Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to
Grey, Right Honorable, Second Baronet, Sir George
6 March 1855, CO 305:6, no. 5019, 24.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (7), Other documents (3), Marginalia (4).
Douglas writes to Grey to acknowledge the receipt of Grey’s earlier despatches. Douglas expresses concern that the “Imperial Treasury” will not pay for expenses incurred
by the HBC’s “protection of the settlements” on Vancouver Island, and notes his disappointment that the Island was not included in the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States.
The minutes advise as to which sections of Douglas’s despatch should be extracted and sent on, with related correspondence, to their
respective departments.
The first of the three documents included in the file is a draft letter from Blackwood to the War Department, which forwards an extract from Douglas’s despatch, on the expenses for charter of an HBC ship; the second is a draft letter
from the Colonial Office to the Foreign Office, which forwards an extract from Douglas’s despatch, on the Reciprocity Treaty; the third is a draft reply from Molesworth to Douglas, which discusses the customs incident between Swanston and Sangster, and related subjects.
No. 1
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatches
of the numbers and dates noted in the Margin,
with their enclosures.
Originals No. 7, 18 December, and No. 8, 18 December 1854.
Circulars 7 and 13 December 1854.
Duplicates No. 5, 24 October 1854.
I herewith transmit the return as directed by your Circular
Despatch of the 13th of December 1854,which
which is a mere blank; no Laws
of quarantine having been established or considered necessary in this
Colony.
which is a mere blank; no Laws
of quarantine having been established or considered necessary in this
Colony.
Extract to War Dt. War Dep 10301/54.
This decision on the part of Her Majesty's Government, places me in
a position of peculiar difficulty, and leaves me no discretionary power,
to protect the settlements in cases of great public danger. In the
instance alluded to, the vessel chartered from the Hudsons Bay Company,
was discharged after 20 days employment in theservice
service of the Colony,
and the expenditure on that account, amounts in all to 400.
service of the Colony,
and the expenditure on that account, amounts in all to 400.
I have been on all occasions, frugal I believe, beyond example of
the public means, and it was with the utmost reluctance, that I was
induced to incur the expenditure in question under the pressure of great
public excitement, and from the consideration, that Her Majesty's
Government would be justly dissatisfied, if the settlements suffered
through any calamity, which it was within the reach of reasonable and
ordinary means to avert.
I trust that in those circumstances Her Majesty's Government will
not allow me to become the victim of my exertions for the public
service, but will in due time provide for the payment of the expenditurein
in question.
in question.
Extract for F.O. Gov 10700/54.
The Right Honble Sir George Grey Bart
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
1. The ans: to the Quarantine Circular should be sent, as usual, to
the Board of Health.
Done 1 June.
2. The passages of this despatch which relate to the Governor's
employment of the Hudson's Bay Co's vessel for the alleged defence of
the Settlement should be referred to the War Dt with refce to
the
former correspondence, and as 3. The Governor has mixed up three
subjects in one despatch, which he has been requested not to do, I wd
Suggest that he be directed to avoid a repetition of that irregularity.
former correspondence, and as 3. The Governor has mixed up three
subjects in one despatch, which he has been requested not to do, I wd
Suggest that he be directed to avoid a repetition of that irregularity.
ABd
29 May
The course proposed as to the above points may be followed but it
would be well to ascertain whether anything should be done as to the
including of V. Island in the Reciprocity Treaty with the U. States.
Mr Merivale may have some acquaintance with that subject.
JB
30 May
The passage relating to the Reciprocity Treaty may be extracted
& sent to the F.O. without comment. The Govr will, I trust,
be borne harmless for his expenses out of the Trust fund.
JR
May 30
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to F. Peel, War Department, 9 June 1855,
forwarding extract of the despatch relating to the expense "incurred in
chartering the Hudson's Bay Company's Ship."
Minutes by CO staff
Dft to F.O. annexed.
Mr Merivale
If it is intended to throw the expense off this Country, & on the Company perhaps you will see whether that can be done. See the Clause in the Grant which I have marked.
If it is intended to throw the expense off this Country, & on the Company perhaps you will see whether that can be done. See the Clause in the Grant which I have marked.
Other documents included in the file
*
Draft, Colonial Office to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 9 June 1855,
forwarding extract of the despatch relating to the reciprocity issue for
consideration.
Minutes by CO staff
Passed to Lord J. Russell with the draft to Mr Peel.
Dft to War Dt annexed.
Adverting to Lord J. Russell's minute of the 30th ulto I would
invite his Lordship's attention to Mr Peel's note on 6353/54. It is not known whence Mr Peel derived his information.
I think the letter may go as it is. It is to be presumed that
the Foreign Office possesses full knowledge.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Molesworth to Douglas, No. 1, 3 August 1855, on the customs incident between Swanston and Sangster, and related subjects.