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 8 January 1859, CO 60:4, no. 2147, 42.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (7), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1), Marginalia (3).
Douglas informs the Colonial Office that Whannell of Fort Yale “had met with serious opposition … from a party of gamblers and refugees from justice.”
The conflict with the “reckless desperadoes” began after Whannell attempted to “suppress gambling” in the area following a murder in the region. Douglas promises an investigation and deliverance of justice, but requests reinforcements
as the Fort Yale police “fell away at the first appearance of danger.”
The minutes comment on the “complete irreliability [sic] of the local Police force”
and it is suggested that Douglas’s request of 150 men is not unrealistic, given the troubles. The CO observes it would
be cheaper to send men now than to deal with an anarchistic colony later. Lytton, however, disagrees and reinforces his belief that the colony should be finding its
own reliable police force, mostly on account of the prohibitive cost of sending police
to British Columbia.
No. 68
1. Intelligence arrived here last night from Mr
Justice Whannell of Fort Yale, reporting that he had met
with serious opposition in the discharge of his official
duties from a party of gamblers and
and refugees from justice,
who have collected about Hill's Bar and Fort Yale.
and refugees from justice,
who have collected about Hill's Bar and Fort Yale.
The particulars of the outrage are detailed in Mr
Justice Whannell's letter, written under great excitement,
yet correctly portraying the men we have to deal with.
2. They are reckless desperadoes requiring the strong
arm to curb them; hitherto they have been very guarded in
their conduct, and the present difficulty would not have
occurred, but for the attempt made to suppress gambling
gambling at
Fort Yale—in consequence of the atrocious murder which
Justice Whannell mentions in his letter—as having been
lately committed in one of those unhallowed resorts.
gambling at
Fort Yale—in consequence of the atrocious murder which
Justice Whannell mentions in his letter—as having been
lately committed in one of those unhallowed resorts.
3. Mr Hicks who is weak rather than corrupt was removed
from office some time ago and Justice Perrier who appears to
have acted in the arrest of his Brother Magistrate, either
under the influence of fear or fraud, will also be struck off
the list of officers.
4. No time will be lost in dealing with this case;
Lieutenant Governor Moody—who left
left this place some days ago
on a visit to Fort Langley—will as he states, in a letter
which I have this hour received from him, at once proceed
with a force of 25 Engineers under Captain Grant's command
to Fort Yale, accompanied by Judge Begbie.
left this place some days ago
on a visit to Fort Langley—will as he states, in a letter
which I have this hour received from him, at once proceed
with a force of 25 Engineers under Captain Grant's command
to Fort Yale, accompanied by Judge Begbie.
This admirable promptitude on the part of Colonel Moody
will be attended with the happiest effects—and I shall
immediately despatch a force of 25 marines and a body of
police under Mr Brew's command to re-inforce Colonel Moody's party.
The
5. The case will be thoroughly investigated and the
decision of the Law courts will be carried out to the letter.
5. The case will be thoroughly investigated and the
decision of the Law courts will be carried out to the letter.
6. Justice Whannell was not properly supported by
the Fort Yale Police who fell away at the first appearance
of danger; a fact showing that we cannot rely on a force
raised from the mining population.
I therefore would strongly urge that 150 instead of 60
men as recommended in my Despatch No 56 of the 27th of
of
December, of the Irish constabulary force fully armed and
equipped, should be shipped without delay for British Columbia.
of
December, of the Irish constabulary force fully armed and
equipped, should be shipped without delay for British Columbia.
7. Four numbers of the "Victoria Gazette"
are forwarded herewith for your information.
1, 4, 6, & 8th Jany 1859.
Not received.
WAN
I write in haste to save the mail.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir Edward Lytton
This desp. contains serious information. The most unsatisfactory point to my mind in it is the fact wh the Govr states as to the complete irreliability of the local Police force wh has been raised in the Colony. At first I was inclined to doubt whether the police might not have failed from being under the orders of an evidently timid & incompetent man but you will observe that Govr Douglas says that the materials of wh they are composed are such that no trust can be placed in them.
This desp. contains serious information. The most unsatisfactory point to my mind in it is the fact wh the Govr states as to the complete irreliability of the local Police force wh has been raised in the Colony. At first I was inclined to doubt whether the police might not have failed from being under the orders of an evidently timid & incompetent man but you will observe that Govr Douglas says that the materials of wh they are composed are such that no trust can be placed in them.
The Govr asks for 150
men from the Irish Constabulary and such a force wd clearly
be very desirable. I do not think that such an application made
under such circumstances can be entirely disregarded & I wd
recommend that you should write privately to Lord Naas to
ask how many men can be spared from the Irish Constabulary
(for they must be picked men) and at what rate
their services can be secured. The Govr asks for 150, but
does not say by wh route he wishes them to be sent. I
sd therefore I think send him 50 at once by Panama;
promise him reinforcements if he absolutely
requires them but point out the expense & the difficulty.
I do not think that this is a case wh will bear delay—&
if once the country falls into a state of anarchy
it may require a large expenditure & a long
interval of time to restore it to a satisfactory condition.
recommend that you should write privately to Lord Naas to
ask how many men can be spared from the Irish Constabulary
(for they must be picked men) and at what rate
their services can be secured. The Govr asks for 150, but
does not say by wh route he wishes them to be sent. I
sd therefore I think send him 50 at once by Panama;
promise him reinforcements if he absolutely
requires them but point out the expense & the difficulty.
I do not think that this is a case wh will bear delay—&
if once the country falls into a state of anarchy
it may require a large expenditure & a long
interval of time to restore it to a satisfactory condition.
Approve all that the Govr has done 
and proposes to do with
regard to the Magistrates? It is clear that he is
surrounded by an incompetent & corrupt class of men from
whom he has had to choose his officers and he deserves all
the support & encouragement wh we can give him. Express
approval of Col. Moody's energy and of the high character
wh in one or two recent despatches the Govr has given of
Mr Brew?
and proposes to do with
regard to the Magistrates? It is clear that he is
surrounded by an incompetent & corrupt class of men from
whom he has had to choose his officers and he deserves all
the support & encouragement wh we can give him. Express
approval of Col. Moody's energy and of the high character
wh in one or two recent despatches the Govr has given of
Mr Brew?
C
Feb 28
I have seen no Despatch from Douglas asking for 60 police
mounted. Write to Lord Naas asking if 100 irish
could be spared & at what [e]xpense. But they must be paid out of the
Colonial revenue tho' I suppose in sending them we must guarantee
that they will be so paid. Speak to Mr Elliot on this.
men?
Approve to Govr & apprise Moody &c—& infor Govr that
we are doing our best to obtain him 100 police, referring
him to all our previous correspondence [illegible] that the
Colonial revenue [illegible].
Mr Merivale
Douglas asked for 150 police—I signed a minute to enquire about their cost &c proposing to send 100; but at the expense of Colony.
Douglas asked for 150 police—I signed a minute to enquire about their cost &c proposing to send 100; but at the expense of Colony.
Thinking again over this question I feel great scruple
in sending them. If you will glance over all my despatches, (those
printed will suffice) you will see that my object,
has always been as a policy, to enforce on the Colonials the
duty of finding their own police.
I don't wish to stretch a theory too far. But I don't
think Douglas makes out a sufficient case for so large &
unusual a police force from this Country. 
The
Police at Fort Yale failed, it is true; but that was on
the first occassion—they may not fail permanently.
Moreover, he has sailors marines & the Engineers.
The
Police at Fort Yale failed, it is true; but that was on
the first occassion—they may not fail permanently.
Moreover, he has sailors marines & the Engineers.
I fear Parlt would frown at 100 Police sent out,
if an Advance is to be made for them. And the charge will
be immense. Remember their passage, outfit, &c.
And as this [has] to go in this years Estimates,
when having taken no estimates last year, I am in difficulties already.
Might it not be better to ascertain the cost & that
of voyage & write to Douglas stating it & asking whether he can
undertake to defray the cost from the Revenue if so he shall
have them. At the same [time] consistently 
dwelling
on the principle of self defence & police I had so
strongly laid down & reminding him of the armed force he has already.
dwelling
on the principle of self defence & police I had so
strongly laid down & reminding him of the armed force he has already.
This seems to me the best course.
EBL
Mar 4 1859
HM
Mh 3
Other documents included in the file
Minutes by CO staff
See separate minutes of Sir Edd's on this subject, dated this
day on 2147, and 2135.
[ABd]
4 March
Mr Merivale
The alteration I have made in this draft will make it accord with Sir Edward's views. When we
receive Lord Naas' ansr
we will take immediate steps for ascertaining the cost of freight
for the police men. Col: Moody has in a private letter
mentioned to me that the quickest & cheapest mode in the end
is to employ Mr Cunard at New York to freight passengers
through—or as far as he can.
The alteration I have made in this draft will make it accord with Sir Edward's views. When we
receive Lord Naas' ansr
we will take immediate steps for ascertaining the cost of freight
for the police men. Col: Moody has in a private letter
mentioned to me that the quickest & cheapest mode in the end
is to employ Mr Cunard at New York to freight passengers
through—or as far as he can.
I will find the Letter, if I did not forward it to Sir Edd
in the winter.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
