Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Swanston, Robert S.
to
Grey, Right Honorable, Second Baronet, Sir George
17 April 1854, CO 305:5, no. 5923, 291.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (4), Enclosures (untranscribed) (5), Marginalia (1).
Swanston to Secretary of State
17th April 1854
The Right Honorable
Her Majesty's Secretary for the Colonies
Having been debarred the usual mode of access to Your Grace by
the refusal on the part of the Governor of this Colony to
forward the Accompanying Memorial: (Vide his note herewith) I
have adopted the only course open to me to obtain redress for a
most wanton
attack on my liberty, and to secure protection from
Similar attempts for the future. Trusting that the
Circumstances of the Case will hear me out in the step I have
taken, and render it perfectly admissible in the opinion of Your
Grace.
attack on my liberty, and to secure protection from
Similar attempts for the future. Trusting that the
Circumstances of the Case will hear me out in the step I have
taken, and render it perfectly admissible in the opinion of Your
Grace.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
The Governor's desph (annexed) of the 13 March (4928) supplies his version of this transaction.
The Governor's desph (annexed) of the 13 March (4928) supplies his version of this transaction.
ABd
11 July
I suppose the Governor must be written to, to ask why he did not
cho[o]se to forward this. It might however at the same time be
added that on Mr Swanston's own shewing, his grievance
seems
to be one for which the Courts alone
could afford him proper redress.
seems
to be one for which the Courts alone
I.e. I suppose the Courts of this Country
See despatch to Governor of the 18 Decr/54—in which he is
desired to explain why he did not transmit this memorial to the
Secy of State.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Swanston to Secretary of State, 18 February 1854, memorial
complaining of having been arrested, jailed, and fined without
just cause, by a court whose legality he did not recognize.
Account of the proceedings of the Vice Admiralty Court held 30
January 1854, apparently written by Swanston or his supporters
(seven pages).
Affidavit sworn before Edward Edwards Langford, Justice of the
Peace, 3 February 1854, testifying to the truth of the above
account, signed by Thomas James Skinner, Bernard Cornelius, and
James Yates.
Affidavit sworn before Langford, 3 February 1854, testifying
to the correctness of the above account, signed by William E.
Banfield and Robert John Staines.
Richard Golledge to Swanston, 27 March 1854, returning his
Memorial and remarking that "the Governor does not think proper
to forward it with his Despatches."
People in this document
Grey, Right Honorable, Second Baronet, Sir George