Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Despatch to London
Douglas, Sir James to Labouchere, Henry 5 May 1857, CO 305:8, no. 6331, 53.
Abstract
Despatch to London.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Enclosures (untranscribed) (5), Other documents
(1), Marginalia (3).
Douglas reports on the “subject of an apprehended hostile movement of the Northern Indians
against the United States Settlements in Puget’s Sound.” The “alarm,” he informs, was “increased by certain incautious statements made by
Mr Griffin.” Purportedly Griffin advised a Customs Collector on San Juan Island to abandon his post to avoid the “hostility of the Northern Tribes.” Douglas also reports the “alarm” and dispersal of “Northern Indians” in Sooke.
The minutes suspect that Griffin “succeeded in frightening away” an American authority from the “disputed island,
which it is to be hoped will soon cease to be disputed.” But the Colonial Office does
worry that the “gatherings among the Northern tribes do portend possible danger of
a very serious cast.”
Enclosed is a draft from Merivale to Hammond forwarding a copy of the despatch to the Foreign Office and five correspondences
regarding the arrival of “Northern Indians” and the safety of American officials on
San Juan Island.
No. 12
1. I herewith transmit for your information copies of a
correspondence with His Excellency Isaac I. Stevens Governor of
Washington Territory [Marginal note: Nos 1 & 5], on the subject of an
apprehended hostile movement of the Northern Indians against the United
States Settlements in Puget's Sound.
The
2. The alarm which has spread very generally among the inhabitants
of those settlements has, it appears, been increased by certain
incautious statements made by Mr Griffin the gentleman in command of
the Hudson's Bay Company's settlement on the Island of San Juan, in a
letter addressed by him to Mr Frost [Marginal note: No 4, 4th
April], Collector of the Customs for the United States at Port Townsend
of which a copy is forwarded; a letter which induced Mr Olney, to
abandon his Post at San Juan.
3. Mr Olney was stationed at San Juan by the United States
Authorities, as sub-Collector, with the view, I presume, of tacitly
maintaining the claim of the United States,to
to that portion of Her
Majesty's Territories; but, at the same time, without pretending to levy
duties, or otherwise exercise any official power or authority, in the
disputed Territory.
to that portion of Her
Majesty's Territories; but, at the same time, without pretending to levy
duties, or otherwise exercise any official power or authority, in the
disputed Territory.
4. Governor Stevens in his letter appeals to me for information
relative to the statements of Mr Griffin, and respecting the reported
hostility of the Northern Tribes. On those subjects I have told the
simple truth, that Mr Griffin had made no communication to me on the
subject of those statements; but I supposed that he had acted from
motives of humanity, in advising Mr Olney's retirement, from the Island of San Juan.
5. The presence of the vastnumber
number of Northern Indians, who have
lately swarmed into this Colony, has justly alarmed the people of our
own settlements; but there is no present remedy for the evil; except the
measures to which I have resorted, for maintaining quiet and order.
number of Northern Indians, who have
lately swarmed into this Colony, has justly alarmed the people of our
own settlements; but there is no present remedy for the evil; except the
measures to which I have resorted, for maintaining quiet and order.
6. I have stated in my reply to Governor Stevens [Marginal note:
No 5 1t May], that the Northern Indians, do not evince any
unfriendliness of disposition, and I have promised to communicate with
him, should any thing hereafter appear to the contrary.
7. I trust that the assurance so conveyed in my letter, may serve
to allay the fears of the inhabitants of Washington Territory, and to
inspire them with greaterconfidence
confidence in their own power and resources.
confidence in their own power and resources.
8. The other day a Requisition for aid was made upon me, by the
inhabitants of "Soake," (Vancouver's Island), in consequence of the
great concourse of Northern Indians at that place. I responded to the
call without delay, and returned from thence yesterday in the Hudson's
Bay Company's Steamer "Otter", which I made use of for the occasion.
The Indians who caused the alarm have been dispersed, and
confidence restored to the people of that Settlement. I advised them to
conceal their fears, and to assume on all occasions, a bold countenancewith
with Indian visitors, in order to impress their rude minds with a
feeling of respect, for the power and resources of Government.
with Indian visitors, in order to impress their rude minds with a
feeling of respect, for the power and resources of Government.
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
Mr Griffin wd seem from these papers to have caused unnecessary alarm at San Juan. Copy to F.O. and H.B.Co?
Mr Griffin wd seem from these papers to have caused unnecessary alarm at San Juan. Copy to F.O. and H.B.Co?
ABd
13 Juy
Mr Griffin certainly seems to have succeeded in frightening away
the U.S. "man in charge" from the disputed island,
which it is to be
hoped will soon cease to be disputed, commissioners having been named to
terminate this difference. But it seems to me that these continued
accounts of gatherings among the Northern tribes do portend possible
danger of a very serious cast.
the U.S. "man in charge" from the disputed island,
which it is to be
hoped will soon cease to be disputed, commissioners having been named to
terminate this difference. But it seems to me that these continued
accounts of gatherings among the Northern tribes do portend possible
danger of a very serious cast.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Merivale to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 6 August 1857,
forwarding copy of the despatch and enclosures.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
No. 1. Governor Isaac I. Stevens, Washington Territory, to
Douglas, 17 April 1857, enclosing Frost to Stevens, with subenclosure
Griffin to Frost, and asking if Douglas had received any further
information and asking if "in your judgement the presence of Mr Olney
at San Juan will be dangerous to him."
No. 2. Morris H. Frost, United States Collector of Customs, to
Stevens, 5 April 1857, enclosing letter from Charles Griffin and warning
that 2000 "Northern Indians" were on their way to Victoria,"to have revenge for their people," and that Douglas had advised Griffin to advise Olney to leave
the island. Transcribed below.
No. 4 Charles John Griffin to Frost, 4 April 1857, reporting that "several large canoes of Northern Indians" had arrieved at Victoria in the past forty-eight hours and strongly advising Olney to leave the island.
No. 5. Douglas to Stevens, 1 May 1857, advising that he had not
before received any similar communication from Griffin, and that "a great number of Northern Indians, in 60 large canoes, have arrived at
this place," but remain peaceful. Transcribed below.
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
In6440/57
No. 2
Sir,
Accompanying you will please find a copy of a letter I received this day from Charles J. Griffin. Esquire - (Superintendent of the Bellevue Farms on San Juan Island) which was received by the hands of Mr. Olney (of San Juan) the Inspector of Customs for that Island, You will see from
from the terror of Mr. Griffin’s letter that the long looked for difficulty with the Northern Indians is approaching.
To Hon. I. I. Stevens Gov of Washington Territory
from the terror of Mr. Griffin’s letter that the long looked for difficulty with the Northern Indians is approaching.From what private information I obtain from Mr. Olney, I learn that Captain William Webster of this Territory stopped at San Juan on Friday last on his way to Bellingham Bay, to inform the inhabitants of the intended movement of the Northern Indians. At that
time but few of them had arrived at Victoria, and were in noway secret in expressing their intentions. They saw that there were
2000 of them, on their way down from the North, most of which had stopped at Nanaimo, and they were determined to have revenge for their people that had been killed
killed by the Bostons.
killed by the Bostons.On Saturday morning the 4th instant Governor Douglas despatched one Napoleon a half breed, with a letter to Mr. Griffin, in which he reiterated the account given by Captain Webster and advising Mr. Griffin, to advise Olney to leave the Island of San Juan, as his life without doubt would be taken by the Northern Indians. From all the information
I can obtain I am fully satisfied that this is no false alarm.
Governor Douglas for the protection of Victoria and the adjoining country has ordered a guard on duty of 150 to 200 men.
I forward this information so as to give you the earliest information
information, so that you can make the necessary arrangements to meet the threatened
danger when it comes. The Citizens of this place meet tomorrow, to form themselves
into a body to keep guard, and to be in readiness in case they should come upon us.
information, so that you can make the necessary arrangements to meet the threatened
danger when it comes. The Citizens of this place meet tomorrow, to form themselves
into a body to keep guard, and to be in readiness in case they should come upon us. I understand that it was the intention of Commander Lieutenant of the Steamer
Massachusetts, when he felt this place last to proceed to California, but I am informed by Mr. Olney, that she was seen near Victoria on Friday last and no doubt weak in which if correct she will hear of the news, and remain with us I hope.