Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Enderby, Charles to
Grey, Right Honorable, Second Baronet, Sir George
25 August 1848, CO 305:1, no. 1674, 445.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents
(1), Marginalia (3).
Enderby proposes that "two important national objects"—the re-establishment of the British
whale fisheries and the colonization of Vancouver Island—may be furthered in concert. To elucidate his aims, Enderby encloses his letter to Pelly, which discusses the advantages of promoting Vancouver Island as a whaling station.
In the minutes, Hawes and Grey agree that whaling matters should be handled by the companies involved. Hawes adds that Vancouver Island has long been considered for whaling purposes by "parties connected with the Whale
Fishery," and that infrastructures associated with whaling may galvanize the colony.
The recent discussions in Parliament on the subject of Vancouver's
Island induce me to trouble your Lordship with a few remarks suggestive
of a means whereby two important national objects may be accomplished
and made to subserve each other: I allude to the re-establishment of
the British Southern Whale Fisheries and the Colonization of Vancouver's
Island.
2Ansd 31 Augt / 48.
Her Majesty's Government have afforded myself and brothers
every encouragement and facility for prosecuting the Whale Fisheries
from the Auckland Islands, in pursuance of the plan developed in my
pamphlet, and we have only beenprevented
prevented from carrying out the project
by unexpected causes; these being, first, the delay occasioned by a
fruitless negotiation arising out of proposals made to us on the part of
the South Sea Company, but which they afterwards found could not, owing
to peculiar circumstances, be fulfilled; and Secondly, the disturbed
State of Monetary and Commercial affairs which supervened, and has
rendered abortive all attempts to come before the public with the view
to the formation of a Company. —
prevented from carrying out the project
by unexpected causes; these being, first, the delay occasioned by a
fruitless negotiation arising out of proposals made to us on the part of
the South Sea Company, but which they afterwards found could not, owing
to peculiar circumstances, be fulfilled; and Secondly, the disturbed
State of Monetary and Commercial affairs which supervened, and has
rendered abortive all attempts to come before the public with the view
to the formation of a Company. —On referring to my pamphlet Your Lordship will perceive that I have
alluded to and contemplated carrying on the Fishery in the North as well
as in the South Pacific Ocean; and although certainly we do not require
any [...] fixed Station, in the former of those Seas at which torefresh
refresh our
Vessels, this still, if, as I infer, Her Majesty's Government considers it
important that Vancouver's Island should be Colonized, and we can be assured of obtaining there the means of refreshing
our crews and taking
in supplies of Stores, &c., we should not only feel ourselves bound, but
should find it our interest to make that island the place of rendezvous
for our Ships, in the same manner that the Sandwich islands (which have
sprung into great importance and prosperity in consequence) are the
general rendezvous for American Whalers. —
refresh our
Vessels, this still, if, as I infer, Her Majesty's Government considers it
important that Vancouver's Island should be Colonized, and we can be assured of obtaining there the means of refreshing
our crews and taking
in supplies of Stores, &c., we should not only feel ourselves bound, but
should find it our interest to make that island the place of rendezvous
for our Ships, in the same manner that the Sandwich islands (which have
sprung into great importance and prosperity in consequence) are the
general rendezvous for American Whalers. —It is impossible to imagine how VanCouver's Island, considering its
remote position and great distance from the Mother-Country, can be of
any commercial advantage, or made to hold out anyinducement
inducement to parties
to locate themselves there as Settlers, unless by being adapted to the
purposes of a Whaling Station; and Your Lordship will perceive from the
enclosed Copy of a letter from me to Sir Henry Pelly (written some
Months since, and in consequence of Sir Henry Pelly having himself been
the first to moot the subject in a conversation between us) that the
idea of Colonizing Vancouver's Island by making it a Whaling Station in
connexion with our own is not new to me. —
inducement to parties
to locate themselves there as Settlers, unless by being adapted to the
purposes of a Whaling Station; and Your Lordship will perceive from the
enclosed Copy of a letter from me to Sir Henry Pelly (written some
Months since, and in consequence of Sir Henry Pelly having himself been
the first to moot the subject in a conversation between us) that the
idea of Colonizing Vancouver's Island by making it a Whaling Station in
connexion with our own is not new to me. —As, then, it would appear that Her Majesty's Government contemplate
urging the Hudson's Bay Company to colonize Vancouver's Island, I would
respectfully suggest to Your Lordship that the end in question might be
at once attained by the Hudson's Bay, or Puget SoundCompany
Company (of which
latter, I believe, Sir Henry Pelly is Chairman, and which has a large
Capital whereof not more than about one-third is paid up) effecting a
junction of interests with us. If, therefore, Your Lordship should
think favourably of the proposition I have hazarded, I do not doubt but
your Lordship's recommendation of it to the Companies referred to would
have great weight, and be attended with a satisfactory result, as it is
obvious that such an arrangement as that contemplated would be mutually
beneficial to all parties. —
Company (of which
latter, I believe, Sir Henry Pelly is Chairman, and which has a large
Capital whereof not more than about one-third is paid up) effecting a
junction of interests with us. If, therefore, Your Lordship should
think favourably of the proposition I have hazarded, I do not doubt but
your Lordship's recommendation of it to the Companies referred to would
have great weight, and be attended with a satisfactory result, as it is
obvious that such an arrangement as that contemplated would be mutually
beneficial to all parties. —Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Enderby to Sir J.H. Pelly, Hudson's Bay Company, 5 April 1848, discussing the advantages of promoting Vancouver Island as a whaling station.
Minutes by CO staff
Regr.
Acknowledge & say that I can give no opinn or advice upon this subject to the Puget Sound Associatn, [...] but must leave him to communicate directly with that body. —
Acknowledge & say that I can give no opinn or advice upon this subject to the Puget Sound Associatn, [...] but must leave him to communicate directly with that body. —
G.
25/
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Enderby, 31 August 1848, advising that
the matter should be referred directly to the companies in question.
Minutes by CO staff
Lord Grey.
Is there any objection to transmitting Mr Enderbys letter to the H.B.Cy recommending it to their attention? The project of making Vancouvers Id a Whaling Station has long been entertained in the City by parties connected with the Whale Fishery — & it might lead not only to increased settlements there, but to more frequent & regular communication with England, which is of importance in regard to Colonization?
Is there any objection to transmitting Mr Enderbys letter to the H.B.Cy recommending it to their attention? The project of making Vancouvers Id a Whaling Station has long been entertained in the City by parties connected with the Whale Fishery — & it might lead not only to increased settlements there, but to more frequent & regular communication with England, which is of importance in regard to Colonization?
I think the applicatn shd be made direct.
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
453
copy
13. Great St Helen’s
5 April, 1848
5 April, 1848
My dear Sir,
With reference to a conversation which I had with you on Saturday last, on the subject
of the Whale Fisheries and Vancouver’s Island, it may be as well for me to observe that in pages 55 and 56 of my pamphlet I have
laid down my reasons for selecting the Auckland Islands as, in all respects, the most eligible station from whence to prosecute the trade.
To the arguments there urged I can scarcely make any addition, and they constitute
the basis whereas I found my conclusion that we can not only complete successfully
with the Americans, but bear down eventually any opposition on their part. This time
of argument must, however, lose its force if the main station be transferred from
the South to the North Pacific, and Vancouver’s Island be selected instead of the Auckland Islands, the Americans
Americans occupying California. Having, as I trust, now clearly explained myself on this point, I will refer to
the subject more especially considered, viz, the settlement and Colonisation of Vancouver’s Island, and this, it appears to me, would be best effected by making it a subsidiary whaling
station to the main one at the Aucklands. You are aware that very extensive Whale Fisheries are prosecuted in the North Pacific
Ocean, the same commencing generally in October; as also that the Whaling Ships, whether
from Europe or America, refresh on the outward and homeward passage at the Sandwich Islands, and I need scarcely observe that from the more casual visits of the Vessels the
islands have sprung into consideration and importance.
Americans occupying California. Having, as I trust, now clearly explained myself on this point, I will refer to
the subject more especially considered, viz, the settlement and Colonisation of Vancouver’s Island, and this, it appears to me, would be best effected by making it a subsidiary whaling
station to the main one at the Aucklands. You are aware that very extensive Whale Fisheries are prosecuted in the North Pacific
Ocean, the same commencing generally in October; as also that the Whaling Ships, whether
from Europe or America, refresh on the outward and homeward passage at the Sandwich Islands, and I need scarcely observe that from the more casual visits of the Vessels the
islands have sprung into consideration and importance.Now, provided that Vessels could obtain the necessary provisions and stores at Vancouver’s Island, this would be preferable to the Sandwich Islands as a place of resort for them, more especially when it is considered that all disturbance
or disagreements
disagreements amongst the Masters and crews could be arranged and settled on the
spot through the medium of British law.
disagreements amongst the Masters and crews could be arranged and settled on the
spot through the medium of British law.I have expressed my opinion that this Vessels equipped from the Auckland Islands for the Fishery should be of the burthen of 250 tons each; not that I contemplate
they will uniformly fill with oil, since I have averaged their purpose of enabling
the Vessels to carry conveniently their boats and crew.
Now the evils I have pointed out in pages 44, 45 and 46 of my pamphlet, as regards
the freighting of the oil to England in Whaling ships with but half cargoes, would
equally apply, though in a minor sense, to the Fishery in the North Pacific. For
example, I will suppose 100 Vessels to proceed from the Auckland Islands to fish in the North Pacific, and that the quantity of oil obtained during the season
is only sufficient to fill 80 of them. In such case it would be productive of a considerable
saving both 
both highin time and expense if we could have a station at Vancouver’s Island, at which the Vessels could discharge their cargoes and get a refit, and where an
agent could settle the wages of the crews of such of the Vessels as might remain.
both highin time and expense if we could have a station at Vancouver’s Island, at which the Vessels could discharge their cargoes and get a refit, and where an
agent could settle the wages of the crews of such of the Vessels as might remain.By such an arrangement great advantages might be expected to accrue, as the 20 Vessels
referred to, instead of returning to the Auckland Islands, could prosecute the sperm
Whale Fishery from October to May; or if found advisable, some of them might be employed
in conveying Coals, or in trading to India, China, Japan, or other places in the Pacific
Ocean, thus extending British commerce as also connecting British interests in those
seas. — I am medium&c
(Signed) Chas Enderby
Footnotes
- This addressee information appears at the foot of the first page of the despatch.
- This text runs perpendicular to main body text; see image scan.
People in this document
Grey, Right Honorable, Second Baronet, Sir George