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 5 January 1854, CO 305:5, no. 3205, 1.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (6), Other documents (3).
Douglas writes to Newcastle to report the wreck of the Lord Western, "on the west coast of Vancouver Island," while bound for San Francisco. Douglas details the dramatic rescue, by the HBC's Otter, and requests that the government defray the total expense of "£131.0.0." for the
rescue.
The minutes note that the rescue of the "Shipwrecked British Seamen" should be paid
from "Imperial Funds," but the remainder of rescue-costs, and a system for future
cases, is difficult to determine, and Merivale asks that the Treasury receive Douglas's's despatch and report back with their view.
The file includes nine documents. The first a draft letter from Newcastle to Douglas, which agrees that the "Trust Fund" is appropriate to defray the Lord Western's rescue-costs, as it is for "local purposes;" the second is a draft letter from
the Colonial Office to Colvile, which confirms that the Lord Western's rescue-expenses be paid out of the colonial trust fund; the third is a draft letter
from the Colonial Office to Trevelyan, Treasury, which forwards a copy of Douglas's despatch and seeks agreement with Newcastle's view
that said expenses be repaid to the HBC from government funds. The remaining six documents
relate to the rescue of the Lord Western, and expenses for the same.
No. 1
The British Barque "Lord Western", of about 500 tons burden, having
been wrecked through stress of weather, on the west coast of Vancouver's
Island, in the month of November last, while bound from Victoria to the
Port of San Francisco, with a full cargo of timber, and salt fish, the
greater part of which was shipped on freight, by Mr Robert Swanston,
Merchant of this place; I was apprised of those circumstances by him, in
a letter, of which I herewith enclose a copy, and which also contains a
requisition on this Government for assistance in relieving the Master
whose nameis
is Parker, and three of the Mariners who were left near the
wreck, among the savages, in a state of great destitution, while the
remnant of the crew, effected a return to this place, in the Ship's
boats.
is Parker, and three of the Mariners who were left near the
wreck, among the savages, in a state of great destitution, while the
remnant of the crew, effected a return to this place, in the Ship's
boats.
He moreover informed me in a personal conference, that he could
give no security for any expenses, incurred for that object, as he
possessed no interest in the ship, and knew that the owners had no other
property, and would be altogether ruined by the loss of their vessel;
and for that and other reasons, stated in his letter, he had made
application to me for assistance on the part of this Government.
The onus of relief was therefore thrown wholly upon the Government
and it being a case admitting of no delay, seeing that the unfortunate
men, unless speedily succoured, might perish of hunger, or fall a prey
to the merciless savage; I immediately proceeded to secure the services
of the Hudson's Bay Company's Steam Propeller "Otter," and despatched
her upon that Mission, on the 20th Ultimo. She fortunately reached the scene of the disaster, in time to save Captain Parker, and his
fellow sufferers, whowere
were found among the natives, and brought in
safety to this Port, on the 26th Ultimo.
were found among the natives, and brought in
safety to this Port, on the 26th Ultimo.
A copy of my correspondence, in reference to the steps taken for
the relief of the "Lord Western's" crew, and of a letter received from
Captain Parker, on his return to this place, expressive of his gratitude
for that relief, are herewith transmitted for your Grace's information.
I now beg to receive your Grace's instructions in respect to the
payment of the expenses incurred for that object; those being the
charter of the Steam Propeller "Otter", and for clothing given through
my orders, to the seamen of the "Lord Western", on their arrival here,
in a perfectly destitute state.
That account amounting in all to £131.0.0. is herewith transmitted.
Though I have in that instance acted for the best interests of
humanity, and in behalf of Her Majesty's subjects in distress, yet
having done so, without specific or even general instructions on the
subject; I naturally feel some anxiety to learn, if those proceedings
meet with Your Graces approval and whether the expenses incurred, are to
be defrayed out of the TrustFund
Fund of this Colony, or by the Imperial
Government, and I have to beg that your Grace will direct accordingly.
Fund of this Colony, or by the Imperial
Government, and I have to beg that your Grace will direct accordingly.
Awaiting your Grace's instructions on that point and with respect
to the amount of aid, which I am authorised to afford, when applied to
for assistance, in behalf of persons shipwrecked, on the
uninhabited coasts of Vancouver's Island, when beyond the reach or
destitute of assistance from other sources.
His Grace the Right Honble
The Duke of Newcastle
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
The Duke of Newcastle
Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State
For the Colonial Department
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
The expenses incurred on account of these Shipwrecked British Seamen will be defrayed from Imperial Funds? Request the Treasury to repay the amount to the Hudson's Bay Company? The Governor asks for instructions as to the amount of aid he is authorized to afford in cases of that nature, but this
is a point on which it would appear to be difficult to
give any precise instructions—the extent of relief must materially
depend on the circumstances of each case?
The expenses incurred on account of these Shipwrecked British Seamen will be defrayed from Imperial Funds? Request the Treasury to repay the amount to the Hudson's Bay Company? The Governor asks for instructions as to the amount of aid he is authorized to afford in cases of that nature, but this
is a point on which it would appear to be difficult to
give any precise instructions—the extent of relief must materially
depend on the circumstances of each case?
VJ
15 April
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to A. Colvile, Hudson's Bay Company, 31 May
1855 [1854], forwarding copy of despatch and advising that the expenses
incurred should be paid out of the colonial trust fund.
Minutes by CO staff
This trust fund is in the hands of the H.B. Company: & it is
therefore proper to apprize that Co that H.M. Govt consider it
liable for the expense on acct of the Lord Western.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
1. Receipt dated 29 December 1853 bearing signatures (or marks) of
11 shipwrecked seamen who received 1 each for clothing.
2. Statement of expenses incurred in rescue of the crew of the
Lord Western, dated Fort Victoria, 28 December 1853, and signed by
R. Finlayson, Chief Trader, Hudson's Bay Company.
3. Copy, Robert Swanston to Douglas, 19 December 1853, enclosing
Statement of crew members of the Lord Western and seeking
government assistance to rescue remainder of crew.
[Statement of crew not on file.]
4. Copy, Douglas to Captain Millar, in command of the Otter,
20 December 1853, instructing him to undertake the rescue.
5. Copy, Richard Golledge, Private Secretary to Douglas, to
Swanston, 20 December 1853, informing him of the steps being taken by
Douglas.
P. Parker, Master of the Lord Western, to Douglas, 26
December 1853, thanking him for the assistance rendered.