Lugard to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to
request that you will acquaint
Mr Secretary Cardwell
that it appears that on the late withdrawal from British
Columbia of the detachment of Royal Engineers, under the
command of
Colonel Moody,
the arms and accoutrements
specified in the accompanying List were left in charge of
the Local Government.
Colonel Moody states that this course was adopted at
the request of the Governor, who was desirous that the
arms should be made over to the Local Militia & Volunteers,
and who undertook to apply
for the consent of the Home
Government to this being done.
In the event of
Mr Cardwell being of opinion
that it is desirable that the Local Forces should have the
use of these arms,
Earl de Grey will have no objection
to their being retained on the usual terms,
These terms have been duly communicated to the Governors
of
B.C. &
V.C.I.
namely, the Rifles on loan,
and the accoutrements and ammunition on
payment of their Actual Value.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
It
wd be very advisable to let the "local forces"
of
B.C., whatever that may be, benefit by the loan of
these arms. If
Mr Cardwell agrees acquaint the
Governor with the terms in this Letter. And inform the W.O.
Mr Jadis
Have we any report from the Governor on the existence
and numbers of any Volunteer force in
B. Columbia?
Mr Elliot
We have no such report. You will see from 9577 B.
Columbia that in
Augt 1862 no Militia or Volunteer Force
existed. I have searched our Records since that date &
do not find any further report or return.
Mr Fortescue
But then we know for a fact that in
August 1862 there
were no Militia or Volunteer Corps of any kind in
British Columbia, and we have
never heard of any since.
I fear that there must have been some want of clearness
in what
Coll Moody may have said on this subject
to the War Office.
In answer to their letter, I should tell them the
above facts, but say that we had forwarded their letter
to the Governor, and had called upon him to report the
present state of these arms, and to let us know in
whose charge they are kept, as well as to give his opinion
on the best manner of turning them to the public advantage.
And write to the Governor accordingly.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Statement on the transfer of arms and accoutrements from the
Royal Engineers to the colonial government, 11 November 1863.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply,
Cardwell to Officer Administering the Government,
No. 5,
11 May 1864.
Elliot to Under-Secretary of State, War Office,
12 May 1864,
concerning the fact that as of
1 August 1862 there
was no militia or volunteer force in the colony.