Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Blanshard, Governor Richard
to
Grey, Third Earl, Henry George 18 November 1850, CO 305:2, no. 2726, 91.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Marginalia (2).
Blanshard writes Grey from Vancouver Island to request leave back to England, citing medical reasons: “attacks of ague.” Blanshard asks for passage to Panama on a Royal Navy ship, as, he explains, the HBC vessels are “enormously expensive;”
he adds that his time on the Island has depleted his finances.
In the minutes, Merivale supposes Blanshard's latest letter is to buttress his former resignation request. Hawes believes the resignation should be accepted, especially as there are, apparently,
no settlers yet to govern on the Island. Finally, Grey confirms that Blanshard's resignation must be accepted, which, he adds, makes Blanshard's last letter moot.
Both enclosures are letters from medical doctors which advise Blanshard's immediate return to England.
Bay Company has been removed from this colony to one of their
posts in Oregon.Should your Lordship grant this application I trust you will direct
a passage to be allowed me as far as Panama in one of H M Ships, as there
are no direct means of communication, the indirect ones are very
uncertain enormously expensive and the heavy expenses which have been
thrown on me by the Hudson Bay Company, contrary to my expectation, for
my passage out and during my residence here, have greatly straightened
my private finances,
I have the honor to be
My Lord
Your Most Obedient Servant
Richard Blanshard
Governor of Vancouvers Island
My Lord
Your Most Obedient Servant
Richard Blanshard
Governor of Vancouvers Island
Minutes by CO staff
I suppose Govr Blanshard sent this as an alternative, in case his offer of resignation is not accepted?
Govr Blanshard's father called on me to press this request some weeks ago.
HM
Mh 29
M 29.
Upon the grounds stated, it can hardly be refused. As there are
now no Settlers, a Govr may be dispensed with at present.
His resignatn must clearly be accepted. — Therefore this is immaterial
G.
31
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
John Spurgin, M.D. to Blanshard, Sr., advising that "having read extracts from Letters written by Mr Richard Blanshard from
Vancouver's Island I have no hesitation in certifying to the necessity of his immediate removal from
the island."
S.J. Goodfellow, MD, to Blanshard, Sr., advising that from the description given by Blanshard of his ailments, his removal back to England should be effected immediately.
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.