on the Notes and
proceedings of the Legislative Council during the Session, 1854-5, which
I enclose
herewith.
2
information of which I
was at the date of my letter ignorant, but which may serve to guard
against any misapprehension on your part. That information I regret to
say is by no means of a satisfactory character. It appears that Mr
D'Ewes about the time of the Ballarat riots laid himself open to
suspicion and comment upon the manner in which he discharged the duties
with which he was entrusted, and my attention has been drawn to a Minute
of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Charles Hotham, entered on the Notes and
proceedings of the Legislative Council during the Session, 1854-5, which
I enclose
herewith.
2
I am not prepared to enter into the details of the case or to
pronounce any opinion upon Mr D'Ewes' conduct; but I feel
bound to
correct any error into which you may have been led by my letter of
Introduction accorded without the knowledge of these facts.
bound to
correct any error into which you may have been led by my letter of
Introduction accorded without the knowledge of these facts.
I have preferred to make this Despatch a confidential one, but you
will be at liberty to make use of it, should the circumstances of the
case appear to require such a step.
Footnotes
- I.e., 11 September. Cf. Lytton to Douglas, 11 September 1858, CO 398/1, p. 100 .
- . Hotham to Molesworth, 21 November 1855, CO 309/35, pp. 59-80. ??