Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Labouchere, Henry 20 April 1857, CO 305:8, no. 5817, 45.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (untranscribed) (2), Other documents (2).
Douglas informs the Colonial Office of Commander Swartwout’s report of an “assemblage of Northern Indians, on Vancouver’s Island or in its immediate vicinity, preparatory to a combined hostile movement into the
American Territory.” Douglas was not aware of this “muster” but “refrained from giving a decided opinion.” He
reports that the Natives in question are “quiet and submissive to all the police regulations.”
The minutes advise that they ask the Admiralty what Naval force is at Vancouver Island. The Colonial authorities observe that Douglas’s “language & conduct” inspires “strong confidence in his judgment,” but they worry
that he may be “overpowered or drawn against his will into the Indian War now raging
in Washington Territory.”
Enclosed is a draft from Merivale to the Secretary of the Admiralty forwarding this report and enquiring into the disposition
of naval forces in the North Pacific; a draft from Merivale to Hammond forwarding the despatch to the Foreign Office; a letter from Swartwout to Douglas, reporting rumours from Bellingham Bay that a large gathering of Northern Indigenous forces on Vancouver Island were planning to attack American settlements and asking if there were any grounds
for such fears; and a reply from Douglas to Swartwout stating that similar reports had circulated in Victoria but he believed them to be unfounded.
No. 11
1. I herewith transmit for your information, copies of a
correspondence with Commander Swartwout, commanding the United States
Steamer "Massachusetts" on the subject of a reported assemblage of
Northern Indians, on Vancouver's Island or in itsimmediate
immediate vicinity,
preparatory to a combined hostile movement into the American Territory,
a report which he observes has given rise to much excitement and caused
great alarm among the inhabitants of Washington Territory.
immediate vicinity,
preparatory to a combined hostile movement into the American Territory,
a report which he observes has given rise to much excitement and caused
great alarm among the inhabitants of Washington Territory.
2. Not being aware that the northern Indians entertain the designs
imputed to them by such reports, and having recently received
intelligence from those parts of Vancouver's Island which in the event
of a meditated attack upon the American Settlements, the Northern
Indians would probably select, as a rendezvous I feelassured
assured that no
such muster of Indians has taken place.
assured that no
such muster of Indians has taken place.
3. I stated my opinion, to that effect, in replying to Captain
Swartwout's communication and also the arrival of a large party of
Northern Indians at this place.
4. I however refrained from giving a decided opinion as to their
future conduct or intentions, though I do not think that they meditate
evil against the whites, yet being the creatures of impulse, no sort of
confidence can be reposed in them.
5. Many other gangs of those savages to the number in all of 60
large canoes, have since arrived here: a number sufficientlyalarming
alarming,
considering their character, and the weak state of the settlements.
They however continue quiet and submissive to all the police
regulations, which we have thought it proper to establish.
alarming,
considering their character, and the weak state of the settlements.
They however continue quiet and submissive to all the police
regulations, which we have thought it proper to establish.
The Right Honble Henry Labouchere Esqre
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
Mr Merivale
I do not think that there is any positive occasion for communicating this to the F.O. & H.B.Co: but still you may deem it proper to take that course.
I do not think that there is any positive occasion for communicating this to the F.O. & H.B.Co: but still you may deem it proper to take that course.
Perhaps it wd be advisable to ask the Admy to inform Mr
Labouchere what naval force was at V.C. Island & where.
ABd
27 June
Mr Fortescue
Governor Douglas's language & conduct have been such, I think, as to inspire strong confidence in his judgment & power of managing cases like this: still, considering the extreme weakness of his settlement, he may be over powered or drawn against his will into the Indian war now raging in Washington Territory.
Governor Douglas's language & conduct have been such, I think, as to inspire strong confidence in his judgment & power of managing cases like this: still, considering the extreme weakness of his settlement, he may be over powered or drawn against his will into the Indian war now raging in Washington Territory.
I think all the steps mentioned by Mr Blackwood should be taken?
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to Secretary to the Admiralty, 10 July 1857,
forwarding copy of the despatch and enquiring into the disposition of
naval forces in the North Pacific.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
1. Commander S. Swartwout, U.S. Navy, to Douglas, 4 April 1857,
reporting rumours from Bellingham Bay that a large gathering of Northern Indigenous forces on Vancouver Island were planning to attack American settlements
and asking if "in your good judgment" there were any grounds for such
fears.
