Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Romaine, William Govett to Merivale, Herman 19 March 1860, CO 305:15, no. 3072, 16.
Abstract
Romaine, William Govett to Merivale, Herman 19 March 1860, CO 305:15, no. 3072, 16.
Public Offices document.
Minutes (5), Enclosures (untranscribed) (5), Other documents (2), Marginalia (2).
Romaine to Merivale (Permanent Under-Secretary)
Admiralty
19 March 1860
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you
herewith, for the information of the Duke of Newcastle, a Copy of a
Letter from Rear Admiral Baynes, dated the 25th Jany last, No 16,
with Copies of the Rear Admiral's Correspondence with the Governor
of Vancouver Island, relative to the joint Military occupation of the
Island of San Juan by this Country and by the United States.
My Lords are of opinion that it is to be regretted that Governor
Douglas did not comply with the
the request of Rear Admiral Baynes to be
furnished with Copies, or at least with extracts, from the Instructions
upon which the requisition of the Governor was
made to the Rear Admiral for cooperation and assistance in concerting
measures for placing a British Force on the Island, equivalent to
that retained by the United States.
the request of Rear Admiral Baynes to be
furnished with Copies, or at least with extracts, from the Instructions
The instructions consist of the despatch of the D. of N. of the 16
Novr/59 to Govr D. forwarding a copy of the U. States instructions
to Genl Scott.
See 11291/59.
It must be apparent to the Duke of Newcastle that in complying with a
requisition of this description from the Governor of a Colony, a
Naval Commander in Chief must of necessity become responsible to his
own Department, and the simple perusal of documents in such a case
case
can rarely be sufficient to enable an Officer to place on record the
reasons which may induce him either to comply with or to decline
acting upon such requisitions, and my Lords trust that the attention
of Governor Douglas may be called to the serious inconvenience which
might arise from the course which he adopted.
case
can rarely be sufficient to enable an Officer to place on record the
reasons which may induce him either to comply with or to decline
acting upon such requisitions, and my Lords trust that the attention
of Governor Douglas may be called to the serious inconvenience which
might arise from the course which he adopted.
Their Lordships consider that every requisition addressed to a Naval
Commander in Chief should be accompanied by the fullest information
which can be furnished, and it appears to my Lords to have been an
error on the part of the Governor to suppose that in furnishing a
Copy of his Instructions
he would have been delegating his
his authority to an Officer, who was
not under his command, but was responsible to another Department for
the proper disposition of the Force under his own orders.
Marked by this office "Confidential", but which could not be held as
excluding the Naval C. in C. from being furnished with a copy, under
the important circes of the case.
his authority to an Officer, who was
not under his command, but was responsible to another Department for
the proper disposition of the Force under his own orders.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Merivale
You will observe that the Duke of Newcastle's despatch was marked Confidential—that it was laid before Admiral Baynes, & perused by that Officer—& that (see 2830/60) the Governor and the Admiral having consulted together came to a mutual agreement on the subject. Subsequently to their interview and agreement, at least so I understand it, the Admiral asked for a copy of the orders the Governor had received, which was declined; Douglas alleging that they had been sent to him as the Queen's Representative, & that it was not proper for him to give a copy of the S. of S. despatch without Express directions. The Colonial regulations—see Sec. 178 P. 50—bear him out in this respect; but I cannot but think it a mistake that he should have treated the Naval Commander in Chief—the officer who had to perform the duty of ordering the Marines to San Juan—with the same reserve which he wd have used with a subordinate official, or with a private individual. And it was not unreasonable on the part of the Admiral—who had already recd instructions from the Admy (21 Oct) and For: Office—to wish to have before him a copy of the instructions sent to the Governor from this Office so that he might compare one set of instructions with the other.
You will observe that the Duke of Newcastle's despatch was marked Confidential—that it was laid before Admiral Baynes, & perused by that Officer—& that (see 2830/60) the Governor and the Admiral having consulted together came to a mutual agreement on the subject. Subsequently to their interview and agreement, at least so I understand it, the Admiral asked for a copy of the orders the Governor had received, which was declined; Douglas alleging that they had been sent to him as the Queen's Representative, & that it was not proper for him to give a copy of the S. of S. despatch without Express directions. The Colonial regulations—see Sec. 178 P. 50—bear him out in this respect; but I cannot but think it a mistake that he should have treated the Naval Commander in Chief—the officer who had to perform the duty of ordering the Marines to San Juan—with the same reserve which he wd have used with a subordinate official, or with a private individual. And it was not unreasonable on the part of the Admiral—who had already recd instructions from the Admy (21 Oct) and For: Office—to wish to have before him a copy of the instructions sent to the Governor from this Office so that he might compare one set of instructions with the other.
ABd
22/3
Mr Fortescue
From pressure for time, I take the liberty of passing this to you.
From pressure for time, I take the liberty of passing this to you.
HM
Mh 23
[Minute off file; top of one line showing.]
Write as proposed by Mr Fortescue & inform Admiralty—at same time
explaining Govrs error & sending copy of Colonial Regulation.
N
27
Other documents included in the file
Elliot to Secretary to the Admiralty, 14 April 1860, stating the
governor had been instructed to "communicate unreservedly" with the
Admiral in the future, but explaining how the error occurred by
referring to Colonial Regulations.
Minutes by CO staff
Governor Douglas evidently acted very wrongly in withholding from an
Admiral at a critical period information that might be material. I
have ventured therefore to propose the omission of such passages in
this draft as plead strongly in his extenuation & to retain merely
the statement of the fact about the Colonial Regulations, this being
as much as the Duke's minute directed.
Draft to Governor.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
R.L. Baynes to Secretary of the Admiralty, 25 January 1860,
forwarding copies of correspondence with Douglas.
Douglas to Baynes, 16 January 1860, advising of his receipt of
instructions to place an occupying force on San Juan Island, and
requesting the Admiral's assistance to achieve that object.
