Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Lennox, Henry Gordon to
Adderley, C. B. 20 May 1867, CO 60:29, no. 4930, 17.
Abstract
Lennox, Henry Gordon to
Adderley, C. B. 20 May 1867, CO 60:29, no. 4930, 17.
Public Offices document.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2).
Lennox to Under-Secretary of State
Admiralty
20 May 1867
Sir
With reference to your letter of the 18th January last
respecting the proceedings of Lieutenant Denny of the "Forward"
Gun Boat in visiting the Northern Settlements of British Columbia
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
transmit herewith for the information of the Duke of Buckingham
and Chandos, a Copy of a letter dated the 26th Marchlast
last,
from Vice Admiral the Honble Joseph Denman together with Copy
of its Enclosure reporting the orders under which Lieutt
Denny was acting on the occasion of his visit to the Settlement
of Metlakahtla.
last,
from Vice Admiral the Honble Joseph Denman together with Copy
of its Enclosure reporting the orders under which Lieutt
Denny was acting on the occasion of his visit to the Settlement
of Metlakahtla.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
In our letter of 18 Jan. the expediency of giving some caution to Naval Officers when dealing with Indian Tribes was suggested to the Admiralty, but these papers do not shew whether this suggestion was acted upon.
In our letter of 18 Jan. the expediency of giving some caution to Naval Officers when dealing with Indian Tribes was suggested to the Admiralty, but these papers do not shew whether this suggestion was acted upon.
VJ
21 May
Lieut. Denny wrote a letter
which showed that he had absurd
misconceptions of his powers and duties in respect of Indians. We
asked the Admiralty to give a warning to him and other officers
who might be employed in similar duty to guard against such
mistakes. They answer by sending us the orders from Admiral
Denman under which Lieut Denny had sailed. Those Orders, as might
be expected, are very reasonable, but for that very reason they only
seem to make it more desirable than [sic] an Officer who could so
misunderstand them should be guarded against future mistake.
which showed that he had absurd
misconceptions of his powers and duties in respect of Indians. We
asked the Admiralty to give a warning to him and other officers
who might be employed in similar duty to guard against such
mistakes. They answer by sending us the orders from Admiral
Denman under which Lieut Denny had sailed. Those Orders, as might
be expected, are very reasonable, but for that very reason they only
seem to make it more desirable than [sic] an Officer who could so
misunderstand them should be guarded against future mistake.
Should the Admiralty be told that Admiral Denman's orders appear
to His Grace very prudent and suitable, but that it seems not the
less necessary that Lieut. Denny should be warned against so far
mistaking such orders on any future occasion as to suppose that
he is to bring Indians on board his ship and give themthem
a flogging
on account of alleged acts of violence committed by them on one another?
a flogging
on account of alleged acts of violence committed by them on one another?
TFE
21 May
I think so.
CBA
24/5
I shd leave the responsibility with the Admiralty. When
attention has been distinctly drawn to the matter by Lord
Carnarvon's Letter. Put by.
B&C
24/5
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Copy, J. Denman to Admiralty, 26 March 1867, commenting on Lieutenant
Denny's actions at Metlakahtla.
