Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 3 November 1863, CO 60:16, no. 12528, 244.
Abstract
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 3 November 1863, CO 60:16, no. 12528, 244.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
No. 64, Military
3 November 1863
I have the honor to enclose herewith copy of a letter
addressed to me by Colonel Moody R.E. asking for the remission
of the sum of One Hundred and five pounds (£105), passage money,
required from Sergeant McColl R.E. on account of the conveyance
of his Wife and Family to this Colony.
The
2. The circumstances of the case are shortly these.
Sergeant McColl was sent to British Columbia with the first
party of Royal Engineers viâ Southampton and Panama. His Wife
and Family were to have followed him in the Troop Ship carrying
the bulk of the Detachment viâ Cape Horn. Ill health prevented
her availing herself of the opportunity; and a passage was
obtained for her, afterwards, together with certain other
women of the Detachment, by the Emigration board under the
sanction and direction of the Secretary of State, the movement
originating in an application made by Colonel Moody, andwhich
which
is adverted to in the Secretary of State's Despatch addressed to
me, and dated 21st July 1860, No 43.
which
is adverted to in the Secretary of State's Despatch addressed to
me, and dated 21st July 1860, No 43.
3. In a further Despatch dated 11th August 1860, No 46,
the Secretary of State informs me that "the Secretary of State for
War will be consulted as to the propriety, under the circumstances
of allowing the wife and family of Sergeant McColl to be sent
to the Colony at the Public Expense," but I am not aware as to
the decision that was arrived at in the matter; and I therefore
have now informed Colonel Moody that I do not feel at liberty
to authorize the course he recommends, but that I will represent
the caseto
to Your Grace.
to Your Grace.
4. Viewing the case in all its bearings I am inclined to
submit that, if the passage of Mrs McColl and Family would have
been at the public expense in the first instance, it might
fairly be borne by the public now; or at all events that
Sergeant McColl should only be required to repay the excess, if any,
existing between the cost of the passage by the Troop Ship, and
by the Ship which ultimately brought his family.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
When the Rl: Engineers sailed for B. Columbia in the Autumn of 1858, the regulated number of women were selected to accompany them, but, there not being room in the Vessel, they were sent after them in a Troop Ship. The wife of Sergeant [Mc]Coll was one of the number selected, but not being able thro' illness, to undertake the long Sea Voyage another woman was substituted for her. In 1860 Colonel Moody proposed that the Wives and intended Wives for the remainder of the Detachment should be sent out—that passages should be engaged for them & the Cost defrayed in the first instance by the Imperial Govt, to be repayed by stoppages from
the Men's pay. Colonel Moody referred to the case of Sergeant Coll & recommended that his wife and family
should be sent out at the public expense. The general proposal
was recommended by the S. of S. to the Treasury & War Office &
sanctioned by those Departments but the W.O. demurred to making
an exception in favor of Mrs Coll, and she went out on the
same terms as the other women. This decision of the W.O. (9021)
does not appear to have been communicated to the Govr. Stoppages
to the extent of one half of the cost of his wife's passage
(£l05) have been made from Sergt Coll's pay & Col: Moody recommends that the remaining half should be remitted. There
is some degreeof
of hardship in the case, in as much as illness
or temporary inability to endure so long a voyage deprived his
wife of the opportunity of joining her husband free of expense.
Sergt Coll bears a good character and will no doubt if he
remains in the Colony, prove a desirable settler.
When the Rl: Engineers sailed for B. Columbia in the Autumn of 1858, the regulated number of women were selected to accompany them, but, there not being room in the Vessel, they were sent after them in a Troop Ship. The wife of Sergeant [Mc]Coll was one of the number selected, but not being able thro' illness, to undertake the long Sea Voyage another woman was substituted for her. In 1860 Colonel Moody proposed that the Wives and intended Wives for the remainder of the Detachment should be sent out—that passages should be engaged for them & the Cost defrayed in the first instance by the Imperial Govt, to be repayed by stoppages from
the Men's pay. Colonel Moody referred to the case of Sergeant Coll & recommended that his wife and family
should be sent out at the public expense. The general proposal
was recommended by the S. of S. to the Treasury & War Office &
sanctioned by those Departments but the W.O. demurred to making
an exception in favor of Mrs Coll, and she went out on the
same terms as the other women. This decision of the W.O. (9021)
does not appear to have been communicated to the Govr. Stoppages
to the extent of one half of the cost of his wife's passage
(£l05) have been made from Sergt Coll's pay & Col: Moody recommends that the remaining half should be remitted. There
is some degreeof
of hardship in the case, in as much as illness
or temporary inability to endure so long a voyage deprived his
wife of the opportunity of joining her husband free of expense.
Sergt Coll bears a good character and will no doubt if he
remains in the Colony, prove a desirable settler.
VJ
2 Jan
Mr Jadis
I think that all that we can do is to submit this appeal for favorable considn to the W.O. With reference to their letter of 15th Sepr 1860 about sending out the wives of the detachment of Royal Engineers, say that the general reasons therein agreed to were duly carried into effect, but that it appears that by some accident the decision which it contained
on the particular case of Sergt Coll was not conveyed to
the Govr for the infn of Colonel Moody. The Govr has,
however, carried into effect the general directions, and under
these, Sergt Coll has accordingly been subjected to the
stoppages required by the decision of the S. of State for War
that he was to be dealt with in the same manner as the rest whose
wives & families did not go out by the original opportunity.
I think that all that we can do is to submit this appeal for favorable considn to the W.O. With reference to their letter of 15th Sepr 1860 about sending out the wives of the detachment of Royal Engineers, say that the general reasons therein agreed to were duly carried into effect, but that it appears that by some accident the decision which it contained
on the particular case of Sergt Coll was not conveyed to
the Govr for the infn of Colonel Moody. The Govr has,
however, carried into effect the general directions, and under
these, Sergt Coll has accordingly been subjected to the
stoppages required by the decision of the S. of State for War
that he was to be dealt with in the same manner as the rest whose
wives & families did not go out by the original opportunity.
He has paid in this manner, it appears, £＿ by deductions
from his pay, being one half of the
cost of the passage of his
wife & family. Col: Moody applies for the remission of the
remaining half. Sergt Coll bears a good character, & it
was by a misfortune, & not by any fault of his, that he was
deprived of the benefit of his family's going out free with
the first party. Such being the circumstances in his favor,
the S. of State for War alone can judge
whether or not there may be general
considerations which would render an assent to the
application for indulgence to Sergt Coll improper or inconvenient.
cost of the passage of his
wife & family. Col: Moody applies for the remission of the
remaining half. Sergt Coll bears a good character, & it
was by a misfortune, & not by any fault of his, that he was
deprived of the benefit of his family's going out free with
the first party. Such being the circumstances in his favor,
the S. of State for War alone can judge
whether or not there may be general
considerations which would render an assent to the
application for indulgence to Sergt Coll improper or inconvenient.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
R.C. Moody to Douglas, 22 October 1863, supporting McColl's
application for full or partial remission of the passage money.
