Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Musgrave, Sir Anthony to
Leveson-Gower, Granville George 29 April 1870, CO 60:38, no. 6115, 392.
Abstract
Musgrave, Sir Anthony to
Leveson-Gower, Granville George 29 April 1870, CO 60:38, no. 6115, 392.
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (2).
No. 52
29th April 1870
My Lord,
I have the honor to forward an authenticated and two plain
copies of an Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council entitled—
An Ordinance to prevent Desertion from Merchant Ships.
2. The practice of "crimping" prevails here to avery
very
considerable extent, and as explained by the Attorney General in
his annexed Report the difficulty of repressing it, without
some more stringent provisions than have hitherto existed, has
led to acts of violence on the part of Masters and Mates of
Merchant Vessels which have already caused serious results
and in one case nearly ended in a murder. Under the peculiar
circumstances of the place I think the provisions of the
Ordinance now submittedare
are not excessively severe and I submit
it for Her Majesty's confirmation.
very
considerable extent, and as explained by the Attorney General in
his annexed Report the difficulty of repressing it, without
some more stringent provisions than have hitherto existed, has
led to acts of violence on the part of Masters and Mates of
Merchant Vessels which have already caused serious results
and in one case nearly ended in a murder. Under the peculiar
circumstances of the place I think the provisions of the
Ordinance now submittedare
are not excessively severe and I submit
it for Her Majesty's confirmation.
Minutes by CO staff
Ordinance to prevent desertion from Merchant Vessels.
The preamble refers to Merchant Ships only, but the terms of
the Ordinance would include Men of War, & I observe that the
Attorney General in his report refers to the cost of sending
marines or seamen in Men of War Ships from England. This might
perhaps be pointed out when the Ordinance is dealt with.
But first to the B of Trade.
HTH
9/6
At once. And to Admy observing that there may be some
doubt whether it applies to deserters from the RN & requesting
to be informed whether they wd wish it to be be so applied.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Three printed copies of ordinance not on microfilm.
H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General, to Musgrave, 27 April 1870,
reporting on the ordinance as per despatch.
Other documents included in the file
Holland to Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, Board of
Trade, 11 June 1870, forwarding copy of the ordinance for observations.
Holland to Secretary to the Admiralty, 11 June 1870, forwarding
copy of the prdinance and report for consideration and asking
whether the provisions should apply to deserters from the Royal Navy.