Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch from London
Grey, Right Honorable, Second Baronet, Sir George
to
Douglas, Sir James 18 December 1854, LAC :, 207.
Abstract
Despatch from London.
Enclosures (untranscribed) (5).
Grey writes to Douglas to forward a copy of Swanston's complaints against Sangster, who denied the William Allen permission "to proceed to other Harbours of the Island for the purpose of collecting Native
produce." Grey observes that Douglas has witheld a document pertinent to Swanston's case, and asks for a report on the accusations in the same, and the reason for
the breech of correspondence-protocol.
No. 6
Downing Street
18 December 1854
Sir,
I transmit to you the copy of a Memorial from Mr Robert Swanston
complaining of the conduct of the Collector of Customs at Port Victoria in refusing to grant a permit for his Vessel the "William Allen" to
proceed to other Harboursof
of the Island for the purpose of collecting
Native produce.
of the Island for the purpose of collecting
Native produce.
I observe from one of the enclosures annexed to this Memorial that
you declined on a former occasion to transmit to the Secretary of State
a representation from the same individual, and there may possibly have
been sufficient grounds to justify that course, but as it appears from
the endorsement of the present Memorial that you are in possession of
the original, and as I have received no communication fromyou
you on the
subject I have to request that you will furnish me with a report on the
allegations contained in it, explaining at the same time any reasons
which may have induced you to withhold the transmission of this and the
document above referred to, in contravention of the established rules for
the conduct of Official correspondence.
you on the
subject I have to request that you will furnish me with a report on the
allegations contained in it, explaining at the same time any reasons
which may have induced you to withhold the transmission of this and the
document above referred to, in contravention of the established rules for
the conduct of Official correspondence.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
1.3 Richard Gollege to Swanston, 27 March 1854, returning his memorial because Douglas did not think it proper to forward to London.
1.4 Document signed by E.E. Langford, 18 April 1854, verifying the
authenticity of Gollege's letter of 27 March.