Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes 8 June 1853, CO 305:4, no. 8062, 45.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (untranscribed) (6), Other documents (2).
Douglas writes to Newcastle to relate that Captain Prevost has returned from an exploratory voyage of “the Queen Charlotte Groupe” with a report, of which Douglas transmits a copy. Douglas then offers observations on the report, and in so doing covers a broad range of subjects,
from mining interests to Aboriginal relations, and to the circumstances around the
capture, plunder, and eventual immolation of the Susan Sturges.
The minutes, among other things, ask that the Foreign Office be informed of the portions
of Douglas’s despatch that pertain to the case of the Susan Sturges, in anticipation of, as Newcastle concludes, “any remonstrance from the U.S.”
Of the eight documents enclosed in this file, the first is a draft letter, from the
Colonial Office to Addington, that forwards extracts of Douglas’s despatch; the second is a draft reply, from Newcastle to Douglas, that acknowledges Douglas’s report; the third is a letter, from Prevost to Douglas, that reports on the Virago’s visit to the Queen Charlotte Islands (QCI); the fourth, from Douglas to Prevost, forwards copies of a proclamation and regulations on gold mining at QCI; fifth is a letter, from Douglas to Prevost, that acknowledges Prevost’s letter on the Virago’s intention to visit QCI; the sixth is a letter, again from Douglas to Prevost, that asks Prevost to investigate the causes that lead to the fate of the Susan Sturges; the seventh is a notice, posted by Prevost at "Mitchell Harbour," that claims British land and gold rights; and the eighth is a report, from Rooney to Douglas, that details the fate of the Susan Sturges.
No. 2, Executive [Queen Charlotte Islands]
I have the honor to inform your Grace that Her Majesty's Steam
Sloop "Virago", Captain Prevost, has just returned from a voyage of
observation to Queen Charlottes Island, and a copy of his report is
herewith transmitted [Marginal note: 29&th May 1853], for the
information of Her Majestys Government.
In the course of that cruize Captain Prevost, completely
circumnavigated the Island, or more properly speaking the Queen
Charlotte Groupe, for it consists of three or more Islands, and visited
its principal harbours.
In pursuance of my instructions to him, [Marginal note: 27th
April 1853], he left in Mitchel Harbour,the
the notice which accompanies
the copy of his letter [Marginal note: 24th April 1853],
warning all persons against settling there or disturbing the soil in
search of Gold, without a Licence.
the notice which accompanies
the copy of his letter [Marginal note: 24th April 1853],
warning all persons against settling there or disturbing the soil in
search of Gold, without a Licence.
He found the Natives friendly and obliging, on every part of the
Island which he visited; they had a few pieces of gold in their
possession, for which they asked a price greatly above its value: one
of those pieces, about an ounce in weight is described as being a nodule
of pure gold, except at one point, which was coated with grains of white
quartz, shewing that it had been attached to a bed of that rock. The
natives declared that they had not discovered any beds of Gold except
that formerly worked in Mitchel Harbour, which appears to be exhausted.
I am however disposed to question the correctness of their statements,
on that subject, and to think that their acquaintance with the Gold
deposits of the Island is more extensive than they chose to reveal, and
that feeling is rather strengthened by a report of their having
repeatedly taken quantities of lump and dust gold, for sale to the
Russian Settlements in Norfolk Sound.Captain
Captain Prevost, also procured
specimens of Coal at Skiddegate's harbour, a discovery which may become
of much future importance to the country.
Captain Prevost, also procured
specimens of Coal at Skiddegate's harbour, a discovery which may become
of much future importance to the country.
The seam is about 24 inches thick and crops out from a cliff nearly
100 feet above the sea level, and at the distance interiorly of one mile
from the coast. Specimens of Arsenic and Antimony were also procured by
Captain Prevost, and I have received a specimen of a massive ore, which
contains Manganese, Antimony and a small portion of silver.
The physical character of those Islands, as described in Captain
Prevost's letter, agrees in almost every particular, with the accounts I
have received from other sources, which unite in representing them as
unfavorable for settlement.
The general surface is mountainous and there is no level land
except, a district near the north end of the Island, and it is in every
point thickly covered with trees, chiefly fine large pines, which will
form a valuable export; and by that means may be cleared away for the
cultivation of the soil.
The natives cultivate the potatoe to some extent on thehigh
high
beaches, and along the edges of the forest, where the soil is productive
and yields large crops of that vegetable. The coasts abound with fish
of various sorts on which the natives chiefly subsist and also prepare
large quantities for barter with the Tribes, who inhabit the shores of
the continent, with whom they carry on a brisk trade.
high
beaches, and along the edges of the forest, where the soil is productive
and yields large crops of that vegetable. The coasts abound with fish
of various sorts on which the natives chiefly subsist and also prepare
large quantities for barter with the Tribes, who inhabit the shores of
the continent, with whom they carry on a brisk trade.
No vessels were seen in the course of the Virago's cruize and there
were no traces of any parties having been on the Islands for the purpose
of working gold, since the visit of Her Majesty's Ship "Thetis", in
October last.
The capture of the American Schooner "Susan Sturges" Matthew
Rooney, Master, mentioned in Captain Prevost's report, was made by the
Masset Tribe, and other Indians belonging to the north end of Queen
Charlotte's Island and the Russian Islands of the Prince of Wales'
Archipelago, on the 26th of September last, and is one of those
unfortunate occurrences which it is exceedingly difficult to deal with.
The Indians took and plundered the vessel, and are therefore deserving
of punishment;but
but, as they spared the lives of the crew and committed
no further atrocity, I do not suppose that Her Majestys Government would
approve of their being put to the sword.
but, as they spared the lives of the crew and committed
no further atrocity, I do not suppose that Her Majestys Government would
approve of their being put to the sword.
I have moreover ascertained that Captain Rooney who was engaged in
carrying on an illicit trade was warned to leave the coast by Captain
Kuper of Her Majesty's Ship Thetis, in the month of July last, and that
he was repeatedly cautioned by the Officers of the Hudson's Bay
Company's service in respect to the bold and daring character of the
natives, yet we find that, despite those cautions, he did, a few months
afterwards, return to the coast of Queen Charlotte's Island for the
express purpose of trading with the natives, in a small vessel manned
with a complement of seven hands including himself and Mate, and in
every other respect insufficiently provided with the means of defence;
and in consequence she fell an easy prey to the savages who boarded her
in great numbers, overpowered the crew, and after plundering her of
every article ofvalue
value, burnt and destroyed the vessel.
value, burnt and destroyed the vessel.
In the whole of his proceedings Captain Rooney displayed a
lamentable want of judgment, and a total disregard of those precautions
which reason and humanity should have taught him were necessary for the
safety of the lives and property under his care, and moreover when it is
considered that he was committing a violation of law, in trading on the
British coast without a Licence, your Grace will perceive all the
difficulties which surround this case.
In those circumstances I should have declined inflicting any
punishment whatever on those Indians, until I had an opportunity of
receiving your Graces instructions on the subject, had it not been for
the effect produced on the minds of the Natives themselves, who are so
ignorant of the customs of civilized nations, that they cannot be made
to understand their motives of action, and have a very indistinct idea
of the difference between English and American vessels. They have
committed a crime, for which they expect to be punished, and if that
punishment be much longerdeferred,
deferred, they may be tempted to commit
outrages of greater daring and atrocity. They are naturally much elated
with the capture of the "Susan Sturges", and have by their taunting
addresses to other Tribes, incited them, though yet without success, to
attack the whites.
deferred, they may be tempted to commit
outrages of greater daring and atrocity. They are naturally much elated
with the capture of the "Susan Sturges", and have by their taunting
addresses to other Tribes, incited them, though yet without success, to
attack the whites.
To check this growing spirit of evil, I have deemed it advisable to
despatch Her Majesty's Steam Sloop "Virago", to Queen Charlotte's Island
to enquire more particularly into the causes which led to the capture of
the "Susan Sturges", and if necessary to inflict such a measure of
punishment upon the authors of that outrage, as the case may require,
without however delivering their country over to military execution, or
levying war upon the Tribe at large, for which the force under Captain
Prevost's command is inadequate. I have recommended that the Chiefs
concerned in the capture should be seized, and placed in confinement
until they restore an equivalent as far as may be in their power, for
the captured property, which I am of opinion will have the desired
effect of restraining them from further acts of aggression.
I hope that measure willmeet
meet with your approval, but, should your
Grace take a view of the subject different from that which I have
entertained I beg to receive your instructions which I shall endeavour
to carry into effect.
meet with your approval, but, should your
Grace take a view of the subject different from that which I have
entertained I beg to receive your instructions which I shall endeavour
to carry into effect.
I herewith transmit a copy of my instructions to Captain Prevost,
with Captain Rooney's statement of the circumstances attending the
capture of the "Susan Sturges".
[Marginal note: 8&Sth June 1853, 22&nd December 1852]
The Right Honble His Grace The Duke of Newcastle
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Send to the Foreign Office those portions of the despatch & the correspondence which relate to the Governor's proceedings in the case of the "Susan Sturges" adding that the Duke of Newcastle proposes, if the F.O. concur, to express his approval of the Govrs conduct, & instructions to Capn Prevost. In ansg the desph approve the Proclamation left at Mitchell's
Harbor?
Send to the Foreign Office those portions of the despatch & the correspondence which relate to the Governor's proceedings in the case of the "Susan Sturges" adding that the Duke of Newcastle proposes, if the F.O. concur, to express his approval of the Govrs conduct, & instructions to Capn Prevost. In ansg the desph approve the Proclamation left at Mitchell's
Harbor?
ABd
11 Augt/53
Should this go to the F.O.?
FP
11
In anticipation of any remonstrance from the U.S. I think it had
better be sent.
better be sent.
N
13
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to H.U. Addington, Foreign Office, 23
August 1853, forwarding extracts of the despatch for information and
approval.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
3. Prevost to Douglas, 29 May 1853, reporting the proceedings of the
Virago's visit to the Queen Charlotte Islands, including information
about the attack on the Susan Sturges, and offering to return
to discourage further hostilities by the natives.
2. Douglas to Prevost, 27 April 1853, forwarding copies of his
proclamation and regulations respecting gold mining in the Queen
Charlottes, and authorizing Prevost to issue licences and collect fees.
[P. 55]
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
1. Douglas to Commander James C. Prevost, 27 April 1853,
acknowledging his letter of the same date advising Douglas of HMS
Virago's intended visit to the Queen Charlotte Islands and
requesting copies of any official information Douglas had issued. [P. 56]
4. Douglas to Prevost, 8 June 1853, requesting him to inquire into
the causes that led the natives to capture the Susan Sturges, and
advising that John Kennedy, Chief Trader in the service of the Hudson's
Bay Company, would accompany him to give assistance.
4.1 Matthew Rooney to Douglas, 22 December 1852, describing the
capture of the Susan Sturges and her crew. [P. 60]
People in this document
Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle Henry Pelham Fiennes