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 1859, CO 60:5, no. 9576, 2.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (3).
This despatch is missing from the collection, but it contains minutes and enclosures.
A note indicates that is a letter from Moody to Douglas on the “Military Defence of the Colony,” and that the enclosures were received “in
an Envelope from Governor (annexed) without any covering Despatch.”
In the minutes, Blackwood asks if Douglas’s reticence on Moody’s suggestions is intentional. Newcastle notes that Douglas did not receive Moody’s letter, “wrote it more from impulse than reflection,” in time to make comments.
The first of the three documents included in the file is a letter from Moody to Douglas, which asks that Moody’s enclosed report be forwarded to the secretary of state; the second is a report
from Moody to Douglas, which discusses the military defence of “the Colony;” the third is an envelope addressed
to “Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.”
[Separate]
[Note in file:]
Letter from Col Moody to Govr Douglas, enclosing his
observations on the immediate measures for Military Defence of
the Colony.
Recd in an Envelope from Governor (annexed) without any
covering Despatch.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
The address on the Envelope is in the hand writing of Govr Douglas' Secretary. But the Governor abstains from accompanying Colonel Moody's
suggestions with any comment. Is this intentional?
Properly this should be referred back to the Governor for his report.
Supposing he adopts Colonel Moody's views the subject will then be
brought fully under consideration.
The address on the Envelope is in the hand writing of Govr Douglas' Secretary. But the Governor abstains from accompanying Colonel Moody's
suggestions with any comment. Is this intentional?
Properly this should be referred back to the Governor for his report.
Supposing he adopts Colonel Moody's views the subject will then be
brought fully under consideration.
It is clear to me that the Govr wrote no covering despatch
because he did not receive this hurried letter in time.
I suspect Coll Moody wrote it more from impulse than reflection.
At any rate he promises "further explanation by a future mail."
I do not think it necessary to refer this back to the Govr (relying
upon hearing from him by next Mail) & I should await Coll Ms
further letter.
N
6
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Envelope addressed to "Her Majesty's principal Secretary of
State for the Colonies, &c &c &c, Downing Street, London, England."