Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Public Offices document
Paulet to
Elliot, Thomas Frederick 6 February 1861, CO 305:18, no. 1081, 344.
Abstract
Paulet to
Elliot, Thomas Frederick 6 February 1861, CO 305:18, no. 1081, 344.
Public Offices document.
Minutes (5).
Paulet to Elliot (Assistant Under-Secretary)
War Office
6 February 1861
I have laid before the Secretary of State for War your letter of the
2nd instant together with its enclosure from the Foreign Office in
reference to the question of sending a Battalion of Infantry from
China to Vancouvers Island, to protect our interests there and in the
neighboring Colony of BritishColumbia
Columbia.
Columbia.
In reply I am to request that you will acquaint the Duke of Newcastle
that Lord Herbert will raise no further objection to this measure,
and he has consequently requested His Royal Highness the General
Commanding in Chief to give directions for having the first available
Regiment despatched from China toVancouvers
Vancouvers Island.
Vancouvers Island.
I am to add that, in accordance with the suggestion contained in your
letter of the 4th January, steps will be taken for bringing away the
Royal Engineers at present serving in British Columbia under the
command of Colonel Moody; but that prior to their withdrawal they
will have to be employed in the constructionof
of wooden Barracks or
Huts for the accommodation of the Regiment of the Line.
of wooden Barracks or
Huts for the accommodation of the Regiment of the Line.
Colonel Moody will be instructed to consult with the Governor as to
the site to be selected for the erection of the Barracks.
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
Communications will have to be addressed on this subject to the Governor—the Admiralty, & the For: Office. The withdrawal of the Engineers if it takes place this year will lead to a considerable reduction in the Estimate for the service of B. Columbia & the Extinction of the item in the Estimate of the ensuing year. Some oppy should be taken for impressing upon the Governor the necessity he is under of finding the means of repaying this country the advances made by it for these Engineers.
Communications will have to be addressed on this subject to the Governor—the Admiralty, & the For: Office. The withdrawal of the Engineers if it takes place this year will lead to a considerable reduction in the Estimate for the service of B. Columbia & the Extinction of the item in the Estimate of the ensuing year. Some oppy should be taken for impressing upon the Governor the necessity he is under of finding the means of repaying this country the advances made by it for these Engineers.
ABd
7/2
See minute annexed.
We must take care that nobody is misled on this subject. The
announcement looks very decisive, but in point of fact may probably
make no change for a long time to come.
The War Office have merely requested the Commander in Chief to send
the first Regiment
which becomes available in China to Vancouvers Island: they
have already told us in another letter that this may very likely not
happen for a year. On the other hand that delay is the less to be
regretted if a previous construction of barracks is necessary, and if
the Engineers can be usefully employed in that work.
But then the Admiralty's difficulty is left just where it was before.
They have a party of some hundred marines on shore at San Juan, who
by the rules of the service are entitled to come home. They had been
previously serving in China, and it is a hardship and a sore trial to
the fidelity of men, to detain them indefinitely on duties for which
they did not enlist. On the other hand the Engineers are to have
their own employment in building Barracks, and if these Marines come
away without any substitute, we give up the joint occupation of San Juan and leave the Americansthere
there alone. This is a difficulty which
I am bound to point out: I have not the means myself of suggesting
the proper solution, which perhaps could best be found by
consultation amongst the high Military Authorities who meet from time
to time on questions of defence and distribution of the forces.
there alone. This is a difficulty which
I am bound to point out: I have not the means myself of suggesting
the proper solution, which perhaps could best be found by
consultation amongst the high Military Authorities who meet from time
to time on questions of defence and distribution of the forces.
TFE
7 Feby
Duke of Newcastle
It ought I sh. think to be ascertained from the War Office how soon they can reckon upon despatching a Regt from China to V.Id and from the Admiralty whether they will consent to leave the Marines at San Juan until the Regt arrives. If the delay expected proves to be too long to induce the Admiralty to leave the Marines, it will become necessary to send Troops from some other quarter.
It ought I sh. think to be ascertained from the War Office how soon they can reckon upon despatching a Regt from China to V.Id and from the Admiralty whether they will consent to leave the Marines at San Juan until the Regt arrives. If the delay expected proves to be too long to induce the Admiralty to leave the Marines, it will become necessary to send Troops from some other quarter.
CF
8
Fresh difficulties have arisen in the way of complying with the
desire of the F.O. that a Regt should be sent to V.Id—raised
by the Horse Guards—and it is quite possible that it may not be sent
after all.
Nothing must be done on this therefore till we hear again from the
W.O.
In any case S. Juan must not be left without our quota to the joint
occupation.
N
10