Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Corry, Henry Thomas Lowry to Merivale, Herman 22 March 1858, CO 305:9, no. 2878, 283.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (3), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (4).
Corry protests, on behalf of the Admiralty, the sale of Thetis Island in Esquimalt Harbour to a private individual. The Royal Navy regarded the island as “invaluable for Naval
purposes” and hopes that Stanley will recover it for “use of Her Majesty’s Ships.”
The minutes agree that they will help the Admiralty “if it can be done” but are unsure
of “who is in fault.” They recognize that with the current land grant to the HBC and
the fact that the Navy had not attempted to financially secure the land, the CO may
find it difficult to resolve this case of “inattention.”
Enclosed is letter from Bruce to Osborne enclosing a copy of a letter from Prevost respecting the sale of Thetis Island; Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Admiralty advising that they would communicate
with Douglas to see if the island could be recovered for the navy; Colonial Office to the governor
of the Hudson’s Bay Company regarding the sale of Thetis Island; Stanley to Douglas transmitting a copy of this despatch; and a draft from the Colonial Office to the
Secretary to the Admiralty forwarding a copy of a letter from the Hudson’s Bay Company
advising that the sale would not be completed and the island would be reserved for
the use of the navy.
Corry to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Admiralty
22nd March 1858
Sir,
I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
transmit to you the Enclosed Copies of Correspondence between
the Governor of VanCouver's Island & the Senior Naval Officer on
the Station, relative to the recent Sale of Thetis Island in
Esquimalt Harbour to a private Individual. And as it appears
that this Island hasalways
always been looked upon as Naval property,
and has been invaluable for Naval purposes; I am to request that
you will move Lord Stanley to Endeavour to recover it for the
use of Her Majesty's Ships.
always been looked upon as Naval property,
and has been invaluable for Naval purposes; I am to request that
you will move Lord Stanley to Endeavour to recover it for the
use of Her Majesty's Ships.
P.S. I am to request that the enclosures may be returned.
H. Merivale Esqe.
Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
I suppose that to get out of this difficulty we had better refer to the H.B. Company. But as the Naval Authorities regarded the Island as so valuable it is to be regretted that they did not give themselves a legal title to the property, when it cd have been secured on such easy terms.
I suppose that to get out of this difficulty we had better refer to the H.B. Company. But as the Naval Authorities regarded the Island as so valuable it is to be regretted that they did not give themselves a legal title to the property, when it cd have been secured on such easy terms.
ABd
25/3
This is a case in which we have some cause to complain of
inattention to a very plain duty, although we cannot at this
distance tell who is in fault. The grant of the land of Vanc. I. to the HBCo. expressly provides that "the Company shall
reserve for the use of us our heirs &c all such land as may be
required for the formation of naval establishments, we paying a
reasonable price for the same." Thetis Island according to this
report was so "required" and ought to have been so purchased.
But I suppose the naval officers on the station preferred using
it without paying for it & trusting to the chapter of accidents.
Now they complain that the land has been sold: but on what
possible ground? I do not suppose the Surveyor could refuse to
sell land claimed by nobody. Gov. Douglas's suggestion that the
Admy had better trust to "possession" is very public
spirited, but I am not sure what Mr Nagle the purchaser might
say to it. Point out this to the Admy? & ask the Govr for a
report. Also communicate to the HBC, but I do not see how they
can help us.
Yes—but we should at the same time make it clear to the Adm.
that we are willing to help them to get the island back, if it
can be done.
S
28
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
H.W. Bruce, Vice Admiral and Commander in Chief, to R. Osborne, Admiralty, 21 January 1858, enclosing copy of a letter
(not in file) from Captain James C. Prevost respecting the
sale of Thetis Island.
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to Secretary to the Admiralty, 31 March
1858, advising that they would communicate with Douglas to see
if the island could be recovered for the navy.
Draft, Colonial Office to Governor, Hudson's Bay Company, 31 March 1858, regarding the sale of Thetis Island.
Draft, Colonial Office to Secretary to the Admiralty, 26 April
1858, forwarding copy of a letter from the Hudson's Bay Company
advising that the sale would not be completed and the island
would be reserved for the use of the navy.