Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 5 January 1859, CO 60:4, no. 2143, 3.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).
Douglas informs Lytton of a letter from an anonymous American whistleblower who reported Nugent’s illegal behaviour in British Columbia. Douglas insists that Nugent’s attempt to incite “a spirit of disatisfaction [sic]” was unsuccessful.
The minutes forward this despatch and a previous despatch regarding Nugent to the Foreign Office.
Enclosed is an unsigned letter reporting on Nugent’s actions in British Columbia; and Merivale to Hammond forwarding the despatch and enclosure for the FO’s information.
No. 64
I beg to enclose for the information of Her Majesty's
Government copy of an important communication worthy of
confidence though the writers name is, for obvious reasons, with held.
The communication refers to Mr Nugent late Special
Agent
Agent for the United States at this place and points out
the particular designs which the writer discovered he had in view.
Agent for the United States at this place and points out
the particular designs which the writer discovered he had in view.
I forward this document rather as an illustration of
the ideas floating in the mind of the simple American,
who talks with confidence of the realization of such
visions than with the view of creating alarm.
Mr Nugent would no doubt have protected to the best
of his ability the interests
interests of his country and countrymen
in British Columbia and he might have succeeded in exercising
a pernicious influence over the latter, and have excited a
spirit of disatisfaction with the established regulations
of the country; but I conceive that nothing more serious
could have occurred; as there are resources at our disposal,
sufficient to meet any emergency that may have arisen;
and I feel satisfied that as long as we hold, with a firm
hand, and superior force, the avenues to British Columbia,
no other power
power can wrest it from our grasp.
interests of his country and countrymen
in British Columbia and he might have succeeded in exercising
a pernicious influence over the latter, and have excited a
spirit of disatisfaction with the established regulations
of the country; but I conceive that nothing more serious
could have occurred; as there are resources at our disposal,
sufficient to meet any emergency that may have arisen;
and I feel satisfied that as long as we hold, with a firm
hand, and superior force, the avenues to British Columbia,
no other power
power can wrest it from our grasp.
Minutes by CO staff
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Secret communication relative to Nugent's designs, unsigned,
received in Fort Langley, 19 November 1858.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 10 March 1859,
forwarding the despatch and enclosure for information.