Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Colvile, Andrew Wedderburn to Labouchere, Henry 6 December 1855, CO 305:6, no. 11301, 275.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (1).
Colvile writes to Labouchere to acknowledge correspondence on Admiral Bruce’s “visit to Vancouver's Island,” and to discuss the “superiority” of “Esquimalt Harbour” as a site for a “Naval Establishment.”
In the minutes, Jadis asks if the HBC should be given approval, in terms formerly suggested by the HBC,
for “the Sale of Land in the vicinity of Esquimalt Harbour.”
The first of the three documents included in the file is a draft letter from the Colonial
Office to Colvile, which acknowledges receipt of Colvile’s previous correspondence; the second is an extract of a letter from Moresby to the Admiralty, which recommends Esquimalt Harbour as a preferred location for a naval base; and the third is an extract of a letter
from Pelly to Grey, which requests that the HBC be given adequate warning should the government request
that certain Esquimalt lands be declared public reserve, to accommodate the naval-base site.
Colvile to Labouchere
Hudson's Bay House
6th December 1855
Sir
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Merivale's letter of the 14th Ultimo, covering copy of Despatch from Rear Admiral Bruce on the subject of his visit to Vancouver's Island; and
have to convey the thanks of the Hudson's Bay Company for the
communication.
With reference to the superiority of Esquimalt Harbour over
Victoria for the site of a Settlement, I beg to refer you to the
accompanying Extract of Letter from Rear Admiral Moresby transmitted
from the Colonial Office under date 3rd November 1851, with Extract
from the late Sir J.H. Pelly's reply of the 7th November; and to
state that directions will be transmitted to the Agent of the Hudson's
Bay Companyin
in Vancouver's Island to make no further sales of land in
the vicinity of Esquimalt Harbour, so as to obviate any difficulties in
the formation of a Naval Establishment, should Her Majesty's Government
determine to adopt the suggestion of Rear Admiral Bruce.
in Vancouver's Island to make no further sales of land in
the vicinity of Esquimalt Harbour, so as to obviate any difficulties in
the formation of a Naval Establishment, should Her Majesty's Government
determine to adopt the suggestion of Rear Admiral Bruce.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
Should any approval be conveyed to the Company of the directions which they propose to give respecting the Sale of Land in the vicinity of Esquimalt Harbour? The Govr in a despatch which is now in circulation with a draft to the Admiralty suggested that a Naval Store should be built at Esquimalt.
Should any approval be conveyed to the Company of the directions which they propose to give respecting the Sale of Land in the vicinity of Esquimalt Harbour? The Govr in a despatch which is now in circulation with a draft to the Admiralty suggested that a Naval Store should be built at Esquimalt.
VJ
7 Decr
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Colvile, 18 December 1855, acknowledging receipt of his letter and enclosures.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
1. Extract, Rear Admiral Moresby to Secretary of the Admiralty, 3 July 1851, recommending that Esquimalt harbour and its shores be reserved as "the only place where a Naval Establishment can be
formed, and admirably adapted for all its operations."
2. Extract, Governor Sir J.H. Pelly, Hudson's Bay Company, to Earl
Grey, 7 November 1851, asking that if a public reserve is needed at
Esquimalt that the company be given adequate warning "as otherwise
difficulties may occur from previous approriation."