Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Shaw, Norton to Merivale, Herman 18 March 1858, CO 6:26, no. 2680, 246.
Abstract
Public Offices document.
Minutes (2), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Other documents (2).
Shaw transmits, on behalf of the Royal Geographical Society, a copy of a letter “on the
subject of the North American Exploring Expeditions” to the Lord Stanley.
The minutes note that the Foreign Office “will doubtless” share the information provided
to them from the Royal Geographic Society.
Enclosed is a transcribed letter from the Royal Geographical Society to the Foreign
Office offering suggestions for the land boundary commision between British Territories
and the United States; Carnarvon to Shaw acknowledging the receipt of his letter; and Carnarvon to Shaw informing him that instructions had been sent to Palliser to deposit his records for the use of Captain Hawkins.
Shaw to Merivale
Royal Geographical Society
15 Whitehall Place, S.W.
18th March 1858.
15 Whitehall Place, S.W.
Sir,
With reference to your communication of the 10th Febr[uar]y ulto., I am directed by the President and Council to transmit, through you, for Lord Stanley, a copy of a letter on the subject of the North American Exploring Expeditions, addressed
by the President of this Society to the Foreign Office.
Herman Merivale Esqre
&c &c &c
Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
Rod. I. Murchison to E. Hammond, Foreign Office, 2 March 1858
Copy
15 Whitehall Place
2nd March 1858.
Sir,
In answer to your communication of the 18th of January, requesting on the part of the Earl of Clarendon, suggestions for the guidance of Captain Hawkins, R. E., the Chief Commissioner at the head of the Expedition about to proceed to
Vancouver Island for the purpose of undertaking from thence in conjunction with a
party organised by the Government of the United States, a survey of the Boundary between
Her Majesty’s Dominions in North America and the United States, I beg to state for
the information of the Earl of Malmesbury that by desire of the Council of this Society I at once made applications to the
War Office for a copy of the instructions furnished to Captain Hawkins, and to the Colonial Office for a copy of those supplied to Captain John Palliser, in command of the party at present exploring the Country to the east of the Rocky Mountains in British North America, including the eastern slopes of these mountains and the
passes through them.
Having received copies of the above mentioned documents I am requested to state that
whilst the Council of this Society are fully impressed with the value of the Instructions
furnished to Captain Hawkins by the War Office, they would respectfullysuggest
suggest that through the medium of the Colonial Office, directions should speedily
be sent to Captain Palliser, desiring him to communicate to Captain Hawkins the result of his explorations on the east flank of the Rocky Mountains.
suggest that through the medium of the Colonial Office, directions should speedily
be sent to Captain Palliser, desiring him to communicate to Captain Hawkins the result of his explorations on the east flank of the Rocky Mountains.The Council would farther recommend that Fort Assineboine on the Athabasca River, in Lat. 54°30’N Long. 115° W, be selected as the most eligible
locality for depositing the records of the observations of Captain Palliser, so that Captain Hawkins by sending thither may become acquainted with the structure and natural features
of the chain on a more northern parallel than that which he is destined to explore,
and that he be made acquainted with the name of the spot so determined upon before
he leaves England.
The Council beg also to represent to the Earl of Malmesbury the great importance of giving such instructions to the Chief Commissioner as will
direct his attention particularly to the permanent natural features of the region
to be explored and to determine their position with every care, so as to supply materials
by which the two Governments may, in their final arrangements, obtain if possible
the advantage of a natural boundary between their respective territories, instead
of the mere straight line defined by the 49th N. Latitude.
E. Hammond Esq.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr. Merivale
The Foreign Office will doubtless communicate with us on the subject of these suggestions.
The Foreign Office will doubtless communicate with us on the subject of these suggestions.
Other documents included in the file
Carnarvon to Shaw, 31 March 1858, informing him that instructions had been sent to Palliser to deposit his records for the use of Captain Hawkins'.