Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
D'Ewes, John to Lytton, Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer 1 September 1858, CO 6:27, no. 9092, 553.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Enclosures (transcribed) (1), Other documents (4).
Enclosed is a draft from the CO to Douglas stating D'Ewes as a personal acquaintance for many years; a confidential letter from Lytton to Douglas advising that he had just learned that D'Ewes had been dismissed as police magistrate of Ballarat for conduct unbecoming an officer and wished “to correct any error into which you
may have been led by [his] letter of introduction;” Blackwood to D'Ewes asking him to forward letters from Lord Willoughby de Broke, Lord Leigh, and others for use in the letter of introduction he had requested; and a Minute
of the lieutenant Governor of Victoria upon the Report of the Board of Inquiry into the Ballarat riots.
D'Ewes to Lytton
1st Sept 1858
My Dear Sir Edward,
I trust you will excuse this intrusion upon your time, but as you were kind enough
to write to me; and also inform my wife that you would give me letters of introduction
to the present provisional Governor of New Columbia I imagined that the delay in fulfilling 
your most kind promise might have arisen from some chance of your having found employment
for my services.
your most kind promise might have arisen from some chance of your having found employment
for my services.As however my being able to obtain the means of going out will depend entirely upon
my being able to convince some of my connections of your valuable patronage. I shall
feel most 
deeply indebted to you if you will either allow me to call for the letters in question
or direct them to be forwarded to me at your convenience and with many thanks for
all past favours, believe me,
deeply indebted to you if you will either allow me to call for the letters in question
or direct them to be forwarded to me at your convenience and with many thanks for
all past favours, believe me,Kent Cottage
Teddington
Middlesex
Teddington
Middlesex
Minutes by CO staff
Other documents included in the file
Draft, Colonial Office to James Douglas, 11 September 1858, stating personal acquaintance for many years.
Minutes by CO staff
Sir Edward?
Will this suit you for Mr. D'Ewes?
The onus as to respectability is thrown on Lord Willoughby de Brooke, & others who, I am assured by Mr. D'Ewes, have written to you, in
his favor?
Will this suit you for Mr. D'Ewes?
The onus as to respectability is thrown on Lord Willoughby de Brooke, & others who, I am assured by Mr. D'Ewes, have written to you, in
his favor?Documents enclosed with the main document (transcribed)
A second letter from D'Ewes, as follows:
My Dear Sir Edward,
Being prepared to start immediately I write to say that I trust nothing has occurred
to alter your hand intentions (expressed by letter to myself and by yourself to my
wife) of giving me letters of introduction to the Governor of New Columbia and which I have been most anxiously awaiting. 
Believe me I start with the firm determination of making one last effort for the sake
of my wife and family, much more, than my own.
Believe me I start with the firm determination of making one last effort for the sake
of my wife and family, much more, than my own.I assure you I shall leave no stone unturned to do justice to your recommendation.
I hope you will not consider me intrusive by my beseeching you to let me have the
letters in question at your earliest convenience. It is my only and last hope.
letters in question at your earliest convenience. It is my only and last hope.Kent Cottage
Teddington
Middlesex
Sept 7 1858
Teddington
Middlesex
P.S. I before mentioned that "Lord Willoughby de Broke" and "Lord Leigh" the Lord Lieutenant of my county would both answer favourably any letters with regard
to my self.
Lord Lieutenant of my county would both answer favourably any letters with regard
to my self.Minutes by CO staff
Police Magistrate at the Gold fields of Ballarat in Victoria. Commissioner of Crown
Lands in the above Colony, and Deputy Sheriff from the beginning of 1853 until the latter end of 1854.
Other documents included in the file
[Lytton] to James Douglas, Confidential, 29 November 1858, advising that he had just learned that D'Ewes had been dismissed as police magistrate of Ballarat for conduct unbecoming an officer
and wished "to correct any error into which you may have been led by my letter of
Introduction accorded without the knowledge of these facts."
Blackwood to D'Ewes, 9 September 1858, asking him to forward the letters from Lord Willoughby de Broke, Lord Leigh, and others for use in the letter of introduction he had requested.
Minute of the Lieutenant Governor of Victoria upon the Report of the Board of Inquiry
into the Ballarat riots, 20 November 1854, in which a man was killed and a hotel burned. The report includes the following
observation: "It is a subject of deep regret to your Board that they have to comment
strongly on the conduct of the Police Magistrate, Mr Dewes. The facts elicited show that Mr Dewes laid himself under obligations to a class of persons whose conduct in their capacity
of licensed victuallers brought them under the scrutiny and supervision of the Bench
of which he was Chairman thereby subjecting himself to influences unbecoming his position
as police Magistrate and a public officer."